1901 QV IMPERFORATE ESSAY being 5/- on Crown CA gummed paper in dull violet overprinted TWO SHILLINGS / AND SIXPENCE. Queen Victoria died on 22nd January 1901. Pending completion of KEVII plates, De La Rue received a requisition on May 2nd for which Essays in overprinted 1½d, 5d, 2/- and this 2/6 were submitted on May 20th but no order materialised. VF, rare (likely one of two), an exceptional showpiece bridging the Victorian & Edwardian eras. Page 5016 of the RPSL De La Rue Collection refers.
