RHODESIA T2592

Z.A.R. / TRANSVAAL
Postage Stamps: 1869 1st Republic to 1882

FIRST REPUBLIC - 1878 Queen Victoria 'Bourne Head' Issue

T2592

1878-80 Queen Victoria ‘Bourne Head’ design. Complete of seven postage duties, ½d, 1d, 3d, 4d, 6d, 1/- and 2/-, each handstamped ‘SPECIMEN’ (Samuel Type D8) in black (the 1d with handstamp double). Illustrated and discussed in ‘Specimen Stamps of the Crown Colonies’ by Marcus Samuel (Plate 10 and pages 41 and 238). A few faults as to be expected. Unique, being the sole examples known of any stamps of this issue handstamped or overprinted ‘SPECIMEN’. Ex the De La Rue Archives; Dr. Alan Drysdall (2006); Besançon (2019); David Underwood collection and beautifully written up on his display page. SG 133-139 Specimen.

Note: although De La Rue’s 1877 tender for the Transvaal contract was unsuccessful, it appears they kept a sample set of the successful Bradbury Wilkinson & Co. stamps for their records. One of the very few times the ‘SPECIMEN’ handstamp of one firm was applied to the stamps of another.

£4,500