Egypt — Extraordinary Collection of Essays, Proofs and Experimental Issues, 1864–1875
A remarkable and highly important collection of Egyptian essays, proofs, vignette studies and experimental stamp productions, representing many of the pioneering printers involved in the earliest development of Egyptian philately. This exceptional offering includes essays and proofs by Penasson of Alexandria, National Bank Note Co., Continental Bank Note Co., Charles Skipper & East, Riester, Renard, Prevost and the Khedivial Printing Works at Boulac, with many unique or near-unique multiples, se-tenant sheetlets, imprint pieces and exhibition-quality showpieces.
The collection is especially rich in the celebrated Penasson essays, including numerous imperforate sheetlets and composite multiples in a wide range of colours and configurations, many of extreme rarity.
Highlights include:
• 1864 Posta Europea Essays — complete set of four comprising 10pa buff, 20pa dark blue, 30pa green and 1pi white, extremely rare with only three complete sets recorded. These essays formed the basis for the later Interpostal Seals and represent the earliest attempts at prepaid Egyptian postage.
• 1865 Prevost Essays of Paris — 10pa red with black overprint on vignette, on white envelope, fine and scarce.
• 1866 2pi yellow perforated proof on white paper without watermark, top sheet marginal block of six showing POST imprint in margin, lightly toned, very fine and scarce.
• 1867 National Bank Note Co., New York — 20pa essay in blue with imprint “NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. NY.” at foot, small thins clear of design, attractive and rare.
• 1867 National Bank Note Co., New York — 1pi essay in blue with imprint “NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. NY.” at foot, small thins clear of design, attractive and rare.
• 1867 National Bank Note Co., New York — 2pi essay in red mounted on sunken die card with imprint, very fine, attractive and rare.
• 1867 Penasson of Alexandria — spectacular se-tenant sheetlet block of six in red on thin paper depicting Lion before Pyramids and Sphinx before Pyramid 1pi vignettes, imperforate, very fine and an extremely rare exhibition showpiece.
• 1867 Penasson of Alexandria — se-tenant sheetlet blocks of four in green depicting Pyramid-only vignettes with Arabic script and 10pa Pyramid designs, imperforate on thin paper; some creasing yet very fine and extremely rare.
• 1867 Penasson of Alexandria — 1pi Sphinx before Pyramid vignette in green on thin gummed paper, block of four, fresh and very fine, an extremely scarce multiple.
• 1867 V. Penasson Essays — important imperforate die proof set in black recess printing, comprising 10pa, 1pi and two 2pi designs with corner guidelines; apparently unique and pulled from the original steel dies.
• 1867 V. Penasson Essays — extensive series of imperforate se-tenant sheetlets of four in violet, red, green, brown, orange and blue, on both gummed and ungummed papers, each showing 10pa, 1pi and two 2pi essays in varying arrangements; faults typical of these fragile essays including wrinkles, thins and creases, but all highly attractive and very rare.
• 1869 Renard, Paris — 20pa green imperforate essay with black overprint on card, very fine and scarce.
• 1870 Riester, Paris — 20pa rose with green overprint, block of four in miniature sheet format, very fine and scarce.
• 1870 Riester, Paris — 20pa light ochre imperforate miniature sheet of four with two differing designs, all overprinted in red, very fine and scarce.
• 1871 Charles Skipper & East, London — 2pi black imperforate miniature sheet showing two different figure “2” types, very fine and rare.
• 1871 Penasson — 1pi blue, imperforate horizontally and perforated 12½ vertically, mint and mint never hinged bottom sheet marginal block of twelve; minor gum bends and light toning, very fine and a spectacular rare multiple.
• 1874 Continental Bank Note Co., New York — Sphinx and Pyramid 20pa in blue and green with black overprint, very fine and scarce.
• 1874 Continental Bank Note Co., New York — Pyramid 20pa in black and brown with black overprint, very fine and scarce.
• Essay of the Khedivial Printing Works at Boulac — 10pa surcharge essay in black on 2½pi grey-violet, one of the rarest and most elusive essays in all Egyptian philately.
• 1875 V. Penasson, Alexandria — Universal Postal Union essays including 60pa yellow-green with watermark and globe design inscribed “UNIONE POSTALE EGITTO”, imperforate, very fine and rare.
• 1875 V. Penasson, Alexandria — 60pa rose-red “Sessanta Para” essay with Arabic inscription, imperforate, very fine and very rare.
• Essay by unknown printer — typographed 1pi red imperforate mosque design in sheetlet format, very fine and rare.
An extraordinary specialised collection of museum calibre, offering a rare opportunity to acquire one of the most comprehensive groups of classic Egyptian essays and proofs to appear on the market. Rich in rarity, historical importance and visual appeal, with many items of exhibition significance and several believed unique or among the very few recorded examples.
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