Lot
237 S
Newfoundland, 1897, 1¢ carmine rose, "SPECIMEN" overprint with and without security holes, eight pairs contained in bottom block of 20 with left and bottom selvage, each stamp with 2mm punch hole except first 8 positions in bottom row, o.g., stamps never hinged, some minor selvage separation hinge reinforced, Very Fine. Scott Nos. 79S. Newf. Spec. Nos. 70c $6,800 as eight pairs.
THE LARGE RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 1¢ 1897 CARMINE ROSE ISSUE CONTAINING THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLES WITHOUT THE SECURITY HOLES.
Three sheets of 100 (300) red Victoria specimens were produced by the A.B.N.C. in October 1897. This strip of 20 is the largest piece known and also unique as the first eight stamps in the bottom row lack the 2mm punched security holes (the only ones known). It appears the SPECIMEN was applied mechanically but the punched holes manually, thus the errors. The specimens were stored for a century in the company's archives, then auctioned off in 1990.
Realized: $1,050