Lot 91 Australia - Victoria SG#Unlisted 6d Orange , 1854 Calvert Woodblocks Issue, A Fine Used Single, Rouletted 7-9 On Sides, Imperf At Top & Bottom

A fine used single of the 6d orange from the 1854 Calvert Woodblocks Issue, rouletted 7-9 on sides, imperf at top & bottom.

According to my online research, this is likely a trial roulette made by counter clerks at the Melbourne GPO. On 2 sides only as the rouletting devices rouletted either 6 rows at a time or a single wheel device. The Gibbons listed stamp is for roulettes on 4 sides. I had considered the possibility that it is a clipped version, but this seems unlikely given the state of preservation of the side roulettes and the size of the top margin. Therefore we are of the opinion that this a tiral separation.

Gibbons doesn't list this variety, so we estimate it at $1500. The stamp offered here grades 70 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 40/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Cancellation: 10/10