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Auction: 15USA - The William H. Gross Collection
Lot: 101

S.G. #5, 1848 2p Deep blue on white paper, Earliest Impression, position 2, a gem example featuring four large and wonderfully balanced margins, outstanding Earliest Impression showing outstanding detail, displaying slight dry ""sticky print"" distinctive only to stamps having come from the Earliest Impression, beautifully tied by a circle of twelve horizontal bars to an 1849 folded cover from Port Louis to Calcutta, India, Crowned ""Mauritius G.P.O./Ju 20/1849"" c.d.s. at top right, framed ""Calcutta/Ship Letter"" on reverse, in which the inland and ship postage due is apportioned, light central file fold and a bit of ink erosion in address panel of little importance, extremely fine.[cr][lf][cr][lf]Very few covers exist - probably a half a dozen or less - bearing Two Pence stamps in any shade that are unquestionably classified as Earliest Impression frankings (no 1p frankings are known). There is no doubt of the classification of this Two Pence franking, as the distinctive dry print found on this stamp is unique to the Earliest Impressions only. Besides its question rarity, this cover has long been regarded as one of the finest Two Pence Earliest Impression covers in existence. In fact, in the 1963 auction of the Burrus collection this cover was described as ""probably the finest cover of its type in existence and of the most attractive appearance.""[cr][lf][cr][lf]A exciting opportunity to acquire one of the rarest and most important covers in Mauritius philately. Accompanied by a 1995 BPA certificate; ex-Burrus, Kan Estimate US$ 24,000-30,000

Sold for
$80,200