A 1907 Kelantan £10 imperforate colour trial stamp is among the highest valued lots in Spink's Stamp and Covers of South East Asia auction, which will be held on September 21 in Singapore.
![]() The stamp was printed to test the colour scheme, which was later used for the 1910 KE $500 stamp |
The stamp, printed by De La Rue in dull purple and orange-brown shades, will sell with an $8,000-9,500 estimate.
The stamp is printed on gummed MCA watermarked paper, displaying the colours later selected for the 1910 King Edward $500 stamp of the Straits Settlements (now Singapore and Malaysia). An imperforate example, it boasts four clear margins and is in very fine condition.
![]() 'An exceptional quality cover, much above average for this issue' |
Sharing this estimate is a Toungoo, Burma cover sent to Toronto, which comes to auction as part of The Stoltz Collection of Postal History. Dated 1858, the cover is marked "via Calcutta & Southampton" and bears a fine square cut 1854 4 anna stamp, which has been centrally cancelled with "B/181".
Showing various first rate marks, as well as "India paid" applied in error, overstruck with "India unpaid", it bears a very fine "toungoo/p.o" double ring date stamp in red. The auction house has described it as "an exceptional quality cover, much above average for this issue".
With the sale spanning much of south east Asian postal history, a Kelantan Kota Bharu stationary card also holds the $8,000-9,500 estimate.
Dated June 20, 1909, this is the extremely rare 5 anna on 4 anna card, cancelled by a very fine "Kota Bharu/Kelantan" bridge type circular date stamp. It also shows the arrival datestamp in the opposite corner.
Paul Fraser Collectibles offers some of the finest stamps for sale, including rarities from across Great Britain and the Commonwealth.