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.