1894 De La Rue Minerva Head AFRICA Essays: Group of FOUR Imperforate examples taken in 2½d duty in lilac, carmine-rose & olive-green, orange & olive-green and bright violet & green, all on gummed unwatermarked paper. Superb UM, most attractive array, scarce. See additional image below.
De La Rue proposed this keyplate design to the Cape, OFS, Natal & Transvaal with the intention of making stamp production more economical. Agreement could not be reached with the Transvaal and OFS. A single imperforate sheet of each of seven varying colour combinations was produced.
