TELEGRAPHS: 1880 1r grey (Die II) type T1 opts on India, upp...

Hammer

£210

TELEGRAPHS: 1880 1r grey (Die II) type T1 opts on India, upper half, crisply cancelled by part ‘PEARL FISHERY / PAID cds, (Proud type PD1) for FE 25 81, with the ’5' in m/s, defective, with closed tears, still very fine appearance, a UNIQUE and important stamp, the only recorded example of this cancel on a telegraph stamp and also the earliest recorded instance of a Ceylon telegraph stamp cancelled by any cds. Applied during the preparation period for the opening of the fishery at Silavaturai on 4th March 1881, and the forerunner of the red m/s cancels known between 30th March & 3rd May. SG T4  Ex 'Taprobana' (SGA 6.10.2020 Lot 397)