1480

MAP AND CANCELLATIONS: Map of Palestine, 1918 (3 Dec.) 2d black registration env. with "FIELD POST OFFICE/D.C. 4" c.d.s. EEF 5m x 2 with Nazareth seal cancels. 1921 EEF 1pi on cover to London with "JERUSALEM" c.d.s. EEF 1pi x 5 with "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE/T" c.d.s. and another marginal example with "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE/X" c.d.s. of Salonica. Mixed condition. (14 items).

£40

PALESTINE - PARCEL POSTS

1481

ARMY POST OFFICE HANDSTAMP: 1916 A piece registered to Stockport franked with GB 2d tied by "ARMY/POST OFFICE" parcel cancellation. Also a 1919 fragment of a Parcel Post Label franked with GB 6d x 3 with similar cancellations. Faults.

£40

1482

MISCELLANY: 1917-19 small collection of EEF adhesives inc. 1pi blocks of nine, five and four (3) with various "ARMY/POST OFFICE" parcel post cancellations inc. examples of "dumb" types and those used at Jaffa & Jerusalem. Mostly part strikes, mixed condition. (47).

£100

1483

A PART COVER TO HOLLAND: 1918 An opened out part cover registered to Amsterdam franked with 1pi marginal block of four with "dumb" parcel post cancellation. Some faults.

£50

1484

ARMY POST OFFICE PARCEL POST HANDSTAMP: 1918 (18 Sept.) An opened out part cover registered to Amsterdam franked with EEF 2m, 1pi & 2pi tied by circular "ARMY/POST OFFICE" h.s. Faults.

£50

PALESTINE - TRAVELLING POST OFFICES

1485

BAR TPO: 1918 (9 June) 2d black registered env. used to Cairo with "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ 23" c.d.s. and on reverse a good "BAR/TPO" c.d.s. of the Beersheba to Rafa TPO. The env. has been split and rejoined for display purposes. 1920 (21 July) env. without top flap or adhesives used to Bombay with a good "R.M.S./I.E.F." of the Railway Mail Service plus violet "POSTAGE FREE/E.E.F." h.s. A good pair.

£60

1486

JAP AND DAL TPO: 1919 (18 Feb.) PPC to London re-directed to Nottingham with an almost complete but very fine "JAP/TPO" c.d.s. of the Jaffa to Jerusalem TPO. 1920 opened out env. to Gaza with a just readable strike of the "DIZ/X/TPO" c.d.s of the Kantara to Ludd TPO. Some faults.

£60

1487

LAK TPO: 1919 (21 June) 2d black registration env used to Geneva with two fine strikes of the large "LAK/+/TPO" c.d.s. of the Haifa to Kantara TPO. Fine and rare.

£80

1488

PAL + LAK + LAD TPO: 1917 (15 Aug.) opened out env. to Alexandria franked with GB 2d tied by "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ 8" c.d.s. with on reverse "PAL/X/TPO" c.d.s. of the Jerusalem to Ludd TPO and "LAK/X/TPO" c.d.s. of the Deir Belah to Kantara TPO. 1918 (14 July) opened out advertising env. with various c.d.s. inc. "LAD/X/TPO" of the Ludd to Kantara TPO. Both are soiled and stained.

£100

1489

PAL TPO: 1918 (1 Aug.) 2d black registration env. used to Cairo with two very fine strikes of the large "PAL/TPO" c.d.s. of the Jerusalem to Ludd TPO. Rare.

£100

1490

PAL TPO: 1918 (11 July) 2d black registered env. used to Cairo with "PAL/X/TPO" of the Jerusalem to Ludd TPO plus "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE/Z" c.d.s. and m/s "Censor Stamp Unavailable".

£80

1491

RAB TPO: 1918 (13 May) An "ACTIVE SERVICE" green Honour Envelope used to St. Anne's On The Sea with a fair strike of the "RAB/TPO" c.d.s. of the Rafa to Beersheba TPO.

£60

THE BALKANS (ALBANIA/BULGARIA/SERBIA)

1492

ALBANIA, BULGARIA, SERBIA MAILS ETC.; 1915-19 Collection of mails despatched from the Balkan area inc. Mar. 1916 env. from FPO W3 (Valona, Albania) to Dublin with fine "FIELD POST OFFICE/W3" d.s. and boxed red censor No. 3238 h.s.; pair of PPC 1918/19 from APO SX21 and FPO 77 (Bulgaria) one to Malta and the other to Kent; Oct. 1915 uprated 5n. PC Serbia to Alexandria with various d.s. and wavy red lines censor mark; pair of 1917 PPC's to England with crude colour of soldier on a donkey(!) "A HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BALKANS" etc. Nice selection from an uncommon area. (7 items).

£100

CORFU

1493

SCARCE "RETAINED FOR DURATION" LABEL; 1917 (26 May) Registered env. (foxed & cut to open for display) from Alexandria to Corfu opened and resealed by censor using blue fancy "OPENED BY CENSOR" tape, tied by oval "PASSED BY CENSOR/No 5" h.s. The letter has a contemporary stapled rare label "TO BE RETAINED FOR/DURATION OF BLOCKADE OF GREECE" with a ms. dated double oval violet "CENSOR'S OFFICE/ALEXANDRIA". Despite faults a scarce cover to an unusual destination. Ex Danson.

£150

GREECE

1494

H.M. TRANSPORTS BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE MEDITERRANEAN; 1914-15 Collection of envs. & PPC from the BEF Mediterranean inc. Mar. 1915 Union Castle line crested env. to Croydon ex Dunluce Castle with v. fine "Passed by CENSOR/B.E.F.M. APO B-MR/15" in violet; 23 Apr. 1915 to Brixton posted two days before the landings, with violet "CREW H.M.T.602/CENSORED(initials) MASTER"; June 1914 Australian"YMCA" env. to Fulham with BAPO T d.s. from HMAT Somali with original letter; Nov. 1915 to HMS Impregnable photo. PPC of 6th Wilts Cooks, etc. (7 items).

£100

1495

AEGEAN ISLANDS - MUDROS: 1915-17 Covers (7), Field Service cards (2), Honour env., PPC and parcel label with FPO c.d.s. numbers D10, D.29, T10, TNL, 31, 125 and APO c.d.s. number SX3. Other h.s. inc. oval "Orderley Room 3rd Royal Marine Battn/No...../Date..../MUDROS" cachet in red and "MILITARY BRIGADE/FIELD/POST OFFICE/N.Z. DIVISION" c.d.s. Five items are censored.

£80

1496

AEGEAN ISLANDS - MUDROS WEST - TENEDOS: 1916 (16 Dec.) env. to Mudros West with "ARMY/MW 10 XII MW/TELEGRAPHS" c.d.s. and oval "GARRISON HEADQUARTERS/No..../Date..../MUDROS WEST" in violet. 1917 (15 Oct.) OHMS env. to London with "ARMY POST OFFICE/S.X.3." c.d.s. & oval "COMPOSITE BRIGADE HQRS/No.../Date.../MUDROS WEST in violet. 1917 (14 Nov.) A slightly cut down OHMS env. to Mudros West with "ARMY POST OFFICE/S.X.3" c.d.s. and oval framed "INTELLIGENCE OFFICER/TENODOS" cachet. (3 covers).

£60

1497

LEMNOS: 1915-16 small selection of covers (6) and PPC (2) with "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE/Y" c.d.s. and other h.s. inc. "HEADQUARTERS/FIELD/POST OFFICE/N.Z. DIVISION" c.d.s. "3rd AUST. INF. BDE. FIELD P.O." c.d.s, "4th AUST. INF/BGDE/FIELD/P.O." c.d.s. plus various censor h.s. One cover contains the original letter written on "R.M.S.P. Aragon" at anchor in Lemnos Harbour. A fine group. (8 items).

£75

1498

SALONIKA - APO CANCELLATIONS: 1915-18 collection of covers (19) postcards (11) and fronts (4) inc. a 2d black registration env. and an Honour Envelope with APO c.d.s. numbers SX1, SX2, SX4 to SX17, SX19, SX20, X, MX1 and SX24. The majority are censored. A good lot. (34 items).

£140

1499

SALONICA - BATTERY/COMPANY/YEOMANRY CACHETS: 1915-18 collection of covers (17) with a good range of mainly oval cachets inc. "445 SIEGE BATTERY/R.G.A", "20TH HEAVY BRIGADE/ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY", "DERBYSHIRE/YEOMANRY", "MACHINE GUN COMPANY/81ST BRIGADE", "ARMY SCHOOL OF COOKERY/B.S.F.", "COMMAND PAY OFFICE/SALONICA" and "21st NORTHUMBRIAN FIELD AMBULANCE/R.A.M.C.". Mostly fine.

£120

1500

SALONIKA: 1915-19 collection of covers (21), cards (8) and fronts (2) with various FPO c.d.s. inc. numbers 67, 179, A, W2, 66, SX2, T52, 7Y, 8Y, 3Y and T22, APO numbers "BASE/X", 179, X etc. Other h.s. inc. "Lieut COLONEL/O.C. NO 5 "OVERSEAS GENERAL HOSPITAL C E." in red. The majority are censored. (31 items).

£120

1501

SALONICA - WRECK COVER: 1917 (29 May) water damaged env. used to the B.E.F. France with "ARMY POST OFFICE/S.X.4" c.d.s. and boxed "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION/IN SEA WATER" h.s. in violet. Note: The mail Boat "St. Louise V" which left Salonica on 3rd June 1917 apparently came to grief as mail posted in Salonica shortly before this date shows signs of immersion in water.

£60

1502

SYRA/IMBROS: 1917-18 Covers (5 opened out) and a card with various h.s. inc. framed "AP CS/PASSED/AEGEAN/POSTAL/CENSOR/SYRA" Also a cover and 1913 2/6d with "FIELD POST OFFICE/G.Z" c.d.s. Some faults.

£50

LEBANON

1503

1918 (27 Nov.) env. to London with "FIELD POST OFFICE/SZ 9" c.d.s. of Tripoli. 1918 (22 Jan.) envs (3). with "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ 8" c.d.s. of Beyrout. 1919 (24 Oct.) env. to London with boxed "D.A.P.M. BEIRUT/No.........Date......" h.s. in red a large Indian type "F.P.O./No. 396" c.d.s. 1919 (13 Dec.) PPC to London with Indian type "F.P.O./No. 396" of Beyrout. All are censored, two are opened out for display. (6 items).

£80

MALTA/CYPRUS

1504

1915-19 Small collection of envs. (8) & a PC associated with Malta and Cyprus inc. much redirected (opened to display) originally local London env. sent to Malta and endorsed in red with ms "Unknown at Army PO Malta/ Try Egypt", "Not at Salonika", violet "NOT AT No. 5/CAN. GEN. HOSP'L" and no indication that it ever reached the addressee!; Dec. 1917 OHMS env. with "ROYAL MALTA ARTILLERY/B.E.F." cachet; July 1916 env. (faults) Cairo to Malta with "1st .L.H.Bde/DETAILS F.P.O." d.s. and fine violet boxed "PASSED BY CENSOR/5th LIGHT HORSE REG(T)"; June 1918 OHMS env. to "Sir C de Gras/Corfu" with "ARMY/TELEGRAPHS" d.s., FPO d.s. etc.; July 1918 prepaid UPU Cyprus PC from Limassol to Alexandria with black wavy line censor h.s. etc. (9 items).

£120

RUSSIA - BRITISH FORCES

1505

BATUM - "BRITISH CONSULATE/BATOUM" ARMS MARK ON COVER; Spectacular 7th Sept. 1917 env. with lovely blue strike of this fancy Consular "Arms" mark on the front, franked with a GB KGV 1d tied by an unusual rubber "ADMIRALTY" c.d.s.. The cover has a printed heading of a Batum merchant company and is addressed to a firm in Constantinople; was it carried by a British naval vessel? Where was the "ADMIRALTY" mark struck? Fascinating and rare!

£150

1506

F.P.O. 80 (BATUM/TIFLIS) - GREEK MILITARY POSTAL STATIONERY CARD USED BY BRITISH FORCES; Attractive 5th March 1919 usage of the Military o.p. Greek 10l PPC (view of Athens) to GB cancelled by a very fine rare South Russia "FIELD POST OFFICE/80" c.d.s. (used at Batum or Tiflis at this date), with British "No.52" censor mark alongside. Rare thus.

£100

1507

BATUM (?) - THE "FIELD POST OFFICE/81" DATESTAMP; Stampless 10th Jan. 1919 PPC (Turkish view) to GB with very fine strike of this elusive 2-ring c.d.s. and a light boxed British "No.93" censor mark. FPO 81 is thought to have been located in Batum at this date. Rare.

£100

1508

BATUM/TIFLIS - THE "FIELD POST OFFICE/82" DATESTAMP; 13th Feb. 1919 stampless env. (some wear) to Jersey with near fine strike of this rare FPO82 c.d.s. (struck at Batum or Tiflis at this date) with near fine boxed British "No.63" censor mark also on the front. Rare thus.

£100

1509

BATUM/TIFLIS - THE RARE "FIELD POST OFFICE/D.27" DATESTAMP; 17th April 1919 stampless "O.A.S." env. (worn) to GB with a very fine strike of this c.d.s. (probably used at Batum & particularly rare on outgoing mail) and a faint British "No.51" censor mark on the front.

£100

1510

THE 27th DIVISION TRAIN - RUSSIAN POSTAL STATIONERY LETTER-CARD WITH RARE "FIELD POST OFFICE/T.27" DATESTAMP; 20th/21st May 1919 usage of the Russian 10k on 7k blue o.p. letter-card to London, cancelled by a fine British "No.260" censor mark beside a very fine rare "FPO/T.27 c.d.s. (few examples known), that was allocated to the Military train in the Batum area at this date. The message regards Russian stamps and is from a Major of the "12th Corps Cyclist Battn." Rare and attractive.

£120

1511

BATUM - THE RARE "ARMY POST OFFICE/SX22" SKELETON DATESTAMP ON RUSSIAN POSTAL STATIONERY ENVELOPE; 2nd Sept. 1919 usage of the 7k blue env. (edge wear) to Dundee cancelled by a mostly fine strike of this rare c.d.s. with a very fine red British "No.84" censor mark also on the front. Few examples of this SX22 mark are known, and this is a rare usage on Russian stationery.

£150

1512

BATUM - Similar 18th May 1919 stampless env. (edges trimmed) to GB with an almost very fine Batum "ARMY POST OFFICE/SX22" skeleton c.d.s. and red British "No.43" censor mark on the front. Rare.

£120

1513

NOVOROSSISK - REGISTERED BRITISH MILITARY MISSION COVER WITH "OC POSTS/BMM 1" SKELETONS AS WELL AS "ARMY POST OFFICE B.M.S.R." C.D.S.; Remarkable 29th Dec. 1919 "O.A.S." env. regd. to Sussex, franked by a GB KGV 2d tied by a mostly fine strike of this rare "BMM 1" c.d.s., with a plain "R" label alongside tied by a further strike of the "BMM 1" c.d.s. Two halves of a GB KGV ½d green have been used to seal the letter, and one is tied by a very fine 2-ring "ARMY POST OFFICE B.M.S.R./1" c.d.s. with a further almost fine "BMM 1" skeleton nearby. (A plain unregistered cover with this BMM 1 mark realised £368 in the Cavendish "Crabb" auction in October 2000.) Amazingly rare!

£300

1514

NOVOROSSISK - "OC POSTS/BMM [1]" SKELETON C.D.S. ON STAMPLESS O.A.S. CARD; 28th/29th Oct. 1919 PPC (of Rome) to Huddersfield endorsed "On active service" and headed from "c/o Railway Adviser, NOVOROSSISK, South Russia", having a very fine "OC POSTS/BMM [1]" skeleton c.d.s. with the number "1" just off the edge (the BMM 2 mark has differently spaced lettering). Few examples known.

£150

1515

TAGANROG - THE RARE PURPLE "OC POSTS/BMM2" SKELETON DATESTAMP ON COVER; 12th Sept. 1919 stamples env. (minor wear) to Cheltenham with a mostly fine strike of this rare British Military Mission mark on the front, matching the colour of the British "No.370" censor mark. Few known. Plus large 3rd/10th Dec. 1919 piece with the same "BMM2" mark in black used as an arrival mark. (1 cover + 1 piece).

£150

1516

NOVOROSSISK - COLOURFUL REGISTERED "ARMY POST OFFICE B.M.S.R./1" COVER; 6th Feb. 1920 env. (light tone-marks do not detract) regd. to Constantinople franked by GB KGV 3d+1d(2) tied by very fine strikes of this rare BMSR/1 c.d.s., with a blank "R" label alongside tied by a superb strike of the same BMSR/1 c.d.s. Also on the front there is a partly fine oval "BRITISH......CONSULATE/(Arms)/NOVOROSSISK" cachet, and there is a faint Novorossisk firm's cachet on the back. One of the most spectacular of all "British Forces in South Russia" covers in existence. An important Exhibition item.

£240

1517

NAVAL MAIL, ETC.; Pair of July 1919 stampless envs. from the same correspondence to Cheltenham, each with a superb purple British "No.370" censor mark; one also with v. fine London "RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIP/NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED" machine mark and pencil note, "From Novorossisk". Plus 1919/20 PPC's of SS Glengorm Castle (inscribed "Embarked at Batoum....Dec. 13th 1919") and of "General Deniken & family on board HMS Marlborough", as well as a 27th Feb. 1919 stampless env. to GB with fine "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ25" skeleton c.d.s. with original letter headed "Russian Camp. Tel-el-Kebir". Rare lot. (5 items).

£100

RUSSIA - INDIAN FORCES

1518

BAKU - "F.P.O./No.81" C.D.S. ON CARD TO G.B.; 21st/23rd May 1919 PPC (of Baku) from "Baku" to Somerset endorsed "O.S." with a fine strike of this rare Indian FPO c.d.s. overstruck by a fine British "No.80" censor mark. Rare.

£100

1519

BAKU - Similar 6th/7th July 1919 PPC to Ireland with a mostly fine strike of the rare "F.P.O./81" c.d.s. and only the writer's pencil signature in place of any censor mark. Rare.

£100

1520

BAKU - Similar 9th May 1919 stampless "O.A.S." env. (opened out for display) to Bombay with a very fine British "No.534" censor mark on the front and a fine "F.P.O./No.81" Baku c.d.s. on the reverse. Rare. Plus a similar 1918 cover with the FPO/81 c.d.s. used at Enzeli (Persia). (2 covers).

£75

1521

BATUM - "BRITISH OCCUPATION" OVERPRINTS USED WITH INDIAN "F.P.O./406" DATESTAMP; Remarkable 7th/8th Feb. 1920 commercial env. (minor faults at top; to a Paris Bank) franked by overprint 3r(2)+5r with unoverprinted 50k, all tied by Russian c.d.s.'s of 7th Feb., but the 5r also tied by a 75% fine Indian "F.P.O./406" c.d.s. of Batum of the 8th Feb.; also with faint red boxed Registered marks on the front. Exceptional combination of local Batum and Military marks. Very rare thus.

£200

1522

BATUM - STAMPLESS O.A.S. COVER TO G.B. WITH BOTH INDIAN "F.P.O./406" & BRITISH "FIELD POST OFFICE/80" DATESTAMPS; 14th Jan. 1919 env. (closed tear affects address; opened out for display) with a very fine "F.P.O./406" c.d.s. on the back and a British 70% 2-ring "FIELD POST OFFICE/80" c.d.s. (just off the edge) on the front with v. fine British "No.472" censor mark. Rare thus. Also an off-cover India KGV 3a orange "I.E.F." overprint stamp cancelled by the "F.P.O./406" c.d.s. (2 items).

£150

1523

BATUM - LATE USE OF THE "F.P.O./No.406" DATESTAMP; 6th June 1920 stampless "O.A.S." env. to London with a very fine strike of this rare c.d.s. (latest recorded date) nicely placed on the front.

£120

1524

TIFLIS - THE RARE "F.P.O./No.409" DATESTAMP; 28th May 1919 stampless "O.A.S." env. (opened out for display) to Bombay with a very fine (but 20% off edge at top) strike of this rare c.d.s. on the reverse and a very fine British "No.432" censor mark on the front. The only example in the John Firebrace Collection.

£120

SAUDI ARABIA

1525

POSTAGE DUE LABELS ON COVER DURING THEIR FIRST YEAR OF USAGE; Attractive 29th Oct./13th Nov. 1917 long "O.H.M.S." envelope (vertical folds clear of stamps) addressed to the British Consul in "JEDDAH", franked by Egypt 2m+1m(2) tied by very fine Cairo c.d.s.'s (29th Oct.); but clearly underpaid, and so with Saudi Arabia First Issue Postage Due labels (20pa red pair - few perf. faults - and 1pi blue) all tied by very fine purple bi-lingual "JEDDAH" c.d.s.'s (13th Nov.). There are two backstamps; a near fine large 30th Oct. "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ 10" skeleton c.d.s. and a very fine smaller "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ24" skeleton c.d.s. A most attractive and very rare early Saudi Postage Dues cover; the first of its kind that we have offered. Exhibition item.

£300

SYRIA

1526

1919 (10 Jan.) PPC to Scotland with a fine "FIELD POST OFFICE/C. 14" c.d.s. 1919 (4 Feb.) front to London with a fine "FIELD POST OFFICE/C.13" c.d.s. 1919 (14 Feb.) PPC to Cambridge with a clear "FIELD POST OFFICE/SZ 62" c.d.s. (3 items).

£60

TURKEY

1527

THE ORNAMENTAL "ROSETTE" OVERPRINT: 1914 (Dec.) An opened out env. used from Mardin to Egypt franked with Turkish 1pi overprinted with an ornamental "rosette" struck in red denoting that the adhesive was invalid, because of the interruption of Diplomatic relations between the Turkish and Egyptian Governments. With continuous type resealing label and circular red "PASSED BY CENSOR/8" h.s. Ex. Boulad and Benians.

£50

1528

FIELD POST OFFICES: 1918-22 collection of envs. (9), Honour envs. (2), Turkish 20pa env., Greek 10l PPc's (2) and a piece with FPO numbers 12, 14, 83, 84, 85, D28 and H12 plus a large Indian type "F.P.O./No 407" c.d.s. Other h.s. inc. violet "POSTAGE FREE/Army of the Black Sea" and some are censored. Mostly fine. (14 covers plus a piece).

£100

1529

ARMY POST OFFICE C.D.S.: 1919 (March - Nov.) collection of covers (20), PPC's (7) an Honour env. and a 2d registration env. with APO numbers X1, SX3, Y, Y1, Y2, Y3, SY2, SY3 and SY4. Other h.s. inc. oval "18th HEAVY BATTERY/B.S.M./No..../Date..../ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY" violet h.s. All are censored. Mixed condition, some are opened out for display. (29 items).

£120

1530

INDIAN FIELD POST OFFICES: 1919-20 collection of covers (9), cards (2), fronts (2), pieces (21) and adhesives (18) with various FPO c.d.s. numbers inc. 33 (Bostandjik), 400 (Chanak and Constantinople), 408 (Izmid), 407 (Buyuk Dere), 409 (Chanak) and 415 (Haidar Pasha). Mostly fine. (52 items).

£100

1531

MISCELLANY: 1919-20 small selection of covers (3), PPC's (2) and adhesives off paper (9) with various c.d.s. inc. "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ 50" of Mersine, a large Indian type "F.P.O./No 7", "FIELD POST OFFICE/D.C.4", "ARMY POST OFFICE/A/TPO 1" of Haidar Pasha to Afium Karahissar. Fair to fine strikes. (14 items).

£80

1532

BRITISH A.P.O. CONSTANTINOPLE CANCELLATIONS: 1919-22 collection of covers (8) and PPC's (2) with franked with GB or GB overprinted adhesives cancelled with "BRITISH A.P.O./CONSTANTINOPLE" c.d.s. Some are censored. Mostly fine. (10 items)

£60

1533

BRITISH CONSULATE BATOUM CACHET: 1921 (5 Feb.) env. registered to Constantinople franked with GB 2d tied by a fine "FPO/400 c.d.s. with a superb violet cachet of the British Consulate Batoum struck nearby.

£100

1534

THE CHANAK AFFAIR: 1923 collection of covers (8), PPC's (2) & pieces (18) mostly franked with GB adhesives tied by FPO c.d.s. numbers 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 inc. 1923 (June) 4½d registered env. to Constantinople with "FIELD POST OFFICE/12" c.d.s. (28 items).

£80

1535

MACEDONIA: 1915-19 collection of covers (45), cards (10), 2d black registration envs. (2) a front and a parcel post label with FPO c.d.s. numbers 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 65, 66, 67, 77,78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 166, X179, 179, RX179, 167, 180X, 180, X181, 181, 228, D10, D22, D26, D27, D60, D28, XD60, R10, R60, XT60, T10, T22, T27, T60, GX, H12 and AH16. also APO numbers RX16, R22, R26 and R27. Many are censored, some are registered. Mostly fine strikes. (59 items).

£200

1536

MACEDONIA - RARE "Levant" OVERPRINTS ON COVER: 1916 (3 March) OHMS env. to Bristol bearing GB 3d, 4d and 1/- overprinted "Levant" tied by "FIELD POST OFFICE/GX" c.d.s. with oval framed "ARMY POST OFFICE/Crown" cachet nearby. Very rare as the adhesives were only in use from 2-9 March 1916. SG. S4, 5 & 8. Cat. £1,050 off cover.

£500

TURKEY – GALLIPOLI

1537

THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND FORCES MAILS; 1915-36 Group of envs. and PPC's all used by Australian and New Zealand forces inc. July 1915 to Trangie, NSW with "5th INF. BDE/FIELD P.O." d.s. and fine violet "(signature) Commanding/"A" Coy. 18th. Batt. 5th. Inf. B'de. A.I.E.F." (ex Hopkins & Jagger); Apr. 1916 PPC to Liverpool with red double circle "8th AUS. INF. BDE/FIELD P.O." d.s. and censor 3207 triangle; July 1915 Field Service PC to Oxford with v. fine "HEADQUARTERS/FIELD/POST OFFICE/N.Z. DIVISION"; July 1915 env. to London with fine "AUST & NZ ARMY CORPS/HEADQUARTERS/FIELD P.O." d.s. and ms."Passed by censor 2285/No stamp available"; Nov. 1915 pink env. (YMCA HM MEF) to Victoria, Australia with v. fine "6th INF. BDE/FIELD P.O." d.s. etc. Also 1936 & 1965 NZ ANZAC stamp issue forming a fine and varied group. (26 items).

£240

1538

THE BRITISH FORCES MAILS; 1915-16 Large group of envs. and PC's used by the British Forces inc. Oct. 1915 OHMS env. to MEF Base with two fine and different "ARMY/TELEGRAPHS" d.s. alongside APO SZ4 d.s. and censor 2282 h.s.; Oct. 1915 env. from FPO SEY to Alexandria with blue fancy "OPENED BY CENSOR" tape tied by elliptical "PASSED by CENSOR/No.4"; Nov. 1915 Tobacco Fund card to Evening Express Cardiff from FPO 159, Cheshire Brigade, with censor 2811 h.s.; Jan. 1916 black 2d Registered env. with crayon "APO SZ6" to London used at the rest camp Protiana, Lemnos; Nov. 1915 env. to Middlesbrough with FPO NL1 d.s., Royal Naval Brigade, etc. Good variety of BAPO, APO, FPO and censor marks. (45 items).

£150

1539

THE REGISTERED AND PARCEL POST LABEL COLLECTION; 1915 Collection of Registered envelopes, all addressed to London, inc. Sep. 1915 env. from APO SZ1, Cape Helles with ms blue crayon registration; Oct. 1915 envelopes from FPO D53 and D13; Nov. 1915 envelopes from FPO 158 HY (Highland Mounted Brigade) and FPO 86 (opened to display); Dec. 1915 env. with blue crayon APO SZ4, Sulva Bay. Plus six Parcel Post labels inc. Sep. 1915 with 2/6d Seahorse cancelled by FPO DY etc. Scarce lot. (7 envelopes + 6 labels)

£150

EARLY AIRMAILS & THE RAF 1915-20

1540

R.A.F./R.N.A.S. 1915-30; Small collection of PPC's, envs. etc associated with the RAF, RNAS, RFC etc stationed in Egypt. 1915 PPC to Dartmouth, Devon from "PO Archurst No. 2218 R.N.A.S. Mediterranean Eastern Force"; 1918 opened out large part registered env. from Alexandria to "R.F.C. Heliopolis" with tied 10 mils. blue alongside white registration label; 1918 PPC to London from Base APO "Z" and endorsed "Alex: Seaplane Station"; 1918 env. opened but with letter written on envelope (!) from RFC Alexandria to London; attractive env. to RAF EEF with fine red boxed "PALESTINE/CENSORSHIP/NO. 1" alongside a tied opt. 5 mils on 1p. blue EEF Postage Paid adhesive; a page from the 1930 building record for the RAF Station at Heliopolis (inc. the Post office), etc. Needs careful inspection. (14 covers, etc.).

£150

1541

O.H.M.S. R.F.C./R.A.F. 1917-18; Small group of RAF and RFC OHMS env.'s inc. fine Feb. 1917 to Alexandria with oval "No 23 RESERVE SQUADRON/ROYAL FLYING CORPS" dated cachet; Sep. 1917 to Alexandria with "X AIRCRAFT DEPOT/ROYAL FLYING CORPS" cachet; Oct. 1917 registered to Alexandria with boxed "PAY OFFICE/20TH RES. WING/ROYAL FLYING CORPS" cachet; Mar. 1918 to Cairo with "32nd TRAINING WING/R.F.C." etc. (6 envelopes).

£150

1542

R.A.F./R.N.A.S. 1918-23; Trio inc. 23 Feb. 1918 env. to Manchester with 4d. grey green SG.379 tied by London "RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIPS./NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED" with fine "Passed by Censor/R.N.A.S: E.M.S."; opened out Feb. 1920 env. Rugby to 80 Squadron RAF, Heliopolis with on reverse the scarce boxed "NO TRACE/ R.A.F. D(E)POT/ABOU(KI)R" (soiled/spotted on reverse) plus large O.H.M.S. 27 June 1923 env. to RAF Uxbridge franked with pair of ovpt. 10 mils. plus 5 mil. tied by Cairo d.s. with War Office advice officially deleted and fine HQ MEF Despatch Department cachet. Fine. (3 covers).

£150

1543

R.A.F. O.H.M.S. 1918-22; Small collection of OHMS envs./fronts (13) all with mainly different RAF cachets inc. June 1918 to Cairo from 32nd Training Wing; Mar. 1919 Registered to Cairo with fine No5 Fighting School; Jan. 1921 (front) to Woking with "S.M.O.,R.A.F./CANAL ZONE GROUP"; Jan. 1921 to Woking with Indian FPO No.313 d.s., boxed "POSTAGE FREE/E.E.F." and No. 208 Squadron cachet; Nov. 1922 env. to Uxbridge with "CERTIFIED OFFICIAL/R.A.F. CONSTANTINOPLE" etc. Nice group. (8 envs. & 5 fronts).

£120

1544

BAGHDAD TO CAIRO; 1919 (24 Feb.) env. (minor edge faults and light central horizontal crease) to Maidenhead, Kent with FPO 55 d.s. and a fine strike of the scarce light purple boxed"POSTAL SERVICE, M.E.F./AERIAL MAIL, BAGHDAD - CAIRO/BY, 32ST. WING.R.A.F., MESO'OTAMIA"; on the reverse is an "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ 10" d.s. An attractive and scarce cover.

£300

1545

R.A.F.EMERGENCY SERVICE; 1919 (10 April) OHMS env. (minor corner faults) Type K flown from Cairo to Alexandria but addressed to Menton A.M. France, with scarce Type III boxed "AERIAL POS(T)/E.E.F" in violet. The sender has deleted "His Majesty's" from "On His Majesty's Service" as this was sent to a private address. Sent free all the way, it is the only one recorded to an overseas address and is illustrated on Page 451 of Firebrace. A scarce and attractive cover. (Ex Byam).

£300

1546

R.A.F. EMERGENCY AIR SERVICE; 1919 (20 March) OHMS env. type C to "Command Depot/Abassia" flown by the RAF Emergency Air Service established for March and April 1919 due to the riots and General Strike in Egypt. Fine Type I "AERIAL POST/EEF" alongside a fine "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE/Z" d.s. (Alexandria). On the reverse is the 3rd Echelon GHQ EEF cachet and a "PLEASE/USE/THIS/ENVELOPE/AGAIN" label. A scarce and attractive item.

£200

1547

R.A.F. EMERGENCY AIR SERVICE; 1919 (21 March) type C env. (roughly opened with closed tear clear of mark and filing spike hole) from "NAVY & ARMY CANTEEN BOARD/ALEXANDRIA" (cachet) to Navy & Army Canteen Board at the Transit Camp, Suez. Fine "AERIAL POST/EEF" Type I with "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE/Z" d.s. and on the reverse "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ24" d.s.

£200

1548

R.A.F. EMERGENCY AIR SERVICE; 1919 (22 March) OHMS env. (vert. crease clear of marks) Post Office Type "No. 126" from Cairo to Director of Army Postal Services, GHQ 1st Echelon EEF (Alexandria) with circular "AERI(AL) POST/EEF" Type II alongside a near fine "ARMY POST OFFICE/SZ10" d.s. Scarce.

£200

1549

R.A.F. EMERGENCY SERVICE; 1919 OHMS env. (vertical crease clear of marks) Type K from Alexandria to "O.C./ SCOTTISH HORSE FLD. AMB./E.E.F." with Type III boxed "AERIAL POST/E.E.F." in black and fine "BASE ARMY POST OFFICE/Z" d.s. Fine cover.

£150

1550

R.A.F. EMERGENCY SERVICE; 1919 (2 May) long Type B OHMS env. from Cairo to Suez (RASC) with fine strike (vertical crease through centre) of the Type III boxed "AERIAL POST/E.E.F." in violet, with a DDST, GHQ/2ND Echelon EEF cachet alongside. On the reverse is a contemporary endorsement "Sir, When trouble broke out in Egypt in march 1919 the railway lines were destroyed and so our post was conveyed by aeroplane.. etc." Despite folds an attractive and scarce cover.

£150

1551

R.A.F. EMERGENCY SERVICE; 1919 (30 April) OHMS env. addressed to the "3rd Lahore D.A.C./E.E.F." with boxed Type III "(AER)IAL POST/E.E.F." in violet.

£120

1552

TEHERAN TO DUBLIN VIA BAGHDAD AND CAIRO; 1922 (12 June) env. from Teheran to Dublin carried overland to Bagdad where it was put on an RAF flight to Cairo. Franked with a tied 3Kr. violet and black with three cachets alongside, inc. "BY AIR MAIL BAGDAD-CAIRO", boxed "BY AIR SERVICE" both in violet and boxed "POSTE AERIENNES/BAGDAD-CAIRO" in red. The cover has been totally immersed in water at some stage (we cannot trace any wreck history that would match with this date/route) and the stamp, though correct, has most probably been restuck to the cover. Despite these faults a scarce item.

£100

1553

EGYPT/IRAQ/EGYPT; 1923-28 Group of covers flown between Iraq and Egypt with 16 Mar. 1923 from Baghdad to No4 Squadron RAF, Constantinople via Cairo; 15 May 1923 re-used OHMS env. from Cairo to RAF Hinaidi, Baghdad with "ARMY/HND(date)/SIGNALS" d.s.; 10 Mar. 1926 printed env. Registered at Cairo to Baghdad, flown by RAF with tied 15m blue SG128 & 27m purple SG132 (used on First Day of issue); 31 Dec. 1927 RAF crested env. from RAF Abu Suwêr to Basrah via Cairo, franked with six 5 mil (SG115), etc. Good lot. (6 covers).

£150

1554

IRAQ TO EGYPT - HELIOPOLIS DETAILS; 1926 (23 June) env. from "ARMY CENTRE/HINAIDI" to No. 4 Flying Training School, Abu-Sueir with "ARMY/HND (date)/SIGNALS d.s. and v. fine "HELIOPOLIS DETAILS/ROYAL AIR FORCE cachet (certified official and signed). On the reverse is a fine "(Arabic)/26 JU 26 5.-P/CAIRO/(STATION)" d.s. and a similar "ABU SEWER" d.s. Fine and attractive.

£150

1555

SPECIAL FLIGHT - CAIRO TO KHARTOUM & RETURN; 1926 (9 Jan.) env. from Abu Suwêr to Khartoum with fancy "Special Flight/*Cairo to Khartoum*" and "Khartoum II/I/26" both in violet initialled and endorsed "By kind permission/of OC Flight"; only 65 private letters carried. Similar 15 Jan. 1926 env. toe Abu Suwêr, endorsed "By return of/ Special Flight ...." etc.; only 35 unfranked letters carried on this flight. Plus Sept. 1930 OHMS env. from the RAF Depot ME (two official cachets) to Alexandria with fine Abu Qir d.s. (3 covers).

£150

THE CHURCH ARMY AND THE YMCA

1556

CHURCH ARMY; 1915-18 Church Army printed envelopes and cards issued to troops. A fine used variety inc. illus. card with soldier and Union Flag, "CHURCH ARMY RECREATION HUT"(2); illus. env. with French tricolour and Union Flag, "On Active Service/CHURCH ARMY RECREATION TENT"(2); similar Army and Navy type in blue(5); "CHURCH ARMY OPEN TO ALL" different shield types; letter on illus. letterhead with manned field gun on battlefield, etc. Nice lot. (19 items).

£75

1557

THE YMCA PRINTED STATIONERY; 1915-19 Collection of YMCA printed stationery used by troops, inc. Nov. 1915 env. from Cairo to Alexandria with "ON ACTIVE SERVICE/YMCA(logo)" and oval red "MILITARY RECREATION/FREE/E" h.s. below; Jan. 1917 env. from Cairo to Kirkwall, Orkneys with "YMCA(logo) SOLDIERS RECREATION CLUB/ESBEKIA GARDENS, CAIRO"; Jan. 1918 env. to Manchester with "The YMCA/With the Egyptian Expeditionary Force"; two illus. letterheads (used), etc. Good variety of types. (28 items).

£80

EXPLANATORY HAND STAMPS

1558

UNABLE TO TRACE, ADDRESSEE RETURNED TO ENGLAND ETC.; 1915-21 small group of envs. (some opened to display) with a variety of explanatory marks, inc. July 1918 env. Cairo to Lt Col White EEF with fine "UNABLE TO TRACE/BASE A.P.O.T./E.E.F.", "NO TRACE 3rd E FIELD/RECORDS DEPOT" in violet plus fine dual language red oval "RETURN TO SENDER"; Sep. 1915 env. Bedford(?) to MEF marked "Dead" in crayon and "VERIFIED AT RECORDS/BASE M.E.F." boxed in violet; Aug. 1915 Cirencester to MEF marked "Wounded" in pencil with "PRESENT LOCATION UNCERTAIN" in red. Others inc. Addressee Returned to England (2), several type of Undelivered, Not Traceable, Insufficiently addressed, etc. (14 items).

£70

1559

UNABLE TO TRACE; 1916-1919 Trio of envs. with different examples of the "UNABLE TO TRACE" cachet. 5 Sep. 1916 Swanage to Hayling Island, with 1d red tied by Swanage skeleton addressed to the "School of Musketry" fine boxed "UNABLE TO TRACE/Base T.M.E.F." plus "PRESENT LOCATION/UNCERTAIN/L.P.S G.P.O." etc.and on reverse a RLB resealing label; Aug. 1918 Limerick(?) to Cairo with violet boxed "UNABLE TO TRACE/BASE A.P.O.T./E.E.F." and "Army R.L.O. E.E.F./Undeliverable...." etc. plus similar Apr. 1919 (opened for display env.) Cirencester to Italian Exped. Force then readdressed to Alexandria with same boxed cachets in red. Fine and attractive group. (3 envs.).

£70