British Guiana 1850-51 12c blue ‘Cotton Reel’, Townsend type 'B (thick rule break over first 'I’ of BRITISH’), SG5.
A cut square example with three good to large margins but just shaved to top. Initialled by the postmaster "EDW", being the initials of E. D. Wight. Lightly cancelled by large part 'BERBICE’ circular date stamp (‘MR 16 (1851)') which leaves design virtually clear.
A very fine example of this classic rarity, with lovely fresh colour, and in terms of overall quality much the best ‘Cotton Reel’ we have been able to offer for many years.
This somewhat understated stamp is considered one of the great stamp rarities of the British Commonwealth. There are estimated to be fewer than 10 examples in existence making it one of the rarest stamps from British Guiana and a centerpiece for any advanced collection.
The renowned “Cotton Reel” stamps are named for their resemblance to the base of a cotton reel and are considered by discerning collectors as a thing of primitive charm.
Provenance: Ex De Coppet (initials on reverse) and Dale-Lichtenstein (Harmer New York. 18/2/1969, lot 408)
[NB In the famous ‘du Pont’ sale (Feldman 27/6/2014) the minimum realisation (for a rather poor cut round 12c) for any of his 30 ‘Cotton Reels’ was EUR 45.600].
The "Cotton Reels" were produced in very small quantities to meet local postal needs during a time when regular supplies of stamps from Britain were unavailable. The 12c denomination was printed in much smaller quantities than the 4c and 7c denominations due to limited postal need.
The crude production methods and soft, thin paper used made these stamps particularly susceptible to damage. Very few examples exist in such fine form.
Discover more about this stamp here.
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