Rare Boer War ‘IR OFFICIAL’ up for auction The only recorded example of a British 'IR OFFICIAL' used during the Boer War goes up for auction with Stanley Gibbons on Wednesday 15th June.
News-Antique.com - Jun 13,2011 - Stanley Gibbons bi-annual public auction takes place on Wednesday 15th June at their offices at 399 Strand, London, offering a selection of world rarities including a unique example of a British IR Official used on cover (Lot 577).
Dated December 4 1901, the picture postcard bearing this rare example of an 1882 1d lilac (die II) overprinted ‘IR Official’ comes complete with a similar postcard showing a view of 'Military and Boer Camp Green Point'.
Philatelic experts believe that the 1d lilac overprinted ‘IR Official’ used on cover is the only such recorded example and therefore unique. The two item lot has a conservative pre-auction estimate of just £600-700.
Other items of note in the auction include a fine example of the rare 1840 1d Black VR Official, prepared for use but not issued (SG V1) and an original selection of thirty-two Ugandan ‘Missionary stamps’ (Lot 610), comprising 1895 narrow letters, narrow stamps 16-18mm wide 5c to 60c black unused, 1896 5c to 100c violet unused, and 1896 1a to 5r unused plus matching used (excl 3a) the 1a unused, 8a used and 1r unused having variety Small 'o' in 'POSTAGE'.
Despite a few faults including creasing and a small tear on the 1895 25c, auctioneers believe it to be ‘a most remarkable and valuable accumulation.’
Stanley Gibbons All World Public Auction consists of two sessions; The morning session starts at 10am with a Foreign section including China, Japan and Monaco, followed by British Commonwealth, finishing with mixed collections.
In the afternoon there is the Great Britain session which includes a number of Trials, Proofs and Imprimaturs and several of the rarer QEII Presentation packs.
An auction catalogue can be downloaded from www.stanleygibbons.com and a full list of realisations will be published online after the event.
