Lot 50003 – 1840 1d black pl.1a GI-GJ horizontal pair with trial cancellations on archive piece

1840 1d black pl.1a GI-GJ horizontal pair, with large balanced margins, affixed to a piece of laid paper, GI tied by a superb clear strike of the red Maltese Cross and GJ tied by a very fine clear strike of the black London « T/MY – 13/1840 » circular date stamp, the piece inscribed « Obliterating stamp » and « dated stamp in ink » denoting the respective cancellations; The finest of all the known examples of this cancellation trial, including that of R.M. Phillips in the National Postal Museum. A spectacular Great Britain rarity, of major importance and worthy of the greatest exhibit.

Provenance: Ex « The Northbrook Papers » Christies Robson Lowe December 1996.

Literature: Illustrated in « The British Postage Stamp of the Nineteenth Century » (second edition) by Robson Lowe page 119.