1886-1902 2a dull blue, opt at two operations, block of 24 (...

Estimate

£600 - £800

1886-1902 2a dull blue, opt at two operations, block of 24 (4x6) with interpane margin at foot, from R5-10/5-8 of a sheet, the top five rows with 'SERVICE' treble, two albino, the bottom row with 'SERVICE' double, one albino, unmounted o.g. One albino impression is ½mm above the normal inked impression (on all 24 stamps), while the other (top five rows only) is seriously misplaced and offset on reverse, with reduced spacing (20½mm rather than 21½mm) between the 'SERVICE' lines. The first and fourth rows affected by horizontal creases, nevertheless a fascinating and most remarkable multiple, the largest surviving from a sheet which initially received a 'test' albino impression after use of the 'SERVICE' forme on a 6a sheet (whose smaller format required narrower spacing). SGO15a/b, cat £2080+ We suspect that the printer regularly used such test (uninked) impressions to check that he was using the correct overprint and spacing for the job on hand, as orders for different states and values will have been fulfilled in the same workshop. The face value of the stamps always had to be rigorously accounted for, and use of the waste paper basket was not an option!