A second 1964 IGC cover with the 4d design missing violet and with Philatelic Bureau London FDI cancel is to appear at Bonhams' 19 December 2007 Stamps & Covers of the World auction. The first such cover appeared at Bonhams' June 2007 Specialised Great Britain auction and realised £780 plus premiums.

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First essays of the photogravure-printed values from the 1968 Shakespeare set mounted on Harrison presentation cards have appeared on the market. The items were disposed of by Kenneth Fergusson's widow. Fergusson was involved in the production or approval of stamp designs in the 1960s. The essays have the denomination in black whereas the issued stamps have the denomination in white. Other subtler shade differences exist. The essays are perforated, non-phosphor, on unwatermarked paper, and mounted to the presentation cards. Each card is inscribed on the back with '1st Essay' and a number. The 6d essay has a further pencilled inscription under the initials 'KF': 'The actual colours are lighter than these specimens. The denomination should also be shown in white instead of black'. Several examples of each essay would have been produced for presentation and approval purposes, but this is the only set known to have appeared on the market.

The Royal Philatelic Collection houses many essays, but doesn't have a set of the Shakespeare first essays. It does, however, include the second essays. Like the first essays, these are mounted on Harrison presentation cards. But the designs and colours are as issued.

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Ten years after being released, a used copy of the Enschedé-printed £3 Carrickfergus Castle missing the gold Queen's head has been discovered in charity kiloware. It sold recently on eBay. It's probable around 50 were postally used out of a sheet of 100. Mint finds were reported around the time of issue in various locations, but it's thought only a single sheet was affected which was split before distribution to post offices due to low demand for high values. The used copy has an unclear circular cancel (possibly Horbury Bridge, Yorkshire).

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Two further examples – one used and one grubby but unused – of the 1968 Christmas 4d value missing gold have surfaced after being offered to dealer B Alan by the family of the original finders. Both copies came from a sheet bought in Dukinfield, Cheshire, for use as postage on Christmas cards. The recipient of one of the Christmas cards, on noticing the error on the envelope, immediately contacted the sender – his mother. By the time he made contact, all but one stamp remained and that was stuck to an envelope. Unfortunately his mother removed the stamp from the envelope; hence its condition with the remains of envelope on the gummed side. It's impossible to know how much of the sheet was affected, but the chances of other copies surfacing after all this time are remote. The used copy, only the second recorded, is on cover cancelled Ashton-under-Lyne and dated 17 DEC 1968. With the other grubby copy, the total number now recorded are 13 mint and two used.

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Preliminary report – please check back for updates

Grosvenor’s Specialised Great Britain auction of 19 and 20 November 2007, comprising the Davenport collection of modern QEII errors and varieties, witnessed fierce bidding and strong realisations on many rare and unique items. Several items surpassed £20,000. Many more smashed current catalogue valuations. Anything visual and unusual sold well. Imprimaturs surprised. Trials and essays failed to impress.

The prices quoted below are the hammer price. They don’t include the premium (17.625% on the hammer price) or the importation tax (5% on the hammer price and applied to Davenport items imported from outside the EU). By way of illustration, a 1969 Christmas 5d cylinder block of six with two examples missing brown, red, gold and phosphor due to a paper fold sold for £21,000 plus premiums (or £21,000 plus £3,701.25 buyer’s premium plus £1,050 import tax). The total outlay being £25,751.25.

Very rare and unique items invariably made a mockery of catalogue valuations:

1961 CEPT 10d in strip progressively missing pale green went for £14,000 plus premiums against a catalogue of £12,000.

1961 Parliamentary Conference 1s 6d strip with blue missing made £17,000 plus premiums compared to the current catalogue valuation of £15,000.

1964 Botanical 3d missing blue sold for £11,000 plus premiums against a catalogue of £7,250.

1971 British Anniversaries 3p missing black sold for £16,000 plus premiums compared to its £12,500 catalogue valuation.

1974 Christmas 3½p strip with progressive loss of light stone made £21,000 plus premiums against a catalogue of £20,000.

1980 Sports 12p missing the Queen’s head hit £23,000 plus premiums. It’s in the catalogues at £15,000.

1983 British Uniforms 28p mint imperforate pair realised £2,700 plus premiums. It was only previously known used and catalogues for £1,750.

1990 Stamp World miniature sheet with recess black (the background) missing made £25,000 plus premiums compared to its £15,000 valuation.

Much material was hammered down below catalogue. However, with the premiums added, the outlay was close to or surpassed catalogue. The result is that the next round of catalogue updates will invariably see prices rises in many areas. Pierron’s Online Catalogue will see a major update in January 2008 to coincide with the forthcoming GB & Commonwealth printed catalogue.

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