Lot 10249 – 1910 (May) Prepared for use though not issued 2d. Tyrian plum, overprinted « SPECIMEN »

1910 (May) Prepared for use though not issued 2d. Tyrian plum, overprinted « SPECIMEN » (horse shoe type 17) probably applied at Somerset House for internal use, large part OG, corner wrinkle at lower right mentioned for accuracy and in no way detracting from the fine appearance of this exceedingly rare Specimen, being only the second example to have come to auction since the Marcus Samuel Specimen in 2003, and much rarer than the actual prepared for use though not issued Tyrian plum itself, of which only 15 examples are recorded outside of the Royal Collection by Healey (GB Journal Nov/Dec 2019 pp.126-137). Nonsensically under catalogued at £50,000.