INDIA 1865 SG54, 58, 61 Specimen ½a,1a, 2a Samuel type 8

1865 ¬Ωa blue, 1a brown, 2a yellow, wmk Elephant's head, each with small DLR sans-serif "SPECIMEN" opt (Samuel type 8 - 14x2mm), part o.g. (except ¬Ωa without gum). A rare type of opt, which saw only sporadic use c.1856-87, recorded by Samuel on just four values of the 1865 set (the other being the 8p), with no example offered by us in the past 20 years. The ¬Ωa and 2a with trivial corner blemishes, still most attractive and desirable, with very fresh colours. [Other stamps known with this opt include the unissued 1856-64 2a green (imperf, as SG 50a, and the Telegraph 1869-78 (?) and 1890-91 sets to 50r, so Samuel's slight reservations as to its status are without justification. The Domingo collection included the 1882-90 1a to 1r with this opt, ex Ulrich.] - P223005105