| GREAT BRITAIN |
| THURSDAY 25TH JANUARY 2001 AT 1.00 p.m. |
| SALE 595 |
| * = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by one star are subject to V.A.T. at 17·5%. ** = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by two stars are subject to V.A.T. at 5%. PLEASE NOTE: All lots in this auction are subject to the Buyers’ Premium of 15% (plus V.A.T. where appropriate) on their hammer prices. ALL BIDS WILL BE TAKEN AS EXCLUSIVE OF THIS PREMIUM |
| LERWICK PRE-1840 POSTAL HISTORY |
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1 |
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THE EARLIEST KNOWN (?) INGOING LETTER TO THE SHETLANDS; 2nd June 1751 EL from "Bergen" (Norway!) to Lerwick mentioning in a P.S. that; "This goes with ane oppertunity [sic] to Orkney ...", and without postal marks, but having an unrecorded Forwarding Agent's endorsement on the back; "Kirk[wa]ll 27 May 1751 pr. Address of, Sir, yr. most hble. sert.Robert Laing". There was no Shetland P.O. before May 1758; this is a rare example of mail privately carried before that date, and exceptional from Norway. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£200 |
|
2 |
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VERY EARLY INGOING POSTAL COVER; 3rd Jan. 1772 EL (thanks for a quantity of fish) sent from "Edinburgh" to "Lerwick, Zetland" with a fine red Bishop Mark and charged "Pd6", being one of the earliest postal items connected with Shetland to have survived. Fine and rare. |
£100 |
|
3 |
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VERY EARLY LETTER FROM SHETLAND - WITH EDINBURGH FORWARDING AGENT's NOTE; Aug./Sept. 1774 EL ("...our Packet is to sail today...")to Air with filing note that it was from "Sir John Mitchell, Shetland", having fine "SE/19" red Bishop Mark and charged only "2"(d) because it was "Forwarded by Your Obt. Hum. Servt., William Gibson, Edin[burg]h 19th Septr. 1774". Very rare; we have only recorded two earlier letters from the Shetland Isles in private hands. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£150 |
|
4 |
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RED "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" COVER FROM LERWICK; 8th Sept. 1800 EL to Bannockburn (ref. cloth) with a mostly very fine strike of the scarce "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" mark on the front with fair red "SE/26" Bishop mark and m/s "5" charge both alongside. Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£300 |
|
5 |
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MUCH TRAVELLED "H.M. TENDER" COVER WITH "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" MARK FROM LERWICK; 7th May 1796 EL (ref. shipping arrivals and commodity prices) to Edinburgh endorsed (in a different hand) "from Shetland Pr. H.M. Tender " on the reverse, and "from Lerwick " (in a third hand) on the front, having a partly fine red "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" mark on the front, and charged variously due to redirection to a Harrogate pub and then to Leeds. Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£200 |
|
6 |
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THE EARLY CONVEX "LERWICK"; 5th Dec. 1791 fine EL (ref. a land dispute) to Edinburgh charged "8" with a very fine concave "LERWICK" on the flap (light crease) beside a very fine red "DE/14" Bishop Mark. Seldom seen this early and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£100 |
|
7 |
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Similar 1794/1800 E & EL (ref. trade; "Gin is very scarce here"!) with mostly fine strikes of the concave "LERWICK" mark; charged "9"() for a single sheet to Orkney, and "1/4" to Edinburgh. Rare pair. (2 covers). |
£100 |
|
8 |
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Similar 1797/8 pair of EL's to Edinburgh/Aberdeen, each with a fine (though creased) concave "LERWICK" on the flap; charged "2/3" (high rate; contents ref. Lady Symbister's affairs incl. "...the Packet sails early tomorow from Lerwick") and "9" (from "Scotshall"; family news & orders for mustard, a locket & teaspoons) respectively. Rare pair. (2 covers). |
£100 |
|
9 |
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THE UNRECORDED MANUSCRIPT "LERWICK" MARKING ; 5th Nov. 1795 EL (from "Scotshall"; same correspondence as the 1798 cover in the previous lot) to Edinburgh with "8" charge, fair red Edinr. Bishop Mark and (on the reverse and in no way connected with the filing endorsement) a clear manuscript "Lerwick" marking. Perhaps the P.O. handstamp had gone astray, or the islands' supply of cancellation ink had run out. Very rare addition to the record. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£200 |
|
10 |
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SHETLAND's EARLY INGOING & PRIVATELY CARRIED MAIL; 1797 EL (toning) to Edinburgh endorsed "Favoured by Mr. Robson of Gossaburgh" with fair orange-red "LEITH", near fine red "MORNING/P.P./DELIVERY" of Edinburgh and only a "1"(d) charge; plus 1800/2 pair to Shetland (the first to a Captain of the "2nd N.B. Militia, Fort Charlotte, Shetland") charged "9" (from Aberdeen) and "1/-" (sent from London to an Agent in Leith). Scarce lot. (3 covers). |
£100 |
|
11 |
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THE RARE RED OVAL "Ship Letter/(crown)/LEITH" MARK; 21st Oct. 1812 EL (ref. the sale of a cart, plough, etc.) from "Lerwick" to Edinburgh most unusually with a partly fine (and partly overstruck) orange-red oval crowned "Ship Letter/LEITH" mark (crease; Rob.S1 - only recorded in this colour for this one year) on the front, charged "5"(d). Rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£150 |
|
12 |
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THE CIRCULAR "LERWICK/778/E" MILEAGE MARKS; 1809-1818 covers with mostly fine to very fine strikes of this mark (Auckland/Stables ZE398; only known 1809-19), incl. a staggeringly fine 1809 example. Addressed to Edinburgh (5; charged "7", "1/-" or "1/1") or Stirling (charged "1/11/2" via Edinr.). Much scarcer than the boxed mileage mark. (6 covers). |
£100 |
|
13 |
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THE BOXED "LERWICK/778 - E" MILEAGE MARKS; 1824-37 covers with mostly very fine strikes of this mark; the 4th Oct. 1824 example is in orange-red and rare thus (only recorded in this colour during this one year by Auckland/Stables). Good lot with varied rates to Edinburgh (10; incl. cancelled "Addl/1/2" mark and red "G [crown]/R") or Aberdeen. (11 covers). |
£150 |
|
14 |
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MAIL TO ABERDEEN/EDINBURGH VIA PETERHEAD/HULL; 1831-7 covers (4; varied rates) from Shetland to Edinburgh with "PETERHEAD" transit marks (one straight line and 3 c.d.s.'s), plus an 1830 EL from Lerwick to Edinburgh posted at Hull with red "HULL" c.d.s. Very scarce routings. (5 covers). |
£120 |
|
15 |
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VERY EARLY BOXED STEP-TYPE "LERWICK/SHIP LETTER": Attractive 13th may 1815 EL from "Lerwick" to Edinburgh (about the lack of ships from Shetland to Argyllshire and cattle therefore having to be sent via Leith and driven overland from there) charged "7"(d) with a very fine "LERWICK/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S1; slightly watery ink and just crossed by light fold) which has only been recorded from Jan. 1815. Rare so early and so clear. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£150 |
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16 |
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STEP-TYPE "LERWICK/SHIP LETTER" COVER WITH BLUE OVAL "SHIP LETTER/LEITH" DATESTAMP; 14th Oct. 1836 EL to Edinburgh "per Norma" apparently at the special Coastal Steamer Rate ("1/5"; 8dx2 plus 1d from Leith to Edinr.); with a very fine but overstruck Lerwick S.L. (Rob.s1) on the flap beside a very fine blue Leith S.L. d.s. (Rob.S6; slightly affected by ink offset). Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£120 |
|
17 |
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Similar Feb. 1838 E from Lerwick to Edinburgh with a near fine step-type "LERWICK./SHIP LETTER" on the top flap and a very fine blue oval "SHIP LETTER/LEITH" d.s. nicely placed on the front; both slightly affected by ironed creases. A single letter at the Coastal Steamer Rate ("8" changed to "9") endorsed "p. Magnus Trail". Attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£100 |
|
18 |
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Similar May 1838 EL from "Fort Charlotte" (Lerwick) to Edinburgh "p. Magnus Trail" charged the triple Coastal Steamer Rate of "2/3" (should only have been 2s-1d!) with doubled strike of the step-type "LERWICK/SHIP LETTER" on the top flap and a mostly very fine blue oval "SHIP LETTER/LEITH" d.s. (crossed by closed tear) on the front. [Ex Willcocks]. |
£100 |
|
19 |
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THE RARE RED BOXED STEP-TYPE "LEITH/SHIP LETTER" MARKS; 21st Nov. 1840 E to Edinburgh prepaid "4"(d) in cash (over 1oz and up to 2oz) with a near fine boxed "LERWICK" d.s. on the reverse, but having a very fine orange-red boxed "LEITH/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S5; only recorded in this colour in 1840 ) on the front slightly overstruck by the Edinr. "PAID" arrival c.d.s. This is the matching cover to the "Ecosse" example (Cavendish 23rd Oct. 1999; lot1370 - realised £747) of the same date which had the same rare Leith mark but with a Lerwick step-type S.L. instead of this d.s. Rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£300 |
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20 |
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COASTAL STEAMER RATE COVER FROM SHETLAND TO ORKNEY; Rare Aug. 1838 E from "LERWICK" (boxed d.s.; early date) to Kirkwall (ref. a Fair Isle tenant's taxes) endorsed "p. Steamer Sovereign to Kirkwall" and so charged "9" (the 8d Steamer Rate plus 1d local Orkney postage). Rare inter-island mail. [Ex Alan Robertson.] |
£100 |
|
21 |
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"ON POST AFFAIRS" POSTMASTER's LETTER WITH RARE "LERWICK/PENNY POST" MARK; May 1839 EL from Alexr Nicoll (the Postmaster) in "Lerwick" to the "Par[ish]. Teacher, East Yell" regarding the payment of a postage debt of £8-4s-8d that the addressee owed for letters sent via the "North Post Office" in past months; endorsed "On post affairs A.N." above the address beside a partial albino strike of the rare "LERWICK/PENNY POST" mark, and so a local Free letter. Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£150 |
|
22 |
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NEAR ALBINO "LERWICK/PENNY POST", ETC.; Fine Aug. 1839 EL from "Lerwick" to "Ollaberry" prepaid 1d (with red m/s "P1"), having a clear but almost uninked strike of the rare "LERWICK/PENNY POST" mark on the front. Plus a Sept. () 1839 privately carried local Lerwick EL. (2 covers). |
£150 |
|
23 |
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RARE "LERWICK/PENNY POST" MARK ON INGOING PREPAID COVER; March 1839 EL prepaid "2/81/2" from Liverpool to "Olllaberry" with partial "LERWICK/SHIP LETTER" on the front. Rare thus. |
£100 |
|
24 |
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EARLY UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE H.S. "1" COVER WITH "LERWICK/PENNY POST"; 28th () June 1840 E (discoloured filing fold clear of marks) to "Lerwick" with near fine orange-red handstruck "1" on the front and a partly very fine black "LERWICK/PENNY POST" mark on the top flap. Rare thus. |
£120 |
|
25 |
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Similar Dec. 1840 E from "Lerwick" addressed to "North Yell" with a mostly fine orange-red handstruck "1" (crease) on the front and a partly fine black "LERWICK/PENNY POST" mark across the join on the reverse. |
£100 |
| LERWICK'S LATER P.H., 1840 ONWARDS |
|
26 |
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1d BLACK USED IN THE SHETLAND ISLES ; 17th Aug. 1840 E (lower flap slightly reduced) to Edinburgh franked by a fine 4-margin 1d Black (OB; plate 5) tied by a very fine orange-red Maltese Cross with a mostly fine boxed "LERWICK" d.s. on the reverse (over-written by the filing notes). Rare usage in the Shetlands. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£240 |
|
27 |
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INGOING 1d BLACK COVER TO THE SHETLAND ISLES; 3rd April 1841 EL from Edinburgh to Lerwick (addressed to the sender of the cover in the previous lot!) with a 4-margin 1d Black (crease; DH) tied by a black Edinburgh M.C., showing the routing via "ABERDEEN" (boxed d.s. on flap). Rare thus. |
£100 |
|
28 |
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MULREADY - RARE SHETLAND ISLES USAGE ; 20th Feb./11th March 1843 usage of the Stereo A5 1d black Mulready letter-sheet to Liverpool via Edinburgh, cancelled by a blurred black Lerwick Maltese Cross with a fine boxed "LERWICK" d.s. on the top flap. Few Shetland Isles Mulready usages are known. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£300 |
|
29 |
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LERWICK UNIFORM 1d POSTAGE PERIOD COVERS; Feb. 1840-1850 covers with red handstruck "1" (v. fine 1842 cover) or manuscript "1" markings (3 in red & one in black on letter redirected to Orkney), incl. Feb. 1840 m/s P1" from Sandwick and 1849 inter-islands E to "Westray" (Orkneys). Scarce group. (5 covers). |
£120 |
|
30 |
|
UNIFORM 1d POSTAGE - INTERNAL LOCAL SHETLAND MAIL; 1842-57 covers incl. v. fine 1842 red Lerwick handstruck "1" on cover to "Melby" (), v. fine stampless local Lerwick 1857 mourning env. with v. fine black handstruck "2" beside a fine green "LERWICK" c.d.s., fair red 1842 h.s. "1" from "Buness" to Lerwick and 1849 m/s "1" from Tingwell to Linkshouse. Rare local mail. (4 covers). PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£100 |
|
31 |
|
EARLY INGOING OVERSEAS MAIL TO LERWICK; 1814 EL with French "P.71.P/LE MANS" mark, 1838 EL ex USA with poor "LIVERPOOL./SHIP LETTER", rare July 1841 EL (toned, etc.) from "Bay of Islands, New Zealand" (early letter from this part of the world) but completed & posted from "Sydney", addressed to the "Island of Papa Shetland" with red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/(crown)/SYDNEY" d.s., 1846 EL from Calcutta and 1930 PPC from Canada. Scarce lot. (5 covers). |
£150 |
|
32 |
|
THE "223" NUMERALS COLLECTION; c.1844-60 covers all with "223" numeral cancellations incl. several local inter-Shetland items, rare pair of 1841 2d Blue covers (seldom seen from Shetland), overstruck 1851 "BRAE", 1846 m/s "Ship letter", a grubby & creased but rare Registered local 1856 env. with 3x4d rose-carmine, etc. Difficult lot to assemble. Also 2 ingoing 1866/9 covers & 7 pieces. (15 covers + 7 pieces). |
£150 |
|
33 |
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LERWICK P.O. LETTER REF. MAINTAINING/SUBSIDISING THE UNST/YELL POSTAL SERVICE + "ROWLAND HILL" P.O. NOTICE; 18th March 1846 EL from "Post Office, Lerwick" to a land-owner at "Gardie House" (on the tiny Shetland island of Bressay) endorsed "O.H.M.S." with boxed "LERWICK" d.s. and red m/s "1", sealed by a barely recognisable "LERWICK/(crown)/P.O" Bagseal; the contents ask the addressee if he would help to subsidise the northern islands' P.O. service if the current census showed mail to be uneconomical for the P.O. Plus printed foolscap May 1855 P.O. Notice from "ROWLAND HILL" ref. tying bundles of mail with string. Rare.(2 items). |
£100 |
|
34 |
|
MAIL SHIP's LOG SHEET FOR THE ROUND TRIP ABERDEEN/LERWICK/ABERDEEN; Foolscap sheet headed "ABERDEEN Post Office" with printed headings for details of the "Queen Steamer" voyage of 12th/17th May 1848 with a very fine boxed "LERWICK" d.s. in the "Time of Mail being put on Board" column. A rare survival. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£150 |
|
35 |
|
FAEROE ISLANDS - RARE EARLY INGOING COVER FROM DENMARK VIA SHETLAND ; Remarkable long 31st Dec. 1850 - 29th Jan. 1851 EL (very lengthy family letter started on 5th Dec. 1850 & posted on the 31st; signed by 11 family members and partly cross-written) from "KJOBENHAVN" (blue c.d.s. with black "PD" marks) addressed to "Suderoen...Faroerne" but endorsed to travel via Ostende and "Lervick...Shetlands"; with London "PAID" c.d.s. on the front and Aberdeen & Lerwick datestamps on the reverse. Rare routing, and a very early ingoing letter to the Faeroes. Exhibition item. [With Arno Debo 1982 certificate of genuineness.] PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£500 |
|
36 |
|
FAEROE ISLANDS - RARE DANISH MIXED ISSUES INGOING 14sk-RATE COVER VIA SHETLAND ; 21st Dec. 1866 env. (+ contents) from Copenhagen addressed to "Suderoe paa Faroerne" via "Hay & Co., Lerwick, Shetland"; franked by imperf 1858 8sk green (3 margins; shaved at left) and pair of 1864 perf 3sk lilacs (minor perf. faults) all tied by mostly fine "1" target cancels with London c.d.s. on the front and Aberdeen & Lerwick c.d.s.'s on the reverse. Very attractive and rare Exhibition item. [With 1982 Slavomir Kaiser certificate of genuineness.] PHOTO – INSIDE FRONT COVER |
£500 |
|
37 |
|
Q.V. OVERSEAS DESTINATION MAIL EX LERWICK; 1869-95 covers/cards with "223" numeral/duplexes/c.d.s.'s to N. Brunswick (1869; 6d lilac), N. Zealand (1869; 6d lilac), Ecuador (battered 1887 env. with Jubilee 2d pair), USA (1885; 11/2d dull lilac + 1d lilac), Holland (1888/92 usages of the 1d brown PC's), and Germany (1895 usage of the 1/2d brown PC uprated with 1/2d vermilion). Scarce lot. (7 covers). |
£120 |
|
38 |
|
MADEIRA - EARLY INGOING "CAPE PACKET/PLYMOUTH" COVER; Nov. 1877 env. from "FUNCHAL" to "Lerwick via Aberdeen" franked by pair of Portugal rough perf. "MADEIRA" o.p. 50r green tied by faint barred cancels; on the reverse is a very fine strike of the surprisingly scarce small "CAPE·PACKET/PLYMOUTH" c.d.s. (Rob.P3; seldom used - see Tabeart's notes on p.245). Rare thus. |
£100 |
|
39 |
|
THE BALANCE OF THE Q.V. LERWICK COLLECTION; c.1864-98 covers/cards incl. 1864 printed "GENERAL POST OFFICE" EL (damp-affected address, fine contents) ref. raising postal charges to Australasia, 1876 env. with pair of 1/2d rose-reds, local mail, 1d vermilion’s, scarce locally redirected 1888 1/2d blue E to "Yell", duplexes, v. fine 1871 1/2d PC usage, thimble cancels, later Postal Stat. PC's, etc. Good variety. Plus 1 front. (18 covers + 1 front). |
£100 |
|
40 |
|
DISALLOWED ICELAND STAMPS WITH LATE HANDSTRUCK "2" USAGE; Attractive April 1914 commercial Iceland firm's env. to London "via Leith" but with named ship changed and clearly sent to "LERWICK" (fine c.d.s. and mostly fine matching handstruck "2" on the front) instead; the Iceland 4a & 16a stamps are uncancelled and there is a very early usage of the G.B. 2d Postage Due label on the front (1st May 1914 Holloway c.d.s.). The letter should have been a Paquebot but was posted in Shetland in error; the h.s. "2" of Lerwick is 57 years later than recorded! Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£150 |
|
41 |
|
THE 1902-1929 LERWICK COLLECTION; Useful range of covers/cards incl. 1903 usage of the Iceland 10a red PC with Lerwick transit c.d.s., scarce c.1923 "LERWICK/SHETLAND" Rubber c.d.s. cancel, unusual 1921 "POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS" Engineering Message Form (ref. East Yell P.O.'s "Overland Service"), 1916/29 usages of the KGV 2d regd. envs., 1907/8 list of "FISHERY OFFICE" daily catches, a detailed study of the 2-ring c.d.s.'s, PPC's, etc. Plus 12 pieces. (35 covers, 2 documents & 12 pieces). |
£100 |
|
42 |
|
THE BALANCE OF THE LERWICK COLLECTION; 1930-c.1999 covers/cards with a good range of usages & cancellations, incl. 1937 Aberdeen "NOT CALLED FOR/1", 1954 3d Reply Coupon, 1940 21/2d Centenary FDC, 1951 commercial "EXPRESS" env. to Glasgow, regd., Air Mail, printed matter, and a huge range of QEII covers, etc. (200 items approx.) |
£150 |
| SHETLAND'S "MAINLAND" VILLAGES P.H. |
|
43 |
|
"MAINLAND" VILLAGES - AITH TO ESHANESS; 1903-c.1985 Collection incl. 2 Parcel Post labels (Aith - stamp removed - and stampless Dunrossness), 1912/9 pair (v. fine & doubled) of "BIGTON" rubbers, scarce 1912/3 pair of "BRIDGE OF WALLS" c.d.s.'s, KGV regd. env. usages ex Bigton/Brettabister/Dunrosness (2), 1907/10 "BIXTER" thimbles (3), understandably battered 1988 env. to Bruce Auckland with "NTS WORK PARTY No.2/ST. KILDA MAILBOAT/PLEASE OPEN" cachet, a good range of QEII village cancels, etc. Good lot. (66 covers + 14 pieces). |
£120 |
|
44 |
|
1d RED IMPERFS WITH BOTH "BRAE" & "OLLABERRY" STRAIGHT-LINE CANCELLATIONS ; c.1845 off-cover pair of 1d Reds (HF/HG; almost clear at left, HG cut into at bottom right, otherwise clear margins) cancelled by blue-black "BRAE" marks (2 strikes) and an albino impression of the similar "OLLABERRY" mark. An exceptional combination of unauthorised mainland village cancellations; the Scots Local cancels were not authorised until Oct. 1854. Alcock only lists a handful of pre-1854 local cancels such as this, and no double-village cancels. He notes (p.6) that each of these cancels is "only known on adhesive either on piece or off cover ". Exceptionally rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£200 |
|
45 |
|
BRAE - BLUE STRAIGHT LINE MARKS; 1846/51 trio of 1d Red covers (2 are partially printed "ZETLAND ROADS" Reports) with very fine blue "BRAE" backstamps; stamps cancelled with "223" numerals. Very scarce trio. (3 covers). |
£150 |
|
46 |
|
BRAE - BLUE-BLACK BOXED SCOTS LOCAL CANCELLATION, ETC.; c.1857 piece with 1d Red "stars" tied by almost very fine complete Type VIII "BRAE" Scots Local (Alcock top rarity "G"; only recorded 1857); very rare even on piece or stamp. Plus 1902 multi-view "SHETLAND" PPC to Govan with KEVII 1/2d tied by Aberdeen "1" with "BRAE" c.d.s. alongside, and 2 pieces. (1 card + 3 pieces). PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£150 |
|
47 |
|
THE "N" FOR "R" ERROR - "GARDENHOUSE" NAMESTAMP ON COVER WITH MANUSCRIPT-CANCELLED 1d RED ; 22nd March 1843 E (one side-flap removed) to Lerwick with fine 4-margin 1d Red tied by manuscript "X " cancel plus (on arrival) a light black Lerwick Maltese Cross; nicely positioned on the top flap is a very fine black "GARDENHOUSE" mark (Auckland/Stables ZE16; issued Feb. 1843 but not recorded used by them) which was replaced by the corrected "GARDERHOUSE" mark (see next lot) in Aug. 1843. The cover is endorsed in blue c.1900 ink "Note the spelling of Garderhouse", so this letter presumably survived as a curio for 100 years before entering the philatelic world. The sole example recorded to date Very rare Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£300 |
|
48 |
|
THE CORRECTED "GARDERHOUSE" MARK ON COVER; 1853 EL from the tiny westerly island of "Foula" to Edinburgh with 4-margin 1d Red tied by light Lerwick "223" numeral alone, having a mostly very fine strike of the rare "GARDERHOUSE" mark (ZE18; recorded only 1846-8 and very rare) across the join on the reverse. Few known. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£100 |
|
49 |
|
VERY RARE BOXED "GARDERHOUSE" SCOTS LOCAL CANCELLATION ON COVER ; 27th April 1857 EL from "Viewfield" to Edinburgh (redirected without charge to nearby "Currie") franked by a 1d Red "stars" tied by a very fine Type VIII "GARDERHOUSE" Scots Local (Alcock rarity "F"; recorded 1856-9) of which very few examples on cover are known. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£500 |
|
50 |
|
Similar "GARDERHOUSE" Scots Local on piece; c.1857 small piece with 1d Red "stars" tied by a very fine strike. Rare even on piece or stamp and attractive. PHOTO – BACK COVER |
£120 |
|
51 |
|
"MAINLAND" VILLAGES - GARDERHOUSE TO MOSSBANK; 1893-c.1987 Collection incl. 3 colourful KEVII-franked Parcel Post labels (Hillswickx2 + Mossbank), fine 1893 Mossbank usage of the QV 2d regd. env., 1924/8 Heylor & Levenwick KGV regd. env. usages, no less than 5 PPC's with 1912/9 "GARDERHOUSE/LERWICK" rubber cancels, scarce 1929 "LOCHEND LERWICK" c.d.s., 1942 censored env. ex Mossbank with Censor notice ref. inadequate enclosed Postal Order, 1955 Hillswick "Drift-card", etc. Also 10 pieces. Good lot. (48 covers + 10 pieces). |
£150 |
|
52 |
|
1d RED IMPERF. PIECE WITH BOTH "OLLABERRY" & "HILLSWICK" STRAIGHT-LINE CANCELLATIONS ; Unique () c.1847 large piece with fine 4-margin 1d Red tied by very fine blue "HILLSWICK" and fine blue "OLLABERRY". Exceptional unauthorised usage of Shetland village marks as cancellations; Alcock states that both these marks "are only known on adhesive either on piece or on cover", and he records no double cancellations such as this. Extremely rare and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£400 |
|
53 |
|
1d RED IMPERF WITH "HILLSWICK" STRAIGHT-LINE CANCELLATION; c.1847 off-cover 1d Red (OI; margins at left & top) with large part superb blue-black "[HI]LLSWIC[K]" villlage namestamp used as a diagonal cancellation. Rare unauthorised village cancel. PHOTO – BACK COVER |
£100 |
|
54 |
|
THE BLUE-BLACK "HILLSWICK" STRAIGHT LINE MARKS USED CORRECTLY AS BACKSTAMPS; 1848/9 pair of 1d Red E's to Lerwick/Edinburgh, each with partial or overstruck "HILLSWICK" marks on the reverse. Rare pair. (2 covers). [One ex Michael Champness.] |
£75 |
|
55 |
|
"EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" COVER EX THE TINY "MAINLAND" SHETLAND VILLAGE OF "LUNNA"; 20th May 1790 EL (ref. church taxes, etc.) to Edinburgh (charged "2") with a mostly fine strike of this rare mark (Rob.S1) in red nicely placed on the front. Exceptionally early from such a small place. PHOTO - see plate no. 2 |
£200 |
|
56 |
|
EARLY "MOSSBANK" STRAIGHT-LINE COVER; Attractive Aug. 1846 env. to Annan prepaid 1d in cash with a very fine "MOSSBANK" mark (Auckland/Stables ZE64a) nicely placed on the side-flap which opens out for display. Few examples known. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£120 |
|
57 |
|
THE VERY RARE BOXED "MOSSBANK" SCOTS LOCAL CANCELLATION ON COVER ; 29th Dec. 1856 local E (two worn filing creases and closed seal tear) to "Uyeasound" with 1d Red "stars" pair (one creased) tied by fine and near fine strikes of the very rare Type VIII boxed "MOSSBANK" Scots Local cancellation (Alcock highest "G" rarity), additionally tied by Lerwick "223" numerals struck in transit. Very few examples of this Scots Local are known; exceptional thus (in spite of faults) on a complete cover. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£300 |
|
58 |
|
MOSSBANK - KEVII REGISTERED ENVELOPE WITH UNDATED "MOSSBANK" REGD. LABEL; Attractive 1st Dec. 1908 local inter-island usage of the KEVII 3d regd. env. to East Yell cancelled by "MOSSBANK" thimble c.d.s.'s, having a very fine "R" label on the front cancelled by the same thimble mark but with the date removed. Spectacular. PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£100 |
|
59 |
|
THE SHETLAND "MAINLAND" VILLAGES - NORTH ROE TO SCALLOWAY ; 1846/51 pair of 1d Red EL's from "Sandwick" to Edinr. posted at Lerwick, 1876 1/2d PC from Aberdeen to Scalloway, 1904/12 trio of Parcel Post Labels (2 North Roe with fine KEVII frankings + stampless Reawick), an excellent range of 35 mostly KEVII very fine and scarce thimble cancels/transits (North Roe, OIllaberry, rare Quarff, Reawick, Sandness, rare 1909 Sandwick SKELETON , 1913 Sandwick to Canada , & Scalloway), 1916/9 trio of WWI censored/OAS local PPC's, plus a good range (38 covers + 7 pieces) of later (mostly QEII) items. Good selection. (81 covers, 13 pieces & 2 labels). |
£200 |
|
60 |
|
OLLABERRY - INGOING "LERWICK/PENNY POST" + STRAIGHT-LINE MARK; May 1839 EL prepaid from Liverpool to "Ollaberry, Shetland" but with a partial "LERWICK/PENNY POST" (rare before 1840) on the front; plus 1852 E from "Lochend" to Lerwick with 1d Red (4m but creased) tied by "223" numeral, having a very fine rare "OLLABERRY" (ZE68; crease) on the flap. Rare pair. (2 covers). PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£100 |
|
61 |
|
QUEENDALE - EARLY "Mifsent to Kirkwall" COVER; Dec. 1814 E from London to "Queendale, Zetland, Orkneys" via Edinburgh, but with very fine red manuscript "Mifsent to Kirkwall" endorsement on the front with faint "KIRKWALL" circular mileage. Attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£100 |
|
62 |
|
"SANDNESS" - THE DISTINCTIVELY SMALL STRAIGHT-LINE MARK; June 1846 1d Red (4m; tied by "223" numeral) E to Lerwick with a fine strike of this rare mark (ZE72) on the flap. Seldom seen and the only Shetland village mark (out of 20 recorded) in this very small lettering. |
£75 |
|
63 |
|
SANDNESS - THE RARE SCOTS LOCAL CANCELLATION ON COVER ; 13th Feb. 1858 env. to Lerwick with a 1d Red "stars" tied by a partly fine strike of the rare Type VIII Scots Local cancellation (Alcock "F" Rarity), with a second fine (though rather overinked and crossed by neatly closed tear) strike nicely placed on the flap. Very few examples are recorded even on stamp or piece; exceptional on cover. [Ex Cavendish's Feb. 1992 auction - lot 626 - when it sold for £190.] PHOTO - see plate no. 1 |
£300 |
|
64 |
|
SANDWICK - "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" COVER ; 1796 EL from "Sand Lodge" (near Sandwick) to Edinburgh, charged "2" with partly fine red "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" mark (Rob.S1) and partial oval "SEVEN O'CLOCK MORNING/P.P./EDINBURGH" local post mark on the font. Unusual combination of marks and a very early letter from Sandwick. PHOTO - see plate no. 10 |
£200 |
|
65 |
|
SANDWICK - EARLY UNDATED CIRCLE COVER; June 1849 E to "Sumburgh" with very fine black sanserif "SANDWICK" UDC (ironed crease) on the front with red m/s "1" and boxed "LERWICK" transit d.s. alongside. Rare; few examples are known of this first Sandwick mark. |
£75 |
|
66 |
|
SCALLOWAY - RED "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" COVER ; Dec. 1799 EL from "Scalloway" to Edinburgh with very fine (though inverted) red "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE" (Rob.S1) on the front beside red "DE/26" arrival Bishop Mark and partly fine red oval "ONE O'CLOCK/P.P/AFTERNOON" mark, charged "2" in all. Rare and attractive. PHOTO - see plate no. 2 |
£300 |
|
67 |
|
Similar Sept. 1796 EL from "Scalloway" to Edinburgh (redirected to Haddington) with mostly very fine red "EDINBURGH/SHIP:LRE " mark (Rob.S1) on the front with faint red oval "4 O'CLOCK/P.P/AFTERNOON" mark; charged "2" and then "3" for redirection. Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 2 |
£300 |
|
68 |
|
SHETLAND'S "MAINLAND" VILLAGES - SCOUSBURGH TO VIRKIE; c.1902-95 Collection incl. 1902/3 pair of stamped Scousburgh Parcel Post labels showing the "SCONSBURGH" error of spelling and the corrected spelling (rare pair; both cancelled with correct purple "SCOUSBURGH/LERWICK" rubbers), 1912 PPC with Scousburgh rubber, 1911 PPC from Sumburgh () to Lerwick with KEVII 1/2d tied by unusual "25/May/11/Sum()" MANUSCRIPT CANCEL, range of scarce mostly KEVII thimble cancels (Sumburgh, Tingwall, Tresta & Vidlin), 1934 env. regd. with "Vidlin" regd. label + KGV 11/2dx3, 5 WWII censored covers (4 ex Sullumvoe RAF station) and some QEII material. Good lot. (54 covers + 12 pieces). PHOTO - see plate no. 9 |
£150 |
|
69 |
|
TANGWICK - THE RARE EARLY BLACK STRAIGHT-LINE MARK; 11th Dec. 1843 EL sent unpaid to Lerwick with black manuscript "8" charge (letter over 1oz & up to 2oz), having a very fine rare black "TANGWICK" (ZE80; the only Shetland village mark given the higher "G" rarity guide by Auckland/Stables; only recorded for 1843 by them) across the join on the reverse (light crease). We are not aware of any other examples of this mark except for the blue example in the next lot; Tangwick P.O. had its first mark (this one) in Feb. 1843 and was closed down in 1846! Very rare. PHOTO - see plate no. 10 |
£150 |
|
70 |
|
TANGWICK - THE RARE EARLY BLUE STRAIGHT-LINE MARK; 22nd Dec. 1845 long stampless EL to Lerwick (charged "4": over 1/2oz & up to 1oz) ex the same correspondence as the previous lot with a very fine "TANGWICK" mark (ZE80; not recorded in this colour; light crease) on the flap. Very rare addition to the record of this P.O. that only had marks for 3 years at most. PHOTO - see plate no. 10 |
£150 |
|
71 |
|
THE SHETLAND "MAINLAND" VILLAGES - VOE TO WHITENESS; 1844-c.1995 Collection incl. red 1844 Lerwick h.s. "1" (E from Lunna - near Voe - to Lerwick), 1851 1d Red EL with fine early "VOE" mark, 1889 "VOE" c.d.s., 1892 usage of the QV regd. env. with 1d lilac ex "WALLS", 3 fine stamped 1908/11 Parcel Post labels (Voe, Walls & Whiteness), 1937 regd. env. ex "WESTER SKELD" (P.O. only opened 1930), many mostly KEVII thimble cancels (Voe, Walls - incl. 1903/20 pair to USA - scarce Weisdale x 3 & Whiteness), and a range of later KGVI/QEII items (26 covers + 8 pieces). Good lot. (50 covers, 3 PP labels & 11 pieces). |
£150 |
|
72 |
|
VOE - THE VERY RARE DATED MANUSCRIPT CANCELLATION ON 1d RED ; 4th Feb. 1843 off-cover Plate 23 1d Red (NA; 4 margins) cancelled by a neat P.O. manuscript marking; "Voe Office 4th Feby 1843 ". This is the sole dated example recorded by Alcock (referred to by him on p.5); he recorded no examples on cover from any of the Shetland Villages - the only P.O.'s to use Manuscript Cancellations in Britain during this early period - although one cover of Ollaberry has since been discovered. Very attractive. [With RPS 1990 Certificate of Genuineness.] PHOTO – BACK COVER |
£200 |
|
73 |
|
VOE - THE STRAIGHT-LINE MARK AS CANCELLATION & AS BACKSTAMP; c.1850 off-cover 4-margin 1d Red (EB) cancelled by an 80% complete black "VOE" mark (ZE90; Alcock only recorded these Shetland cancels on piece or stamp, never on cover); very rare. Plus April 1851 1d Red EL to Lerwick with the stamp cancelled by a "223" numeral, having a fine strike of the same "VOE" mark as a backstamp. Good pair. (2 items). PHOTO - see plate no. 6 |
£150 |
|
74 |
|
VOE - THE BOXED SCOTS LOCAL CANCELLATION; c.1859 off-cover perf. 1d Red "stars" cancelled by two partial strikes (one 75% complete and readily recognisable) of the very rare boxed Type VIII "VOE" Scots Local cancellation (Alcock highest rarity "G"; we cannot recall having ever seen an example on cover). Few examples known. PHOTO – BACK COVER |
£150 |
|
75 |
|
WALLS - EARLY STRAIGHT-LINE COVER WITH "More to pay" AND LERWICK HANDSTRUCK "2" MARK; Attractive Dec. 1848 EL from "Vadlure" (near Walls) to Edinburgh with 1d Red (4m but creased) tied by "223" numeral with a very fine black h.s. "2" mark of Lerwick alongside endorsed "More to pay" with a fine black "WALLS" mark (ZE94; light crease) on the lower flap. Rare thus. PHOTO - see plate no. 10 |
£120 |
|
76 |
|
Similar but uncharged Feb. 1851 EL from the tiny westerly island of "Foula" to Edinburgh with a near 4-margin 1d Red tied by Lerwick "223" numeral, having a mostly fine strike of the rare "WALLS" mark (ZE94) on the lower flap. |
£75 |
|
77 |
|
"WALLS" - THE RARE BOXED SCOTS LOCAL CANCELLATION ON COVER ; Attractive Nov. 1856 EL from "Stove" to Edinburgh with a 1d Red "stars" tied by a very fine Type VIII boxed "WALLS" Scots Local (Alcock rarity "F"; few examples known and very rare on cover). Exhibition item. [Ex Cavendish's Sept. 1993 auction - lot 1801 - where it sold for £462.] PHOTO - see plate no. 2 |
£400 |