Lot 50090 – 1840 (May 13) entire letter from London to Glasgow with 1840 1d black pl.1a GE/HH block of eight

1840 (May 13) entire letter dated in manuscript « 13 May 1840 » from London to Glasgow with 1840 1d black pl.1a GE/HH block of eight (4×2) in a grey-black shade showing moderate plate wear, a little close or just touched at top, large to very margins other sides and showing portions of three adjoining stamps at foot, tied by orange-red Maltese Cross cancellations, with dated markings of 14 and 15 May in red and black on reverse, light pressed horizontal filing fold affecting the block, otherwise very fine. A great rarity and of considerable visual appeal, being the second largest used block of this plate, the only larger being the famous block of ten used on the 6th May in the Royal collection.Provenance: Harmers auction 1949; Robson Lowe auction 1959; Bostock 1963; Harmers auction 1999; Vullo 2003 (erroneously plated as 1b); Spink Auction 2009. (Provenance cert. Karl Louis 2009).