1240

TROOPSHIPS' MANUSCRIPT NUMBERED "A.I.F./ Passed by Censor No...." MARKS; c.1915-7 stampless OAS covers/cards to Australia/London with mostly very fine strikes of the MCM1 types for SS Argyllshire (PPC of ship), Star of England (2; one a YMCA env. with m/s "Posted in the Indian Ocean" on back), Ceramic (m/s "Lemnos" on back), Malakuta (faults) & Marathon (with "CAPE TOWN/PAQUEBOT" c.d.s.) all having manuscript numbers (8, 15x2 , 40, 57 & 74). Scarce lot. (6 covers).

£100

1241

S.S. KAROOLA - PURPLE DOUBLE OVAL "No.1 AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL SHIP/* KAROOLA *" CACHET; Long 20th Jan. 1916 stampless env. (reduced at each end) to "The O.C. Australian General Hospital, Wandsworth, England" with a very fine strike of this attractive dated cachet (HSC15; the only date recorded for this colour) on the front beside a second slightly less clear strike, with a very fine "PORT-TAUFIQ" c.d.s. alongside. Exhibition item.

£150

1242

OTHER AUSTRALIAN TROOPSHIP COVERS INCL. NUMBERED CENSOR MARKS; 1914-6 stampless OAS covers/cards (+ 1 front) to GB/South Australia incl. two red handstruck type MCM17 "A.I.F,/PASSED CENSOR 15." marks (very fine & fine) of the SS Star of England, front with similar purple "63" mark of the SS Karoola, 2nd Dec. 1914 PC from "On Board A20 at Port Said" (i.e. the SS Hororata) with v. fine plain purple "PASSED" mark, plain PC's ex SS Aeneas (m/s censor; PPC of ship) & Nizam and one other. Scarce lot. (6 covers + 1 front).

£100

1243

S.S. KAROOLA - GREEN 2-RING "PASSED BY SHIP'S CENSOR/A.H.S./KAROOLA" CACHET; Stampless 7th April 1919 "O.A.S." env. to London (signed on the front by a Police? Officer) with an almost very fine strike of this rare cachet (CM46; the only recorded date) on the front, with a very fine Port Said Harbour Office "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ22" skeleton c.d.s. Exhibition item. Plus a c.1916 addressed but unposted PPC of this ship. (2 items).

£150

THE AUSTRALIAN CENSORS AND MILITARY CACHETS, 1914-19

1244

THE UNIQUE (?) PROVISIONAL PRINTED "ON ACTIVE SERVICE/NO STAMPS/AVAILABLE" LABEL ON COVER TO UGANDA; Remarkable 6th Sept. 1915 stampless env. to Entebbe endorsed "Franked by Norman Belcher", having a perforated label with this OAS inscription printed in red (scuffed prior to use) on the front, tied by two very fine "AUSTRALIAN IMP. FORCES/BASE/POST OFFICE" c.d.s.'s; with Alex. and Mombasa backstamps but no charge. This is the cover illustrated in B.E.CO.N.E. (p.249) and in Emery's "Australian Imperial Forces P.H." (p.16). Thought to be the only recorded example of a fascinating special printed label for free OAS mail, and a rare destination.

£150

1245

THE LARGE "AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND/CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL" SIGNATURE CACHET; 26th Dec. 1915 env. (minor faults; damaged publicity label on back) to Perth (WA) franked by Egypt 1m(3)+2m tied by fine "HILWAN" c.d.s.'s, having a superb strike of this oval purple cachet (CA56) on the front. Few examples known and of Exhibition quality.

£75

1246

THE DISTINCTIVE CIRCULAR CENSOR's INFANTRY BATTALION CACHET; Attractive 21st Jan. 1916 env. (vertical crease & minor wear) to GB with Egypt 5m tied by "HELIOPOLIS" c.d.s., having a superb strike of the circular "ON ACTIVE SERVICE/....Coy/....Batt.* A.I.F. *" cachet (CA39; only 2 examples recorded) on the front, matching the adjacent "PASSED/BY/CENSOR" mark (crease). Spectacular.

£75

1247

THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES' CENSOR MARKINGS COLLECTION; c.1914-6 covers/cards with good variety of scarcer censor marks incl. c.1916 stampless PPC to Australia with small "Passed Censor....M" label (rare on PC! - printed in black on white) tied by a purple "Australian Imperial Force" mark, Nov. 1915 stampless OAS env. (toned) to Sydney with very fine rare purple crowned oval "PASSED BY/.....LIEUT COLONEL/CHIEF CENSOR/THE CENSOR" mark and manuscript "G.J.W. Meares 14th Battery Asst. Censor", circular 1916 "5TH TRAINING BATTALION" cachets (2), circular 1916 "AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE/NO/STAMPS/AVAILABLE/ON SERVICE" cachet, 3-ring red 1916 CM49 type (only recorded date), oval 1915 "SECOND AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL" cachet with "PASSED CENSOR/GORDON W B STAFF C.F.", similar 1916 env., 1915 Egypt 4m red PC with fine red "PASSED CENSOR/BRISBANE" c.d.s. struck on arrival, etc. Good lot; many very scarce items. (14 covers).

£150

1248

THE MILITARY & REGIMENTAL CACHETS COLLECTION; 1915-6 covers/cards with wide range of attractive cachets incl. large red 2-ring "AUST. & N.Z. CONCENTRATION CAMP/SUEZ" (CH83; recorded for only 2 months), fine crowned oval "5th LIGHT HORSE, A.I.F.", "no stamps available" types, superb purple 2-line "2nd REINFORCEMENTS/19th BATTALION, 5th BRIGADE", varied Regimental cachets, superb "A.I.F. CANTEENS", small blue "G.C. H.D. QRS. COY./2ND Aust. Div. Train", HQ cachets, etc., etc. Good study. (27 covers).

£150

1249

THE "FREE" & "FRANKED" CACHETS; 1915-6 group of covers/cards with mostly fine to very fine strikes of various types incl. black circular "A.I.F./FRANKED/ON ACTIVE SERVICE" (CA34), officers' personal "FRANKED" marks, Battalion franks, etc. Good variety of scarce marks. (9 covers).

£100

1250

Similar c.1915-6 lot of covers/cards with "FREE"/"FRANK" marks; incl. 1916 Honour env., 1915 PPC with v. fine scarce blue "MILITARY CAMP/AERODROME HELIOPOLIS" c.d.s. and spectacular fancy circular "27th BATTALION A.I.F./ON ACTIVE/SERVICE/POST FREE/7th INF. BGDE." cachet (CH239), etc. (9 covers).

£100

1251

SPECIAL AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS ENVELOPES; 1917-9 quartet of stampless OAS envs. to Cairo/Alex./Bournemouth with red printed imprints on the front (2) or back (2) of the "AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS". Rare lot. (4 covers).

£100

1252

THE AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL CACHETS COLLECTION; 1915-8 covers/cards with wide range of the oval and other Hospital cachets, incl. honour env., Comforts/Tobacco cards, several "FRANKED" types, etc. Plus a 1915 front with "Field Ambulance A.M.C." cachet. Scarce lot. (16 covers + 1 front).

£150

THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES DATESTAMPS, 1914-19

1253

COLOURED PICTORIAL AUSTRALIAN/N.Z. FORCES' GREETINGS CARD - THE FRONT COVER ITEM OF JOHN's NEAR EAST BOOK; Very attractive and colourful 29th March 1915 usage of the special "AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND/EXPEDITIONARY FORCES/CAIRO 1914-5" PC (minor creasing) to London, franked by Egypt 5m tied by a mostly fine "MILITARY CAMP/AERODROME HELIOPOLIS" c.d.s. Sent by a Sergeant Upjohn, "serving in the Australian Expeditionary Force as Sargent Shoemaker". Rare thus - one of John's favourites!

£150

1254

Similar 21st May 1915 usage of this special coloured PPC (very fine) to Greece with Egypt 4m tied by fine "CAIRO" c.d.s. Exhibition item.

£120

1255

THE MATCHING "Xmas Wishes/AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE/CAIRO" VERSION OF THIS SPECIAL COLOURED FORCES' GREETINGS CARD; Unused 1914/5 card of the same design as the previous two lots but intended for only Australian troops and with "Xmas Wishes" printed at lower left. Presumably the other post-Xmas usages show this design after the removal of these two words and the change of heading to include the recently arrived NZ forces. Rare and attractive.

£100

1256

OTHER SPECIALLY PRINTED AUSTRALIAN FORCES' COVERS & CARD; June 1915 usage of a blue printed "AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" env. with Union Jack and Egypt 5m tied by "MILITARY CAMP/AERODROME HELIOPOLIS" c.d.s. (illustrated in B.E.C.O.N.E., p.378), unused c.1915 fancy printed (red) env. with flags design inscribed "ISLAND IMBROS" (with m/s note that it came from a 10th Sth. Australian Infantry officer), 1915 comic Dardanelles PPC, and July 1915 EL sent to Cairo with printed contents being the "PENINSULA PRESS" Official News sheet. Unusual lot. (4 items).

£120

1257

THE PRINTED "AIF ABROAD" POSTAL STATIONERY MILITARY ENVELOPES, ETC.; Oct. 1915 usage of a specially printed "ON ACTIVE SERVICE/A.I.E.F." env. to an Australian soldier in "Egypt" franked by Australia KGV 1d tied by Melbourne machine, plus 3 unused 1916 Australia 1d red Postal Stationery envs. (2 types; "AIF"x2 - one toned - and AIF in full). Very scarce group. (4 covers).

£120

1258

UNOFFICIAL PICTORIAL & OTHER Y.M.C.A. STATIONERY, ETC.; c.1915-8 study of covers with YMCA imprints incl. attractive Pyramids view type (with matching pictorial letter-paper contents), most with specific Australian Forces wording, 2 letter-cards and 2 letter-sheets; all sent stampless OAS to Australia/GB/within Egypt. Plus a PPC celebrating the ANZACs. Scarce lot. See B.E.C.O.N.E., chapter 35. (13 covers).

£150

1259

REGISTERED AUSTRALIAN MILITARY COVERS; 23rd June 1916 stampless OHMS env. to Alex. with fine "AUSTRALIAN BASE/DETAILS P.O." c.d.s. and rare long green "R/A.I.F. Base Details P.O." label, 4 1916/8 usages of the GB Military 2d black regd. envs. with large pink "Australian Imperial Forces" regd. labels (one with handstruck "L.H.3"), and 2 other envs. with the pink labels (one stampless OHMS and the other with GB 2d tied by "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ3" c.d.s.) both to Alex. Scarce lot. (7 covers).

£150

1260

N.Z. COVER TO EGYPT VIA SYDNEY BARRACKS WITH HUGE "AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE" & "EGYPT" CACHETS; Attractive Feb. 1915 env. to a soldier of the "A.I.E.F." sent "c/o Victoria Barracks, Sydney", franked by NZ 1d Universal with a fair c.d.s.; forwarded to Egypt with two very fine large purple "EGYPT." cachets and a matching "AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE" cachet. Rare thus and very colourful.

£100

1261

EXPLANATORY HANDSTAMPS - "Discharged to", "NO TRACE IN RECORDS" & "UNABLE TO TRACE" COVERS; 1915/6 trio of covers (all opened out for display) to soldiers with the Australian forces in Egypt. Two ex GB and one ex Australia with many redirection and transit marks; one with v. fine small rare purple "Discharged to" (CA262), one with fine "NO TRACE IN RECORDS" + fine red boxed "NO TRACE AT BASE P.O. CORPS, A.I./F." + near fine blue 2-ring "AUSTRALIAN/UNABLE TO TRACE/AS ADDRESSED/ARMY BASE P.O. CAIRO"; and one with two boxed "UNABLE TO TRACE" marks. Spectacular lot. (3 covers).

£120

1262

THE AUSTRALIAN "BOXED-TYPE" FORCES' C.D.S.'s; c.1915-6 covers (varied condition) with a good range of the distinctive Australian c.d.s.'s with boxed dates in centre. Good study. (19 covers, 1 front & 2 pieces).

£120

1263

OTHER AUSTRALIAN & BRITISH FORCES' C.D.S.'s; c.1915-6 Collection of covers/cards with the distinctive large single-circle "AUST. INF." type c.d.s.'s (10), plus some Australian usages of the British 2-ring FPO c.d.s.'s (4). Useful lot. (14 covers).

£100

1264

AUSTRALIAN FORCES' C.D.S.'s - SPECIAL TYPES & SKELETONS; c.1915-6 covers/cards with good range of better types incl. rare April 1915 green oval "AUST. M.P.O./* No.10 *" d.s., superb bridge-type "3RD LIGHT HORSE/A.I.F./FIELD POST OFFICE" c.d.s. cancelling Egypt 5m, 1916 honour env. with "FIELD POST OFFICE/LH2" c.d.s., 1915 honour env. with v. fine "2 AUST LH BDE FIELD PO" skeleton, and the same skeleton on plain 1916 env. Plus 2 pieces. Scarce lot. (9 covers + 2 pieces).

£120

THE NEW ZEALAND TROOPSHIPS, 1914-15

1265

OVAL "TROOPSHIP No.12" (S.S. WAIMANA) D.S. - THE FIRST (ABORTIVE) SAILING FROM AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON; 29th Sept. 1914 stampless "O.A.S." env. to Auckland with v. fine purple oval "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.12/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ11). Rare thus.

£120

1266

BOXED "MAIN BODY" DATESTAMP WELLINGTON SHIP COVER TO AUCKLAND; Stampless 30th Sept. 1914 env. (small fault) with a very fine strike of this purple "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ10) on the front.

£100

1267

Similar 3rd Oct. 1914 stampless "O.A.S." env. (closed tears; "REGIMENTAL INSTITUTE" imprint on front) to Christchurch with a superb strike of the boxed d.s.

£100

1268

S.S. RUAPEHU CARD TO OAMARU WITH NZ10 DATESTAMP; Stampless 6th Oct. 1914 PPC (slight stains, but a view of the ship) endorsed "N.Z. Expeditionary Force" written from "No.5 Troopship" (= S.S. Ruapehu), with a very fine boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ10) overstruck by a "WELLINGTON" transit machine cancel.

£100

1269

S.S. ATHENIC COVER TO GREYMOUTH WITH NZ10 DATESTAMP; 9th Oct. 1914 stampless "O.A.S." env. with a very fine strike of the NZ10 mark on the front, endorsed "No.6/600" by the sender, revealing him to be of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion which was embarked on S.S. Athenic. Attractive.

£100

1270

S.S. WAIMANA - HOBART USAGE OF THE "TROOPSHIP No.12" OVAL D.S.; Attractive 22nd Oct. 1914 stampless "O.A.S." env. (surface scuffs clear of mark and some creasing) to Wellington with a superb strike of this oval d.s., written the day that the Main Body was at Hobart.

£120

1271

WESTERN AUSTRALIA USAGE OF S.S. LIMERICK BOXED NZ10 DATESTAMP; Fine 28th Oct. 1914 PPC (Tasmanian view but posted on arrival at Albany, W.A.; "HMNZ T No.7. At Sea, nr. Albany") to Wellington with a very fine purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ10). Exhibition quality.

£100

1272

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN USAGE OF THE BOXED NZ10 DATESTAMP; Fine 28th Oct. 1914 PPC (of Tasmania but posted from Albany; "We reached Albany this morning...") to Christchurch with a superb strike of the boxed NZ10 mark.

£100

1273

S.S. STAR OF INDIA - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN USAGE OF THE SCARCE OVAL "TROOPSHIP No.8" DATESTAMP; Stampless 28th Oct. 1914 "O.A.S." env. to Hastings (NZ) with a very fine blue oval "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.8/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ11) on the front.

£120

1274

CEYLON USAGE OF S.S. WAIMANA "TROOPSHIP No.12" OVAL D.S. ON COVER ADDRESSED TO SINGAPORE; 14th Nov. 1914 stampless env. to Singapore (redirected to Tanglin) with a mostly superb strike of this NZ11 oval d.s. (crease) on the front beside a "COLOMBO" c.d.s. applied when handed to the civil P.O. there on 26th Nov. (delayed for security reasons). Rare thus.

£150

1275

CEYLON USAGE OF THE NZ10 DATESTAMP - PROBABLY FROM S.S. TAHITI; c.15th Nov. 1914 "N[o]. S[tamps]. A[vailable]." stampless PPC (of Ceylon; crease) to N. Canterbury (NZ) with a mostly very fine boxed NZ10 d.s. (date unclear - for security reasons). The writer refers to "Horse doing well" so he was probably of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles who were on S.S. Tahiti.

£100

1276

S.S. STAR OF INDIA - ADEN USAGE OF THE BLUE OVAL "TROOPSHIP No.8" DATESTAMP; 24th Nov. 1914 PPC (Ceylon girl) sent on arrival from Aden to Whangerei with a very fine blue oval "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.8/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ11; overstruck by arrival c.d.s.) with superb purple "CENSOR/NEW ZEALAND" alongside. Very attractive and scarce.

£120

1277

S.S. LIMERICK - ADEN USAGE OF THE BOXED NZ10 DATESTAMP; Fine 15th/25th Nov. 1914 PPC (Ceylon elephants) to Wanganui posted on arrival at Aden with a very fine strike of the boxed purple "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ10), having a partial "CENSOR/NEW ZEALAND" alongside. The sender is known to have been a member of the NZ Field Artillery, and they were embarked on the SS Limerick.

£100

1278

S.S. LIMERICK - SUEZ USAGE OF THE BOXED NZ10 DATESTAMP; Fine stampless 1st Dec. 1914 PPC (Ceylon elephants) to Auckland endorsed "No stamps available" and "H.M.N.Z.T.No.7" (i.e. SS Limerick) with a very fine strike of the NZ10 d.s. Attractive.

£100

1279

S.S. STAR OF INDIA - ALEXANDRIA USAGE OF THE OVAL "TROOPSHIP No.8" DATESTAMP; 4th Dec. 1914 stampless "No Stamps Available" env. to Hastings (NZ) with a mostly very fine strike of this blue "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.8/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ11) on the front. Posted the day after the Main Body Fleet reached its final destination.

£120

1280

S.S. TAHITI - THE VERY RARE RED "Expeditionary Force/Loose Letter/H.M.N.Z.T.-No.4" MARK; c.4th Dec. 1914 PPC (of Port Said) to Whangerei, thought to have been posted back onto SS Tahiti just as she was leaving Egypt to return to New Zealand, and so with this remarkable mark applied on arrival back in New Zealand waters. Few known; this card illustrated in B.E.C.O.N.E., p.403; and text on p.404. Exhibition item.

£240

1281

STAMPED LAND-BASED USAGE OF THE NZ13 BOXED D.S. ON CARD WRITTEN EARLIER ON BOARD A TROOPSHIP; Unusual 28th Nov. 1914 PPC (Ceylon view) written as the troops were "Getting a little nearer. What a long tedious voyage." with "NO STAMP AVAILABLE", and so with Egypt 1m strip of four tied by very fine purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" marks (NZ13) used on land. Rare thus.

£100

1282

INGOING COVER TO THE S.S. WAIMANA EX G.B. WITH FANCY BOXED "N.Z. EXP. FORCE/* 22 DEC. 1914 */RECORD OFFICE,/LONDON." CANCELLATION; remarkable 1914 env. (faults mostly on back & creased) addressed to "Pte. C. Balfour Melville, Troopship No.12, New Zealand Expeditionary Force", franked by GB KGV 1d red tied by a very fine strike of this unusual d.s. with a second strike alongside. Apparently not recorded. Was this cover sent by post or in a naval bag??

£150

1283

2nd REINFORCEMENTS FLEET - "FIRST REINFORCEMENT" D.S. ON CARD EX WESTERN AUSTRALIA; 30th Dec. 1914 PPC (of Albany) to Christchurch with a very fine strike of the purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/FIRST REINFORCEMENT/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. This type of d.s. (NZ15) was used by three ships of the 2nd reinforcements (in spite of the "FIRST" inscription!), and is very rare. The "SECOND REINFORCMENT" mark was never actually used!!

£120

1284

S.S. VERDALA - CEYLON 2nd REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE RARE BLUE DOUBLE-BOXED "COMMANDER'S OFFICE/H.M.N.Z. No.13" DATESTAMP; 22nd Jan. 1915 stampless PPC (of Ceylon) to Dunedin endorsed "On active service" and with pencil "Censored", having a very fine strike of this rare mark (NZ15B). Few examples known. Exhibition quality.

£150

1285

CEYLON USAGE OF THE "THIRD REINFORCEMENT" DATESTAMP; Stampless 10th March 1915 PPC (of Albany) posted from Colombo with a very fine purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/THIRD REINFORCEMENT/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. Seldom seen and very attractive.

£120

1286

"FOURTH REINFORCEMENT" DATESTAMP USED FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA; 28th April 1915 stampless PPC (of Scotland!) to Ashburton (NZ) endorsed "ON ACTIVE SERVICE" with a mostly very fine purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY [POST] O[FFIC]E/FOURTH REINFORCEMENT/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. (NZ17), posted from Albany (WA). Seldom seen.

£100

1287

"FIFTH REINFORCEMENTS" DATESTAMP ON S.S. TAHITI CARD POSTED FROM BOMBAY; 16th July 1915 stampless PPC (of Ceylon; "We are off the Malabar Coast on the way to Bombay...") to Petone with a superb blue strike of the rare "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE/FIFTH REINFORCEMENTS" d.s. (NZ18); the S.S. Tahiti was the only Troopship of this fleet to use blue ink for its datestamps. Exhibition quality.

£120

1288

"SIXTH REINFORCEMENTS" DATESTAMP ON CARD FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA; 22nd Aug. 1915 PPC (of NZ; minor faults) to Auckland endorsed "At sea" and "On Active service" but posted from Albany with an almost superb strike of the rare boxed purple "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE/SIXTH REINFORCEMENTS" d.s. (NZ18). Very elusive mark and a very attractive card.

£120

1289

S.S. MAUNGANUI - 7th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE RARE "TROOPSHIP No.30" DATESTAMP EX W.A.; 19th Oct. 1915 stampless env. (minor faults) to Ellerslie endorsed "On Active Service" and with manuscript "Passed Censor", having a superb strike of the purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.30." d.s. on the front, posted en route at Albany, W.A. Few known.

£120

1290

S.S. TAHITI - 7th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE "TROOPSHIP No.31" DATESTAMP FROM CEYLON; Stampless 16th Nov. 1915 PPC (of Ceylon) to Southland (NZ) endorsed "On Active Service" with a very fine strike of the NZ19 purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.31." d.s., posted from Colombo. Rare thus.

£120

1291

S.S. APARIMA - 7th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE "TROOPSHIP No.32" DATESTAMP EX SUEZ; 13th Nov. 1915 stampless PPC (faults at top; of Ceylon) endorsed "On active service" and "No stamps available", sent to Nelson with a very fine blue boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.32." d.s. (NZ19), posted at Suez. Rare troopship PO mark.

£120

1292

S.S. NAVUA - 7th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE "TROOPSHIP No.33" DATESTAMP, ETC.; 18th Nov. 1915 stampless "O.A.S." env. to Dunedin with a mostly very fine strike of this Troopship's "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.33." d.s. (NZ19) on the front, posted from Suez. Rare thus. Plus a 1930 env. with Egyptian stamps cancelled by this ship's later circular "KHEDIVIAL MAIL LINE/s/s RODA" cachet. With a rare note by John on the reverse of provenance & cost; "£2-12-6, Tyson 20/4/[19]65"! (2 covers).

£100

1293

S.S. WILLOCHRA - 8th REINFORCEMENT W.A. USAGE OF THE BOXED "TROOPSHIP No.35" DATESTAMP; Very fine 26th Nov. 1915 PPC (of Tasmania) to Wellington with a very fine blue boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.35." d.s. (NZ19) and a matching blue boxed "PASSED BY" naval censor mark, posted from Albany. Rare thus.

£120

1294

S.S. TOFUA - 8th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE "TROOPSHIP No.36." D.S. FROM TASMANIA; 20th Nov. 1915 stampless "O.A.S." PPC to New Plymouth with a mostly very fine blue boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.36." d.s. (NZ19), posted at Hobart. Rare thus.

£100

1295

S.S. MAUNGANUI - 9th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE "TROOPSHIP No.37." DATESTAMP FROM COLOMBO; 28th Jan. 1916 stampless "O.A.S." env. (flap lost) to Wellington with a superb purple boxed "N.Z. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE/TROOPSHIP No.37." d.s. (NZ20) on the front, posted en route from Ceylon. Very rare and attractive.

£120

1296

S.S. ULIMAROA - THIRD MAORI CONTINGENT USAGE OF THE "TROOPSHIP No.42." DATESTAMP ON COVER TO G.B.; Unusual 13th Feb. 1916 stampless env. ("Church of England Institute" imprint on front) to London endorsed "On Active Service" with a superb purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/TROOPSHIP No.42." d.s. (NZ19) on the front with small purple "PASSED BY MILITARY CENSOR" mark also on the front, posted en route from Albany (WA). Spectacular and rare thus.

£150

1297

S.S. MOKOIA - 3rd MAORI CONTINGENT USAGE OF THE RARE OVAL "TROOPSHIP NO.43" DATESTAMP AT CEYLON; Attractive 28th Feb. 1916 stampless env. (overall creasing and slight stains at left barely detract) to Auckland with a superb small oval "N.Z. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE/TROOPSHIP NO.43" d.s. (NZ21) on the front with green "PASSED MILITARY/CENSOR" arrival mark. Posted from Colombo. Few examples known.

£150

1298

S.S. TAHITI - 11th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE BOXED "TROOPSHIP No.50." DATESTAMP ON COVER TO G.B.; 10th April 1916 stampless PPC (slightly grubby but a view of the ship) to Bristol with superb blue boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFICE/TROOPSHIP No.50." d.s. (NZ19) and matching initialled blue "PASSED BY MILITARY CENSOR" mark, posted from Albany (WA). Rare thus.

£120

1299

S.S. ULIMAROA - 12th REINFORCEMENT USAGE OF THE RARE GREEN BOXED "TROOPSHIP No.51." DATESTAMP FROM ALBANY; 10th May 1916 stampless env. to Canterbury (NZ) with a superb green boxed "N.Z. EXPEDITIONARY FORCE/TROOPSHIP No.51." d.s. (NZ19) on the front beside a matching green "PASSED BY MILITARY CENSOR" mark, posted from Albany (WA). Rare thus.

£120

THE NEW ZEALAND CENSORS AND MILITARY CACHETS, 1914-19

1300

HOSPITAL "FREE" CACHETS, ETC.; 1915/6 covers/cards (+ 1 front) with mostly very fine cachets of Hospitals; incl. fancy circular "AOTEA CONVALESCENT HOME/FREE/HELIOPOLIS CAIRO" (NZH11; the only example recorded), 2-ring "N.Z. GENERAL HOSPITAL/FREE/PONT DE KOUBBEH, CAIRO" (3; in blue & in purple), oval "signature" mark of "AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND/CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL" (CA56a), near fine oval "NEW ZEALAND GENERAL HOSPITAL/PONT DE KOUBBEH", and blue 3-line "NEW ZEALAND CONVALESCENT HOME/ADRIEN VILLA/SABA PASHA ALEXANDRIA" (NZH31; 2 known), etc. Rare lot. (7 covers & 1 front).

£120

1301

THE N.Z. MILITARY CACHETS COLLECTION; 1915-7 collection of covers/cards with a good range of the scarce NZ Forces' military cachets/censor marks as recorded in detail in B.E.C.O.N.E., p.372; 2-ring "FRD. BY O.C./C.M.R. N.Z.E. FORCE", boxed "1st BATTALION N.Z.R.B./FRANKED [Signature]" (2), oval "N.Z.F.A./FRANKED/W.R. GOLDEN/Lieut./N.Z. & A.D.A.C." (2), small red "CENSORED & FRANKED/BY F.E.H. COOKE", other "FRANKED" name marks, superb green fancy oval "CAMP COMMANDANT/3/BASE DETAILS" mark, red "HEADQUARTERS/OTAGO/[date]/MOUNTED RIFLE/REGIMENT", "[initials] CAPT. NZASC/O i/c 1st N.Z. DEPOT UNIT OF SUPPLY", etc. Good lot of scarce marks. Mostly with N.Z. forces P.O. c.d.s.'s. (16 covers).

£200

THE NEW ZEALAND FORCES DATESTAMPS, 1914-19

1302

LAND-USAGES OF THE BOXED TROOPSHIP DATESTAMPS; 14th Dec. 1914 to 28th Jan. 1915 covers (3) & card franked by Egyptian stamps, all cancelled by very fine (3) or near fine (1) strikes of the purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" datestamps (originally used on the Main Body fleet of Troopships); types NZ10 & NZ13(3). Plus similar 1914/5 pieces (7) with the NZ10/13 cancels on Egyptian stamps. Scarce lot. (4 covers + 7 pieces).

£150

1303

Similar Jan. 1915 trio of cards (2) & env. (latter with "OTAGO INFANTRY BATTALION" imprint on the front) to GB/NZ with Egyptian frankings tied by very fine purple "TROOPSHIP No." removed oval NZ14/14A "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" datestamps that were originally used on the Troopships; one showing the rare "SAT" for "JAN" error (in use for two weeks only). Attractive lot. (3 covers).

£150

1304

Similar pair of 5th/15th Jan. 1915 envs. to the same GB address with Egypt frankings tied by mostly very fine purple oval "JAN" & "SAT" "TROOPSHIP No." removed datestamps; plus a 7th Jan. 1915 front with a similar "SAT" strike. (3 items).

£120

1305

STAMPLESS ON ACTIVE SERVICE MAIL WITH NZ13 EX-TROOPSHIP DATESTAMPS; Attractive May 1916 to Jan. 1917 covers (2) & PC (latter the scarce "FIELD SERVICE/POST CARD" type) to GB/NZ with fine to very fine purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" marks; one also with v. fine blue "PASSED BY MILITARY CENSOR" and the card showing the NZ13 d.s. with the date-line clearly inverted. Good lot. (3 covers).

£150

1306

THE RARE "REINFORCEMENT"-REMOVED BOXED NZ15M EX-TROOPSHIP DATESTAMP; 21st March 1916 stampless "O.A.S." env. to NZ from an ASC Lieut. with a mostly very fine strike of this rare purple boxed d.s. (date partly "turned over") on the front. Few known.

£120

1307

THE RARE "FOURTH REINFORCEMENT"-REMOVED EX-TROOPSHIP BOXED NZ17M DATESTAMP; Attractive stampless 28th April 1915 "Y.M.C.A. OF NEW ZEALAND" imprint env. to GB with a very fine black "A.I.F./POSTAGE/FREE" in circle beside the mostly very fine purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/FOUR[TH REINFORCEMENT]/E[XPEDITIONARY FORCE]" mark (NZ17M; short-lived and few known), showing the letters "FOUR.." clearly (!), on the front.

£120

1308

Similar 8th June 1915 PPC to Auckland with a mostly very fine strike of the NZ17M ex-Troopship purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" mark (with none of the "FOURTH REINFORCEMENT" lettering showing) and a matching superb "No.4 BATTERY/N.Z.F.A." cachet. One of only a handful of covers in the whole of John's collections that he had annotated "very rare"!!

£120

1309

Similar May/Aug. 1915 stampless env. & PPC both to GB with fair to fine strikes of this same rare NZ17M ex-Troopship boxed "FOURTH REINFORCEMENT"-removed mark. (2 covers).

£150

1310

THE RARE NZ18M "REINFORCEMENTS"-REMOVED DATESTAMP ON LOCAL OHMS COVER; Long 15th Oct. 1915 stampless OHMS env. (slightly reduced at each end) to Alexandria with a very fine (though slightly overstruck) purple boxed "N.Z. MILITARY POST OFFICE/EXPEDITIONARY FORCE" d.s. with bottom line removed (NZ18M; only recorded in use for two consecutive days in Oct. 1915!) on the front with superb oval purple "o/c N.Z.F.A./Lieut./Base Details" cachet. Very rare.

£120

1311

THE ONLY KNOWN DATE OF THE BOXED "NEW ZEALAND/ADVANCED BASE A.P.O./REGISTRATION/BRANCH" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO MALTA; Attractive 3rd April 1916 "O.A.S." env. to Malta franked by Egypt 1m(2)+m(2) tied by three mostly very fine strikes of this rare NZ101A mark in purple, with printed blue "N.Z. Advanced/Base A.P.O." label on the front. This mark - see B.E.C.O.N.E. p.191 - is only recorded for this one date! Colourful Exhibition item. [Ex Byam & Minett.].

£150

1312

THE RARE BOXED "NEW ZEALAND/ADVANCED BASE A.P.O./RETURNED/LETTER BRANCH" DATESTAMP ON LOCAL "O.H.M.S. RETURNED LETTER" COVER; Attractive 17th Feb. 1916 stampless P.O. env. (apparently originally having enclosed a returned letter) to a bank in Alexandria with a superb strike of this mark (NZ101; only recorded in Feb. 1915) on the front as well as a mostly very fine black "NEW ZEALAND/ADVANCED/BASE/POST OFFICE" c.d.s. Exhibition quality.

£100

1313

"REPORTED KILLED" COVER RETURNED FROM MALTA; Similar Oct. 1915 to 9th Feb. 1916 env. (opened out for display) from GB to soldier in "St. Patrick's Military Hospital, MALTA" with GB KGV 1d, having v. fine purple boxed "Reported Killed/Return to Sender" (NZ102; very rare), boxed "R.E. (S.R)/A.P.S." and "Undelivered....London" marks on the front, as well m/s "Died in St. Patrick's Hospital"; with superb purple boxed 9th Feb. 1916 "NEW ZEALAND/ADVANCED BASE A.P.O./RETURNED/LETTER BRANCH" d.s. (NZ101; rare) on the back. Spectacular and rare thus.

£100

1314

Similar Aug. 1915 to Feb. 1916 env. (opened out for display) from NZ (KGV ½d pair tied by Wellington machine) to a Corporal of the "Otago Infantry Battn...N.Z. Main Body, Expeditionary Force, Wellington", clearly forwarded to Egypt, and there endorsed "Deceased", "Killed" and "Believed Dead"; with 75% very fine blue boxed "Reported Killed/Return to Sender" (rare NZ102) on the front and very fine matching boxed 1st Feb. 1916 "NEW ZEALAND/ADVANCED BASE A.P.O./RETURNED/LETTER BRANCH" on the reverse. Rare thus.

£100

1315

BOXED "INVALIDED. N.Z." ON COVER EX N.Z. WITH 2-LINE "RETURNED TO N-Z/LEFT NO A/D" MARK; Colourful 2nd Aug. 1915 env. (opened out for display) franked by NZ 1d tied by unclear c.d.s. addressed to a soldier of the "Main Body" at "Pont de Koubbeh Hospital, Cairo, Egypt"; but returned to sender with mostly very fine strikes of these two purple explanatory marks on the front and near fine oval purple "NEW ZEALAND GENERAL HOSPITAL/PONT DE KOUBBEH" cachet on the back. The boxed "INVALIDED .N.Z." (NZ55) is very rare and the "RETURNED..." mark (NZ132) is rare. Exhibition item.

£100

1316

"RETURNED TO ACTIVE SERVICE" & "RETURNED TO N-Z/LEFT NO A/D" COVERS; 23rd June 1916 env. (opened out for display & central crease) from "PAPATOETOE" franked by NZ 1d Universal tied by c.d.s. and addressed to a soldier "with 4th Reinforcements" sent c/o GPO Wellington and then Egypt, with mostly very fine purple oval "NEW ZEALAND GENERAL HOSPITAL/PONT DE KOUBBEH" cachet on the back; but with very fine green "RETURNED TO ACTIVE SERVICE" on the front - very rare marking (NZ133). Plus similar March 1915 NZ env. to a Main Body soldier with almost v. fine purple "RETURNED TO N-Z/LEFT NO A/D" mark on the front. (2 covers).

£100

1317

WRECK OF THE S.S. KINGSTONIAN COVER FROM N.Z. FORCES IN PALESTINE; 22nd March 1918 long stampless OHMS env. (understandable wear) to London with scarce "N.Z. MTD. FIELD AMBULANCE" cachet and v. fine skeleton "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ 32" c.d.s. on the front as well as a very fine boxed "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION/IN SEA WATER I.S." mark of London (crossed by two rubber-band? lines). Remarkable example of mail from this ship that was torpedoed off Sardinia; see B.E.C.O.N.E. pp.433/4.

£100

1318

REGISTERED & P.O. OFFICIAL MAIL; Feb. 1916 env. to Alex. with GB KEVII (!!) 1d's (2) & KGV ½d's (2) tied by "NEW ZEALAND/ADVANCED/BASE/ARMY POST OFFICE" c.d.s.'s with blank "R" label with the same c.d.s. in purple (rare thus; ex Rawson), March 1916 env. to same address with KGV 1d tied by the same c.d.s. in purple with matching "SPR. J W PRICE/STAFF/N.Z.B.A. POST OFFICE/EGYPT" cachet on the back, July 1915 front with Egypt franking and "R" label tied by rare NZ17M boxed purple ex-Troopship d.s.'s with "JUL 19 P.M." date error, Nov. 1916 printed "N.Z. ADVANCED BASE ARMY POST OFFICE M.E.F." postcard ref. a parcel of perishable contents having been sent for distribution to troops because its original addressee had died, Feb. 1916 env. regd. to Malta with R label & Egypt 10m cancelled by the NZABAPO c.d.s., and 20 off-cover R labels with NZ forces' c.d.s.'s. Scarce lot. (4 covers, 1 front & 20 pieces).

£100

1319

"BRITISH-TYPE" N.Z. FORCES' C.D.S.'s; 21st Sept. 1916 stampless "O.A.S." env. to Alex with mostly very fine rare skeleton "NEW ZEALAND/SPO 3" c.d.s. (NZ28A), off-cover Egypt 20m with the same c.d.s., scarce 1918 Liverpool Relief Fund "POSTAGE FREE" printed PC to NZ with "FIELD POST OFFICE/N.Z" c.d.s., similar scarce Masterton "POSTAGE FREE" 1918 PC, 1918 YMCA stampless "O.A.S." env. to Jerusalem with the 2-ring "N.Z" c.d.s., and similar 1919 stamples YMCA env. to NZ with the same c.d.s. Scarce lot.

£85