2.2.1872, QV rose-red 1/2 D PLATE 9 (CS) on superb cover with very rare usage in Scotland, the printed matter is stamped at the backside CDS "LARKHALL" - on front Scottish Duplex-cancel "HAMILTON - 173" (could be stamped later at delivery in Hamilton), EXHIBITION-ITEM (ex. CORBITT AUCTIONS 1980's) Cat. S.G. 2014 GBP 850.- for loose stamp, stamped covers with this plate are according to Michel at least three times = GBP 2550.-+++ (Scottish usage – other as Glasgow & Edinburgh, is very rare), RRR!!!
The Story behind this cover.
The Line-Engraved ½ D red of 1870 was issued in sheets of 480. A total number of 1,600,276,320 (1,6 billion stamps from 15 different plates ex. no. 1/20 were printed). The rarest plate is plate no. 9, a reserve plate, with only 2,500,000 stamps printed.
According to the philatelic literature of Rikki Hyde: „Rikki Hyde‘s Great Britain Number issued 1840-1910“, issued 1975 - the survival rate of GB stamps issued from 1840-1910 is 2%. This means a survival rate for plate no. 9 of 50,000 stamps within 2% of them are unused so there would be 49,000 used stamps including stamps on cover.
Later research shows that this percentage is only a guideline.
In the book „Scarce Victorian Postage Stamps of Great Britain on Cover“ (2003) from Theo Brauers, Research Community for Great Britain (FgGB, Germany) he shows on various studies of Victorian stamps that this survival rate varies. This is based on a very intensive research with help of the unique card index of Karl-Albert Louis FRPSL, a famous German Philatelist and Expertizer for Victorian Great Britain Stamps.
For the 1 D black plate 11 they calculated a survival rate of 0,26% for the stamp on cover.
For the 1 ½ D plate 1 with the Variety/Error-Lettering (OP-PC) issued 1870 they came on a survival rate of 0,45% for loose stamps (ca. 5% from them were unused) and only 0,012% for the same stamp on cover.
For the 2 ½ D plate 2 with the Variety/Error-Lettering (LH-FL) issued 1875 they came on a survival rate of 0,45% for loose stamps (ca. 5% from them were unused) and only 0,045% for the same stamp on cover.
This supports the theory that in the case of stamps issued before 1870, there is a higher likelihood of them being preserved on cover, while after 1870 the survival rate of covers is lower due to the introduction of envelopes.
On base of this research the survival rate of the ½ D red plate 9 is 0,45% of 2,500,000 = 11,250 stamps, 5% or 562 stamps of them are mint and 10,688 stamps are used. The change to find a certain letter combination is very low, namely 10,688 through 480 = 22!!!!
On base of this research the survival rate of the ½ D red plate 9 on cover is between 0,012% and 0,045% of 2,500,000 = between 300 and 1,125 covers. The change to find a certain letter combination is very low, namely 1,125 through 480 = 2!!!
According to the Reports of the Postmaster General, on The Post Office (1870-1877) we know following: the proportion of the Scottish Mail to the Total Mail of the United Kingdom was between 10,00% and 8,94% - in average 9,29%.
On base of this research the survival rate of the ½ D red plate 9 on cover with Scottish Postmark is between 28 and 105 covers.
According to the Reports of the Postmaster General, on The Post Office (1870-1877) we know following: the proportion of the Hamilton Mail (total 486,356 letters) to the Total Scottish Mail (83,265,000 letters) was in 1871 0,58%.
On base of this research the survival rate of the ½ D red plate 9 on cover with Scottish Postmark of HAMILTON is between 0 and 1 cover!!!!!!!!
THE CHANGE IS VERY VERY BIG THAT THIS COVER IS UNIQUE!!!
EXTREMELY RARE EXHIBITION ITEM
AND
ABSOLUTELY GEM FOR YOUR COLLECTION
REAL GEM and EXHIBITION-ITEM
Can be expertized on costs of buyer (within 6 months after purchase)
- money back if not genuine
Kann auf Kosten des Käufers (innerhalb sechs Monate nach Kauf) geprüft werden
- natürlich GELD ZURÜCK wann nicht echt
