Description
Great Britain 1902 1s green & carmine (Board of Education) Official, SGO87var.
A superb very lightly mounted unused, original gum, example of this very rare departmental issue overprinted "SPECIMEN" type 16.
Exceptional quality example of this major King Edward VII rarity.
From 1882 to 1904 various Government departments overprinted stamps which were then current, for official use.
The stamps overprinted for The Board of Education were first issued in the reign of King Edward VII, available on 19 February 1902. The 5d and 1s stamps were not ready at that time and stamps bearing Queen Victoria's portrait were used.
The majority were destroyed on the 14th of May 1904 when the general issue of the Officials ceased. The 1s stamps were never officially issued. However, one or two of the 1s were used by some high official and a very few of the 5d were also used.
Accompanied with a 1981 British Philatelic Association (BPA) certificate of authenticity.
Stanley Gibbons catalogue value: £30,000.
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