Lot 50113 – Switzerland, Canton Basel – 1845 “Basel Dove” 2 1/2rp, the delightful group of ten

Switzerland, Canton Basel – 1845 “Basel Dove” 2 1/2rp, the astonishing group of ten items differentiated in three groups for the black, red and blue colours used to print the stamp; the black impression is represented in a very rare reinforced glass cliché dated 31/3/52 N.1 with notation “le mieu” as the best one, with this being probably the reason for which Sperati mounted the glass cliché on a quite thicker transparent glass as additional support, with “E=5’30” ” notation for the time of light exposure, also two additional glass clichés in vermilion and very rare transparent on translucent, and a ‘die’ proof on wove paper; the Dove is exhibited on two glass clichés in black and brown, continuing with the area of the blue colour in the corner spandrels being featured in in two glass clichés, one being negative, one with manuscript “Colombe le bleu” referring to the area of the “Dove” stamp in blue and dated January 1953. As an exception we can observe in this lot the very long exposure to light used by Sperati to obtain the impression, with some examples noted “5’30” ” (5 mins 30 secs), as very rarely this exposure time goes beyond 3 mins 30 secs in other instances; on a different subject, the vermilion-red and black impressions were recurrent for Sperati as they created the best contrasts. The items related to the reproduction of the “Basel Dove” are among the rarest in existence in the Sperati archive for Switzerland; a lot of great desirability as one of the most fascinating and delightful designs of classic worldwide philately.