Lot 4954 New Zealand

English Mails Monthly Packet Service 1857 (Sept): Richardson printing 1 s. green on blued paper, no wmk., imperforate, a superb vertically bisected example with large margins on the remaining sides, tied to 1858 cover from Miss King to Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland by barred "18" numeral obliterator of Port Chalmers in black. Carried on European & Australian Line ship "S.S. Victoria" from Sydney (Oct 11) arriving Southampton (Dec 18). Reverse with OTAGO cds (Aug 23) and arrival cds of Aberdeen (Dec 20). Slight horizontal file fold crosses the adhesive but a magnificent and attractive cover (see Bob Odenweller "The Postage Stamps of New Zealand" for illustrations of comparisons, nearly all) and one of the finest of the few bisect covers recorded. Cert. RPSNZ (2002) Gi = £ 30'000. Note 1: Journey time 119 days. Note 2: This cover is number R8 in the Odenweller / Elliott census, see Odenwelller page 292. Twenty-four covers are known bearing a Richardson bisect. Provenance: Robson Lowe, London, 11 June 1958, lot 303; collection "Chalon" (J.S. White), Christie's, London, 22 Feb 1989, lot 42; Christie's, London, 11 Oct 1989, lot 1100; collection Joseph Hackmey, Spink Shreves, New York, 20 May 2010, lot 2068