Worldwide Stamps and Postal History

Las Bela. The superb collection, very well written up on 38 pages in an album, with additional items in a stockbook. The main collection contains prestamp covers (6); 1897-1902 1⁄2d with all printings and papers, many plated, comprising mint stamps (102) with complete sheets of 16 (2) and blocks of four (7), six, nine (2) or twelve, used stamps (33), and covers (14); 1a black mint (29) with blocks of four and eight (2) or used (3); 1904 1⁄2a stamps on blue or green paper printed wider apart with all perfs and printings, many plated, comprising mint (67) with complete sheets of 18 (7) and blocks of four (2), used (40) and covers (13). The stockbook contains an additional 74 1⁄2a stamps and eleven 1a stamps, eight covers bearing 1⁄2a stamps (seven the wide printing issues) and three revenues. Many rare items include the "BFLA" variety mint within a sheet and blocks of nine (2) and six and a used single, 1⁄2a double print used (the only recorded double print from Las Bela) and 1⁄2d wider apart printing mint strip of three with variety imperforate between vertically; also 1⁄2a used on India 1⁄2a postal stationery covers (3) or sent outside the state with a Karachi ‘Due’ handstamp, the other 31 covers sent within the state, mostly single frankings, four covers bearing five or seven 1⁄2a stamps paying the high rates of 21⁄2a or 31⁄2a (3 covers, one with a block of seven). Cancels include datestamps of Karachi, Las Bela or Uthal as well as manuscript cancels and negative seals in Urdu. An exceptional collection that has taken many years collecting and study. A few cover faults, otherwise generally very fine. (363 stamps + 41 covers). Photo on Pages 165 & 168.
Suggested price: £ 5,000-6,000