Description:

1859 Perf 12 by Robinson 4d dull rose-red SG 80 with Prominent Diagonal Feather Flaw - a very rare, apparently unique franking - tied to cover by light BN '48' clear of the variety, light 'HAWTHORNE/[crown]/AP14/1859/VICTORIA' b/s, Melbourne transit of the same date & Geelong arrival of AP15/59, grossly undercatalogued at £325 x2+ on cover. With lengthy partly cross-written lady's letter. [Gibbons states that reserves of old issues Perf 12 by Robinson were issued Jan-May 1859, and that Perf 12 stamps printed by Robinson were issued only from May 1859. Geoff Kellow at page 119 states "about 8 copies are known...one on piece dated 12.2.1859". No usage on cover is recorded. Ken Barelli's superb example sold at the Prestige auction of 2.5.2014 for $1840]