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Auction: 25016 - Stamps and Covers of Asia
Lot: 1138

(x) India
1854-55 Issue
Half Anna
Die I, Stone A4
An unused block of twenty-four (8x3) in lovely range of shades, representing the lowermost three rows of the sheet with [81] showing eye and hair retouched and [78] showing redrawn chignon, with full sheet margins showing entire inscription, the first line of which, "Lithographed under the Superintendence of CAPT: HL" is doubled, both lower corner ornaments, and part side margin inscriptions. Vertical folds through centre affecting columns three and four and some marginal folds, as to be expected with a multiple of this size, without gum as issued. A remarkable and most important multiple. Photo.

Notes: In Part three of Magnolia, a block of twenty-four from the same stone sold for USD $22,000, claimed there to be the largest known multiple to exist. While the description states that the Magnolia block (which had incomplete margins at right) was mentioned by Smythies and Martin it is, in fact, the block offered here mentioned and illustrated by Smythies and Martin.

literature: Mentioned on page 25 of Smythies and Martin and illustrated on Plate 8

provenance:
Daver




Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£10,000 to £15,000

Starting price
£10000