Auction: 20031 - The "Libra" Collection of the 1961 Decimal Surcharges of Basutoland, Bechuanaland and Swaziland - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 515
Basutoland
2½c. on 3d. yellow-green and rose, Type II, variety surcharge inverted, all six recorded examples. S.G. 61b.
No. 1: On piece tied by
No. 2: Neatly cancelled by part
No. 3: Neatly cancelled by part
No. 4: On piece tied by almost complete
No. 5: On piece tied by almost complete
No. 6: Very lightly cancelled, fine. B.P.A. Certificate (1970)
A fantastic and unique opportunity.
Note: Late in 1962, four examples postmarked Mokhotlong and dated either 2 or 3 July 1962 were discovered in a mixed lot of used material in South Africa and appeared to be from one sheet. The position of the surcharge, bottom right and just touching the Queen's neck, suggesting that the sheet was simply inserted for surcharging upside down.
One of the discovery examples featured in the Shelley catalogue of these issues and it is present in this lot. The vendor acquired that in an intact collection when he started this collection, well over 40 years ago, and eventually had another three examples from other sources. These were assumed to be the original four discovered. In the last decade two further examples have emerged making a total of six copies known to the vendor.
He acquired those as well, travelling from the continent to buy one in a London auction six years ago at a price far outstripping the then catalogue price. That resulted in a modest increase in the catalogue price to something approaching the cost of that London auction example.
No mint examples of this variety exist. The examples that exist were, it seems, all used commercially in the small town of Mokhotlong so it is not surprising that the majority are presumed destroyed.
The vendor has taken great delight in buying them all as and when they became available. This has become a keen interest, a passion for some decades but is now willing to pass them on as a unique group intact. A stamp on every Basutoland collector's wants list! The vendor knows of no other examples than the six offered here. Six known and here they are.
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Estimate
£30,000 to £35,000
Starting price
£30000
Sale 20031 Notices
It has been brought to our attention that a further single and a pair are known. Nonetheless this remains the major holding of this rarity.
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