Lot 60203 – Argentina: 1899-1903 « Liberty Seated » Issue. An outstanding exhibit.

Argentina: 1899-1908 « Liberty Seated » Issue. An outstanding collection mounted on nearly 200 written-up exhibition pages and a few stock pages, comprising the selected eight frames for philatelic shows. This very rare and exceptional assembly includes die and plate proofs produced on card (also displaying composite examples), as well as on medium and very thin India paper, large plate-proof multiples on thick paper, colour trials, specimens with « Muestra » overprints; an impressive array of perforation varieties (some examples being unique) including most of the existing ones (a table is presented on the introductory page with the large number of values with these varieties, for both compound and vertically/horizontally missing perforations included in the collection), and not excluding in this display the eye-catching misplaced perforations; the extensive assortment of varieties -additionally include paper folds, shades, imperforate, partial double impressions- is also featured in spectacular large blocks and part sheets, as well as on covers. Other features are first day-of-issue usages, the four high denominations in mint blocks of four (certs Solari), complete sheets of 10p & 20p perf. « Inutilizado », large used multiples, better cancellations from small localities, etc. The postal history display include a wide range of features: registered and insured mail, high frankings including the high denominations, official picture postcards, mixed frankings with different issues, uprated stationery, the largest known frankings of 1/2c and 1c perf. 12, combinations with foreign postage dues, better cancellations, rare example with « Correspondencia Muerta » hs, 3c on exceedingly scarce US Diplomatic Mail cover, four « abono a casilla simple » documents with two bearing single 10p (one with R. Kneitschel cert.) and the other two with single 20p (also one with R. Kneitschel cert.), better destinations such as Cochin China, Straits Settlements, Lorenzo Marques, Japan (printed matter). Over 30 covers are also included in addition to those mounted on exhibition pages. Viewing highly recommended

Many highlights are to be mentioned, but we have chosen the following: 3c block of four imperforate horizontally, the 3c & 4c featuring rare vertically and horizontally imperforate examples, the only known booklet of the 5c, 10c unique imperforate pair on cover, 15c unique horizontally imperforate vertical pair on cover, 16c pair on cover, the hour high denominations with inverted centre, the unique marginal 5p pair imperforate at base; as well as a one of the great rarities of the semi-modern Argentine philately: the spectacular insured cover bearing six 1p, two 5p and one 10p, this being the highest franking recorded on a non-philatelically inspired cover, representing the only cover known with the three highest denominations (in addition, this is one of only two items exhibiting the 5p, and being unique with the largest number of 1p -six- on cover).

This lot is an excellent opportunity to acquire a magnificent collection which already achieved a prestigious FIP Gold Medal status.