Great Britain 1840 1d black, plate 1b used block of four, SG2.
A superb quality block of four penny blacks with full margins, lettered "IA-JB" showing non coincident re-entry with portions of the original impression on "IB" and constant printing variety at top right of "JB". Crease through lower pair which in no way detracts from the wonderful appearance.
All stamps cancelled by distinctive deep purple-maroon Maltese Crosses, probably of Newton Stewart.
The finest of only two blocks known with the deep purple-maroon coloured Maltese Cross cancellations.
Provenance: Ex. Alan Holyoake Grand Prix Gold Medal Winning Collection "Mayflower". Featured in "The World's First Postage Stamp" book by Alan Holyoake published by the Royal Philatelic Society in 2013.
Accompanied with a 2001 British Philatelic Association (BPA) Certificate of Authenticity and a Certificate of Provenance issued by Karl Louis, a member of the "Association Internationale Des Experts En Philatelie".
