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Auction: 160 - The Henry "Hap" Pattiz Collection of Nepal
Lot: 2060

Hellrigl #5, 1881 2a Purple on European wove paper, imperforate, complete sheet of 64, setting 2, unused without gum, a marvelous unique sheet that is exceptionally well preserved, showing all constant plate flaws that exist in this setting, this sheet is exceptionally fresh with rich purple color on fresh white paper, it possesses full untrimmed sheet margins measuring 252x325mm, the sheet has been folded as all first issue sheets are, twice vertically with one through the fourth vertical row and twice horizontally with one faintly through second horizontal row, there are also a few natural cliche pressure wrinkles in the margins between rows, all are barely perceptible from the front and is actually are only mentioned for accuracy as this is a very fine and exceedingly handsome sheet.

The three different settings of the Two Anna value on European wove paper are considered well documented by students despite the fact that this is presently the only known sheet of this value and certainly the only known setting 2 sheet, Setting 1 has the same fancy ornaments as setting 1 of the One Anna value, but this is documented by a sheet from an unidentified Danish collection exhibited in Londo in 1939. This sheet has disappeared and is not in the hands of any Nepal specialist. Furthermore there are no marginal pieces, not even singles showing setting 1. So unless the lost sheet reappears setting 1 will remain simply an eye witness report that confirmed no inverted cliches. There are no sheets of Setting 3 but several marginal pairs and singles show a slightly different alignment and position of the inscriptions and the existence of an inverted clichet in position 21 that does not exist in setting 1 or 2. This sheet then stands as the only extant sheet of the Two Annas Setting Two. The Hellrigl collection contained the next largest multiple which was a full sheet lacking only position 1 (illustrated on page 123 of his handbook and lot 3084 in Sale 206 of Corinphila 15 June 2016). This is a marvelous exhibition piece of extraordinary rarity; (Scott #4; $12,800.00+; S.G. #4; £14,400+; catalog values are for 64 normal singles).

Sold for
$21,000