| THE "ORIGINAL DOCKWRA" COVER; |
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2286 |
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5th September 1682 Entire Letter sent locally within London from “Mr. Mathew Barker”, and addressed “For my hon[oure]d friend Mrs. Southerby at Humerton [= Homerton] in Hackney parish, [give] these.” On the right hand side-flap is a mostly fine to very fine strike of the very rare Original Dockwra heart-shaped "AF/1" time-mark (not recorded by Jay for 1 o'clock, and one of only two recorded with capital "AF" - the only other example is in the P.R.O., SP29/418, and is "AF/2"). The cover is in very fine condition, although it has been professionally laid down on archival paper, apparently to put back the 18th century filing note that had been cut away from the rest of the letter at some time (to assist display). The letter concerns plans for the local church’s “Lord’s Supper”, and generalgreetings. On the left-hand side-flap is an 80% very fine strike of the ORIGINAL DOCKWRA TRIANGULAR LIME STREET OFFICE "PENY/POST/PAID/L" mark (Jay L324; one of only 4 that he records, and of which two are in the archives, the fourth having apparently disappeared since it was last seen in 1952). This is the latest recorded date of any ORIGINAL DOCKWRA recorded in private hands (indeed we have only traced one later example - of the "W" type - in the archives), because the Government suppressed Dockwra's Post in November 1682. Our records list 8 covers with the larger "Murray's Post" marks (only one in private hands), and 18 covers + 1 piece with the smaller "Dockwra's Post" marks, of which only three covers (including this example) and the piece are in private hands. Some of the other recorded examples have disappeared (one has not been seen since 1885!), and so only FOUR ORIGINAL DOCKWRA COVERS REMAIN IN PRIVATE HANDS indubitably (if one regards the Duke of Devonshire's and other aristocratic archives of similar national importance as no longer being available on the open market). This is the only Lime Street second type Original Dockwra in private hands. The sale of this cover by auction represents an increasingly rare chance to acquire the most famous of all British postal marks, and one of the Most Celebrated Rarities in World Philately . (We have only been able to trace the auction sale of one other Original Dockwra - for £15,400 in 1988 - since the 1970's!) The key-piece for any British Postal History Collection, and arguably the one item that enabled Barrie Jay to be short-listed for the Grand Prix at the recent International F.I.P. Exhibition in Peking. One of Postal History's Crown Jewels and an Exhibition Centre Piece of the Utmost Importance. .PHOTO. Provenance:- discovered in 1955, and sold with a photocopy of the December 1955 "Stamp Collecting" article by Martin Willcocks in which he announced that the cover was in his stock and for sale at that time. It remained in Martin Willcocks' collection for many years, and was then added to the "Traudl" Collection, being widely exhibited in International Competition, before being acquired in 1999 by Barrie Jay, following the private sale of the "Traudl" Collection successfully undertaken in 1998 by Cavendish Auctions. |
£15,000-£20,000 |
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2287 |
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ORIGINAL 1681 WILLIAM DOCKWRA "PENNY POST" ADVERTISEMENT ILLUSTRATING THE NEW ORIGINAL DOCKWRA HANDSTAMPS ; 29th March 1681 complete 1-sheet edition of the (album-page size) "Protestant (Domestick) Intelligence" (1st edition - see next lot) with "ADVICE from the UNDERTAKERS of The Penny-Poft " Notice on page two (almost a whole column of text), regarding complaints about delayed deliveries, and the consequent introduction of Dockwra's heart-shaped time-marks - "Stamps of the like Form in the Margin, which shall be set on each letter, every hour of the Day, (at the time they are given out of the office for Delivery) and all persons are to expect their letter in an hour (litle more or less) after the time stampt ..." Most importantly there are very fine life-size woodcut illustrations of the "Mor./8" and "Af./4" time-marks AND ALSO OF THE "PENNY/POST/PAID/L" ORIGINAL DOCKWRA MARK (the latter upside down) in the margin of the paper beside the Dockwra text. Superb condition and an important contemporary document associated with Dockwra's improvements of his system of March 1681 (these smaller 2nd type Original Dockwra marks are recorded from June 1681, and no larger 1st type mark is known after 22nd march 1681). Very fine and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 19 |
£500 |
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2288 |
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Similar 29th March 1681 1-sheet complete edition of "The Protestant (Domestick) Intelligence" (not so fine; slightly reduced at top, some light stains and with m/s note in one margin) with the same "ADVICE from the UNDERTAKERS of The Penny-Poft" column on page two, but with slightly different setting of the text (comma at end of 1st paragraph instead of the full-stop of the previous lot), and with the ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE TIME-MARKS AND ORIGINAL DOCKWRA "PENNY POST PAID/L" mark (the latter almost upright unlike the previous lot). It appears that this paper was printed "two up" or on separate presses with similar type set. Very rare and attractive contemporary illustration of the Original Dockwra marks. PHOTO - see plate no. 19 |
£500 |
| POVEY's "HALFPENNY CARRIAGE", 1709-10 |
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2289 |
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THE UNIQUE() CHARLES POVEY 13th DEC. 1709 "HALFPENNY CARRIAGE" BROADSIDE ; Printed (both sides) large Broadside (10x15_ ins., plus part extra left hand border folded round; minor folds and edge wear do not detract), headed "PROPOSALS OFFER'D TO THE Honourable Houfe of Commons, For making an ACT To Eftablifh the Half-peny Carriage ", being the original lengthy postal manifesto of the inventor and proprietor of this short-live Local London Post, which continued to operate from 4th Oct. 1709 to 4th May 1710, and was still operating when Povey issued this Broadside (dated "Dec. 13 1709" at foot of page one ). Povey undercut the Government Penny Post service in 1709/10 and caused some panic in P.O. circles. In spite of his offers to hand over the scheme to the state and save Londoners a fortune in postage, his scheme was suppressed (just like William Dockwra's!) and his postal service was banned. This Broadside gave Povey's position in detail and makes the authorities out to be somewhat absurd. Only one cover with the famous "THE/HALFPENNY/CARRIAGE" mark (see Willcocks' "ENGLAND'S POSTAL HISTORY" & the Jan. 1961 "Philatelist") has been recorded (in the P.R.O.; SP34/14/83), and THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THIS POVEY BROADSIDE IN EXISTENCE :- there is no example in the British Library nor in any other Library or archive as far as is known. Highly important Exhibition Piece and a Historical Document of Undoubted National Significance. PHOTO. Provenance:- This example was in the Dendy Marshall collection (sold for £19 in his Dec. 1945 auction!), and no other example has been recorded since, although the Halfpenny Carriage saga is well known to collectors and historians alike. |
£1500 |
| THE 17th CENTURY GOVERNMENT POST, 1682-99 |
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2290 |
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THE FIRST TYPE GOVERNMENT DOCKWRA" COVER;
9th June [1683; dated by the postmark which could not have appeared before 11th Dec. 1682, and is not recorded after April 1684] Entire Letter (somewhat damp-affected and so professionally silk-backed, with hole in the address panel, but none of the faults affecting the superb "Government Dockwra" mark on the flap) sent locally in London at "10_ in the morninge" and addressed "To my very good freind Mr. John Moore at [his] house on Porter's Key, These [be delivered]".The contents give news of the writer’s financial security. On the right hand flap is a partly fine "B/Mor/11" in circle time-mark (Jay L365; first year of use). On the right hand flap is a superb strike of the very rare "FIRST TYPE GOVERNMENT DOCKWRA" MARK of the St. Paul's Office; "PENY/POST/PAYD/P" (Jay L345; only six examples recorded:- all except this one in archives). The St. Paul's Office is thought to have been in the Royal Bagnio Coffee House in Newgate Street at this date. These First Type "Government Dockwra" marks are actually rarer than the Original Dockwra marks, being recorded only from 15th Jan. 1683 to 14th Aug. 1684, which is only 20 months, compared to a recorded period of use of 22 months for Original Dockwra marks. Only 22 First Type Government Dockwra covers are recorded, compared with 26 Original Dockwra covers! This is therefore a Highly Attractive and Important Postal History Exhibition Piece. PHOTO. Provenance:- Barrie "swapped" this cover some 25 and more years ago with a stamp collecting friend, in exchange for "an unmounted mint pair of QV £5 oranges, and a few other things". One wonders what the other things were and who got the best deal! Prior to that, it had been in Martin Willcocks' stock, as part of the fabulous "John Moore" archive that he acquired some time in the 1950's. |
£8,000-£10,000 |
|
2291 |
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WESTMINSTER OFFICE - VERY EARLY GOVERNMENT "W/FRI" DOCKWRA; Attractive 8th/9th May 1689 EL (internal reinforced join does not detract; text is a manuscript report of votes in the Houses of Parliament) sent locally in London with a very fine "POST/PAYD/PENY/W/FRI" mark (Jay L361b; rare) nicely placed on the lower flap. Very fine example of a rare 1680's Penny Post cover . Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see plate no. 4 |
£400 |
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2292 |
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TEMPLE OFFICE - EARLY GOVERNMENT "T/SAT" DOCKWRA; 12trh Nov. 1692 EL sent locally in London to Thame St. with a mostly very fine "PENY/POST/PAYD/T/SAT" mark (Jay L356a; first year recorded) on the right hand flap beside a partly fine encircled "P/Mor/11" time-mark (L365). Attractive and rare pre-1700 example. PHOTO - see plate no. 11 |
£300 |
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2293 |
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TEMPLE OFFICE - EARLY GOVERNMENT "T/TH" DOCKWRA; 1st Aug. 1695 EL from "Temple" to "Lime Streete" with fine to very fine "POST/PAYD/PENY/T/TH" mark (Jay L356b; rare) on the right hand flap beside a faint "B/Af/5" time-mark. The letter has then been turned and redirected to "the Poft house In Newbury" [Berks.] , with a separate address, m/s "6" charge and an "AV/1" Bishop Mark. Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 12 |
£240 |
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2294 |
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WESTMINSTER OFICE - EARLY GOVERNMENT "W/TV" DOCKWRA; 23rd Oct. 1699 EL (closed tear through address panel barely detracts) from "Admiral Rooke" in "German Streete" addressed to "Crutchett Fryers, Pr. penny post" with a very fine "PENY/POST/PAYD/W/TV" mark (Jay L361a) on the top flap (just clear of seal hole) beside a partly fine "B/Mor/10" time-mark. Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£240 |
| "B"/"G" DOCKWRAS OF THE CHIEF OFFICE, 1700-93 |
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2295 |
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COVER CARRIED PRIVATELY FROM BRUSSELS TO LONDON & THEN BY GOVERNMENT PENNY POST WITH TYPE 2a DOCKWRA: 5/15th Aug. c.1700 EL from Brussels to "The right Honorable the Countefs of Caithness att Mrs Friths house near ye Royal Cockpitt in Spittle Street Weft min London" with on reverse a fine "PAYD/PENY/POST/B/FR" Dockwra (Jay L331) & "W/A F /4" (Jay L365). PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£240 |
|
2296 |
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1704 COVER TO THE "HOOPER & BUNCH OF GRAPES" WITH TYPE 2a DOCKWRA: 1704 part E to "William Beech-at the Hooper & Bunch of Grapes near Exeter Exchange in the Strand" with m/s "These wth speed", on reverse is a fine "PAYD/PENY/POST/B/WEN" Dockwra (Jay L331), & m/s "h" alongside. PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£160 |
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2297 |
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1705 EL FROM LONDON TO NORWICH WITH TYPE 2b DOCKWRA: 8 Sept 1705 EL from London to Norwich with a fine "PENY/POST/PAYD/B/SAT" Dockwra (Jay L331b) with a partly torn away "SE/8" Bishop mark nearby. PHOTO - see plate no. 11 |
£240 |
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2298 |
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1711 EL TO BRISTOL WHICH MENTIONS A LOTTERY WITH TYPE 3a DOCKWRA: 20 Jan. 1710/11 EL from Dalston "For John Stracbey Esq at Sutton Court" and below "To be left at y Post house in Briftol" with a good "PAYD/PENY/POST/B/SA" Dockwra (Jay L332) and "IA/29" Bishop mark. the contents (torn) inc. "We are like to have Another Lottery" and "Prizes to be Paid in Redy Money". PHOTO - see plate no. 11 |
£150 |
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2299 |
|
1722 & c1729 COVERS WITH TYPE 3c DOCKWRA: 13 Oct. 1722 written account from London to "Sir George Saville Bart in Golden Square, St. James's" with a clear "POST/PAYD/PENY/B/SA" (Jay L332a) Dockwra and m/s "Holland K". c1732 EL to Southampton Street with a good "POST/PAYD/PENY/B/SA" (Jay 332a) Dockwra. A little creased. PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£300 |
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2300 |
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1724 COVER WITH A FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE TYPE 3a DOCKWRA: 24 April 1724 EL "To Mrs Sally Bacon, at Mr. Palmers a Cheesemonger in Tooley Street, These" with a fine strike of the very rare rounded corner "PAYD/PENY/POST/G/FR" with dots Dockwra (Jay L335). Rare & desirable. PHOTO - ABOVE. |
£600 |
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2301 |
|
1738 COVER TO DEPTFORD WITH A TYPE 3b DOCKWRA: 6 July 1738 EL to "Mr Roope in Union Street, Deptford" with on reverse a fine "PENY/POST/PAYD/G/SA" Dockwra (Jay L335a) and m/s "Spinks". The front also has a recipients note. PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£100 |
|
2302 |
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1765 & 1782 COVERS WITH WIDE & NARROW SPACED DATE TYPE 4 DOCKWRA: 23 July 1765 EL to Holborne with a fine "PENNY/POST/PAID/G/TU" Dockwra (Jay L336) with a narrow space between the "G" & "TU". 11 Nov. 1782 EL to Mayfair with a similar Dockwra but with a wide space. A good pair. PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£100 |
| "H" DOCKWRAS OF THE HERMITAGE OFFICE, 1700-93 |
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2303 |
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1745 COVER FROM NEW ENGLAND WITH TYPE 3b DOCKWRA: 15 April 1745 part E (much repaired) from Bristol, N. England to Charterhouse, London with a clear "PENY/POST/PAYD/H/MO" Dockwra (Jay 342a) and m/s "Blanch" PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£100 |
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2304 |
|
1753 & 1768 COVERS WITH TYPE 4 DOCKWRA: 19 Oct. 1753 EL to "Mr James Smiyth writer of the signet, Skinners Close, Edinburgh" with a very good "PENNY/POST/PAID/H/SA" Dockwra (Jay 343) partly overstruck with "20/OC" Bishop mark with m/s ""Johnfon" nearby. 2 April 1768 EL to The Foundling Hospital London with a similar Dockwra with "H/MO" in centre. Fine. PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£150 |
| "P" DOCKWRAS OF THE ST. PAUL'S OFFICE, 1700-93 |
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2305 |
|
c1705 COVER WITH A FINE TYPE 2a DOCKWRA: c1705 EL to "William Harvy at ye New Inn near Clare Market, These" with a fine "PAYD/PENY/POST/P/TV" Dockwra (Jay 346) and m/s "f". of the Penny Post receiver. PHOTO - see plate no. 12 |
£200 |
|
2306 |
|
1709 COVER WITH A FINE TYPE 2b DOCKWRA: 2 Sept. 1709 EL to Watling Street with on reverse a fine "PENY/POST/PAYD/P/FRI" Dockwra (Jay 346a) and "P/A f/5" timestamp plus m/s "k". The address panel has two holes but the h.s are very fine. PHOTO - see plate no. 12 |
£200 |
|
2307 |
|
1734 COVER TO "THE LAMB" WITH A FINE TYPE 3a DOCKWRA: 17 June 1734 EL to "Mr John Nourse Bookfeller at the Lamb without Temple Bar" with a very fine "PAYD/PENY/POST/P/MON" Dockwra (Jay 347) on reverse. PHOTO - see plate no. 18 |
£120 |
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2308 |
|
1765 COVER TO THE STRAND WITH A FINE TYPE 4 DOCKWRA: 24 Jan. 1765 EL (tear clear of mark) to London with v. fine "PENNY/POST/PAID/P/TH" Dockwra (Jay 348) and m/s "Ralph". PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£100 |
| "S" DOCKWRAS OF THE SOUTHWARK OFFICE, 1700-93 |
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2310 |
|
FINE 1699 EL TO SURREY STREET, STRAND WITH VERY SCARCE Type 2b DOCKWRA: (February 1699/1700) EL with a fine strike of the very scarce Friday h.s. ['PENY' on left - L351a]; an attractive, early cover. PHOTO - see plate no. 12 |
£150 |
|
2311 |
|
RARE INVERTED CENTRE MARK (Type 3c) : 1741 (25 July) Cover to Stockwell, Surrey with superb strike (over-inked on one corner) of the very rare inverted centre Dockwra [L352c - Saturday]. An Exhibition item. PHOTO - see plate no. 4 |
£300 |
|
2312 |
|
RARE ''PAID'' for ''PAYD'' VARIETY (Type 3a) : 1782 (3 May) Cover to Wainham (Sussex) with superb strike of the rare ''PAID'' error [L352b - Saturday]; Bishop Mark and m/s ''3'' charge. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£240 |
|
2313 |
|
SCARCE Type 4 MARK 1768-72: EL to Crowcombe (Somerset) with fine strike of the scarce Type 4 Docwra [L354 - Wednesday] alongside fine large Bishop Mark and m/s ''Turner''. Also a second fine strike of the same mark for Tuesday on a 1772 EL to Lincoln's Inn, alongside a v.fine 'T' time h.s. of 2 o'clock. (2 covers). PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£120 |
|
2314 |
|
SCARCE Type 4 DOCKWRA WITH SYDENHAM RECEIVER: 1770 EL to Nottingham with m/s ''Sydenham'' of the Receiving Office and fine strike of the Type 4 Dockwra [L354 - Friday]; Bishop Mark of ''21/SE'' and 4d charge of the General Post. PHOTO - see plate no. 12 |
£100 |
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2315 |
|
SCARCE 'NARROW MARGINS' Type 4a WITH ''St. Clements'' RH: 1786 (Sept.) EL concerning a girl from the Foundling Hospital, with m/s ''St. Clements'' Receiver's mark and fine (slightly doubled) strike of the scarce Type 4a Docwra [L354a - Thursday]; also v. good strike of same mark for Weds. on June 1790 EL. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£100 |
| "T" DOCKWRAS OF THE TEMPLE OFFICE, 1700-93 |
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2316 |
|
SCARCE Type 3a DOCKWRA ON EL TO MIDDLESEX: 1733 (7 Dec.) EL ex Lincoln's Inn to Wyrehall (Middlesex) with a fine strike of the scarce Type 3a Docwra [L357 - Friday]. Closed tear through flap does not affect mark. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£60 |
|
2317 |
|
SUPERB Type 3a DOCKWRA MARK ON EL FROM GOVERNOR POWNALL OF MASSACHUSETTS: 1766 (13 Apr.) EL to Richard Oswald, later Chief Negotiator of the US Treaty, from ex-Governor Pownall, theorist of the Union of the American Colonies; the reverse bears a superb strike of the Type 3a Dockwra [L357 - Saturday] and a very fine time h.s. ''3 o'clock/G''. Most attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£150 |
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2318 |
|
RARE Type 3a MARK WITH ''REVERSED N IN 'PENY' '' ERROR: 1769 (Sept.) EL from Inner Temple to Cornhill with oval ''DAVIES'' Receiver's h.s. and slightly blurred impression of the rare 'Reversed N' error [L357a - Monday]. An elusive mark. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£150 |
|
2319 |
|
SCARCE Type 3c ('POST' ON LEFT) MARK: 1763 EL from Rickmansworth to the Foundling Hospital concerning how to obtain a servant-girl, with very fine strike of the scarce Type 3c mark [L357b - Wednesday]. Fine. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£100 |
| "W" DOCKWRAS OF THE WESTMINSTER OFFICE, 1700-93 |
|
2320 |
|
'EALING' RECEIVER WITH Type 3b HANDSTAMP: 1734 EL to Distaff Lane with fine m/s ''Ealing'' RH mark very slightly overstruck by a fine strike of the Type 3b ('PENY' at left) Dockwra [L362a - Thursday]- light filing crease through mark. Also a 1738 EL with m/s ''Hawkins'' Receiver and v.fine strike of the same mark for Monday. (2 covers). |
£120 |
|
2321 |
|
Type 4 DOCKWRA FIRST YEAR OF USE ON ''GLADEN'' COVER: 1755 (7 Nov.) EL addressed care of ''Mrs Brown's Pamphlet Shop in the Haymarket'' with fine m/s ''gladen'' Receiver's Mark near very fine strike of the Type 4 Westminster Dockwra [L363 - Saturday]. A fine cover. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£100 |
|
2322 |
|
'CLIVE OF INDIA' LETTER WITH TWO DIFFERENT DOCKWRA MARKS: 1764 (29 May) Redirected EL (faults, reduced at right with slight loss of text) written from Berkley Square and signed ''Clive''; contemporary filing endorsement: ''Lord Clive's Letter''. The reverse has a m/s ''Mackay'' Receiver's Mark and v.good & v.fine strikes respectively of the Type 4 Westminster Dockwra [L363 - Monday & Thursday] - unique thus PHOTO - see plate no. 12 |
£300 |
|
2323 |
|
FINE Type 4 DOCKWRA MARKS ON FOUNDLING HOSPITAL LETTERS: 1767 EL with m/s ''Coleman'' Receiver's Mark , v.fine strike of the Type 4 mark [L363 - Friday] and ''2 o'clock /T'' time h.s. Also a 1774 EL from a pawnbroker requesting a foundling as an apprentice, with m/s ''Chandler'' Receiver and fine strike of the Type 4 Saturday mark; slight staining to front. (2 covers). |
£120 |
|
2324 |
|
SCARCE Type 4a DOCKWRA: 1788 EL from Duke Street to the Strand with mainly fine strike of the scarce large Type 4a Mark [L363a - Monday]. PHOTO - see plate no. 20 |
£100 |
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