Great Britain 1850 1d red brown Plate 98 (Archer trial perforation), SG16b.
A superb unused, with original gum, example lettered "MD".
A magnificent example of this rare perforation trial and of huge philatelic importance marking the invention of perforated stamps.
Henry Archer was an Irish-born businessman. He was the first to put forward the concept of having an easy method to separate stamps from the sheet.
The first two types of rouletting machines used were failures. For his third machine, Archer adopted the principle of perforation as distinct from rouletting. The machine was approved by May 1850 and perforation trials were concluded prior to the first experimental distribution of these stamps in October 1850.
SG Catalogue Value: £3,000.
