Great Britain 1840 1d Black Plate 8, SG2
An exceptional used four-margin example of the 1840 1d Black from Plate 8, lettered 'RB', neatly tied to a remarkably clean and attractive entire letter by a fine strike of the distinctive Plymouth Maltese Cross.
Addressed to Greenwich Hospital, backstamped with clear Plymouth and London date stamps for March 9th and 11th, 1841. A particularly scarce and desirable example of this distinctive Maltese Cross cancellation on cover.
The Plymouth Maltese Cross has recorded usage from 20 Feb 1841 to 2 Feb 1843. This cover is, therefore, most attractive as it is an excellent quality "early usage" example.
From February 1841 the Post switched cancels to black ink on the 1d red. Consequently, the window for a Plymouth distinctive Maltese Cross in black ink on a 1d black was short.
The Plymouth Maltese Cross is distinctive being heavier and bolder with a thick outer cross and thick, rounded inner arms, about 16–17 mm across.
GB Specialised Catalogue No.: AS46ui.
Accompanied by a 2002 Royal Philatelic Society (RPS) Certificate of Authenticity.
Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £9,000.
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