Sierra Leone #1 (SG#1) 6d Dull Purple, Queen Victoria, 1859 Keyplate Issue, Perf. 14, Unwatermarked, a VG Used Example

A fine appearing but VG used example of the 6d dull violet Queen Victoria keyplate issue of 1859 without watermark and comb perf. 14. Moderate and clear strike of the B31 grid cancel for the colony. There is a light diagonal crease that is not visible from the back, but can be seen on the front under magnification and this reduces the grade from fine to VG.

On these early keyplates and throughout the crown CC period (i.e. before 1880) the centering of De La Rue issues tends to be very poor, much like the Canadian 1859-67 Cents issue. Therefore grading takes this into account, so that fine centered stamps will appear balanced, but may have the perfs touching the design on 2 sides, or just lightly cutting in. VG stamps will be notably off centre, and cutting in to the design quite noticeably. The numeral grid cancels were the predominant cancelling device until CDS's appear in the mid to late 1890's. So those types of cancels do not detract on these issues.

Gibbons lists this stamp in fine for 50 pounds. VG should generally be worth about 40-50% of fine, so this stamp should be worth about 20 pounds (approx. $40). The stamp offered here grades between 55 as follows:

Centering/Margins 30/60

Paper freshness: 4/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 8/10

Cancellation: 8/10

Adjustment for light corner crease: -10 points