Cayman Islands 1917 'WAR STAMP' 1½d on 2½d deep blue, type 16 surcharge, SG55. Fine fresh appearance mint example with original gum. Faintly yellowish gum as often the case, and one perforation with trace of toning on reverse, yet much above average for this very rare stamp. Only 420 were issued in error. The printers, De La Rue, recognised that the surcharge did not adequately obliterate the original face value and they were replaced with a more effective surcharge. A small quantity, however, s

CAYMAN ISLANDS 1917 'WAR STAMP' 1½d on 2½d deep blue, SG55

Ceylon 1918-19 'WAR STAMP' 5c purple, right marginal block of 4, variety WATERMARK INVERTED, SG333w. Fine quality mint positional piece with original gum, (lower pair unmounted). Minor marginal crease, which barely detracts from overall stunning appearance. A rare block, with the variety visible in the margin from the face. The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £480+.

CEYLON 1918-19 'WAR STAMP' 5c purple, SG333w

Great Britain SG411, 1915 10s Deep Blue Postage Stamp.   A very fine, unmounted original gum, example of the rarest deep blue shade, printed by De La Rue. Full perforations and superb centring. Specialised catalogue number N70(2).   The Stanley Gibbons catalogue price is £5,500.    Read our full newsletter about this item here.    Free global delivery. 28-day returns.

Great Britain 1915 10s Deep Blue Postage Stamp - SG411

Canada Registration Stamps 1875-92 5c deep green, IMPERFORATE VERTICAL PAIR, SGR6a. Fine quality imperforate pair of Canada's first Registration stamps with large part original gum. Typical yellowish gum as normally seen, but benefiting particularly from lovely colour. A very scarce item. The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £950.

CANADA 1875-92 5c deep green Registration Stamps, SGR6a

We are delighted to be in the privileged position to present you the defining collection of the rarest philatelic treasures from Great Britain.  Building the collection took years of effort and searching, made particularly challenging by our adherence to strict quality controls in that only the finest examples in existence were permitted into the collection.  The collection in its entirety undoubtedly has a premium value to its component parts.  The collection tracks the first 100 years of the B

Great Britain's Rarest Stamps Collection

China 1949 (May) Kwangtung Province 'unit' stamps, set of 6 to $500 grey-green, SG1232/37. An attractive fresh mint set. Read our full newsletter on this item here. Free global delivery. 28-day returns.

China 1949 (May) Kwangtung Province 'unit' stamps SG1232/37

Canada Official Stamps 1949 2c brown, left marginal block of 9, type O3 'O.H.M.S.' overprint. The centre stamp includes the variety with the "Missing stop after S" (R6/2), SGO163a. Attractive and fresh block of 9, unmounted mint with full original gum. Trivial perforation toning (not affecting variety) and not detracting from overall fine quality. Scarce in this se-tenant form. Accompanied with a clear King George VI Expertising certificate of authenticity (2006). The Stanley Gibbons catalogue v

Canada 1949 2c brown Missing stop after "S", SGO163a

Canada Official Stamps 1949 short set of 6 to 14c, type O3 'O.H.M.S.' overprint, in corner plate blocks of 4, matching from upper right except 2c (upper left), with plate numbers '30' (1c), '4' (2c), '32' (3c), '50' (4c), '2' (10c) and '1' (14c), SGO162/7. Very fine quality set, unmounted mint with full original gum. An attractive and scarce set of stamps in this form. The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £258+.

CANADA 1949 short set of 6 to 14c Officials, SGO162/7

Canada Official Stamps 1950-52 20c slate, type O5 'G' overprint, upper right corner plate 'No. 2' block of 4, SGO187. A fine quality block of four, unmounted mint with full original gum. Hinged in top margin, and lower left stamp with unobtrusive surface adhesion. A scarce positional piece and rarely seen so fine. The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £240+.

CANADA 1950-52 20c slate Official, SGO187

Canada Official Stamps 1949 $1 purple, type O5 'G' overprint, upper left corner plate - imprint block of 4, SGO189. Lovely quality, unmounted mint with full original gum, (hinge mark in top margin only). One stamp with natural inclusion but a very scarce block, particularly in this positional form. Only 300 sheets were overprinted.

CANADA 1949 $1 purple Official, SGO189

Canada Official Stamps 1949 $1 purple 'Ferry', type O3 'O.H.M.S.' overprint, lower left corner block of 4, SGO170. A highly attractive positional block of four of this splendid stamp, unmounted mint with full original gum. The upper left stamp with tiny wrinkle, immaterial, but mentioned purely for accuracy. The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is £180+.

CANADA 1949 $1 purple 'Ferry' Official, SGO170

]]>Imprimaturs represent the first stamps printed from the approved and finished printing plate and are highly desirable.