Los 4506

1840: 2 d. blue, Plate 2, lettered RG-RH, a used horizontal pair with large margins all round and showing portions of adjoining stamps at top and at left, used on quadruple weight 1842 cover to Blandford, tied by DORCHESTER double arc datestamps (June 23, 1842) in black. The fine pair of fresh colour with RH showing the constant variety with coloured "√" in NW corner unobscured by the rare cancellation, the letter mentioning enclosures. Reverse with Blandford arrival datestamp in black. Just one other 1840 2 d. blue pair on cover cancelled by Wessex town datestamps is recorded in the Karl Louis Card Index (lettered NH-NI) which is heavily repaired. An extraordinarily rare and attractive cover, an Exhibition item of the highest calibre for the connoisseur of classic Great Britain. Cert. RPSL (1970) Gi DS8xb+DS8xbe = £ 28'000+. Provenance: RL, London, 24-25 Sept 1969, lot 1484. Christie's, 14 Sept 1994, lot 2307