Lot 70875 – THE FAMOUS “HOPE” COVER – 1856 Provisional 4 cents black on blue surface glazed paper, used on cover to Sophia’s Hope

THE FAMOUS “HOPE” COVER

THE UNIQUE 4 CENTS BLACK ON BLUE COVER

1856 Provisional 4 cents black on blue surface glazed paper, initials of postal clerk Wight “EDW”, cut octagonally with good margins all around, being an outstanding quality example, used on cover to Sophia’s Hope Estate in Mahaicony, very lightly cancelled by village datestamp of Williamstown “A 3 C OC 30 1856” (matching strike on reverse), Demerara transit over flap, originating from the Barlow correspondence; (SG 450’000).

The only known cover with this stamp, being of great significance as this is one of the rarest stamps of British Guiana, representing the most important item of this issue, and one of the outstanding covers of British Guiana. Without doubt, a great exhibition and world rarity.

Provenance:

William Augustus Townsend (Lot 59, Harmer’s, Oct. 1970)

John E. du Pont (Lot 60089, David Feldman SA, June 2014)

Expertise: “Pemberton Wilson & Co” dealer’s signature applied before 1892 (when the London company was sold to Theodor Buhl), signed J.-F. Brun, Cert. BPA (2014)