Lot 50043 – 1840 1d black pl.1a GI-GJ horizontal pair with trial cancellations on archive piece

1840 1d black pl.1a GI-GJ horizontal pair, with large balanced margins, affixed to a piece of laid paper, GI tied by a superb clear strike of the red Maltese Cross and GJ tied by a very fine clear strike of the black London “T/MY – 13/1840” circular date stamp, the piece inscribed “Obliterating stamp” and “dated stamp in ink” denoting the respective cancellations; The finest of all the known examples of this cancellation trial, including that of R.M. Phillips in the National Postal Museum. A spectacular Great Britain rarity, of major importance and worthy of the greatest exhibit. Provenance: Ex “The Northbrook Papers” Christies Robson Lowe December 1996. Literature: Illustrated in “The British Postage Stamp of the Nineteenth Century” (second edition) by Robson Lowe page 119.