New South Wales
The 'Carrington' Collection
Wednesday 7th November 2012 at 2pm (Lots 1-922)
"... includes many items that
have never been available to the current generation of
collectors."
We are honoured to offer The ‘Carrington’ Collection of
New South Wales, the outstanding collection of this colony formed by
the late Mark Dankin. This collection was built up over a period of more than
fifty years, and includes many items that have never been available to the
current generation of collectors. The exhibit of Sydney Views, Laureates and
Diadems, shown under the nom-de-plume of 'Carrington', received FIP Large Gold
medals at Belgica 2001, Washington 2006 and España 2006. Mark's fastidiousness
for accepting only the best quality is well-known, and his collection of New
South Wales, while not the largest or most extensive ever formed, is certainly
one of the most important, both in terms of the material it contains and its
remarkable condition. He was an international buyer from the early 1960s, and
his collection includes stamps and covers acquired at most of the important New
South Wales sales in that time, including Maurice Burrus, Lars Amundsen,
Dale-Lichtenstein, Victor Frankenstein and 'Manwood'.
The Sydney Views are simply outstanding. The bare statistics
are that the collection comprises 133 1d, 224 2d and 54 3d stamps, including 38
covers, and this includes many of the most important Sydney View pieces held in
private hands. There are relatively few unused stamps, since most of those
available failed to reach Mark's exacting standards, however the eleven stamps
included should find ready buyers, with the magnificent 2d Plate I
(Fig.
1) surely being the finest available. The best of the used
1d's are one of the four known used blocks of four of Plate II (Fig. 2)
and the magnificent strip of four Plate II on cover from Tarcutta (Fig.
3). The 2d Plate I includes a used block of four of the
intermediate impression (Fig. 4)
and a rejoined used block of 8 showing retouching of the lower row
(Fig.
5). The 2d Plate II includes one of the gems of the collection
- a strip of three used on 1850 cover cancelled with the 'diamond of dots'
obliterator (Fig.
6). The best of the 3d stamps is a used strip of three in the
myrtle-green shade (Fig.
7), the largest recorded multiple, however it is the covers
bearing this value which are amazing, including three of the most important
Sydney View covers. There is a superb strip of four on a cover from Tarcutta
(Fig.
8); a strip of three used with a 1d Plate I on 1852 cover to
London (Fig.
9); and the famous block of four on 1851 cover to the
Comptroller General of Convicts in Van Diemen's Land (Fig.
10), considered to be the most important Sydney View cover
extant. Throughout the Sydney Views there are superb singles and pairs which
will satisfy the most discerning collectors.
The Laureated issues are more difficult to obtain in superb
condition due to the closer settings of most of the plates, however here again
The 'Carrington' Collection has only selected the best available examples. The
very difficult 8d value includes a rare proof in blue from the unfinished plate
(Fig.
11), and without doubt the finest group of four-margin
examples ever assembled (Fig.
12). The 3d Wmk '2' error is represented by two used singles
and a used pair (Fig.
13), and the (6d) Registered stamp includes one of the most
important multiples in the collection, the unused imperforate corner block of
four from the Tomasini, Boker and 'Manwood' collections (Fig.
14).
The Diadems feature the beautiful set of coloured die proofs
pulled by De La Rue for the 1867 Paris (or perhaps the 1872 South Kensington)
Exhibition (Fig.
15), and two sheetlets of the small format master die Perkins,
Bacon trials with voided corners (Fig.
16) and (Fig.
17). The issued stamps include fine singles and multiples,
with superb 2d lithographs and retouches (Fig.
18), the imperforate 5d in a used pair (Fig.
19), the 8d unused (both imperforate and Perf 12)
(Fig.
20) and rare examples showing the marginal burélage
(Fig.
21), while the best of the covers has the 8d Golden-yellow
used with a 2d Laureate in 1856 from Warwick in the Moreton Bay District
(Fig.
22).
While Mark focussed most of his attention on the first three
issues, his later New South Wales includes many major pieces and is the finest
collection of this period to come onto the market for many years. The famous 5/-
Coin stamp is highlighted by the only surviving block of four of the imperforate
between error (Fig.
23), there are fine and uncommon proofs and colour trials
throughout (Fig.
24), and the difficult perforation varieties of the 1871-88
period are very well represented, with numerous rarely offered stamps, as well
as several extremely rare imperforate between errors (Fig.
25) and (Fig.
26). The 1885-86 'POSTAGE' overprints on the Stamp Duties are
outstanding and include some of the rarest stamps of New South Wales
(Fig.
27) and (Fig.
28). The Officials comprise a similarly powerful group of
seldom seen varieties (Fig.
29), (Fig.
30) and (Fig.
31), while the Postage Dues include rare mint examples of the
high values (Fig.
32).
The stamps of New South Wales were Mark's philatelic pride and
joy. The 'Carrington' Collection reflect that great affinity and passion, and
this sale represents a rare opportunity to acquire many of the finest gems of
New South Wales philately.
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