New South Wales
Lot 99 New South Wales
Description
SPECIMEN STAMPS: 1895 'O S' Overprint in Red on Diadems 3d 5d & 8d plus 5/- Map, and in Black on 5/- Coin, 5/- Map & 20/- Governors, all CTO with 'GPO'-in-Concentric-Ovals & subsequently with small 'Specimen' handstamp applied in black, all with large-part original gum. A rare group. In 1895, following the withdrawal of the 'OS' Overprints, 1000 sets of stamps - including reprints of a number of them made especially for this purpose - were prepared. 900 sets were intended for sale to collectors for £2 per set: these were cancelled with 'NSW'-in-Concentric Ovals. 100 sets were for gratuitous distribution & these were cancelled with the similar 'GPO' device. A public outcry caused the withdrawal and destruction of the remainders, after only 158 sets had been sold. Of the presentation sets, 50 had been distributed. The balance were not destroyed but were defaced with the small 'Specimen' handstamp. (7)
Bid on this lot
Lot 99 New South Wales
Description
SPECIMEN STAMPS: 1895 'O S' Overprint in Red on Diadems 3d 5d & 8d plus 5/- Map, and in Black on 5/- Coin, 5/- Map & 20/- Governors, all CTO with 'GPO'-in-Concentric-Ovals & subsequently with small 'Specimen' handstamp applied in black, all with large-part original gum. A rare group. In 1895, following the withdrawal of the 'OS' Overprints, 1000 sets of stamps - including reprints of a number of them made especially for this purpose - were prepared. 900 sets were intended for sale to collectors for £2 per set: these were cancelled with 'NSW'-in-Concentric Ovals. 100 sets were for gratuitous distribution & these were cancelled with the similar 'GPO' device. A public outcry caused the withdrawal and destruction of the remainders, after only 158 sets had been sold. Of the presentation sets, 50 had been distributed. The balance were not destroyed but were defaced with the small 'Specimen' handstamp. (7)
