Lot 1077
Zanzibar 1908-09 1r Handpainted Composite Essay ex De La Rue Archives

Stamps & Covers of the World | S25003
Auction: 16 April 2025 at 10:30 BST
Description
1906 (Oct 22nd) composite stamp-size artist's essay for the 1908-09 1r, in an unadopted design featuring Cherubs supporting an ornate Arabic vignette the centre of which has been reproduced photographically, the surround and frame entirely handpainted in grey, slate-lilac and Chinese white, affixed to card (89x114mm). M/S endorsements 'Dupl. Design: centre blue.' at lower left and dated at upper right. A unique and beautiful essay in wonderful condition, which would have represented a major departure from the design conventions of the day had it been issued. Ex De La Rue archives and illustrated in “The De La Rue Collection” Vol. 6 P.6593, which provides the following context: “In 1906 Mr A.W. Clarke, on leave from Zanzibar, instructed us to prepare designs for a new issue of stamps following lines he had laid down, These essays… which we had been asked to modify when they were originally submitted on 2nd October 1906, were sent to him at the British Legation, Brussels… on 22nd October 1908.”

