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Auction: 142 - March Philatelic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 554

#4a, 1885 ½p Black with lake "British Bechuanaland" overprint, an astoundingly rare used example of this very rare lake color overprint, bearing a clearly identifiable portion of a black Mafeking c.d.s., rich colors of both the stamp and overprint, attractive fine centering; the catalog values do not reflect the rarity of this used stamp being more (Stanley Gibbons) or less (Scott) the same as the mint examples which though rare are relatively common compared to used; there are only three used examples of this stamp know, all from different towns, one is in the Royal collection of Queen Elizabeth II and another is in the collection of South African collector purchased in the last few years, thus this is the only example available or likely to be in the foreseeable future; a great rarity of this African country; 2004 Philatelic Foundation of Southern Africa certificate (S.G. #1a; £5,000).

Sold for
$8,500