1887 5d Purple & Blue Die Proofs and Striking Book Pieces

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Head Plate

DescriptionImageQty Known to Me
Date: 12 Aug 1886
Inscribed: Before Hardening
1) Phillips Collection

2) Ex Aureum; SG Time Auction Nov 2020 lot 384 sold £280+20%

3)

4) Ex David Willmer
Date: 13 Aug 1886
Inscribed: After Hardening		1) Ex David Willmer
Date: 20 Nov 1887
Inscribed: Before Hardening and initialled “G.F.S.” in manuscript
1) Phillips Collection
Cut down to stamp-size

Duty Die No.5 (known as die I)

DescriptionImageQuantity Known to Me + Provenance
Date: 12 Aug 86

Inscribed: Before Hardening
Date: 13 Aug 86

Inscribed: Before Hardening
1) Phillips Collection
2) Pictured.
3) Ex “Aureum”; ex David Willmer
Date: None
Ex Aureum; SG Timed Auction Nov 2020 lot 383 sold £280+20%
Cut down to stamp size
1

Duty Die No.6 (known as die II)

DescriptionImageQty Known to Me
Date: 9 Nov 86
Inscribed: Before Hardening with manuscript “2nd Die”
1) Phillips Collection

2) Ex Shaida, Phillips Dec 1989 lot 179; ex David Willmer
Date: 9 Nov 86
Inscribed: Before Hardening
1) Ex Aureum
Cut down to stamp size

Setting of the Marginal Rules

Set of two sunken die proofs, the head plate proof endorsed “DIVISION LEAD OF THE INNER LINE” with marginal line in black set close and the duty plate proof endorsed “DIVISION LEAD OF THE OUTER LINE” with marginal line in black set wide. Both dated “August 19th 87” and initialled “WWD” (William Warren De La Rue). Believed to be a unique set of instructions to the composing room for the divisional leads of the marginal rules
Ex Stothert & “Aureum”

Striking Book Pieces

DescriptionImageProvenance
Date: Oct 86Ex “Aureum”; ex David Willmer
Date: Oct 27 86
Date: 16 Dec 86Note: Actually die I
Ex Aureum
Date: 1 Feb 87
Ex Aureum; Spink Jul 2017 lot 2505 est £2000-2500 unsold (SG was vendor); 2017-2020: SG £2’250; ex David Willmer
Date: 10-21 Jan 1888
Ex Aureum; 2020 SG £1’750
Date: 21 Jan to 13 Feb 1888
Inscribed: Before Hardening
Ex Aureum; SG Timed Auction Nov 2020 lot 385 sold £360+20%
Date: May 1890
Ex Harmers International, Fall 2023, lot 640