Lot 293
INDIA SG T1/3 1860 (Jan) "ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH" 4a,1r, 4r reddish purple, set of 3, lpog
Stamps & Covers of Asia | 5955
Auction: 10 January 2024 at 10:00 GMT
£20,400
Description
Telegraphs. 1860 (Jan) "ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH" 4a, 1r, 4r reddish purple on blue glazed, the COMPLETE SET of three values, large part o.g. with lovely rich colours. Inevitable minor blemishes mentioned for strict accuracy (unimportant traces of toning mainly on gum, odd short perfs, 1r with trivial marginal nick), still overall in very fine condition for these delicate stamps. An immensely rare set, ex "Koh-i-Nor" (CRL 25/2/1986, lots 402-4), now returning to the market after 35 years. Of the 4a value we record about 16 unused examples (some poor), but only ten of the 1r, and just four of the 4r top value (including the badly creased Ferrary example), making it one of the great classic rarities of Indian and indeed world philately. It is missing even from the Royal Philatelic Collection, which is otherwise the most complete and important of the Indian Telegraph series.
