Lot 70872 – 1853-55 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents pale blue, the remarkable unused block of 31

THE MOST VALUABLE UNUSED LARGE MULTIPLE OF BRITISH GUIANA

1855 Waterlow lithographed 4 cents pale blue, the extraordinary unused block of thirty-one, showing the three transfer types and featuring mixed types in the last vertical column, very fresh colour, sheet margin at right, the block has been folded in places resulting in one tear in the second horizontal row affecting two stamps, and some thinnings; (SG £77,500 as singles).

By far the largest multiple known of any classic imperforate issue of British Guiana, considered as the most valuable unused large multiple of the Colony.

Note:

The 1857 Four Cents second setting stone of 100 subjects was composed of horizontal transfer strips of 3, made from types 5+6+7 from the previous, now unusable stone. The first nine vertical columns repeat the transfer strips regularly, the last column (at right) was made up of single transfers as shown in the diagram. The first nine columns of the sheet are always A-B-C+A-B-C+A-B-C.

As stated in the March 1974 Robson Lowe « The Rarity Sale », Mr. Neville Stocken, in his work « Stamps of Great Price », provided the following information about this item: « …one of some pieces unearthed by Sir Charles T. Cox , K.C.M.G., when Governor of British Guiana. It was a brilliant block and although like most large blocks of such an age, it had been folded and not too carefully preserved, it constitutes an item of outstanding beauty and interest ».

This gem was displayed at the Royal Jubilee Exhibition of British Empire Stamps of the Victorian Era, organised by and held by the Royal Philatelic Society, London, May 1935.

Provenance:

A. W. Cox

David Bernhard

Edward T. Granger

Frederick T. Small (Lot 96, Robson Lowe, March 1970, estimated at £10,000, the equivalent to more than £150,000 today), showing his « Comet » hs on reverse

John E. du Pont (Lot 60068, David Feldman SA, June 2014)

Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014)