Lot 14

1905 Mencarini's Presentation Proof of Small Dragon complete set in block of 4. Bottom right stamp of 3ca block with mild thining. Otherwise Very Fine. It was said that Mencarini picked up some discarded cliches of Large and Small Dragon stamps in Customs. Four dies of each denominations were selected and arranged them in the format of block of 4 and printed with blue-black ink on thick paper. Some of them were given to his friends as a gift. Complete uncut proof is extremely scarce. Illustration fig 2-24, p. 26 in "The Small Dragon" by M Y Ho.

1905年綿嘉義私印小龍四方連全樣張。除3分銀四方連之左下一枚帶輕微揭薄外，均上品。 據聞綿嘉義於海關造册處的廢棄鐵櫃中發現了一些生鏽大小龍票子模，每款面額都挑選出四枚，並以四方連的形式，以藍黑色墨油墨印於厚紙上。部分成品被他用作禮物贈送友人。當中未裁原張極為稀罕少見。 何沐源著《小龍郵票》第26頁圖2-24原件。