Malta 1965-70 4½d 'Maltese Navy', SG337/a.
A superb unmounted mint, with full original gum, block of 12 (2x6) being the two right columns of a sheet with '1B' (×3) plate numbers, showing MASSIVE DOWNWARD SHIFT OF SILVER causing two top stamps to show ERROR SILVER ('MALTA', etc) OMITTED.
Upper left stamp with superimposed silver '1A' plate number from pane above, and with 'MALTA' and value appearing in the bottom margin.
Insignificant traces of toning in margin mentioned for accuracy but a remarkable piece, by far the most important and desirable error from this issue, with only ten individual examples possible, and UNIQUE in this positional form.
Comes with matching normal '1A' block for comparison and display purposes.
Last sold by Stanley Gibbons in 2011 for £3,950.
