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SPINK TO SELL IMPORTANT CAPE TRIANGULARS IN 7TH JULY SALE

The "Cape Town" Collection includes rare "Woodblock" errors

The July sale contains 50 lots of significant pieces of which 33 are of the "Woodblock" issue. There are notable rarities throughout but we must specifically mention certain items that will capture the imagination of collectors of this area.

The history of the Cape is most interesting as the location was crucial to travel from Europe to Asia and the Far East. The Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias first rounded the Cape in 1488, and named it the "Cape of Storms". Later, John ll of Portugal renamed it "Cape of Good Hope" (Cabo da Boa Esperanca). Dutch Merchant Jan van Riebeeck established a supply camp for the Dutch East India Company near the Cape on the 6th April 1652 which eventually developed into Cape Town. The United Kingdom occupied the Cape on 19th January 1806, and it was ceded to the UK in the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1814. It was henceforth administered as the Cape Colony.

The first postage stamps were printed by Perkins Bacon of London in 1853 and were produced as "Triangles" – a first for postage stamp printing worldwide. However in 1861, due to a shortage of stamps locally, Saul Solomon between February and April printed from stereotyped plates quantities of the 1d and 4d values known as "Woodblocks". Included on each sheet were single copies of errors of value. Thus 1d was inserted as 4d and 4d as 1d. These so called "errors" are highly sought after by collectors.

In the "Cape Town" collection, we find three examples. The first two are of the "Milky-blue" shade in used condition. Lot 28 as illustrated is an exceptional example with British Philatelic Society certificate. The second – Lot 29 and nearly as fine - has a great "Provenance" emanating from the Pack, Isleham, Salisbury and Indusophon collection. Estimates are £20,000 - £25,000 and £14,000 - £15,000.

The star attraction from the "Woodblock" errors is the 4d carmine value, again in used condition. Here the quality permeates. The margins are wide and the cancellation light so that the value tablet containing the error of value is clearly visible. From the famous "Ferrary" collection sold in 1921, most discerning philatelists consider this the second finest example extant. This also has a BPA certificate. The item (lot 49) is valued at £30,000 - £40,000 against the Stanley Gibbons catalogue value of £95,000.

Finally the most visual of the "Woodblocks" is perhaps lot 33 – a pair of the 4d pale milky blue on entire letter sheet dated 23rd April, 1861 at Cradock. Here the emphasis is the combination of perfection concerning the margins of the stamps, the precise strike of the cancellation and the blue background of the letter sheet making a visual creation of beauty. A great Provenance of collectors including Schofield, Huston and Danson; this item is valued at £35,000 - £40,000.

Only 63 lots make up this entire Sale, but the quality displayed indicates the great care and attention that only a "Connoisseur" can bring to the art of Philatelic excellence.