TONGA 1897 1s black and red-brown variety, SG50a Politics 38 fine used on cover

38 fine used on cover

Provisional usage of Antigua 1d (mostly in the normal carmine-red shade) occurred between January and March 1890

Very fine unused original gum perfectly centred bottom right hand marginal block of four (three stamps unmounted original gum) of this rare watermark variety which is also dramatically misplaced and bisected between the stamps

The £1 value represented an extraordinarily high denomination at the time

TONGA 1897 1s black and red-brown variety, SG50a Politics 38 fine used on coverTonga 1897 1s black and red brown, block of 4, the upper right stamp showing variety 'No hyphen before TAHA' (R3 5), SG50a. A brilliant quality mint block with large part original gum and much fresher than usually found for this issue. Scarce and desirable in this se tenant form. The Stanley Gibbons catalogue value is 202+. An attractive stamp featuring George Tupou II (Siasi Tupou II), who was King from age 18 until his death (1893 1918). He was the