Lot 339 o Togo, 1915, 1m carmine, 3m violet-black, and 5m carmine and black, from an individual setting (SG H23, H25, H26 var.), the "Anglo-French" overprint measures 15mm and the lines are spaced 1½mm apart, cancelled by "Lome, Togo/ 22.6.14" c.d.s., error of month "6" for "9", the 1m on piece, the 2m has tiny hole to left of Togo and the 5m has a few pinholes and slight surface disturbance, of no importance for such significant stamps. Very Fine appearance. The greatest rarities of Togo in existence, Illustrated in Gibbs, page 195. Maury €145,250 ($156,870). Gibbs 35, 37, 38. SG £80,000+ ($102,000) Expertization: 1986 Holcombe Certificate. These three stamps are the only recorded examples of the 1 mark, 3 mark, and 5 mark values printed from an individual setting. There is also an example of the 2 marks from an individual setting similarly cancelled, which was in the Danson collection. The existence of these stamps has been known and documented since at least 1921. There is a copy of a letter from the Bennett Savings Bank of Bennett, Iowa offering these stamps for sale to the Exchange Stamp Company on behalf of a Reverend C. Bendigkeit, followed by a letter from Ernest Harmer of Harmer, Rooke to the Exchange Stamp Company verifying the genuine status of the 1 mark and arranging a possible sale. There is also a copy of a letter from Robson Lowe presumably written in 1926 stating that he has three possible buyers for these stamps at $7,500. The error of month in the cancellations was reported in "Ewen's Weekly Stamp News" as early as January 30, 1915: "I have found a curious mistake in the postmark on letters posted on the 12th and 22nd September, viz., the number of the month is inadvertently given as 6 instead of 9."

Unsold

Lot 325 o Togo, 1915, 3m violet-black (Maury 52), cancelled by "Anecho Togo" undated circular handstamp in blue, short perf. at left. Nevertheless Very Fine and one of the supreme rarities of Togo. Michel 18. Michel €50,000 ($54,000) ONLY TWO EXAMPLES, BOTH USED, ARE RECORDED OF THE 3 MARK. Expertization: Signed Champion and 1987 Holcombe Certificate. Provenance: Colonel Howland Green This is at least equal in quality to the other known example (Marquess of Bute, Robson Lowe, 17 June 1959, lot 196, realized £1750), which has the top frame line rubbed.

Unsold

Lot 326 Togo, 1915, 5m carmine and black (Maury 53), ideal color, well centered, o.g. Very Fine and one of the most important unused rarities of Togo, unique thus. only 3 stamps printed. Michel 19 €50,000 ($54,000). ONLY ONE UNUSED AND TWO USED EXAMPLES RECORDED. Expertization: 1960 Philatelic Foundation Certificate. The three recorded examples are: a.) Unused- Corinphila (Zurich), 23 September 1985, lot 889, realized SF135,000 + 15%; the example offered in the above lot b.) Used- Harmer, Rooke (New York), 28 March 1946, lot 1026, ex Colonel Green; the example offered in the next lot c.) Used on piece with 1m and 5pf L-shaped strip of three, illustrated in the C.H. Greenwood handbook of Togo (1916), page 50; Robson Lowe, 17 June 1959, lot 193, ex The Marquess of Bute.

Realized $115,500

Lot 327 o Togo, 1915, 5m carmine and black (Maury 53), deep colors, well centered, centrally cancelled by "Anecho Togo" c.d.s. in blue. Very Fine and one of the pre-eminent rarities of Togo. only 3 stamps printed. Michel 19 €60,000 ($64,800). ONLY ONE UNUSED AND TWO USED EXAMPLES RECORDED. Expertization: Signed Champion and 1987 Holcombe Certificate. Provenance: Colonel Howland Green

Unsold

Lot 71 New Britain, 1914, 5s on 5m carmine and black, error of surcharge 1s (SG 15c), a wonderful example of this famous rarity, from the foot of the sheet, rich color, well centered, o.g. Extremely Fine. And irrefutably the most elusive and spectacular variety of New Guinea. Michel 15I. SG £21,000 ($26,780) THE UNIQUE ERROR OF SURCHARGE ON THE WRONG VALUE. Expertization: Signed Kilian BPP. Provenance: The Marquess of Bute This was lot 47 in the Bute sale (Robson Lowe, 29 April 1959, lot 47). It realised £540, which was the highest price for any New Guinea item.

Realized $77,000

Lot 178 New Britain, 1914, 2s on 2m blue, variety "G.R.I." double and "2s" double (SG 60e/ Gibbs 11c, 11d), Setting VII, the sensational vertical strip of three, top stamp has "G.R.I." double, center stamp has "2s" double, and lower stamp is normal, rich color, excellent centering, fresh, o.g. Extremely Fine. A peerless multiple with this incomparable combination of varieties, one of the gems of the collection. Michel 11DD. SG £23,200+ ($29,580) THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THESE VARIETIES, BOTH OF WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THIS VERTICAL STRIP OF THREE SE-TENANT WITH A NORMAL. Expertization: Signed D(avid) F(ield) and 1989 Holcombe Certificate. Provenance: The Marquess of Bute

Realized $29,700

Lot 308 Togo, 1915, 10pf carmine, variety overprint inverted (Maury 45a), deep color, perfectly centered, part o.g., some slight paper adherences, faint diagonal crease at top not mentioned on accompanying certificate and of no significance to this fantastic variety. Very Fine. An important rarity unique in this state. Maury €30,000 ($32,400) ONLY TEN EXAMPLES OF THE INVERTED OVERPRINT WERE PRINTED. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE UNUSED. Expertization: Clear 1980 Bothe Certificate. Provenance: Colonel Howland Green

Unsold

Lot 155 New Britain, 1914, 2d on 10pf carmine, variety surcharge sideways, reading upwards (SG 52i), Setting XI, positions 1-4, in a fabulous vertical strip of four, excellent color and centering, o.g. Very Fine. One of the most important surcharge varieties of the Marshall Islands, Illustrated in Gibbs, page 116. Michel 3I var. SG £16,000+ ($20,400) THIS STRIP CONTAINS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS VARIETY. Expertization: Signed D(avid) F(ield) and 1983 R.P.S. Certificate. Provenance: The Marquess of Bute and Robert M. Gibbs

Realized $27,500

Lot 323 o Togo, 1915, 2m blue (Maury 51), bright color, cancelled by "Anecho Togo/ 8.1.15" c.d.s. in blue. Very Fine and a tremendous rarity. only 7 stamps printed. Maury €27,500 ($29,700) Expertization: Signed Champion and 1987 Holcombe Certificate. Provenance: Colonel Howland Green

Realized $22,000

Lot 286 Togo, 1914, 2m blue, variety 1½mm spacing between "Anglo" and "French" (SG H11 var.), Setting I, position 2, bright color, excellent centering, o.g. Very Fine and fresh. With a printing of 40 stamps of the normal overprint, only 4 examples of this variety can exist. Michel 11I/I. Michel €60,000 ($64,800) This rare spacing variety occurs twice in the sheet- positions 1 and 2.

Realized $25,300

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