| SHIP LETTERS - UNPAID, 1782-1849 |
|
2478 |
|
THE RARE 2-LINE "SHIP/LRE" MARK; Sept./Dec. 1782 EL (minor flap faults) from Kingston (Jamaica) to London ("Jamaica Coffee House") with m/s "5" charge (1d for the captain + the over 80 miles inland rate), having an almost very fine London Rob.S34a mark (only recorded 1780-3) nicely placed on the front, indicating that the letter had been landed at a port other than London. Seldom seen. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£200 |
|
2479 |
|
THE 1-LINE "SHIP LRE" MARK; Aug./Sept. 1788 E (worn crease affects address but clear of mark) from "Shelburne, Nova Scotia" to London with a partly very fine strike of this elusive mark (Rob.S34) in black on the front. The "1/1" charge suggests that the letter was probably landed at Plymouth. |
£75 |
|
2480 |
|
INDIA - "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" COVER WITH MENTION OF "TIPPOO SULTAUN", THE 2nd MYSORE WAR, "LORD CORNWALLIS", ETC.; Nov. 1790/June 1791 EL (long contents incl. mention of the War) from Calcutta to Scotland with a very fine Rob.S4 nicely placed on the front. Scarce thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£120 |
|
2481 |
|
ANTIGUA/BARBUDA - CLARET-RED LONDON "SHIP-LRE" COVER; Oct./Dec. 1793 EL (inner wrapper separated from address wrapper for display purposes) from "Antigua" (with mention of yellow fever in St. Kitts, plans for the British to attack Martinique again, and the writer's nephew being detained in Barbuda by bad winds ) with a very fine London "SHIP/LRE" mark (Rob.S34 with hyphen) nicely placed on the front. Endorsed "p. the Liberty" with m/s "9" charge. Few examples of this distinctively coloured mark are known; a very scarce country of origin. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£240 |
|
2482 |
|
U.S.A. - TRANSATLANTIC COVER EX "NEWARK" WITH RARE RED LONDON "SHIP-LRE" MARK; Oct./Dec. 1794 EL from Newark (N.J. presumably) to London charged "6" with a partly very fine strike of the rare Rob.S34 (with hyphen) in claret-red. Seldom seen. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£120 |
|
2483 |
|
INDIA - THE LARGE "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" MARK; Aug.1797/Feb. 1798 E from Bombay to Edinburgh with a very fine Rob.S5 "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" mark (but with hyphen) nicely placed on the front. Attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£100 |
|
2484 |
|
INDIA - "CAWNPore" MARK WITH SCARCE 2-RING "SHIP-LETTER/LONDON" C.D.S.; July 1802/Jan. 1803 EL to Exeter with lovely scarce "CAWNPore" mixed type mark on the top flap, having a mostly very fine 2-ring Rob.S14 c.d.s. on the front; endorsed "Land and Ship Post[ag]e paid" and "Pd10", with "1/1" arrival charge. Scarce & attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 13 |
£100 |
|
2485 |
|
Similar March/Sept. 1803 E from Calcutta to Inverness with mostly very fine 2-ring Rob.S14 "SHIP-LETTER/(crown)/LONDON" c.d.s. (frame touched by fold) on the front. Scarce. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£85 |
|
2486 |
|
INDIA - THE LARGE SINGLE-RING "SHIP-LETTER/(crown)/LONDON" C.D.S.; May 1806/April 1807 EL from Howrah (near Calcutta) to Glasgow "Pr. H.C. Ship Preston" with a very fine Rob.S15 c.d.s. nicely placed on the front. Scarce and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£85 |
|
2487 |
|
INDIA - THE SCARCE SMALL STEP-TYPE "LONDON/SHIP LETTER"; July 1814/Jan. 1815 E from India to Inverness with an almost very fine strike of the surprisingly scarce (because short-lived; only recorded 1814-5) Rob.S30, nicely placed on the front beside a large "Addl/_" mark. Attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 13 |
£150 |
|
2488 |
|
INDIA - THE LARGE STEP-TYPE "LONDON/SHIP LETTER"; Feb. 1814/Feb. 1815 E from "Chulnurry" () to England "By the first ship from Madras", endorsed "p. Asia" with a mostly very fine strike of the surprisingly scarce (1814-5 only) Rob.S31 framed mark on the front. Seldom seen this clear. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£120 |
|
2489 |
|
INDIA - THE RARE RED TRIPLE-BOXED "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" DATESTAMP ; Jan./June 1815 EL from Bombay to London "p. Tigris" with a very fine boxed 3-line Rob.S32a (even rarer than the black version) nicely placed on the front. Rare and an unusually clear strike of this short-lived and distinctive mark. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£400 |
|
2490 |
|
INDIA - THE BLACK TRIPLE-BOXED "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" DATESTAMP ; Sept. 1814/May 1815 E (small hole in address clear of marks barely detracts) to Scotland with a faint Bombay c.d.s. on the flap, having a very fine (especially for this famously unclear mark) boxed 3-line "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" d.s. (Rob.S32; no kink in top frame) nicely placed on the front with just a few letters slightly smudged at left. Seldom seen. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£300 |
|
2491 |
|
INDIA - EARLY EXAMPLES OF THE SMALL BOXED LONDON "SHIP LETTER"; 1817/8 pair with mostly fine to very fine strikes of the small Rob.S37 mark on the front. Unusually early for this mark; both charged 8d Ship Letter rate, the 4d India Letter rate not being available until 1819. (2 covers). |
£100 |
|
2492 |
|
CUBA - EARLY BOXED "PACKET LETTER"; Nov./Dec. 1818 E from Havana to London endorsed "H.M.S. Larne" with a very fine (but crossed by closed tear) black boxed London "PACKET LETTER" (Rob.P3; an early date as shown by the crisp lettering); endorsed "1 Oz" and so charged "8/8". |
£50 |
|
2493 |
|
ANTIGUA/ESSEX - EARLY UNFRAMED "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" CROWNED C.D.S.'s; 1822 E from "Antigua" to London "p. West Indian" with v. fine Rob.S22 (crease) beside the scarce large red London "G P" mark (Jay L676), plus 1823 E (origin unknown) to Suffolk with very fine Rob.S22 and red "COLCHESTER/Penny Post" both nicely placed on the front. Unusual and attractive pair. (2 covers). PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£100 |
|
2494 |
|
ST. VINCENT, ETC. - THE EARLY UNFRAMED "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" C.D.S.'s; 1821 EL/E from "St. Vincent" & of unknown origin, both to London with mostly fine and very fine strikes of the crowned c.d.s.'s (Rob.S21 & S22) respectively. These early types of this c.d.s. were short-lived and are surprisingly elusive. (2 covers). |
£75 |
|
2495 |
|
BRISTOL/PORTSMOUTH SHIP LETTER MARKS STRUCK IN LONDON(); 1821/38/40 E's from US, written on board "Great Western" & origin unknown; all addressed to London with mostly fine to very fine red/orange-red twin-boxed "BRISTOL/SHIP LETTER", similar unframed mark, and downward step-type "SHIP LETTRE/PORTSMOUTH" marks, all in colours that suggest they may have been struck in London. See discussion of this theory in Robertson (p.E182/A) & Tabeart's "Robertson Revisited" (pp.185-7). (3 covers). |
£100 |
|
2496 |
|
VENEZUELA - RED BOXED LONDON "PACKET LETTER"; Oct./Dec. 1837 E from Caracas to London with a very fine red boxed Rob.P3 (frame just crossed by fold) nicely placed on the front. |
£50 |
|
2497 |
|
SCOTTISH 8d COASTAL STEAMER LETTER RATE COVER; 9th/12th Dec. 1837 E from London to Edinburgh endorsed "Pr. Steamer" and so with a very fine red "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" c.d.s. and only charged "8"(d) instead of the 1s-1_d applicable to the land-based route. Rare. |
£85 |
|
2498 |
|
THE VERY RARE RED OVAL LONDON "REBATE/(Crown)/SHIP LETTER OFFICE" DATESTAMP ; 6th Sept./8th Nov. 1839 E from New York to London endorsed "p. Geo. Washington" with faint "LIVERPOOL/SHIP LETTER" on flap, having very fine red strike of this rare Rebate d.s. (Rob.Reb.1 = Jay L298b; recorded only from 18th Oct. to 7th Dec. 1839 ) nicely placed on the front; few examples known. Exhibition Item. [Cavendish sold a similar cover for £1725 in the 10th March 2000 auction; lot 219.] PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£1200 |
|
2499 |
|
TRANSATLANTIC "EXEMPT SHIP LETTER" ; 27th Feb./25th March 1841EL from New York to London, endorsed "Consignees " and "p. Philadelphia, London Packet of March 1st " on the front, having a partial very fine boxed step-type "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LETTER" and a very fine (filing crease) small BLACK "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIPL R ." of London (Rob.Ex1; rare in black) alongside on the front. Charged the special "3"(d) Consignees' rate instead of the usual 8d; the addressees had goods consigned to them on the same ship that carried the letter. Rare on a Portsmouth Ship Letter cover. PHOTO - see plate no. 13 |
£200 |
|
2500 |
|
DEVON/CHINA - 2nd TYPE LONDON "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIP LR." & "SHIP LETTER/KINGSBRIDGE" ; 11th Dec./7th April 1847 E from "Canton" to London "per Marquis of Bute ", endorsed "Consignees' Letter ", and so charged only "4"(d) with a very fine larger black "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIP L R " mark of London (Rob.Ex.2; crease) on the front, having a very fine framed downward-step "SHIP LETTER/KINGSBRIDGE" mark (Rob.S2) nicely placed on lower flap. Attractive and rare from the Far East. PHOTO - ABOVE. |
£300 |
|
2501 |
|
Similar 27th Sept.1847/10th Feb. 1848 E from "Can[ton]" (from the same firm as the previous lot) to London per "Royal Walker " endorsed "Consignees " with a mostly very fine BLUE downward step-type "SHIP LETTER/GRAVESEND" (Rob.S7; only recorded in this colour for 1847/9) nicely placed on the lower flap, plus a very fine RED London "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIP LR." mark (Rob.Ex.2; crease) on the front. Colourful and rare Exempt Ship Letter from the Far East. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£300 |
|
2502 |
|
LATER UNPAID SHIP LETTERS - TO/FROM RUSSIA/SOUTH AUSTRALIA, ETC.; 1845 E from "Pskov" (Russia) to Scotland and 1849 env. from Staplehurst to Adelaide with mostly very fine red "SHIP-LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" c.d.s.'s (serif & sanserif); plus 1848 E from Pernambuco with black London "SHIP LETTER". (3 covers). |
£75 |
| SHIP LETTERS - PREPAID, 1813-40 |
|
2503 |
|
CANADA - EARLY PREPAID INGOING SHIP LETTER; 1st Sept. 1813 E from London to Quebec "Pr. H.M.S." with pale red m/s "2/2" and a superb small red "PAID SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" c.d.s. (Rob.S44, showing stops between words to be tiny circles; well clear of slightly toned filing fold) nicely placed on the front. Rare to Canada and of Exhibition quality. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£100 |
|
2504 |
|
INDIA - "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/LONDON" COVER ; 21st April 1815 E (an account of £541-6s-6d's worth of booze sent out to the Earl of Moira, the addressee!!) from London to Calcutta "Per ship Lord Castlereagh" with red (third Packet rate) m/s "2/4" on the front, having a mostly very fine black 2-ring "P[OST P]AID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" (light fold) across the join on the reverse. Attractive and rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£200 |
|
2505 |
|
SCOTLAND/INDIA - EARLY PREPAID SHIP LETTER WITH EXPERIMENTAL LONDON SHIP LETTER OFFICE D.S.; Attractive Nov. 1819 EL from Inverness sent to Calcutta via a London Agent who paid inland and overseas postage, and so with a very fine red double oval "Poft Paid Ship Lre/(Crown)/LONDON" mark (Rob.S41) on the front, also having a very fine black double oval Ship Letter Office d.s. ("30 NO 30/1819"; Jay L1424) on the top flap. Rare and colourful. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£200 |
|
2506 |
|
WALES/SCOTLAND - PREPAID SHIP LETTERS TO INDIA; 1824 EL to Calcutta with "WREXHAM/122" UDC, and 1821/7 pair from Inverness/Edinburgh to Calcutta/Madras; all with very fine oval "POST PAID SHIP LR./(Crown)/LONDON" datestamps (two framed). Attractive trio. (3 covers). |
£100 |
|
2507 |
|
PREPAID SHIP LETTERS TO U.S.A.; 1823/38 pair of covers with very fine oval "POST PAID SHIP LR./(Crown)/LONDON" marks on the front (one framed); from London to NY/Philadelphia. Attractive pair. (2 covers). |
£100 |
|
2508 |
|
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - RARE PREPAID 5d-RATE COVER; Attractive Jan. 1833 EL from Clapton to Cape Town with superb blue oval "Paid(5d)" (Jay L552) on the front, slightly overlapping fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" d.s. (crease), with matching blue boxed "T·P/Hackney RO" on the top flap. This rate was 3d to the London Ship Letter Office plus the special 2d outgoing India Letter rate. The "TP/S" mark (L566; see lots below) has not been recorded before 1836, but this letter would have had one if posted then. Rare and colourful. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£100 |
|
2509 |
|
SCOTLAND - COASTAL STEAMER LETTER RATE TO LONDON; 31st Dec. 1836 E from Edinburgh with a mostly very fine red oval "POST PAID SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" d.s. on the front having m/s "Per London Steamer" and red "8" rate; this would have cost 1s-1_d if sent by land. The P.O.'s little-known concession rate for mail between ports. |
£75 |
|
2510 |
|
THE VERY RARE "TP/S" TWOPENNY POST SHIP LETTER MARK ON COVER TO INDIA; 29th Oct. 1837 fine EL from "DEPTFORD/EV" (c.d.s. on flap) prepaid to Calcutta with red m/s "Pd 5d", near fine red "G·P/PAID" in circle (Jay L688) and superb red matching "TP/S" mark (the rare Jay L566 mark, used only on prepaid India Letter mail from the London suburbs as far as we know) beside the very fine oval "POST PAID SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" d.s. Few examples of the "TP/S" mark are known. The first example was reported in 1948 (see appendices to the 1940 Alcock & Holland book); few are known. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see plate no. 2 |
£850 |
|
2511 |
|
THE VERY RARE RED "TP/S" TWOPENNY POST SHIP LETTER MARK ON COVER TO NEW SOUTH WALES; 10th April 1839 EL (few minor pink marks clear of London marks) prepaid from Vauxhall (fair "TP/Vauxhall" on flap) to Sydney with superb rare red "TP/S" Mark (Jay L566), very fine "G·P/PAID" in circle and oval "POST PAID SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" d.s. all on the front, having a very fine black crowned oval "GENERAL POST OFFICE/SYDNEY" d.s. nicely placed on the lower flap. Rare use of this mark used for prepaid India Letter mail from the London suburbs. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£850 |
|
2512 |
|
NEW HEBRIDES - EARLY INGOING COVER TO THE CANNIBAL "ISLAND OF TANNA"! ; Nov. 1840/May 1841 EL (minor wear) from "Cheshunt", addressed to "Revd. Henry Nisbet, Missionary at the island of Tanna, c/o Dr. Ross, Agent for the London Missionary Society, Sydney, New South Wales ", with very fine rare red Waltham Cross "Paid" mark beside m/s "8" on the front beside a v. fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" d.s., having a fine black "SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/SYDNEY" arrival c.d.s. on the top flap. This letter was intended for the New Hebrides, but the addressee delayed his visit until August 1841, because the previous Missionary (one John Williams) had been eaten by the Tanna cannibals in November 1839. It is believed therefore that this letter reached him in Sydney, but then accompanied him on his travels of many years throughout the Pacific area. He was more fortunate than his predecessor, though he had some narrow escapes, and died (of old age) in Samoa in 1876. Colourful, spectacular, RARE and a great story-line! PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£500 |
| SHIP LETTERS - FREE, 1820-39 |
|
2513 |
|
RECTANGULAR CROWNED "FREE" D.S. OF THE SHIP LETTER OFFICE ON INCOMING COVER EX INDIA; Nov. 1820/Feb. 1821 EL (somewhat toned filing creases) from "Loodianah" (India), addressed to "Sir Henry Torrens" (the Adjutant General with unlimited franking privileges ), with Calcutta c.d.s., red boxed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" (crease), and 1st Nov. 1821 "FREE" d.s.'s of both Ship Letter Office (Jay L840; recorded for only 1817 - outer frame just creased) and General Post. This boxed "FREE/NO 1/1821" mark is one of only a handful of examples of this first type (date only once, not either side of month) of mark recorded. Important Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see plate no. 7 |
£500 |
|
2514 |
|
THE BOXED "(Crown)/FREE" SHIP LETTER OFFICE D.S. ON 1824 COVER TO THE EAST INDIA COMPANY ITSELF; Aug. 1823/July 1824 front + top flap (toned & with faults + "magic" tape along back of fold) with v. fine black boxed "INDIA LETTER/PLYMOUTH" (crease) on the top flap, having a very fine red second type Ship Letter Office boxed "FREE" d.s. (Jay L842; short "FREE" variety) nicely placed on the front. In spite of faults, this is an important and rare example of the unlimited Franking rights of the East India Co. Directors for mail ex India, and a good example of this rare Free mark. PHOTO - see plate no. 23 |
£300 |
|
2515 |
|
BOXED SHIP LETTER OFFICE CROWNED "FREE" D.S. ON COVER TO INDIA; Attractive 6th April 1827 E (closed tear clear of marks) franked from London to Bombay (redirected on arrival) by the President of the India Board (Charles Grant who had unlimited franking rights) with a very fine red 3rd-type boxed Crowned "FREE" Ship Letter Office d.s. (Jay L842; long "FREE" variety) on the front, as well as the normal General Post Free c.d.s. Very rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£600 |
|
2516 |
|
SHIP LETTER OFFICE BOXED CROWNED "FREE" D.S. ON COVER TO DELHI; 1st Oct. 1831 EL franked from London by Charles Grant (the President of the India Board with unlimited franking rights, but written by the addressee's father from "E. Moniack" which was near Inverness!!, and so an abuse of Grant's privilege!) to India with a nearly very fine Boxed "FREE" mark (Jay L846) along with the normal General Post crowned "FREE" c.d.s. on the front. Attractive and rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£400 |
|
2517 |
|
Similar 2nd May 1833 E franked by Charles Grant, the President of the India Board, to "Futtyghur, Bengal" with a very fine boxed Ship Letter Office crowned "FREE" d.s. (Jay L846) and 2-ring General Post "FREE" c.d.s. on the front. Probably an abuse of privilege like the last lot; apparently written by a "C.J. Shore". PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£400 |
|
2518 |
|
TWICE FRANKED OUTGOING AND INGOING COVER TO/FROM INDIA ; Remarkable & spectacular 27th March 1833/14th Feb. 1834 front and top flap with "O.H.M.S./Quarter Master General's Office" imprint, sent from London to Madras but redirected back to London with four "FREE" datestamps neatly placed on the front; two 27th March 1833 boxed Ship Letter Office "FREE" marks (Jay L846; one creased but the other very fine), with ordinary General Post single/double framed "FREE" c.d.s.'s of 27th March 1833 & 14th Feb. 1834! There is a partly fine 25th Aug. 1833 "MADRAS/SHIP LETTER" d.s. on the flap. Unique() item! PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£300 |
|
2519 |
|
IRISH COVER TO INDIA WITH THE RAREST OF THE SHIP LETTER OFFICE CROWNED BOXED "FREE" MARKS; Attractive 15th March 1837 EL franked by "T, Drummond" (Under Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant and so with unlimited franking privilege) from "Dublin" (actually written by a Maria Drummond, so another abuse of privilege!) to "Calcutta" (redirected to "Nusserabad) with a faint Dublin crowned "FREE" c.d.s. overstruck by the General Post London "FREE" c.d.s., but also having a very fine strike of the very rare BOXED Crowned London Ship Letter Office "FREE" datestamp (sharp corners; Jay L848, medium crown:- only 5 or 6 examples known, and three are offered for sale here!) nicely placed on the front (affected by a few small ink spots which barely detract). Important Exhibition Item for any Ireland/London/India Free Franks Collection! PHOTO – INSIDE BACK COVER Close comparison of this lot and the two that follow it, shows that all these three sharp-cornered boxed "FREE" marks, Jay L848, are in fact DIFFERENT! The crowns are of different sizes and the settings of the word "FREE" are also different. The example in Cavendish's Nov. 1996 "Pepys" auction, lot 595, was the third type and sold for £1,495. |
£1000 |
|
2520 |
|
THE 2nd TYPE SHARP-CORNERED BOXED LONDON SHIP LETTER OFFICE "FREE" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO INDIA & BACK; 2nd March 1835/Jan. 1836 EL (unsurprisingly a little grubby and with some minor faults consistent with a journey of almost a year!) sent from the "National Debt Office" by the addressee's brother (but an abuse of the unlimited franking privilege of the Adjutant General of the Forces, Sir Herbert Taylor!) to Calcutta and redirected back to London. The postal marks include an almost very fine rare Boxed "FREE" d.s. (Jay L848; large crown), the normal General Post London "FREE" c.d.s. of the same date, and Indian & London transit marks of the next year on the reverse! Very rare cover. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£1000 |
|
2521 |
|
SCOTLAND/CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - THE 3rd TYPE SHARP-CORNERED LONDON SHIP LETTER OFFICE "FREE" DATESTAMP ; 27th Sept. 1839 env. franked from "Blair Adam" (in Scotland, with v. fine d.s. on the flap) to "H.M.S. Melville, C.G.H." (addressee's name ineffectually inked over) by "Chas. Adam" (someone with special franking privileges presumably) with m/s "Postage not paid" crossed out, having a mostly fine strike of the small-crown boxed "FREE" d.s. (Jay L848; 3rd type) on the front with normal London General Post "FREE" d.s.'s, as well as arrival "2/-" charge beside Cape Town boxed "TO PAY" and mostly v. fine crowned oval "GENERAL POST OFFICE/CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" d.s. Spectacular example of this rarest of overseas Free mail marks and to an exceptional destination. Exhibition Item. PHOTO – INSIDE BACK COVER |
£800 |
| INDIA LETTERS, 1815-39 |
|
2523 |
|
INDIA - "KING'S POSTAGE/INLAND POSTAGE" COVER WITH CROWNED "INDIA PACKET LETTER/G.P.O./LONDON" D.S.; Feb. 1817 EL (minor toning & faults) from "DUMFRIES" (boxed mileage and "Addl/_") to Madras with a very fine Rob.In.P3 - narrowly spaced wording - on the front, having mostly very fine scarce "KING'S POSTAGE" & "INLAND POSTAGE" arrival marks of India on the lower flap. Very high rate - "9/2_" - and rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 13 |
£150 |
|
2524 |
|
Similar Feb. 1818 EL from Dumfries to Madras, but with mostly very fine Rob.In.P4 - widely spaced wording - crowned "INDIA PACKET LETTER/GPO/LONDON" c.d.s. on the front and very fine "KING'S POSTAGE" & "INLAND POSTAGE" marks on the top flap. Attractive and rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 13 |
£120 |
|
THE CROWNED FANCY BOXED "FREE/LONDON/INDIA/LETTER" COVER TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE;
|
|
2525 |
|
15th/22nd April 1818 EL (some edge wear and minor toning) franked from London to the Cape of Good Hope by S.R. Chapman (Secretary to the Master General of Ordnance with unlimited franking privileges), but written by the addressee's mother (i.e. an abuse of privilege!), having a near fine London General Post crowned "FREE" datestamp of 15th April 1818, but also having a very fine red crowned BOXED "FREE/LONDON/INDIA/LETTER" DATESTAMP of 22nd April 1818 beside the address of the London Ship Letter Office (NOT RECORDED BY ROBERTSON OR JAY, but illustrated by Tabeart, listed as Rob.In.13). Clearly there was a week's delay in finding a suitable ship to carry the letter, and there is also a mostly very fine black oval Ship Letter Office d.s. (Jay L1424) of the 15th April on the flap. Important addition to the record, and a key Exhibition Item. PHOTO - ABOVE. |
£3,000-£5,000 |
|
2526 |
|
THE RARE CROWNED OVAL "INDIA/PACKET LETTER" D.S. WITH CRUTCHED CROSS MARK; 17th Jan. 1818 EL from Madras to London "Pr. Wellington" with mostly very fine strike of the short-lived Rob.In.P2 (recorded only 1817-8) on the front beside a very fine oval "MADRAS/SHIP LETTER" d.s. cancelled by a partial rare BLACK London "Crutched Cross" mark (Jay L1330; only recorded in this colour for 1819) - both latter marks crossed by light fold - and charged "10/6" (the triple Packet Letter rate). Rare example of confusion between two countries of the classification of mail sent by ship, and an unusual combination of rare marks. PHOTO – INSIDE BACK COVER |
£500 |
|
2527 |
|
THE RARE BOXED "INDIA" MARK CANCELLING BOXED "SHIP LETTER"; Sept. 1825/April 1826 E (flap unnecessarily cut & glued for display) from Calcutta to London "Pr. Lord Suffield", charged "3/1" with a fine black boxed London "INDIA" mark (Rob.In8) cancelling the almost very fine small boxed London "SHIP LETTER" mark (Rob.S37). Rare thus. [This boxed "INDIA" mark was used in the London Ship Letter Office to rectify errors, and could not have been used in India as suggested by some writers.] PHOTO - see plate no. 7 |
£400 |
|
2528 |
|
THE VERY RARE LARGE 2-RING "INDIA·SHIP·LETTER/4/LONDON" MARK STRUCK IN ERROR ; Spectacular Nov. 1827/April 1828 EL (minor stains clear of marks) from Bombay to Irvine (Scotland) with very fine giant 2-ring Rob.In.3 mark (few examples known) on the front, lightly crossed out, with v. fine matching boxed "INDIA LETTER/LONDON" (Rob.In.4) on the top flap, and correct "1/6" rate on the front. This special "4" mark was designed for use only on letters addressed to London where the total charge was just 4d (India Letters addressed to the port of arrival), but was very little used; this example was spotted at once as actually being addressed to Scotland, so the correct boxed mark was then applied! [Ex Alan Robertson; see footnote on p.E185.] PHOTO - see plate no. 7 |
£1500 |
|
2529 |
|
NEW SOUTH WALES - EARLY MISSIONARY LETTER WITH RARE BOXED "INDIA LETTER" MARK ; 12th May 1831 EL from "Sydney" (early date for a letter from N.S.W.) to London with a nearly fine step-type "HASTINGS/SHIP LETTER" mark on the flap, beside a very fine (though overwritten with a filing note) black London "INDIA LETTER" mark (the rare Rob.In.9; used to rectify errors on letters wrongly marked as Ship Letters). Few examples are known of this London Inspector's mark. PHOTO - see plate no. 24 |
£500 |
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2530 |
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INDIA LETTER MARKS OF KENT/DEVON PORTS STRUCK IN LONDON; 1833/8 covers from Cape Town (2) & Bombay to G.B. with fair to very fine (latter creased) strikes of the red boxed "INDIA LETTER" marks of Devonport (1833), Margate (1835) and Deal (1838), all of which appear to match the colour of London c.d.s.'s. Other marks include a very fine circular "POSTAGE TO LONDON NOT PAID". Scarce trio. [For a discussion of the London usages of other ports' marks, see Robertson p.E182A and Tabeart's "Robertson Revisited", pp.185-7.] (3 covers). PHOTO - see plate no. 24 |
£150 |
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2531 |
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CRUTCHED CROSS MARK CANCELLING "ROMNEY/SHIP LETTER" REPLACED BY LONDON's BOXED "INDIA LETTER/ROMNEY" ; Attractive Oct./Dec. 1836 EL from C.G.H. to London "Pr. Hector" with a very fine black boxed step-type "ROMNEY/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S3) nicely placed on the front, but cancelled by London Ship Letter Office's orange-red "Crutched Cross" (Jay L1330a), and with a matching orange-red (i.e. struck in London) boxed "INDIA LETTER/ROMNEY" (Rob.In.1) mark on the top flap. Clear evidence that London had a set of other ports' marks (and see also next lot). Exhibition Quality and very rare. PHOTO – INSIDE BACK COVER |
£600 |
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2532 |
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PHILIPPINE IS. - "CRUTCHED CROSS" CANCELLING "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" REPLACED BY LONDON BOXED "INDIA LETTER" ; Spectacular Jan./May 1837 EL from Manila to London "[Per] Alexander" with a mostly very fine black boxed step-type "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S3) on the front cancelled by a very fine orange-red London Crutched Cross (Jay L1330a), matching the London (see Tabeart note, p.265) orange-red boxed "INDIA LETTER" mark (Rob.In.9; overstruck & creased) on the top flap. Very rare thus. [Compare orange-red inks with previous lot.] PHOTO – INSIDE BACK COVER |
£400 |
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2533 |
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THE VERY RARE "MISSENT/TO ENGLAND" MARK ON PENANG COVER TO FRANCE VIA SINGAPORE & INDIA ; Colourful and spectacular 15th Jan. 1839 EL from "Penang" addressed to "St. Peray" [France], sent by private means to Singapore, with manuscript "Singapore Red. 23 Feby. & forwarded by J.S.Clark & Co." () endorsement on the top flap. The Singapore Forwarding Agent duly sent it on to "Messrs. Boyd & Co., Calcutta " who forwarded it IN ERROR to London; as a result the London P.O. (10th July 1839) applied a very fine strike of the very rare orange-red "MISSENT/TO ENGLAND" mark (Jay L1096; very rare pre-1840 and probably applied in the Ship Letter Office rather than in the Foreign Branch), and then - somewhat unkindly in my opinion! - sent it back to Calcutta, from where it was sent again by a ship bound for Le Havre, finally arriving at St. Peray on 14th Dec. 1840 !!! The other transit marks include Calcutta Ship Letter marks in red & in black, a boxed "NEW ROMNEY/INDIA LETTER" and a very fine 10th Dec. 1840 red 2-ring "OUTRE-MER/LE HAVRE" French entry-mark. A cover with a (long) story and a superb Exhibition Item. PHOTO – BACK COVER |
£1000 |
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