Great Britain 1840 1d intense black, plate 1a, SG1 Long Island stamps heralded Ali's return to the

heralded Ali's return to the boxing ring after three years in the wilderness

depicting Isma'il Pasha

) ¼a black on poor quality wove

which barely detract as a most attractive example for this difficult issue

Britannia seated left with spear and shield

Great Britain 1840 1d intense black, plate 1a, SG1 Long Island stamps heralded Ali's return to theGreat Britain 1840 1d intense black, plate 1a, horizontal strip of four with four margins lettered 'FF FI', showing plate flaw double 'F', cancelled by four fine strikes of red Maltese Crosses, SG1. A fine and beautiful four margin strip attractively cancelled with the red Maltese Cross. An outstanding penny black multiple and extremely fine as rare in this quality. The first printing plate (plate 1a) of the penny black was put to press on 11 April