Morocco Agencies Spanish Currency #63 (SG#143) 5c on 1/2d Green, 1924-1934 King George V Heads, Watermarked Block Cypher, Overprinted and Surcharged, a VF Used Example

A scarce VF used example of the 5 centavos on 1/2d green from the 1924-1934 Block Cypher King George V Issue of Great Britain, which has been overprinted and surcharged in Spanish Currency for use in Morocco. This is one of those stamps that is valued much higher used than mint (26 pounds versus 5.5 pounds), so that forged cancels are always a concern. However, the cancel on this is a registered cancel from Laraiche, so it appears to be legitimate.

This issue in Great Britain is listed with many, many shades in Gibbons, due in large part to the interruptions in supplies of ink that occurred during WW1, as most of the dyes were originally sourced from Germany, and substitutions had to be made during the war. The result was an issue that is one of the best for the lover of shades. Of course, all the GB offices that used the basic issue with surcharges and overprints will exist with the same range of shades as the basic stamps, and for some of these there should very likely be a premium, as some of the shades are scarcer than others. Even after the war, and into the Block Cypher issue the shades persist.

Gibbons lists this stamp at 26 pounds (approx. $52) for fine used. The stamp offered here grades 75 as follows:

Centering/Margins 40/60

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 5/10

Cancellation: 10/10