Robert A Siegel has recently conducted a great auction of “The Bertsimas collection of Great Britain” that contained a truly spectacular array of rare singles and original-gum blocks. The sale took place on March 19 and gave collectors a great opportunity to acquire items that rarely appear in the philatelic marketplace. One of such lots was extremely fine and pristine example of 10p Dull Purple & Carmine O.W. Official – a very rare departmental official, especially in this superb condition with sheet selvage.
As philatelists assert, only 14 sheets of 96 were printed. The short span of use also contributed to its rarity, as the earliest known use is from July 1903 and sales ceased in May 1904. A definite count of genuine unused examples is difficult to make, due to the prevalence of fakes, some of which have previously received genuine certificates. Wiseman, along with an Official specialist, concluded that of 90 used examples submitted over the course of 15 years, only 12 were genuine. 1903 10p Dull Purple & Carmine, O.W. Official featuring rich and bright colors, creased in the selvage only, fetched $27,000 at this sale.
