Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 6010 - Important Stamps & Covers of the World - Washington Philatelic Exhibition Auction
Lot: 14

x Bermuda The Postmasters´ Stamps From 1818 postmasters were permitted to retain any postage paid at their respective offices on inland mail. When the post office was closed a slot was provided in the door for mail to be posted with the necessary sum for postage. Monies received and the number of letters did not always tally. Being required to forward all the mail, and rather than penalize those who had been honest, some mail was sent free. This resulted in the postmaster being cheated of part of his income. It was to counter this fraud that in 1848 William Perot, postmaster at Hamilton, introduced his "stamps" by utilising datestamp impressions, with day and month slugs removed, struck on pieces of paper, endorsing them "One Penny" and with his signature. In later years William Perot and James Thies, postmaster at St. Georges, used Crowned Circle General Post Office stamps in a similar manner. PEROT´S FIRST ISSUE 1D. BLACK ON BLUISH GREY 1849 Perot´s First Issue at Hamilton, 1d. black on bluish grey, roughly cut-to-shape and affixed to piece of original letter addressed to "Henry C" (Higgs, St. Georges). One of only two examples dated 1849 and a great rarity. B.P.A. Certificate (2004). Sc. X1; S.G. O2, £140,000 Estimate US$ 70,000-90,000literature: "Encyclopaedia of Rare and Famous Stamps" Volumes 1 and 2 by L.N. Williams provenance: This stamp passed through various hands before it was auctioned by Robson Lowe in 1974. Acquired by Baron Stig Leuhusen in November 1978 for $70,000

Sold for
$88,000