Lots 1-80

Great Britain - Sale 608

Saturday 20th October 2001

SALE 608

* = 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

EARLY LETTERS, 1569-1657

PRIVY COUNCILLOR's AUTOGRAPH SIGNED LETTER SENT FROM QUEEN ELIZABETH's COURT AT WESTMINSTER; 1569 EL written and signed by Elizabeth's Lord Treasurer "Winchester" (William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester) from "Wes[t]m[inster]" (?) and addressed "To Mr. Richard Bunny" [or Burney?], helpfully endorsed on the front "My L[ord] Treas[ure]r" and "Eliz. 12 1569". The letter was presumably sent within London, and would have been carried by State Messenger. The contents are hard to read, but appear to be Winchester's agreement to intercede with Queen Elizabeth on behalf of the addressee. Rare autograph item and one of very few pre-1570 internal British letters remaining in private hands. [Ex Grace Dove.]

£300

LONDON MERCHANT STRANGERS' "g ‡" CHARGE ON CORSINI LETTER EX COLOGNE; March 1594 E (fine red wax seal) from "Colonna" [= Cologne] to B. Corsini in London with the distinctive "g‡" charge (‡ a groat =2d) thought to have been made by the early Merchant Strangers' London P.O. on the front. Attractive and a rare pre-1600 British postal rate. PHOTO PLATE 3A

£200

ELIZABETHAN "HAST POST HAST" LETTER SENT FROM WHITEHALL, LONDON; c.1595 EL (few internal tears etc., but fine condition) signed inside and on the address panel by "Ro. Cecyll" (the contemporary endorsement "Sir Robert Cecyll" show that it was dated 1591-1603, because he was knighted in 1591 and the Queen died in 1603); addressed "For her Mat[ie']s Affaires. To the moft reverend father in God, my very good Lo[rd]: the L[ord]. Archbishop of Yorke, his grace Metropolitane of England", and spectacularly endorsed "Haft poft haft/haft haft haft" below the address, above the annotation "At Whitehall 16 Apr. at paft 7 at night. Ro Cecyll." The letter (readily legible) refers to very recent meetings with the Queen herself and announces her decision to grant a "Pardon for ye Lady Henyll", which will be sent very soon once it has had time to "pass ye Seales" (i.e. be sealed with the monarch's great seal). A pension of £40 per year has also been granted, and the writer wishes the Archbishop a "good journey". Clearly this letter was sent by Royal Express Messenger, hence the "Haste Post Haste" timed endorsement, but the Archbishop was within one horse's range of Whitehall (probably just caught before leaving his residence in London). [Illustrated in LRL, p.5.] Attractive and rare example of a Royal Express letter and an important historical item. Ideal for Exhibition. [The similar 1598 Haste Post Haste letter in the Barrie Jay Collection, also signed by Robert Cecyll, fetched £10,350 at Cavendish in June 2000.] PHOTO

£2000

PRE-POST OFFICE PERIOD LETTER FROM LONDON TO ESSEX; Fine 3rd June 1622 EL from "London" (ref. money paid into the Exchequor) addressed "To his asewred [= assured] good ffreind & Cosen Mr. Richard Worth these [be] d[elivere]d at Lucking" (which is in Essex near Halstead). Sent 13 years before the first public Post Office system in Britain and therefore almost certainly carried by a common carrier. Attractive. [Illustrated in LRL, p.5.] PHOTO PLATE 3A

£150

EARLY "FRANCA PER MANTUA" COVER SIGNED BY THE FUTURE MASTER OF THE POSTS, "FILIPPO BURLAMACHI"; 1st Oct. 1628 EL (archival reinforcing of folds) sent from London to Florence (ex the Medici archive), clearly endorsed "franca p mantua" on the front and very rare thus; one of only a handful of outgoing overseas letters from London with postal endorsements prior to 1635. The letter is signed by Philip Burlamachi who was asked by Charles I to take over control of the British Inland and Overseas Post Offices in 1640 (until 1642). [Illustrated in LRL, p.7.] An important item of early Postal History with an important autograph. [Ex Grace Dove.]

£1500

FIRST POST OFFICE PERIOD LETTER FROM CAMBRIDGE TO LONDON; The first British inland Post Office was set up in July/Aug. 1635 under Thomas Witherings, and it is thought that the earliest letters carried by the system bore no postal charges, beacuse most were to/from London and charges were specified to be collected there and in no other towns. This letter - clearly addressed "To his Lov[ing]. Cosen Mr. William Hurtt at ye East Indys House in Bishopsgate streete, these [be delivered]" - was sent from Cambridge (mentioned as the writer's recent destination in the contents), and was therefore very likely sent by this first P.O. service, with postage collected from the addressee. [Illustrated in LRL, p.6.] Attractive with a fine red wax seal, and one of only a handful of 1635-9 inland letters that have been recorded. [Ex Martin Willcocks.] PHOTO PLATE 3A

£500

CIVIL WAR PARLIAMENTARY POST - LETTER SENT FROM EXETER TO LONDON ENDORSED "LEAVE THIS WTH MR. HUTCHINS, POSTMASTER AT THE WHITE HART NEARE CHARING CROSS"; "13 May" [1649; dated from other letters in this important correspondence - see M. Willcocks' "England's Postal History", p.12] EL (archivally reinforced folds do not detract)from Exeter ("Just as I am taking horse at Exeter...") clearly addressed "For Mrs. Robinson at Mr. Medborne's house at the Lower end of the Little Centry [= Sanctuary] neare ye Abby in Westminster", with this exceptional and important postal endorsement below the address. This letter comes from the famous series of love-letters sent by a Cromwellian officer en route to Plymouth to his wife back in London, written between 12th May 1649 [this letter is numbered "2" on the back] and July 1649, which are fully recorded and discussed by Martin Willcocks in his definitive 1975 book "England's Postal History", pp.12-15. This reference to a Postmaster (who is recorded as a London P.O. Receiver in the 1653 listing) is exceptionally early and it seems that the letter was carried "Free" in a Governemnt packet along the same West Country postal route that was to open fully (for the mail of military personnel only?) around 6th June 1649. Important early British postal item. PHOTO

£1600

THE FIRST POST OFFICE ACT; Fine 1656/7 printed 8-page "Act for the Setling of the Postage of England, Scotland and Ireland" (album-page size) plus fine frontispiece, dealing in detail with postal rates for British inland and overseas mails. Highly important text for the Cromwellian and early P.O. services.

£400

LATER 17TH CENTURY MAIL, 1661-1699

FIRST YEAR (1661) USAGE OF THE LONDON BISHOP MARK ON DOUBLE RATE COVER EX NORFOLK; Attractive 24th May 1661 EL from "Yarmouth" (ex the "Pengelly" correspondence with mention of Norwich and therefore ex Norfolk) "To Mr. Thomas Pengelly, Marchant, at the [sign of the] Pestall and Morter in Fan Church Street, London", charged "6"(d) - double letter rate - with a superb "MA/27" arrival Bishop Mark on the side-flap (a second poor strike over the seal) with the date endorsement on the opposite flap. [Illustrated in LRL, p.11.] Lovely Exhibition item, matching the similar but single-rate example from the same correspondecne sold by Cavendish in the Barrie Jay auction (June 2000 - realised £2,300). [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO

£1800

THE 1661 P.O. ANNOUNCEMENT REF. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BISHOP MARK; Fine and complete example of the 1st-8th Aug. 1661 "Mercurius Publicus" newspaper (No.31) with the long "Advertisemnt from His MAJESTIES Poft Office", listing the first London letter receivers and announcing that "to prevent any neglect of the Letter carriers in the speedy delivery of Letters....the dayes of the receipt of every letter at the [Post] Office is printed [i.e. marked with the Bishop Mark] upon the letter....". This notice marks the Birth of Postmarks. [This example illustrated in LRL, p.12.] Rare; few examples have survived. [The Barrie Jay example - not quite so clear print - realised £805 at Cavendish in June 2000.]

£600

1662 LETTER FROM LONDON TO NORWICH WITH NO BISHOP MARK & "COMPUTED MILEAGE" 2d-RATE; 22nd Feb. 1661/2 EL from "London" (news of the birth of twins) to "Norw[ic]h" with no Bishop Mark because they were only applied to letters addressed to London until 1663 (see the J.G.-T. article in the Cavendish Barrie Jay catalogue of June 2000, p.26). Equally intriguing is the "2"(d) charge on the front which was for "80 miles and under" although Norwich is around 110 miles from London which would have cost 3d postage at this date. This is almost certainly the result of the P.O.'s use of "Computed" (i.e. not properly measured) miles which placed Norwich around the 80-mile mark until c.1700. This 2d rate has been attrubuted to Jason Grover undercutting the P.O., but we do not accept that in this case. Rare example of a pre-1663 "Non-Bishop Mark" cover.

£200

THE GREAT PLAGUE YEAR - RARE FOREIGN BRANCH BOXED "D/9" POSTAGE DUE MARK ON 1665 LETTER FROM FRANCE TO BRISTOL VIA LONDON; 12th Jan. 1665 EL (professionally re-backed and with worn crease above address panel, but with long & interesting contents) from "Paris", addressed unusually "These for his honred. ffriend John Strachey Esqr. at Suttons Court in Great Chew in Somerset. Leave it with Mr. Cecill, Apothecary in the High streete at Bristoll Angleterre", with a faint London transit Bishop Mark ("FE/8"?) and very fine very rare boxed "D/9" Foreign Branch Postage Due charge-mark (few known) on the top flap. The 9d charge was changed to "12d" for the extra 3d from London to Bristol. Only a handful of these 1660s charge-marks exist in private hands. An important Postage Due Exhibition item. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 3A

£1000

THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON - SOMERSET LETTER WITH POSTAL ENDORSEMENT BUT NO BISHOP MARK BECAUSE THE HANDSTAMPS HAD NOT YET BEEN REPLACED AFTER THEY WERE BURNED IN SEPT. 1666; 16th Nov. 1666 fine EL from "Nettlecombe neere Dunster in Somersett" to "Charing Crosse in London" endorsed "post is pd" (being a long obsequious letter of flattery from a poor relation!). There is not the slightest trace of a London arrival Bishop Mark, which indicates that the handstamps which had burned with the London P.O. in the Great Fire a few weeks before this letter was sent (see Willcocks' "England's Postal History", p.23-4) had still not been replaced. No London Bishop Marks of Sept./Oct./early Nov. 1666 have yet been recorded. The similar 11th Sept. 1666 letter to London from Dublin with no Bishop Mark sold for £1,955 in Cavendish's June 2000 "Barrie Jay" auction (lot 2044). Very fine and even rarer than 1666 Bishop Marks. PHOTO PLATE 3A

£1000

THE EARLIEST RECORDED LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH 2-RING "FRANCHES" MARK; 20th July 1668 EL (some toning) from London to "Livorno" (Italy) with no apparent postal charges but having a partly fine strike of the small "Tudor Rose" 2-ring "FRANCHES" mark (Jay L1078) on the reverse. Seven years earlier than the marks recorded by Jay/Willcocks and 5 years earlier than any that we have seen.

£200

EARLY FREE "FRANCK" COVER WITH THE VERY RARE LONDON "7/Off" RECEIVING HOUSE MARK; Attractive 4th March 1670/1 EL from London to "Tinmouth near Newcastle....Leave this at ye Post House in Newcastle to be sent as above" and signed for free postage - "Franck Charles Cornwallis" - on the front, having a very fine strike of the rare "7/Off" in circle mark (Jay L65g; only recorded in archives) on the side-flap. Two examples of this mark are known in the Bodleian Library and this and two others (lesser strikes) have since been found. [Illustrated in LRL, p.12.] Fine and Important Exhibition item. [Ex Grace Dove.]

£750

THE RARE LONDON "5" IN CIRCLE RECEIVING HOUSE MARK; Jan. 1672 E (slight stains) to Edinburgh (charged "5d") with a fine London "IA/9" Bishop Mark and fine though somewhat overinked "5" in circle (Jay L67b) on the reverse. Few known. (The Barrie Jay example sold for £920 at Cavendish in June 2000). PHOTO PLATE 3A

£400

THE RARE LONDON "OFF/4" IN CIRCLE RECEIVING HOUSE MARK; 6th Nov. 1673 EL from "London" addressed to Staffs. and endorsed "pd 3d" and "to be put in Lichfield bagg and left at Sand Cross to be sent as above", having a fine "OFF/4" in circle mark (Jay L66 - the only number recorded with "OFF") nicely placed on the top flap. The similar Barrie Jay cover (Cavendish June 2000 lot 2082) made £414. Exhibition quality. PHOTO PLATE 3A

£300

THE 1674 "ESSEX/POST.GOES/AND:COMS:/EVERY…/DAY:" SLOGAN COVER; 4th March 1674 fine EL (long beautifully written letter) from "St. Osith" (the coastal village near Colchester in Essex) addressed "These For Sr. Robert Clayton att his howse in the Old Jurey London, humbly present, London", having a faint London "MR/5" arrival Bishop Mark on one side-flap and a very fine strike of this rare "ESSEX" Slogan mark on the other side-flap, with the manuscript "4" charge changed to "2" on the front. Superb and famous Exhibition item; ex Dendy Marshall Collection (see the 1945 auction catalogue) and ex "Traudl" Collection. From the same correspondence as the Barrie Jay example (which was creased and without contents, but which sold at Cavendish for £8,625 in June 2000). The appearance of two examples of this mark at auction within 2 years should in no way suggest that they are anything other than exceptionally rare; we know of only one other example in private hands, making three in all! Arguably one of the most attractive of all British Prestamp covers. PHOTO

£7000

THE LARGER 2-RING LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH "FRANCHES" MARK; 9th Feb. 1673 EL (overall toning as usual for this correspondence) from London to "Livorno" (charged "3"? on arrival) having a very fine (for this) strike of the rare large 2-ring "FRANCHES" mark (Jay 1078) nicely placed on the top flap. Two years earlier than recorded by Jay/Willcocks. Exhibition item. PHOTO PLATE 3A

£400

THE RARE DOTTED CIRCLE "G" LONDON RECEIVING HOUSE MARK OF ALICE GRONE; 1682 EL from "Feens" (near White Waltham in Hants.) to Bristol but posted from London, with a fine "NO/7" London Bishop Mark and mostly fine "G" mark in circle surrounded by a further circle of dots, attributed to Alice Grone at Temple Gate. This is the actual cover of which a tracing illustrates Hendy's 1905 book ("The History of the Early Postmarks of the British Isles", p.51), which gives it one of the longest provenances of any recorded Prestamp cover! [Illustrated in LRL, p.14.] Few known.

£150

RARE 17th CENTURY POST OFFICE NOTICE; c.1680 fine printed album-page sized Post Office Notice with Royal Arms at top, entitled "To prevent Mifcarriage of POST-LETTERS" , advising the public not to trust their letters to anyone except P.O. letter-carriers (who carried official written authorities) and the 16 listed General Post "Letter-receivers", in case their letters were destroyed after an extra 1d had been illegally charged. Also listing the places to which daily mails had been established; "The Poft goes (to and fro) every day betwixt London and these places following, Viz. Briftoll, Dover, Deale and Colchester..." (Illustrated in LRL, p.15.) The earliest P.O. Notice that we have seen in private hands, and possibly dating from the start of William Dockwra's Penny Post to deter people using it; the listed Receivers' names date the Notice to no later than 1682. [Ex Cavendish's 5th Dec. 1992 auction, lot 746 - purchased by Hugh Feldman for £990.] Important Exhibition piece for any major P. H. Collection.

£750

CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTION OF DOCKWRA'S "PENNY POST" IN DE LAUNE'S 1681 "PRESENT STATE OF LONDON"; Attractively rebound (in calf) 1st Edition (1681) of "THE PRESENT STATE OF LONDON..." by Thos. de Laune (6"x3‡"; 478pp, but lacking pp361-384, a "Rates of Coachmen" listing) retaining the complete, original and important 5-page "Of the Poft Office" section (on the 1681 Post Office services) and 10-page "Of the PENNY-POST" section (on William Dockwra's services; they were not taken over by the Government until the next year). The latter pages give a brief history of Dockwra's post and full details of its services, including the wood-cut illustrations of the "PENNY/POST/PAID/L" OriginalDockwra mark and two heart-shaped time-marks (p.354). Rare; few examples of this book remain in private hands.

£500

EARLIEST RECORDED (?) INSPECTOR's "CROWN" RATE-CHANGE MARK; 28th Dec. 1682 EL (slight dusting) from "Carlisle" to London charged "3", but this changed to "6" and signed by the London P.O. Inspector "Bebington", with a very fine small black Inspector's Crown mark (Jay L150; first year of use) alongside. Very clear strike and the earliest that we have recorded. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 3A

£300

P.O. NOTICE REF. THE SUPPRESSION OF DOCKWRA's POST & THE START OF THE GOVERNMENT PENNY POST; Complete (single-sheet) 23rd-27th Nov. 1682 issue of "The London Gazette" newspaper (archivally reinforced fold well clear of Notice) with prominent back-page P.O. Notice; "Whereas there hath been a Verdict obtain'd at the King's Bench-Bar, against Mr. Dockwray [sic], the Undertaker of the Penny-Poft Office..." Rare Page One of the Post Office's local London postal service.

£150

THE "FIRST TYPE GOVERNMENT DOCKWRA" COVER; Clearly dated "9th June 1684" EL (professionally re-backed on blank side and with some internal dusting) with full contents (ref. purchasing "Rock House" for £400), delightfully addressed "To Mr. James Sothersby at his house in Hatton Garden, some 10 dores above ye Globe Tavern on ye other side of ye Way". Nicely placed on the lower flap (which folds down well for display with the address) are mostly very fine strikes of the extremely rare First Type "Government Dockwra" mark "PENY/POST/PAYD" with "W" (for Westminster office) in the centre (Jay L360; only 5 or 6 examples recorded; all except this being in archives?), beside the rare first-type circular "T/Mor/8" time-mark of the Temple Office (Jay L365; early date of usage). These First-Type "Government Dockwra" marks are actually rarer (and shorter-lived) than the Original Dockwra marks; only 22 First-Type "Government Dockwra" marks have been recorded, as compared with 26 Original Dockwra covers, with only 3 or 4 of each remaining in private hands. Highly Important British Postal History Exhibition Centre-piece; arguably the direct ancestor of the Postage Stamp, being the first "stamp" created to record the prepayment of a specific Government postal rate. [Ex "Traudl" Collection.] PHOTO

£10000

EARLY SECOND-TYPE "GOVERNMENT DOCKWRA" MARK OF THE WESTMINSTER OFFICE; 25th July 1687 EL (archivally reinforced edges well clear of marks or address) sent locally in London and addressed to "Minsinge Lane" having a mostly very fine "PENY/POST/PAYD" mark with "W/MON" in the centre (Jay L361b; very early date) on the top flap, beside a very fine circular "B/Mor/10" time-mark of the Bishopsgate Office (Jay L365). All pre-1700 Penny Post covers are rare, and this is one of the earliest recorded Second-Type marks in private hands. (Illustrated in LRL, p.27.) PHOTO PLATE 3A

£400

EARLY SECOND-TYPE "GOVERNMENT DOCKWRA" MARK OF THE WESTMINSTER OFFICE; Fine 8th April 1689 EL sent from "[The House of] Commons" to St. James's, giving details of parliamentary business of the day (mostly ref. the impending Coronation of William & Mary and attendant liberalisation of religion in Britain), having a very fine "PENY/POST/PAID" mark with "W/TV" in centre, nicely placed on the lower flap with fine circular "W/Af/2" time-mark. Rare so fine. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 3B

£500

EARLY LONDON RECEIVERS' INITIALS MARKS; 1692 EL to Rotterdam with v. fine brown "PA" in circle on flap, 1699 EL to Edinburgh with "WR" in circle (rare) and 1702 EL to Suffolk with fine double "L" mark (rare). Scarce trio; Partridge (PA) and Lloyd (LL) are listed in the c.1680 P.O. Notice offered above. (3 covers).

£150

THE RARE SOLID-FRAME "HEART" MARK OF LONDON; 1695 EL from "Broome Hall, Norfolk" to Littleton, Middx. charged "3" with a fine "MR/15" transit Bishop Mark and mostly fine rare solid heart-framed "F/AFT" transfer mark (General Post to Penny Post) of London (Jay L370; rare than the dotted frame type) both on the reverse. Seldom seen. PHOTO PLATE 3B

£300

SHIP LETTER MAILS, 1775-1852

VERY EARLY LONDON PLAIN "SHIP-LRE" COVER EX JAMAICA; Attractive Jan. 1775 EL from Kingston to London with a very fine "SHIP-LRE" mark (Rob.S34; 1st recorded date) nicely placed on the front; charged "4" indicating landing at Portsmouth or a West Country port. Exhibition quality and much rarer than most of the named port marks of this period.

£150

NAPOLEONIC WARS - BRITISH OFFICER's "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" LETTER; 12th Sept. 1794 E (part contents ref. being constantly under canvas with the Regiment; from the "Maclean" correspondence) to Edinburgh, probably from the Anglo-Hanoverian forces in Prussia, having a very fine "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" mark (Rob.S3) nicely placed on the front. Exceptionally clear for this mark.

£150

FRANCE - FINE OVAL "SHIP-LETTER/(Crown)/LONDON" COVER; 7th May 1807 EL from "Paris" to London with a very fine strike of this mark (Rob.S9; earliest recorded date?) nicely placed on the front. Presumably sent during a break in the War with France.

£100

EARLY LONDON "PACKET-LETTER" COVER; Attractive 1808 E (ex Portugal/Spain?) to London charged "4/-" with a very fine black "PACKET/LETTER" mark (Rob.P2; early date) on the front. Exhibition item.

£100

TRANSATLANTIC COVER WITH RED OVAL "Poft Paid Ship Lre/(Crown)/LONDON"; Attractive 1819 EL from London to New York endorsed "via Liverpool" with a very fine strike of the elusive red oval Rob.S41 (only known in red for this one year) nicely placed on the front; also with a mostly fine strike of the rare double oval Ship Letter Office "24NO24/1819" datestamp (Jay L1424; only 3 recorded) on the top flap. Doubly rare. PHOTO PLATE 3B

£240

PREPAID & UNPAID LONDON "SHIP LETTER" MARKS; 1823-46 covers (4) inc. mostly v. fine oval "PAID" datestamps (1823 with short-lived framed oval Rob.S46 to India with oval "Paid" of Kensington, plus 1839 unframed Rob.S51 to France) and plain 1842/6 "SHIP LETTER" marks in red/black (ex US/Uruguay). (4 covers)

£100

"MARTINIQUE" COVER WITH FRAMED PACKET LETTER MARKS OF BOTH LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH & SHIP LETTER OFFICE; Attractive Jan. 1839 EL from "Port Royal" to Paris with fine "MARTINIQUE" on the flap (crossed by closed seal tear), having a fine red boxed Ship Letter Office "PACKET LETTER" mark (Rob.P3) and a very fine scarce Foreign Branch framed "Packet Letter" (Rob.P5) nicely placed on the front. Scarce thus. PHOTO PLATE 4A

£240

THE RARE LONDON SHIP LETTER OFFICE/TWOPENNY POST "TP/S" TRANSFER MARK ON EARLY COVER TO AUSTRALIA; Oct. 1838 prepaid EL to Sydney with a superb strike of the rare small red "TP/S" mark (Jay L566; four or five known, 1836/9) which was used at the Ship Letter Office in London on outgoing Ship Letters posted in 2d-Post Offices. There is a very fine scarce 1839 black crowned oval "GENERAL POST OFFICE/SYDNEY" d.s. nicely placed on the lower flap. Very rare and most attractive. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 3B

£600

RED LONDON "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIP LR" COVER WITH MATCHING BOXED "M.B" MARK; Nov. 1844 E (ex Calais?) to London "Pr. [Steamer] Belfast" endorsed "Bill of Lading" and "Consignees Letters" with a very fine red "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIP LR" (Rob.Ex2) and fine matching boxed "M.B" (Mobile Box; Rob.MB1 - early date) nicely placed on the front with manuscript "3" charge. Attractive and rare thus. PHOTO PLATE 3B

£400

The matching 1852 E from "Calais" (pencil note) to London endorsed "Bill of Lading" but with no postal charge and the "(Crown)/EXEMPT SHIP LR" and boxed "M.B." marks both very fine in BLACK. Exhibition quality. PHOTO PLATE 3B

£400

INDIA LETTER MAILS, 1807-1838

CROWNED "SHIP-LETTER/LONDON" DATESTAMP ON ALLAHABAD COVER TO MADEIRA; Aug. 1806 to Apr. 1807 EL with fine oval "Bengal/G P O/SEP:/POST PAID" mark on the flap and a very fine strike of the large single-circle Rob.S15 c.d.s. (short-lived and rare this clear) nicely placed on the front. Apparently sent on privately from a London address to Madeira. Exhibition quality.

£120

EARLY STEP-TYPE "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" WITH BOXED "POSTAGE TO LONDON/NOT PAID"; 1814/5 E to "East India House" but locally redirected with a mostly very fine Rob.S31 mark (light fold but scarce being very short-lived) on the front beside a fine boxed "POSTAGE TO LONDON/NOT PAID" mark (Jay L267a; rare on locally redirected London letter). Rare thus.

£150

SCOTTISH COVER TO INDIA WITH UNUSUALLY FINE LONDON "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER" MARK; Unusual Feb. 1815 EL from "Aldourie" (the castle near Inverness) sent under cover to London and posted from there to "Calcutta", having a remarkably fine 2-ring Rob.PPWSL1 mark (rare this clear) across the join (as per regulations), but clear of the seal, on the reverse. Outstanding quality and unusual to find a Withdrawn Ship Letter originating from Scotland. PHOTO PLATE 3B

£240

THE RARE TRIPLE-BOXED "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" DATESTAMP; 1814/5 E from "Bengal/G P O" (oval "POST PAID" d.s. on back) to Scotland with a very fine (for this) Rob.S32 datestamp on the front (slightly overlapping the Edinburgh transit d.s.) beside a large London boxed "Addl/‡" mark. Few examples of this short-lived mark are known; see Tabeart p.180/1. PHOTO PLATE 3B

£300

THE CROWNED "INDIA PACKET LETTER/G.P.O/LONDON" DATESTAMP; 1817 EL from London to Madras "P. [Ship] Bridgewater", charged "3/6" (the high Packet rate) with a mostly very fine strike of the elusive Rob.In.P3 nicely placed on the front. Attractive.

£120

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - EARLY DATED & UNDATED LONDON INDIA LETTER COVERS; 1819 E from London to Cape Town "Pr. Mary Anne" with a fine 2-ring crowned "INDIA SHIP LETTER/G.P.O/LONDON" d.s. (Rob.In.2); plus 1826 EL with faint Cape Town d.s. and very fine black boxed "INDIA LETTER/LONDON" mark (Rob.In.4) nicely placed on the flap. (2 covers).

£150

LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH FRAMED "Ship Letter" MARK WITH RED BOXED "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" ON COVER TO FRANCE; Attractive 1837/8 EL from "Madras" to Bordeaux "via London" with an overstruck red Portsmouth Rob.In.5 (v. scarce & probably struck in London) on the top flap and a very fine London boxed Rob.S38 (struck in London Foreign Branch on transit mail such as this) on the front. Colourful item. PHOTO PLATE 3B

£240

MAURITIUS - LONDON BOXED "INDIA" & "CRUTCHED CROSS" MARKS CANCELLING "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" MARK; Unusual 1838 EL (slight toning) from "Port Louis" (with near fine red 2-ring "MAURITIUS/POST OFFICE" c.d.s. on top flap) to London "[Per Ship] Waterloo" with a very fine black step-type "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S3) on the front (matching the "RYDE" c.d.s. on the top flap), cancelled by a very fine grey-black London "Crutched Cross" Inspector's mark and London's small boxed "INDIA" mark (Rob.In.8; late usage - crossed by filing fold). Rare combination of marks, especially on a cover from Mauritius. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 4A

£600

OTHER OVERSEAS MAILS, 1703-1843

MADEIRA - EARLY LETTER TO G.B.; Nov. 1703 EL from "Madeira" to London charged "3/1" with a very fine "DE/10" London Foreign Branch arrival Bishop Mark nicely placed on the top flap. very early for mail from this small island.

£120

MINORCA - RARE EARLY LETTER WITH "P" IN CIRLE MARK OF LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH; 1718 EL (unnecessary "Magic" tape on some folds & minor dust etc.) from "Mahon" (Minorca; very early for a letter from this Balearic island) to Scotland with a superb strike of the rare small London "P" in circle (Jay 1050; 8 years earlier than recorded) on the front with Bishop Mark on top flap, charged "inall 1N9". The meaning of this "P" mark is not yet known (though routing via Paris seems possible), because too few examples (all 1726-35 except for this one) are known. Rare Foreign Branch item. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 4A

£500

BELGIUM - FOREIGN BRANCH "P.P" COVER SENT DURING THE WAR OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION; April 1794 EL (closed tears clear of marks; contents ref. religious revolution and Napoleon etc.) from Liege to London with fair "DE LIEGE" on the front and superb UNRECORDED (by Jay/Willcocks) black London Foreign Branch "P.P" mark (transfer from Foreign Branch to Penny Post for delivery) on the reverse beside a late use of the Foreign Branch Bishop Mark. This "P.P" mark is now accepted as the forerunner of the circular dated "PP" marks of 1795-1801 (Jay L1025 etc.). Rare; this is probably the finest of the 5 or 6 known examples.

£400

"PP/1798" LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH TRANSFER MARK, ETC.; Jan. 1798 EL from "Brunswick" to London with fine "PP/1798" in circle on the reverse beside "FOREIGN OFFICE" d.s. Plus similar 1775 EL from Rome to London prior to the introduction of the "PP" marks. (2 covers).

£200

THE VERY RARE LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH "T…P/1803" IN CIRCLE TRANSFER MARK; 1803 E from "FERRARA" (boxed mark on front) to London with a very fine (and very rare so clear) "T…P/1803" in circle mark (Jay L1026; the only year of this design and few known) - indicating transfer from the Foreign P.O. to the local London P.O. for free delivery - nicely placed on the reverse (frame just crossed by unobtrusive closed seal-tear). One of the most elusive London marks. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 4A

£500

MALTA - EARLY CURVED FRAMED MARK ON COVER EX SICILY WITH UNRECORDED CIRCULAR LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH "T/P-P/1807" TRANSFER MARK; Sept./Nov. 1807 EL (interesting contents from an officer with the British occupying forces) from "Messina" to Surrey with a near fine curved framed "MALTA" in black on the front, having the London "FOREIGN" c.d.s. and matching fine strike (fine for this; see note in Jay) of the rare encircled "T/P-P/1807" transfer mark (Jay records similar 1804/6/9/10/11/12 marks but none of this year) just across the join on the back. Important addition to the record for these marks that are so exceptionally elusive and almost always poor. PHOTO PLATE 4A

£400

PRISONER OF WAR LETTER FROM BRITISH OFFICER IN FRENCH CAMP WITH "TRANSPORT OFFICE" MARK; Attractive Dec. 1812 to Jan. 1813 EL from Verdun (? - Morlaix also mentioned) to London with interesting contents (mentions recently arrived Russian POW's who feel the cold more than the British!, and the water frozen solid in the writer's "dressing room"!), having a very fine double oval "TRANSPORT OFFICE/(Crown)/G…R/PRISONERS OF WAR" mark, and so with no French postal rate but a fine oval red "Two Py Poft/Unpaid/Bge St Weftsr" mark and black handstruck "2" charge. Rare from a British POW. PHOTO PLATE 4A

£360

UNRECORDED "MORE…TO…PAY" MARK OF THE LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH; Attractive EL (one further sheet lost) from Calcutta to Scotland, endorsed "Shipping postage paid" with a very fine rare red boxed "KING'S. SEA/POSTE. PAID.(1/4)/CALCUTTA" mark on the front, charged "2/6" at first in London but this then changed to "2/10‡" with a very fine UNRECORDED London Foreign Branch "MORE…TO…PAY" mark (similar to Jay L1098; one other example known, also of 1817). Spectacular Exhibition item. PHOTO

£300

£1+ POSTAL RATE WITH "Oz at 14s/- per Oz" MARK EX BRAZIL; 1816/7 E from Rio (pencil note) to London "Pr. Elizabeth P[acke]t. Q.D.C." endorsed "1# [Oz]" and so charged "£1-4-6" with a very fine handstruck London Foreign Branch "Oz at 14s/- per Oz" mark (Jay L1035j; the highest rate of all). Fine example of the reason why Postal Reformers won so much support from the London merchants in the 1830s. Exhibition item.

£240

HOLLAND - THE RARE "O z at 5s/4d per Oz" MARK OF LONDON's FOREIGN BRANCH; 1819 E to London endorsed "F[ran]co. Briel" with a fine red "AMSTERDAM" and a very fine rare "Oz at 5s/4d per Oz" mark (Jay L1035a) nicely placed on the front. Seldom seen; one of the rarest "Oz" marks. PHOTO PLATE 4A

£300

THE VERY RARE RED "Hamburg paid" FRAMED MARK OF LONDON's FOREIGN BRANCH; 1823 EL from "Hamburg" to London with a fine strike of the very rare bright red "Hamburg paid" mark (Jay L1081; two examples known as far as we are aware) nicely placed on the front with two different FPO c.d.s.'s on the flap and an oval "LISBOA" arrival d.s. on the front. One of the rarest of all London markings. PHOTO PLATE 4A

£800

THE RARE "Oz at 7s/8d per Oz" & THE DOTTED FRAME "Oz at 6s/8d per Oz" MARKS; 1825 E to London with fine red "GENOVA" and v. fine rare London Foreign Branch "Oz at 7s/8d per Oz" mark (Jay L1035c; seldom seen) nicely placed on the front. Plus 1830 E (faults on reverse) to London with "STETTIN" d.s. and "FRANCO" on the front, as well as an almost very fine dotted frame "Oz at 6s/8d per Oz" mark (Jay L1036b). Good pair. (2 covers). PHOTO PLATE 4A

£200

BELGIUM - SCARCE BOXED "NOT PAID" MARK OF LONDON's FOREIGN BRANCH; 1826 EL (long family contents) to Witham (Essex) with a fair red "ANTWERPEN" and v. fine black boxed London "NOT PAID" (Jay L1111; seldom seen) nicely placed on the front. An unusual mark which was very seldom used and unnecessarily so in most cases.

£100

BELGIUM - THE RARE UNRECORDED "F[oreign] P[ost]" LONDON 2d-POST FOREIGN MAIL TRANSFER MARK; 1828 E (short lower flap removed) to London endorsed "Franco Ostende" with a near fine red "BRUSSEL/FRANCO" mark and a very fine London 2d-Post "F…P" mark (indicating that the letter was transferred from the Foreign Branch of the London P.O. to the local service for delivery) both nicely placed on the front. Not recorded by Jay/Willocks but the first cousin of the earlier "PP" and "T/PP" marks. Four or five examples have now been discovered. A significant addition to the record. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO PLATE 4A

£300

FRANCE - THE RARE UNRECORDED "F[oreign] P[ost]" LONDON 2d-POST FOREIGN MAIL TRANSFER MARK; Similar 1830 ELfrom Boulogne to London with a fine "P.61.P/BOULOGNE/SUR-MER" mark on the front, beside the almost very fine red "F…P" mark (as per previous lot) matching the oval London 2d-Post d.s. on the top flap. Few known. PHOTO PLATE 4A

£300

MEXICO - PACKET LETTER WIH EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAR DOTTED-FRAME LONDON "Oz at 12s/- per Oz" MARK; Attractive 1829 EL from "Tampico" to London "p. Packet" with a lovely strike of this rare Postage Due mark (Jay L1036h; one of the rarest of the "Oz" marks) nicely placed on the front. True Exhibition quality.

£300

FRANCE - THE RARE DOTTED-FRAME "Oz at 4s/8d per Oz" MARK; 1831 EL (horiz. fold clear of significant marks) from "Paris" to London with Parisian "PORT PAYE" and boxed "60/P.P./J" marks on the front, as well as a very fine strike of this very rare dotted London Foreign Branch mark (Jay L1036, few known:- slightly overstruck by blue Paris c.d.s.) nicely placed on the front. Rare. PHOTO PLATE 4A

£240

BARBADOS - THE WEST INDIA ROOM "A" IN CIRCLE MARK OF THE LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH; Jan. 1831 EL (long and entertaining contents) prepaid (4s-4d) from London to "Barbadoes" with an almost very fine strike on the front of the rare and mysterious "A" in circle mark (Jay L1045; issued to the Foreign Branch's "West India Room" in Aug. 1830) found on Transatlantic mail via Falmouth only. Few known. (The example in Cavendish's June 2000 Barrie Jay auction realised £506.) PHOTO PLATE 4B

£300

AUSTRIA - EARLY REGISTERED COVER WITH MAGENTA LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH "REGISTERED/(Crown)" MARK; Attractive July 1831 EL from "Wien" (Vienna) to London charged "5/-", endorsed "reccomandirt" by the sender, with very fine strikes of transit "CHARGE" (blue), "V.WIEN:RECOM:" (orange) and oval-framed "Autriche/P Huningue" (red) on the front, along with a very fine large London F.B. "REGISTERED/(Crown)" (Jay L1127) in an unusual distinctive shade of magenta ink. As pretty as any of the covers in the Martin Willcocks Collection. Rare thus. PHOTO

£300

FRANCE, ETC.; LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS & CROWNS; 1839 EL from India with v. fine "BRITISH/FOREIGN" mark, 1841 EL from London to Paris with v. fine red boxed "RETURNED FROM" (Jay L1154a), 1838 E from Bordeaux with fine red curved-frame London "FOREIGN PAID", and 1833/9 covers ex France/Vera Cruz with v. fine red "Crown" marks. (5 covers).

£100

GIBRALTAR/SPAIN - THE RARE OVAL LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH "REBATE/F.B.O." DATESTAMP; Sept./Oct. 1839 EL from "Malaga" to London posted from "GIBRALTAR" (fine curved-frame mark on the front) endorsed "Only double" by the addressees and so with the "7/6" (triple) rate reduced to "5/-" with a fine strike of the very rare black oval "REBATE" d.s. (Jay L298c; only a few recorded and all within a 4-week period) slightly overstruck by the Gibraltar mark on the front. Exceptional example of a reduction in a high Postage Due charge! Beleived to be the only "REBATE" cover recorded from Gibraltar. (The "Pepys Collection" example of this mark fetched £1999 at Cavendish's Nov. 1996 auction.) PHOTO PLATE 4B

£750

AFGHANISTAN - 1st AFGHAN WAR CAMPAIGN LETTER FROM "KANDAHAR" TO G.B.; Fine 6th May 1839 EL (some reinforced folds but a long and interesting letter from the newly occupied Afghan city of "Kandahar") to Scotland (redirected to Kent) with a faint manuscript "P. P. 2 Annas, 8 May WS(?)"postal endorsement (of Kandahar? - before the introduction of the famous intaglio "AFFGHANISTAN/PAID" mark) on the front beside a light red oval "INDIA", having a very fine boxed London "BRITISH/FOREIGN" mark on the flap. The contents give a rare insight into the very first weeks of the Campaign in Afghanistan that led directly to the disastrous "Khyber Pass Massacre" in 1842. The writer is a British engineer sending to his wife detailed news of the long march from northern India into Afghanistan. He bemoans the fact that earlier letters were probably lost in transit due to marauding "villainous Belloochees" who "....will allow none of the Cosseids to pass before tearing to pieces all the letters of which they are the bearers....Sir John himself [Sir John Keane, the Commander of the 21,000-strong British inavsion force] says that he does not intend to write again until the communiccation is opened..." He describes the countryside through which they passed, the food and water shortages for their troops, the 28,000 camp-followers of the 6,000 native Bengal troops, the temperature of 100†/102† in his tent, and notes that Kandahar is "merely an oasis in this beastly country". He continues; "We arrived safe here on the 4th...Everyone in the Army is now I believe heartily sick of this expedition...[I] have marched from Kurrachee to Kandahar without losing a single camel..." He looks forward to returning to his position of Superintending Engineer in Bombay "after this raid into Afghanistan", and continues on 8th May 1839; "We have just returned from the ceremony of Shah Sooja's 'Restoration' as it is called..." and he describes the Army's march past. Then he mentions that he has turned down an offer to go to fortify Herat, choosing to go with the Army to "Cabool", and concludes with the news that a few English letters of Jan. 1839 had just arrived so that he intended to "despatch this today, thinking that it may come safely to hand." An exceptional and historic Campaign letter that had remained unnoticed among a collection of London postmarks. This may have left Afghanistan in the very first mail from the Expedition to make it through the rebel lines. Very rare 1st Afghan War letter. PHOTO PLATE 4B

£500

DENMARK - EARLY "REGISTERED/(Crown)" COVER; Aug. 1840 E (fine red wax Danish Government seal) from "ALTONA" (c.d.s. on back) to London endorsed "Recommandirt" on the flap, having a very fine small red London "(Crown)/REGISTERED" mark (just crossed by fold at top) on the front, beside the manuscript postal charge; "3-4 + 2-6 = 5/10" (3s-4d overseas postage + the 2s-6d fee). At this time there was no inland registered mail service in Britain. PHOTO PLATE 4B

£200

SOUTH AUSTRALIA - "RETURNED FOR POSTAGE" COVER SENT UNPAID FROM LONDON; March 1842 EL (filing creases) from London (ref. a bankrupt's consignment of goods to S. Australia) addressed to "Adelaide, South Australia" and endorsed "p. [Ship] Zaglioni", but stopped by the P.O. because it was not prepaid; with v. fine red London "RETURNED/For/POSTAGE (8)" (Jay L1139; ironed crease but scarce) on the front and oval framed matching "Return'd/for Postage" (Jay L1136a; crease) on the lower flap. The filing notes reveal that this letter finally reached Adelaide (under separate cover presumably) 7 months later. Unusual.

£120

BELGIUM - "DETAINED" & "RETURNED FOR POSTAGE" MARKS ON UNPAID COVER; June/July 1843 env. sent unpaid from London to Emptimes (Belgium) and so with two types of fine red "Returned for Postage" marks (Jay L1136a & 1138) as well as a near fine matching boxed "No. (14575)/Detained for Postage" on the front (with fragment of red wax GPO seal on flap), and so with red m/s "5" and "PAID" mark of second posting. Rare thus.

£120

FREE MAILS, 1764-1839

HANTS. - FIRST YEAR USAGE OF THE LARGE "F" LONDON "FREE" MARK; Attractive 2nd June 1764 E (unnecessarily archivally re-backed but perfectly sound) to London with a mostly fine scarce early large "LIMINGTON" on the flap and a superb 20mm diameter red London "FREE" nicely placed on the front. First month of usage of Free marks in London. PHOTO PLATE 4B

£240

WILTS. - RARE BLACK LONDON ENCIRCLED "FREE/P/[Laurel leaves]" MARK WITH "96 HEYTES/BURY" 1st-TYPE MILEAGE; Attractive July 1790 EL franked from Wilts. to London with mostly very fine strikes of both these marks on the front. The "FREE/P" mark is rare in black (Lovegrove only lists it in red or purple-brown, but this is a clear brown-black with no trace of red). Rare thus.

£100

UNIQUE (?) COMBINATION OF "W" WINDOW-LETTER MARK WITH "FREE" DATESTAMP; Unusual 21st/22nd March 1792 EL (some toning etc.) sent locally in London but posted at the General Post window in error and so charged "2", but also erroneously struck with the 3-ring London "FREE/P" c.d.s. and the "2" charge cancelled! The addressee was an M.P. but he would still not have been entitled to free postage for a local letter. A mystery?! PHOTO PLATE 4B

£100

BATH - "CRAZEY" BLACKMAIL LETTER SENT FREE FROM "BATH", ETC.; Remarkable Dec. 1799 EL (minor tears) to the Duke of Hamilton in London with fair "BATH" and very fine scarce unframed London "Crown/FREE" d.s. (Jay L788; in use for 2 months only) boldly endorsed "Crazey" on the front, because of the contents from "Bath" (the 1st Marquis?); "The Lady whom the present Duke of Hamilton has treated with so much low duplicity advises him to decline paying his visits to his Majesty as she would take measures to have him exposed in that quarter in a manner in which he so truly deserves"!! Plus 1794/9 pair of covers from London with unusually fine 3-ring & 4-ring London "FREE" c.d.s.'s (Jay L778 & 782). (3 covers). PHOTO PLATE 4B

£150

THE RARE BLACK "Above Privilege" MARK ON OVER-WEIGHT COVER EX LONDON; June 1804 E (filing folds clear of mark) franked to Wrexham but endorsed "Above 1 Oz" with a fine strike of the elusive Jay L820 "Above Privilege" mark on the front, struck in unrecorded BLACK ink. We have recorded only one other example in this colour. Rare.

£150

EARLY MONEY ORDER DEPARTMENT HANDSTRUCK "Money Order Office" & "F.Freeling" FRANKING MARKS; Fine 3rd Sept. 1807 EL from the "M.O. Office" signed by "Stow & Co." addressed to the Market Harborough Postmaster regarding credits & debits for monies remitted/received to/from him during the previous 6 months. There is no postal charge because there are very fine red Handstruck "F. Freeling" and mostly very fine matching "Money Order Office" marks (in the classic London P.O. red ink) nicely placed on the front. These marks are not recorded by Willcocks, Jay or Lovegrove, and we have never seen one offered at aution before (see also next lot). Very rare Money Order item from the early period from which very little material associated with this important service (that was entirely independent of the Post Office at this date) has survived. PHOTO

£600

The matching March 1805 EL from the same correspondence to the "Market Harboro'" Postmaster, from the "Money Order Office" signed "Stow & Co." (ref. credit for a Bank Bill of £45-3-10) having fine DIFFERENT SMALLER red Handstruck "Money Order Office" and "F. Freeling" marks on the front (the only examples recorded of these smaller size marks). This cover proves that there were two different sets of these distinctive and unrecorded Free Mail markings. (See comments ref. the previous lot.) PHOTO PLATE 4B

£400

ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN UNFRAMED RED "TO PAY/2D/ONLY" MARKS; 21st July 1817 EL (some folds slightly reinforced) franked by the Duke of Sussex (King George III's 6th son - an abuse of privilege, being written by someone else) to Oxford with near fine orange oval "Two Py Poft/Unpaid/Greenwich" and black handstruck "2" on the front, beside a very fine RED UNFRAMED "TO PAY/2D/ONLY" mark (Jay L806; one of only two known, dated within three days of each other). One of the rarest of all London free mail marks, and an important Postage Due Exhibition item. [Ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO

£500

1-80	81-160
161-240	241-248
Index