John E du Pont collection: Falkland Islands

Grosvenor is proud to announce the sale of the John E du Pont collection of Falkland Islands to be presented as a special auction on March 7th 2013.

This superlative collection, formed by one of the most famous, award-winning collectors of the twentieth century, includes many rare proofs and stamps from the reigns of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V, as well as an impressive range of scarce early covers from and to the islands.

Amongst the many attractions will be the popular ‘Frank’ covers, two displaying the ‘Red Frank’ and another four with the ‘Black Frank’, one being registered.

Early stamp issues include a full mint sheet of the 1878 6d. and a block of twelve of the 1879 4d., this the largest known multiple.

One particular rarity is the 1882 1d. dull claret horizontal pair imperforate vertically (S.G. 5a, cat. £80,000), one of only two known examples (above).

From the period of the 1891 surcharged bisects comes one of three surviving examples of the official Government Notice that announced the arrangement and bearing two cancelled 1/2d. on 1d. pairs, as well as the largest recorded multiple, a much sought after item formerly held in the collections of the Baron de Worms, Dr. Koefman and Dudley Stone (left). Examples of these bisects on cover include an inverted surcharge bisect used with 4d. on envelope registered to London.

Rare cancellations include a 1909 cover from New Island with date in manuscript, one of just three known, and a 1d. stationery envelope cancelled by the red Government House c.d.s. in 1900.

The 1928 South Georgia provisional 21/2d. on 2d. is presented in an attractive mint block of thirty that includes one stamp with double surcharge, itself one of only two known examples of this highly desirable variety (left).

The catalogue for this auction will be issued in early 2013 and all lots will be available to view fully illustrated on the Grosvenor website www.grosvenorauctions.com
Please contact James Grist at Grosvenor for further information.
(jgrist@grosvenor-auctions.co.uk)

News item published on: 1 October, 2012