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Cape of Good Hope stamps to star in London auction
Stamps from the Cape of Good Hope are to feature in a London auction on June 20
Paul Fraser Collectibles, Monday 4 June 2012
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A London stamp auction is to feature the Franschhoek collection of the Cape of Good Hope on June 20.
The province's first stamps were issued in 1853, when the Cape of Good Hope was still a British colony. The British initially issued just two denominations, a one penny in red and a four pence stamp in blue. Printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co of London, the stamps are noted for their unusual triangular shape.
A rarity from the first day of issue
The top lot of the sale will be an edition of the Cape Argus newspaper, bearing the 1861 woodblock issue. The woodblock stamps came into effect when local printers Saul Solomon & Co were hired to produce a supply, following a shortage of both denominations of the Cape's stamps.
The fantastic cover, dated February 1861, represents the first day of usage for the woodblock one penny value. An extremely rare item for philatelists, it is estimated to sell for £18,000-20,000.
Another example from the 1861 woodblock issue, this time a singular stamp with a colour error, is expected to bring the second highest bids. The local printers erroneously printed a one penny stamp using the blue colouration of the four pence value, prompting an estimate of £12,000-14,000.
The sale will feature over 400 lots from the Cape in all, including the 1864 rectangular issue as well as the 1900 stamps depicting King Edward VII. British stamps were demonetised in the area after 1900, when the Cape joined the Union of South Africa.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has a superb range of British investment-grade stamps in stock. This 2d Tyrian Plum is one of the great rarities of British philately.
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