Lot No. 1024
| Auction No. | 35 |
| Category |
Stamps & Postal History Western Australia States and Territories Australia |
| Est. | $2000 |
| Status | SOLD $2500 |
1884 "½" surcharge in red on 1d yellow-ochre with the surcharge inverted. Fine used with neat 15-bar "6" of Guildford across the surcharge. Slightly aged but well centred with sound perfs. This error is not listed by SG & is the only recorded example. Brian Pope stated that it was discovered in 1989 however it could well be the stamp exhibited at Melbourne in 1894 by Joseph Davis. Brian studied this example in detail concluding that it failed all the tests for a forgery. It was subsequently submitted for a Ceremuga Cert in Oct 2023. The resulting conclusion was stated, "Unable to issue a certificate as the overprint is forged as far as can be determined at current state of knowledge." However he then covers this statement by adding, "for this item to be expertised with certainty, appropriate multiples/reconstructions would need to be provided for checking of the positions of both the overprint & plating of the basic stamp." So, an inconclusive opinion that leads us to offer this intriguing stamp on a "sold as is" basis but undoubtedly a mystery that requires further research. Previously estimated at $5000 by Abacus Auctions.
Image represents the entire lot.