Lot 80123 – Switzerland, Canton Basel – 1845 “Basel Dove” 2½rp, four production items

Switzerland, Canton Basel – 1845 “Basel Dove” 2 ½rp, four production items that include a celluloid strip of the dove image in negative dated June 1953, and two celluloid clichés of the frame to be printed in black in the actual stamp, one in a radiant vermilion and one in black (both colours preferred by Sperati for the best contrast) with production notes dated June 1951, indicating an exceptionally long exposure time of 5 mins 30 secs, also a negative of the border to be printed in blue dated Jan 1953; an eloquent testimony to one of Sperati`s most sophisticated productions that required three printing clichés and embossing, very few items survive in private hands for the production of this world-famous stamp.