Lot 61122 – 1861-70 Britannia, 1s blue error of colour

1861-70 Britannia, 1s blue error of colour with perforations on all four sides, unused without gum and barely any trace of the usual pen-cancellation, very faint trace of toning, still a very fine and fresh example of this very rare stamp, of which it is believed that only around 10 exist, cert. RPS (1984, which harshly states “Some staining”) and Scheller (2022) (S.G. £18’000).

Note: In 1863 Perkins, Bacon & Co. sent a supply of 50’000 1s to the island. On arrival it was discovered that they were printed in blue, the colour of the 1d, instead of black. A new supply was dispatched and the error was not put on sale. Before disposing of these stamps, a number were removed and defaced with a cross in ink.