Lot 50078 – Mauritius – 1848 « Post Office » 1d & 2d, the breathtaking lot of four items

Mauritius – 1848 « Post Office » 1d & 2d, the breathtaking lot of the Sperati archive comprising four different items, including a composite negative cliché on celluloid of the One Penny and Two Pence, dated « 2/51 » for February 1951, and as it occurred with the original plate, both single designs of the stamps being presented in conjunction, this item being intended to be the master to produce clichés with both stamps, which was not probably ever produced; the other four items feature the Two Pence with three glass clichés, one in negative with part of the coloured design misplaced during the process of exposure to light, the other containing two affixed clichés, on one side exhibiting the design reversed in black, on the other side displayed as it should appear in the finished reproduction and coloured in dark red -shades in red/vermilion and black were the preferred ones by Sperati in order to obtain the best contrasts-, also dated « 2/51 », as well as proof in indigo-slate on thick white paper.A sensational lot revealing an unknown production of Sperati, of the utmost importance as one of the top three rarities of worldwide philately, and of immense fascination as the « Post Office » issue represents the highest value per item as a result of the prices reached by its few stamps and covers. Likely the most important Sperati production. An ideal complement to the famous original « Post Office » printing plate, which was sold at auction by David Feldman S.A. for hammer price €1,100,000 in 2016.