Great Britain 1840 1d black, Plate 1b, SG2 Egypt stamps Alexandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008) was born

Alexandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008) was born in Stavropol Krai in south western Russia shortly after the October revolution

Some light toning as is found on most of the 18 recorded examples

The designers put forward 12 different design ideas but the King was not impressed by any of them

This stamp issue features Maharaja Vir Singh II who ruled from 4 March 1930 until he acceded on 1 January 1950 when he merged his state with the Union of India

Great Britain 1974 3½p Christmas error

Great Britain 1840 1d black, Plate 1b, SG2 Egypt stamps Alexandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008) was bornGreat Britain 1840 1d black, Plate 1b, SG2. A very fine used close to large four margin vertical strip of four lettered 'OC RC', neatly cancelled by crisp black Maltese Crosses. An attractive multiple of the first printing plate (repaired) and unusual to find a vertical strip of this size. GB Specialised Catalogue No: AS5. Stanley Gibbons do not list the value of a vertical strip of four in their catalogue. They list the value of a block of four