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Auction: 1028 - The "Wilkin" Collection of British West Africa Postal History and British Africa Stamps from the Vestey Collection
Lot: 1159

Gambia 1886-93 Issue Specimen and Cancelled Stamps 1/2d. to 1/- set of eight affixed to three pieces (once a single piece when offered in the De La Rue Archive), the 1/2d., 1d., 2d., 4d., 6d. and 1/- each overprinted "specimen" (Samuel D12), the 2 1/2d. overprinted "specimen" (Samuel D11 in red) and the 3d. overprinted "cancelled" (Samuel D7 in red), the piece annotated "These plates ordered to be destroyed by Crown Agents Memo dated June 1st. 1898 CA32/22" and with various manuscript dates above six of the stamps. A spectacular and unique set. Photo Estimate £ 3,000-3,500 Note: It was originally considered that the 3d. value issued in 1883, and the 4d. and 1/- issued in 1885, were on Crown CC watermarked paper, however this lot proves that this was not the case as it is the dates of printing that are noted above the values and accordingly the last Crown CC printings were in May 1881, subsequent issues being under a new colour scheme. This piece includes 3d. and 4d. values clearly dated before 1886 prior to the next printings in March 1 1887 and could, therefore, only have come from the 1883 or 1885 printings provenance: De La Rue Archive, November 1976 R.F. Bavington-Jones, April 1983 Len Weldhen, October 2002

Sold for
£3,200