Bechuanaland 1888 4d Somerset House Specimen Security Trial

1888 Unappropriated Dies 4d lilac & black (SG 13). VF M/unused horizontal pair with attempted defacement of the GB9 SPECIMEN handstamp. Believed to have been carried out as part of the Somerset House trials (experimenting with printing security) to prevent re-use of Specimen stamps. Scarce archival specimen item. Ex Firth. See similar pieces/period under Zululand.