Under appreciated rare beauties
This evening you are in for a treat…
The collection I want to reveal to you is full of rare beauties.
Only the finest specimens.
They are so rare and attractive, you would expect them to have much higher prices.
Yet, this is a specific area, which was always under appreciated by stamp collectors.
Until recently…
These specimens are now gaining a lot more interest and attention from collectors.
Hardly surprising considering they are so rare and difficult to obtain.
Prices are rising but they still remain incredibly good value considering their rarity.
They were never intended for public distribution.
Many of the early issues are now found in philatelic museums.
Specimen Postage Stamps
Specimen postage stamps are stamps which were printed as samples for testing, quality control or advertising purposes.
They were usually printed in small quantities.
They were not intended for use as valid postage. Because they were never intended for public distribution, they are rare and difficult to obtain.
Specimen stamps are most often overprinted “SPECIMEN”. They might also be marked by being punched, perforated, handstamped or inscribed.
In the latter part of the 19th century it became apparent that international postage was becoming an important part of world communication.
There became a need for uniform rules and procedures. This led to the setting up of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874.
A key objective of the UPU was to ensure that the correct postage had been paid in the country of origin. This meant each post office would need samples of international stamps.
In 1879 member nations of the UPU agreed they would send their SPECIMEN stamps to each other. Postmasters could then use these for reference to identify international stamps and help detect forgeries.
How and how many of these reference stamps found their way into the philatelic world remains a bit of a mystery.
Their scarcity remains the main factor which makes them of such interest to collectors.
The Collection of Fine Specimens
I have assembled a collection for you covering over 60 years of postal history from 1884 to 1947.
They encapsulate some of the most iconic stamp designs across the British Empire.
They are much rarer than the issued stamps, yet remain remarkably low value.
Survival rates were low and few survive in this quality…
An English Rose
Great Britain 1884 5s Rose, SG180s.
A very fine unmounted mint, with full original gum, example lettered ‘BC’, overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 11.
Scarce and a stunning Specimen example of this very popular Queen Victorian stamp, hardly ever seen unmounted mint.
I’ve always loved the design of this surface printed stamp, which I think symbolises the pride behind the golden era of the Victorian postal revolution.
However, it is not just the design but the lush rose colour which makes this stamp always stand out in a crowd.
Price: £475
The most attractive King Edward VII stamp
Great Britain 1902 £1 Dull blue green “Long One Pound”, SG266var.
Superb unused original gum example printed by De La Rue, overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 16.
Stamps issued during the short reign of King Edward VII (1901-1910) have long been a very popular area of British stamp collecting.
This most distinctive and memorable stamp design caused controversy at the time because of its unusual shape and size. It is now argued by some as being the most attractive definitive stamp issue of King Edward VII’s reign.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value of the issued stamp is £3,000. The catalogue value for Specimens is £1,400.
Price: £1,250
King George V’s Island of Beauty
Ceylon 1912-25 50r dull purple, watermark MCA, overprint "SPECIMEN", SG320s.
Fine mint example with fresh appearance and original gum. A few perforations show faint traces of toning on reverse, but much better than normally seen with almost none of the usual rubbing.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £225.
Price: £175
Very Rare Postal Stationery
Falkland Islands 1917 1d carmine postal stationery envelope, overprinted 'SPECIMEN'.
A lovely, fresh and fine piece.
Very rare as only 382 were originally distributed.
Stefan Heijtz Falkland Islands specialised catalogue number: E3sp.
Price: £175
Specimen remarkably showing a printing variety
Leeward Islands 1921-32 10s green and red/green, perforated 'SPECIMEN' (type D19), exceptionally showing variety 'Broken crown and scroll' (R2/12), SG79bs.
A wonderful and fresh mint specimen example with large part original gum. One short perforation and faint bend, hardly noticeable, and exceedingly rare in this quality.
Very good value for such a rare stamp with only a maximum of 7 possible examples.
Price: £450
Important Indian Postal History
India 1925 2a 'Delhi Specimen' essays, printed as samples of stamp production in India before the opening of the Nasik press. A range of 10 horizontal pairs, all perforations 14, in shades of indigo (x2), brown (x6) and vermilion (x2).
Fresh unmounted mint examples with full original gum and most attractive and rare.
From 1 January 1926, all printing and overprinting of India postage stamps was conducted at India Security Press, Nasik.
The potential to print stamps in India had previously been looked into before the First World War, but was considered not feasible at that time.
In 1922, the feasibility was again explored in England by Lt Col C.H. Willis, C.I.E., then master of the Bombay Mint, and Mr F.D. Ascoti, I.C.S., Controller of Printing, Stationery and Stamps. Their favourable report, followed by a successful demonstration of production techniques in Delhi in 1923, resulted in the decision by the Government to establish a security press at Nasik.
The responsibility of setting up the Press was entrusted to the illustrious London firm of Thomas De La Rue, which already had a six-decade long association with Indian stamps.
Price: £325
The ever popular Silver Jubilee stamp
St Lucia 1935 Silver Jubilee set of 4 to 1s, perforated 'SPECIMEN' (type D19), SG109s/12s.
A brilliant quality mint set with original gum, very fine and attractive.
A wonderful stamp design issued to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.
Price: £95
Commemorating the coronation of King George VI
Nyasaland 1937 Coronation of King George VI set of 3 to 2d, perforated 'SPECIMEN' (type B9), SG127s/9s.
A brilliant mint set with original gum. The ½d stamp has a few short perforations, but still a very fine quality set and exceptionally fresh.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £150.
Price: £125
Rare colour shades
Dominica 1938-47 2s slate and purple and 10s black and brown-orange (issued 15/10/47), perforated "SPECIMEN" (type W9), matching lower marginal example with "Waterlow & Sons Limited" imprint, SG106as/8as.
A fine quality pair, unmounted mint with full original gum. Lightly toned gum and 2s with a few short perforations, although still of fresh appearance.
The 2s stamp depicts Layou River and the 10s Boiling Lake.
A remarkable and very rare pair in this positional form, with only six examples of each possible and a low survival rate.
Price: £175
Exceptionally rare and attractive set
Tonga 1942-49 set of 9 to 5s, script watermark, perforated "SPECIMEN" (type D21), exceptionally in horizontal (½d, 6d, 2s6d) or vertical pairs, SG74s/82s.
A very fine quality mint set with original gum, with the lower value stamps in vertical pairs unmounted mint.
Very scarce as multiples. The 5s is a left marginal example with centre guide and showing marked rightward misplacement of perfin on upper stamp.
A wonderful set of stamps encapsulating the attractive high quality designs produced by Tonga.
Price: £500
Celebrating Victory
Ascension 1946 Victory 2d and 4d, perforations 'SPECIMEN' (type D21), SG48s/9s.
Very fine and fresh mint examples with original gum. The 4d stamp has a small trace of a gum tone speck, mentioned purely for accuracy and not detracting from overall quality.
The Victory stamps were issued in 1946 to celebrate the return to peace at the end of World War II. The designs feature a view of the Thames River in London, with a view of the Parliament buildings in the distance.
The Ascension specimens are generally considered to be the most difficult to find of all the colonial Victory specimens.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £450.
Price: £395
Celebrating a Royal Visit
Swaziland 1947 Royal Visit set of 4 to 1s, perforated 'SPECIMEN' (type W9), SG42/5s.
A brilliant quality mint set with original gum. The 1s has a few shortish perforations, but a very fine quality set and far above average. Very scarce as multiples.
A beautiful stamp issue celebrating the visit of the Royal Family on March 25, 1947. The 3d stamp, which features the young Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth is a particular favourite.
Price: £325
Own the whole collection
I hope you enjoyed viewing these fine specimens.
As I said, they are rare and difficult to obtain because they were never meant to become available to the public.
Despite being rare, they do not command high prices and look very good value.
The total value of the collection is £4,465 ($5,750). If you are keen to secure the collection in its entirety, please email me today at mike@paulfrasercollectibles.com.
Each stamp is also available to purchase individually, so if you want to own the whole collection, please let me know ASAP so I can reserve it for you.
Happy collecting.
Kind regards
Mike Hall
P.S. The fine SPECIMEN stamps in the collection tick all the boxes:
- Beautiful designs
- Very scarce
- In fine condition
- At remarkably low prices compared to what you would normally expect for such rare items
