Lot No. 195
1842: Letter sheet dated 28th March 1842 from West Sandwick, Yell, Shetland Islands, to Lerwick, Shetland Islands, bearing a bisected 2d blue, plate I, paying 1d postage and tied by black Maltese Cross. The letter was subsequently forwarded Cullivoe, Yell, Shetland Islands, for which 1d postage due was charged. In generally, bisected stamps would not have been allowed to pay for postage since it was not ascertainable if the half-stamp was from an unused adhesive or from an adhesive that had been cancelled only on one half. Until now, only seven bisected 2d blue are recorded, all of the other six have been sent from Hull, England. This bisected 2d was apparently accepted by the post office at West Sandwick on the island of Yell and is one of the greatest rarities of British Philatelie! (M)
