CAPE / GRIQUALAND
Revenues, Railways
REVENUES
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| AC1087 |
| Revenue 1883 (1st May) De La Rue sheet (200 x 324mm) headed ‘Appendix B. / Stamps printed in “Doubly Fugitive” ink.’ Bearing three rows of three QV revenue stamps, the top row all ½d lilac, the middle row 1s green and the lower row with £2 deep reddish violet. Produced by De La Rue to demonstrate the security features of doubly fugitive ink to the Colonial Government. The central column has been treated with oxalic acid, and the right column with benzine - chemicals used to remove pen and ink cancels respectively. On page five of the eight page accompanying ‘Messrs Thos De La Rue & Co’s Report upon the Adhesive Stamps used at the Cape of Good Hope. May 1st 1883’, De La Rue state “It will be noticed that [oxalic acid] destroys beyond restoration the colour of the stamp, whilst [benzine] washes the body of the stamp away,” stating that ink for revenue stamps has “to fulfil a totally different function to that in which the postage stamps are printed” due to the relative ease of removing pen cancels compared to inked postmarks. Every page, including the Appendix watermarked ‘IMPERIAL TREASURY DE LA RUE’ and ‘DLR’ monogram surmounted by a crown. Superb. Ex De La Rue Archives. |
| £3,250 |
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