Great Britain 1841 2d Blue Plate 4, SG14
A superb unused horizontal strip of three with original gum, lettered 'CA–CC', from Plate 4 of the 1841 2d Blue issue.
This exceptional multiple features good to large four margins throughout, with two stamps remaining in pristine unmounted mint condition.
An outstanding and eye-catching philatelic presentation of this iconic line-engraved issue, showcasing the finely detailed portrait of Queen Victoria in rich blue.
Such strips are seldom seen in this quality, especially with original gum and such excellent preservation.
Accompanied by a 1977 British Philatelic Association (BPA) Certificate of Authenticity.
The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value of a mint pair is £12,000. No catalogue value is listed for the rarer strip of three.
White lines were added to the 1841 printings of the 2d blue to distinguish them from the original 1840 2d blue printings.
According to the Treasury Minute dated 17 December 1840, it had proved impracticable to change the colour of the 2d blue to another light colour.
In accordance with the instructions “…as it may be important, hereafter, to have the means of distinguishing the new Twopenny Labels from the old ones, to make some alteration in the plate used for printing them,” the white lines were added.”
The design of the 2d blue was therefore changed with a horizontal white line being added at the top and bottom. The new design became known as the “white lines added issue”.
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