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Auction: 24019 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 1101

(x) Great Britain
1840 Mulready
Presentation Proofs from the Robert Wallace Archive
A remarkable pair of proofs presented to Robert Wallace. The first, a lettersheet progressive die proof without value tablet in black on India paper, the vignette essentially as issued but printed with finer lines; folded to lettersheet format, the reverse flap with pencil annotation "Unfinished proof of Penny Postage Cover presented to Mr. Wallace by Rowland Hill, March 15th 1840", some spotting and splitting along folds.
The second, a completed 2d. lettersheet stereo a91 proof on Dickinson thread paper with manuscript "Proof" in ink over value; folded to lettersheet format with pencil annotation on reverse flap reading "Completed Penny Postage Stamp Cover presented to Mr. Wallace by the Right Hon. Francis Thornhill Baring, April 15th, 1840".
A most important pair of great importance to the Mulready collector. Photo

Notes: Francis Thornhill Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook (1796-1866) acted as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1839-1841. In this role, Baring was influential in bringing the Mulready into use; it was Baring who recommended William Mulready to Henry Cole. On the 15th April, the presentation date of the 2d. proof, Henry Cole wrote to Mulready, enclosing a 2d. lettersheet, a99, inscribed "Proof".
Robert Wallace (1773-1855), a Scottish politician serving as MP to Greenock and great proponent for postal reform, working closely with Rowland Hill.

provenance:
Tito Giamporcaro, 17th October, 1996, Lot 1013
Shaida

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£4,000

Starting price
£700