Lot 35063 – 1878 pen and ink drawing on paper prepared by the Egyptian Postal Administration showing a proposed design for the 5 para stamp

1878 pen and ink drawing on paper (210 x 146mm) prepared by the Egyptian Postal Administration showing a proposed design for the 5 para stamp, one of a set of six new stamps they were ordering from Thomas De La Rue & Co. of London. A Norway 1873 Post Horn and Crown Issue 7 skilling red-brown stamp was placed in the center as a sample of the desired color (échantillon de couleur) of the stamp. Handwritten note below the drawing stating that the Arabic inscriptions were poorly written and the cardboard diagrams of the inscriptions should be followed was added later, after De La Rue had sent them cardboard diagrams of the proposed stamp frames in August 1878 (see following lot), a unique essay; ex De La Rue Archives (Nile Post E71 $3’500).