Despite the global restrictions we at David Feldman are continuing to receive excellent consignments for our October and December auctions, as well as being tasked with offering items for sale by private treaty. With our reputation for having sold more high-quality rarities than any other auction firm, we are delighted to present these four stunning exhibition items for sale by Private Treaty. For further details on these spectacular Penny Black corner marginal examples with Plate Numbers; contact Guy Croton [email protected] or at our UK representative office:
David Feldman SA
PO Box 1385
ENFIELD
EN1 9GA
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Plate 1b Mint Corner Marginal Block of Four with Plate Number
1840 One Penny Black AK-BL plate 1b, a magnificent marginal mint inscriptional block of four from the upper right corner of the sheet, showing full deckle edge at top and part inscription “areful not to remove the cement” additionally showing the plate number “1” in the upper right corner, large balanced margins on the other two sides though a little close at lower left, virtually full original gum with some light hinge remainders at top; some creasing and small faults though a hugely rare and exceptional block, being one of only two pieces from plate 1b showing the plate number in existence. This is the first time the block has been seen on the open market since it last appeared in 1962.
Provenance: Ex Dr P.C. Litchfield and illustrated in the seminal “Guide Lines to the Penny Black”, 1st edition, 1949, p.39
Plate 2 Corner Marginal with Plate Number on Cover
1840 One Penny Black plate 2 on 13th May entire, bearing TL in a deep shade, showing double T and external guidelines, good to large very large margins all round from the lower right corner of the sheet showing part inscription “ove the cement” at foot, and additionally showing the plate number “2” in the lower right corner, neatly tied to the entire from Wakefield addressed to William Bywater in Pontefract, by a superb complete upright strike of the Maltese Cross in an pale reddish orange shade, the flap bearing a more or less perfect strike of Wakefield despatch c.d.s. dated 13th May; the adhesive being exceptionally fresh and in a superb state of preservation showing superb margins. This iconic cover is, without question, one of the most desirable covers of British philately and one of the finest Penny Blacks on cover in existence. A great exhibition item of the utmost rarity with this being only its third public appearance for sale since 1942
Provenance: L.E. Meinertzhagen, March 1942
Note: This cover was ´re-discovered´ in the 1980s with a stamp collection in an old metal deed box. This remarkable cover was tucked into the newspaper covering the bottom of the box and could easily have been thrown away with the rubbish. It was later sold by Private Treaty to Sir Humphrey Cripps (later sold as The Chartwell Collection of Great Britain in 2011)
1840 One Penny Black, Plate 2, a superb marginal inscription example lettered AL
1840 One Penny Black, Plate 2, a superb marginal inscription example lettered AL from the upper right of the sheet showing part inscription “…ove the Cement” used on entire locally in London and cancelled by a superb and upright strike of the Black experimental Cross.
An extraordinary example with BPA Certificate 2010
Plate 3 Mint Corner Marginal Imprimatur with Plate Number
1840 One Penny Black TL plate 3 imprimatur with corner sheet margins showing the plate number “3” and margin inscription, “… ove the Cement”, the other margins are exceptionally large; some thinning under some old hinge remnants, not detracting from the major importance of this exceptional positional piece of the utmost rarity, an incredible exhibition piece being the only plate number imprimatur available in private hands from this plate.
1840 One Penny Black Plate 3 Imprimatur
1840 One Penny Black , Plate 3, An imprimatur lettered SE, large balanced margins and a stamp of impeccable provenance originally coming from the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen.
R.P.S Certificate 2001
Plate 3 Mint Corner Marginal Block of Four with Plate Number
1840 One Penny Black SK-TL plate 3, a magnificent marginal mint inscriptional block of four from the lower right hand corner of the sheet, showing full deckle edge on two sides and part inscription at foot “areful not to remove the cement” additionally showing the plate number “3” in the lower right corner, large balanced margins on the other two sides, virtually full original gum with some light hinge remainders at top. A hugely rare and exceptional block of exhibition quality, and the only piece from plate three showing plate number; one of the rarest of all the black plates. Last sold by private non-publicised sale in 2009. This is the first time the block has been offered publicly in over 20 years.
Provenance: Ex Bolaffi
Plate 6 Mint Marginal Block of 12
1840 One Penny Black AC-CF plate 6, a magnificent marginal mint inscriptional block of twelve from the top of the sheet, showing full deckle edge at top and part inscription “of 12. £1….. Per Sheet. Place the Labels ABOVE the Addrefs and tow” , large balanced margins on the other three sides, virtually full original gum with some light hinge remainders at top; some creasing and small faults as to be expected on a block of this size, though a hugely rare and exceptional block of exhibition standard. This is the first time the block has been seen on the open market in over 50 years and adjoins the marginal strip of four recently sold by David Feldman SA in December 2019.
Proveance: Ex Burrus