Samoa 1877-80 'EXPRESS' 5s yellow-green, SG19.
The yellow-green (towards deep green), third state, perforations 12, block of 4 from right end of sheet (R1-2/4-5).
Very fine mint block with original gum and with lovely fresh colour.
A rare multiple, being the first 5s block we have ever handled.
Provenance: 'H.G. & Co' (= Hugo Griebert) guarantee mark on reverse.
The first postal service in Samoa was organised by C.L. Griffiths, who had published the Fiji Times Express and needed a postal service for Samoa to distribute his new newspaper "Samoa Times".
The lithographic Express stamps were printed in Sydney, Australia by S.T. Leigh & Co., and the stamps were issued October 1, 1877 in time for the October 6th first printing and edition of the newspaper.
The Samoa Express service was discontinued late in 1881.
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