The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps
153-157 London Rd, Derby DE1 2SY, UK
| Lot | 1854-55 ½a BLUE DIE I (SG 2-5) | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1151 | 1854 ½a PALE BLUE DIE I: An unused lower left corner vertical pair with corner ornament. Diagonal crease crosses the lower stamp. Attractive despite this. SG 4 £850+. |  | $95 |
| 1152 | 1854 ½a DEEP BLUE DIE I: A used pair [95-96] lightly cancelled with a diamond of dots. Apparently a worn impression from the "B" stone. A little toned. A horizontal pair in a pale shade, and a pair [89-90] with large margins and worn impression. (3 pairs) |  | $80 |
| 1153 | 1854 ½a DEEP BLUE DIE I RARE STONE: A vertical pair [21/29] from one of the rare stones ("A" type) with good to large margins except barely touched at NW corner, neatly cancelled by diamond of dots. A fine pair with fresh colour, and the relative position of the two stamps (from the junction of the intermediate stone of 24) is sufficient to demonstrate that it cannot be from the regular "A" or "B" stones. Desirable thus. [Ex Dawson] |  | $50 |
| 1154 | 1854 ½a DEEP BLUE DIE I "B1" STONE: A used vertical strip of four [40/48/56/64] cancelled with "60" on diamond of bars. Good to wide margins. Fine. |  | $50 |
| 1155 | 1854 ½a INDIGO DIE I - RARE STONE: A used horizontal pair [7-8] with a very small portion of the top right corner ornament. This shows that this pair comes from a "rare" stone (not "A" or "B"). Minor toning and [7] with light crease. Scarce. SG £340 as normals. |  | $95 |
| 1156 | 1854 ½a INDIGO DIE I RARE "A3" STONE: A used example [95] with confirmed flaws, neatly cancelled by diamond of seven bars. Large to very large margins. A fine example. [Ex Dawson & Smythies] |  | $50 |
| 1157 | 1854 ½a INDIGO DIE I "B" STONE: A fine upper left corner example [1] with a small portion of the corner ornament and neatly cancelled by "95" numeral of Kurachee. Rare so fine. SG 5. |  | $50 |
| 1158 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE I "B" STONE: A fine upper right unused corner block of ten, [7-8/15-16/23-24/7-8/15-16] being intermediate stone numbers 7-8/15-16/23-24/7-8/15-16 with part marginal inscription and corner ornament. Fine and rare. SG £3,250. |  | $800 |
| 1159 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE I "B" STONE RARE UNUSED BLOCK OF TWELVE [49-52/57-60/65-68]: An unused marginal block of twelve (4 x 3) from the left of the sheet with part inscription, intermediate stone numbers 1-4/9-12/17-20. No 57 with eye no longer solid and triangular. Light horizontal crease at foot. Very attractive. SG 2 £3,900. [Ex D C Gray] |  | $800 |
| 1160 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE I "B" STONE [7-72/78-80]: An unused marginal block of six (3 x 2) from the right of the sheet with part inscription. [78 & 79] with blue flaw in NW of "D" in "INDIA". Intermediate stone numbers 22-24/6-8. Fine. [Ex D.C. Gray] |  | $400 |
| Lot | 1854-55 ½a BLUE DIE II (SG 6 & 7) | Estimate | |
| 1161 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE I "B" STONE - RETOUCHES ON THE PARENT STONE: An unused example plus eleven used examples inc. two pairs with various retouches such as double nostril [12], hair below band of nuque [33], and band of nuque touched up. A fine lot. (11) |  | $200 |
| 1162 | 1854 ½a BLUE SHADES DIE I "B" STONE GROUP with a blue strip of three [42-44] lightly cancelled with diamond of dots. A deep blue pair [42-43] with neat "22" of Ahmedabad cancellation Also a lightly cancelled block of four (shaved at foot) with various retouches. The right pair of the strip illustrated on Smythies & Martin plate 5. (3 items) |  | $95 |
| 1163 | 1854 ½a PALE BLUE DIE I "B" STONE STRIP OF FOUR [11-14] a most attractive horizontal strip in a greenish shade, good to large margins with neat"1" of Bombay cancellations. Fine. |  | $65 |
| 1164 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE I "B" STONE: A lightly cancelled block of four [7-8/15-16] showing various retouches. Also two used singles [8] and [16] without retouches. Fine. [Ex Wilmot Carfield] |  | $65 |
| 1165 | 1854 ½a PALE BLUE DIE I "B" STONE [51-52/59-60]: A fine unused block of four in the scarcer pale shade. SG 3 £1,700. |  | $340 |
| 1166 | 1854 ½a DEEP BLUE (TOWARDS INDIGO) DIE I VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE "B" STONE [71-87] with good to very large margins, lightly cancelled by diamonds of dots and trace of red cancellation at left. Slight creasing on lower stamp and ms on reverse. Fine and fresh. SG 4 £150+. |  | $65 |
| 1167 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE I RARE "A4" STONE UNUSED BLOCK OF TWENTY FOUR: A remarkable block of twenty four being blocks of nine and fifteen rejoined to form the first two upper rows of the sheet with margins and inscriptions on three sides. The flaws comprise [6] with white patch between band on neck & chignon, [9] with hollow eye, and [22] with redrawn hair below band. The wide left margin (partly rejoined) indicates right-hand pane of the printing stone. The lower horizontal row has a surface rubbed line above the value. An exceptional item. |  | $1,000 |
| 1168 | 1854 ½a DEEP BLUE DIE I RARE UNKNOWN STONE STRIP OF FOUR [77-80]: A marginal strip of four from the right of the sheet, intermediate stone numbers 5-8 with "ADDRESS SID" part inscription. Crisply cancelled "75" in diamond of Nagpore. Note: the strip shows none of the flaws of the "A" & "B" stones. The position of the word "ADDRESS" is different from other known stones. |  | $80 |
| 1169 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE I USED STRIPS with a "D" stone vertical strip of four [70-78-86-94] with fine "17" in diamond cancellations, a vertical strip of three [14-22-30] with "95" in diamond cancellations and a horizontal pair [89-90] & the adjoining single [91] with "B34" cancellations. All with wide margins and fine. (3 multiples) |  | $160 |
| 1170 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE WONDERFUL UNUSED BLOCK OF SIXTEEN [81-96]: An unused block of sixteen (8 x 2) being the lower two rows of the sheet with full marginal inscription at foot and corner ornaments. Small tear in margin, wide margins and fine. Note: positions 81 and 82 are out of line showing that the stone was made up of individual transfers. |  | $1,100 |
| 1171 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE UNUSED BLOCK OF SIXTEEN: A most attractive unused block of sixteen (8 x 2) being the top two rows of the sheet with full imprint and corner ornament. Central vertical fold and small stain. [1] with Chignon heavily touched up and [9] with band of solid colour. A rare survivor. SG 6 £4,400. |  | $1,000 |
| 1172 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE MAGNIFICENT UNUSED MARGINAL BLOCK OF SIXTEEN: A very fine marginal block of sixteen (4 x 4) from the right of the sheet with inscription. A rare large multiple. SG 6 £4,400. |  | $800 |
| 1173 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE UNUSED STRIP OF SEVEN: An unused vertical strip of seven [17-25-33-41-49-57-65] from the left of the sheet with a large part marginal inscription. With close to wide margins, horizontal central fold. [25] with touched up lower Chignon, and [49] with touch up to top right of ornament and bottom of arches at right. Most attractive. |  | $400 |
| 1174 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE [1-2/9-10]: An unused upper left corner block of four with part inscription and corner ornament. The touch up on [1] in the Chignon is the most striking of any of the ½a printings. The Chignon of [9] is also touched up. No. 2 has the "Volcano on top of Chignon" variety. A good block. |  | $340 |
| 1175 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE [17-19]: An unused marginal strip of three from the left of the sheet with small part inscription. Shows some indication of re-engraving of Chignon. Fine. Also a used pair [10-11] with traces of re-engraving. Fine. (5) |  | $200 |
| 1176 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE [23-24/31-32]: An unused marginal block of four with part inscription at right, [32] with Chignon retouch. Fine. SG 6 £1,100. |  | $200 |
| 1177 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II: A good used selection inc. one on cover from Nagpore, two pairs and one with red-brown "104" cancellation of Khetty (Bombay Circle). Generally fine. (26) |  | $200 |
| 1178 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE: An unused vertical marginal strip of three [56/64/72] with part inscription. Fine. |  | $200 |
| 1179 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE [41-43]: An unused horizontal marginal strip of three with small part inscription. Fine. |  | $180 |
| 1180 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE: An unused marginal block of four from the right of the sheet with part inscription. A little toned but sound condition. SG 6 £1,100. |  | $130 |
| Lot | 1854-55 ½a BLUE DIE III (SG 8-10) | Estimate | |
| 1181 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II "C" STONE [51-59]: An unused vertical pair with [51] having a distinctive eye & moustache re-touch and [59] with touched up Chignon. Fine. SG 6 £550. |  | $80 |
| 1182 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE II: Two fine unused four margined examples. |  | $80 |
| 1183 | 1854 ½a INDIGO DIE II "C" STONE [62-70-78]: An unused vertical strip of three with [70] having three spots in Chignon and upper label cracked above "DIA" of "INDIA". [78] with broken N.E. corner and blue flaw on inner line left opposite third dot. |  | $200 |
| 1184 | 1854 ½a INDIGO DIE II "C" STONE: An unused example [28] of intense colour, wide margins, trivial mark in left margin which barely detracts. Also 1854 1a deep red Die I with good to large margins, lightly cancelled with "B/5" of Akyab, Burma. Apparently a worn over-inked and retouched impression of the "A" stone [89]. |  | $80 |
| 1185 | 1854 ½a INDIGO DIE II "C" STONE: A fine unused example [22] with large margins and exceptional colour. Trace of water stain at top. Fine appearance and scarce. SG 7 £350. |  | $80 |
| 1186 | 1855 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE [59]: An unused example of this very scarce adhesive. Good margins and fine. Seldom seen. SG 8a £4,000. |  | $1,300 |
| 1187 | 1855 ½a BLUE DIE III "C" STONE [85]: An unused four margined example of most attractive appearance. Trace of thinning along left frameline. Scarce. SG 8a £4,000. |  | $650 |
| 1188 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE POSITION 39 GROUP with four singles, a pair 39-40 with retouched eye and missing 6th dot at right. A close margined example used on env. (illustrated on plate 12 of Smythies & Martin). Another used on reverse of EL to Bombay. (7 items) |  2 | $200 |
| 1189 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE INTERESTING GROUP being a position 27 study. Five singles inc. varieties to the Chignon, coloured dots below "INDIA", and blank space in right Chignon. A used horizontal strip of four [25-28]. A single with Chignon retouched used on part E to Calcutta. Mostly fine. (7 items) |  2 | $160 |
| 1190 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE: A used group of eight examples with various retouches inc. [9], [27], [72 & [79] with retouches to diadem (scarce), [22] with two lines in top of Chignon. [46 & 66] with touched up Chignon, eye & ear. Fine. |  2 | $130 |
| 1191 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE RETOUCHED FRAMES: An interesting used group comprising position 70 x 3 examples showing three types of frame retouches. A pair [69-70] with retouched frame & base. (illustrated on plate 12 of Smythies & Martin). Also positions 87 (2) and 31 with frame retouches. Fine examples. (8) |  3 | $120 |
| 1192 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE [77]: A fine single on front with band and Chignon retouched. Another with retouched Diadem and a normal example. Fine. (3) |  | $95 |
| 1193 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE RETOUCHED CHIGNON: Three used examples [51-59-95] clearly showing the retouched Chignon variety. Also another [75?] with retouched Chignon used on env. to Secoderabad. Fine. |  | $80 |
| 1194 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE: A used marginal horizontal strip of four [17-20]. Also Position 69, four used examples with various retouches. Fine. (8) |  2 | $80 |
| 1195 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE [24] BULGE BELOW "LA" OF "HALF": Three used examples inc. one on cover. Show various varieties inc. pug nose, retouched Chignon and nose. The stamps used to illustrate plate 12 of Smythies & Martin. |  | $80 |
| 1196 | 1855 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE [46]: Three wide margined used shades with touched up Chignon, eye, ear and band of nuque. Fine. |  | $80 |
| 1197 | 1855 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE [66]: Four used examples inc. one on small part cover. All with touched up chignon, eye and ear. One on piece with some gum staining at edges, others fine. (4) |  | $80 |
| 1198 | 1855 ½a BLUE DIE III: Four fine used examples [30], [45], [55] & [73]. SG 8b. |  | $65 |
| 1199 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE BLANK SPACE VARIETY: Four used examples [25-36-60-75] with a blank space in the hair over the band of the nuque and abutting the Chignon. Fine. |  | $65 |
| 1200 | 1854 ½a BLUE DIE III "D" STONE [78]: A good three margined example (shaved at right) used on E from Madras. |  | $65 |
