Lots 474, 486 & 488: Great Britain 1840 penny black, red brown and two penny blue, all with Maltese Cross in red

Classic Great Britain philately from the John Hillson Collections.

Lot 474 Great Britain #2 Plate 4. 1840 1d black Queen VictoriaLot 474 Great Britain #2 Plate 4. 1840 1d black Queen Victoria Imperforate, from position LI (sloping L), with four large margins, showing part of next stamp at left, and an ideal complete Maltese Cross in red, extremely fine. S.G. CV £400

Lot 486 Great Britain #2, 7 Plate 11. 1840 1d black and 1d red brown Queen Victoria Imperforate Matched PairLot 486 Great Britain #2, 7 Plate 11. 1840 1d black and 1d red brown Queen Victoria Imperforate Matched Pair, both from position DG and each having large balanced margins and moderate Maltese Cross cancels in black, very fine. Plate 11 is the scarcest, by far, of all the “Black” plates. Accompanied by a 2008 B.P.A. certificate for the matching pair. S.G. CV £4,730

Lot 488 Great Britain #5e Plate 1. 1840 2d blue Queen Victoria Imperforate, a horizontal strip of three from position II-IK, with good to large margins all around and three almost complete impressions of the Maltese Cross in red, fine-very fine. Catalogue value is for three singles only. S.G. CV £3,300

Lot 744, Newfoundland 1932 Dornier DO-X flight cover, St. John’s to New York

Lot 744, Newfoundland 1932 Dornier DO-X flight cover, St. John's to New YorkLot 744 Newfoundland #C12 1932 Dornier DO-X Flight Cover, mailed St John’s on MAY.19.1932 (slogan machine) to Brooklyn, New York (no receiver on back) and endorsed “Trans-Atlantic Airmail (West to East) per Dornier “DO-X” with a prominent return address of St John’s. Most covers from this flight were mailed to England, with a few going to Germany, Spain or Portugal, but we do not recall seeing any others addressed to New York. An article in the May/June 1988 Newfie Newsletter by Bertram Warr explains that on May 19, 1932 the plane had been repaired in New York City and left there for Germany, via Dildo Arm NL, then Holyrood NL (for refueling). There was therefore a connection between St John’s and New York on that day, but “the other way around.” An interesting and very fine cover with only a few light wrinkles and erased pencil writing. Estimate C$350.

Lot 186, Canada 1875 six cent brown Small Queen, perf 12 used strip of three, Hamilton postmark

Lot 186, Canada 1875 six cent brown Small Queen, perf 12 used strip of three, Hamilton postmarkLot 186 Canada #39 1875 6c brown Small Queen, Perforated 12, a used strip of three postmarked Hamilton JUL.8.1875, from the “two dot stage”. With space between first and second stamps showing unpunched perforations, plus a small area where no perforations are visible at all. A very fine and interesting item, from the John Hillson Collections. Estimate $200.