Lot 763 Great Britain 1843 Numeral 2 in Maltese Cross on a folded letter, mailed to Liverpool and received there on APR.22.1843 (datestamp on back). A lovely and clear strike of the numeral 2, properly tying a 1p red imperforate. Vertical fold and reinforcing of back, still a very presentable cover to show off this cancel. S.G. CV £550.
maltese cross
Lot 2040, Great Britain 1840 two penny blue, used VF with Maltese Cross
Lot 2040 Great Britain #2 1840 2p blue Queen Victoria Imperforate, used with well-centered bright red Maltese Cross cancel. Margins are well clear to large at top, from position NC, very fine. Scott CV U$925.
Lot 713 — Great Britain used #3 and #4, sold for $92
Lot 713 Great Britain #3-4 1841 1d red brown and 2d blue Queen Victoria, two choice stamps, 1d with three margins and neat black numeral 1 in Maltese cross cancel, and 2d is an attractive four margin stamp, very fine. Scott CV$109, sold for $80 plus buyer’s premium.
Lot 704 — Great Britain penny black with black Maltese Cross
With three sessions today, we begin at 10:00am EDT. Worldwide stamps and Postal History follow British Commonwealth, which sees this classic in the first few lots.
Lot 704 Great Britain #1 1840 1d intense black Queen Victoria with black Maltese Cross Cancel. SG values the black Maltese Cross on this stamp at £525. Extremely fine and fresh, from position GF. Scott CV$300.
Beautiful Blue
The postal reforms initiated in Great Britain lowered rates significantly when the first postage stamps were issued. The two values of one penny and two pence were adequate for most mail within Great Britain. When a higher rate was indicated, usually a pair or a strip was sufficient. Blocks are scarcer than strips of four or more. Used blocks of the Penny Black are scarce, but any block of the two pence is rare indeed. The result is a very high catalogue value for this block, likely destined for an Exhibition Collection.
Lot 603 Great Britain #2 Used 1840 2p blue Victoria, block of four, with Maltese Cross cancels. Margins are large to clear all around and bright colour. A rare block with Bühler and Calves signatures on back. Very fine. Scott CV $22,500