A rare perforated proof of Britain’s 1935 “In Memory” essay brought £1,000 (more than $1,700 Cdn.) during a 69-lot sale of material relating to King George V by Spink and Son in England.
After King George V’s death in January 1936, a memorial issue was proposed to raise funds for the benefit of the King George V Jubilee Trust. In place of a denomination, the phrase “IN MEMORY” was suggested, and remembrance sprigs of rosemary were to take the place of the more familiar dolphins.
Although the proposal was backed by the new monarch, Edward VIII, the issue was never released for sale.
Offered as Lot 49 of the Feb. 20 sale, the proof is “possibly the only perforated trial in private hands” according to auctioneers, who added it’s “a fascinating and truly scarce piece.”
Fittingly mounted on King George V Jubilee Trust letter paper, this lot had a pre-sale estimate of £1,000-£1,200.