Description
Western Australia 1855 4d slate-blue mint, Swan, SG3c.
A fine quality mint example of the magnificent and iconic first stamp issue from Western Australia. The Swan was used as it was the emblem of the Colony and a reminder of when it was known as the Swan River Settlement.
Includes large part original gum, with four close to very large margins and horizontal gum creasing not detracting from its quality.
These stamp issues are hardly ever seen with gum and unused prices quoted in the SG catalogue are for examples without gum.
This is a particularly difficult and rare shade and very few examples are known with original gum.
The first 1d Swan stamps were engraved and printed by Perkins Bacon. Later in the year, the 4d values were produced by a local lithographer, Horace Samson by taking an impression of the 1d's swan vignette and adding different frames.
The SG catalogue price is £4,000.