1840 (March), 1d. Black, Master Die Proof, on India paper, 62 x 68
mm., mounted on soft card, showing the addition of the words
POSTAGE and
1840 (March), 1d. Black, Master Die Proof, on India paper, 62 x 68
mm., mounted on soft card, showing the addition of the words
POSTAGE and ONE PENNY, the four corner squares left blank, a
remarkable Die Proof of profound philatelic and historic
importance, one of the few such examples recorded in private hands,
illustrating the stage at which final approval could be given to
the design that would become the world`s first adhesive postage
stamp, an exceptional international rarity of the highest quality,
and unquestionably the most significant postage stamp proof in
existence Gi DP17a. A mere six examples of this Master Die Proof
are recorded, with even fewer available to collectors. Three are
held in instituional collections, with two examples found in the
Royal Philatelic Collection, and one in the R.M. Phillips
Collection at the Postal Museum (London). A further three are
recorded in private hands, including the example offered here, and
the unique cancelled example, also in the Beresford-Wylie
Collection. Provenance: Collection Major Allen; Collection
"Rainbow", 1986; Collection "Tes", Christies Robson Lowe, 5 October
1995, Collection Pichai Buransombati, Shreves Philatelic Galleries,
15 March, 2001, lot 9. Collection Chartwell, Part II, Spink London,
16 February 2012, lot 30
