£380
VERY RARE 1st-PERIOD BLACK USAGE OF "GIBRALTAR" ARC - ON COVER EX "[H.M.S.] AMPHION, MALTA"; 13 Feb. 1807 EL (from the Hoste correspondence; interesting contents) from "[H.M.S.] Amphion off Malta" to Norfolk charged "2/9" Packet + inland rates with a 90%-complete "GIBRALTAR" arc mark (slightly off the edge) nicely placed on the front; this mark was only used in black from Feb. to March 1807 before the Postmaster was instructed to use red ink, and so only 4 examples of this first black-ink period are known on covers (the black ink was reintroduced for this mark from 1831 to 1837 when a second similar mark was issued and again used in black until 1848).
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Free Registration
27.6% inc VAT*
Flat Fee Registration
24.00% inc VAT*