The JOHN GUNN
Collection of
MARITIME MAIL & EPEMERA,
c 1650-1930
Thursday 26th September 2002
SALE 628
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The JOHN GUNN |
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ENGLISH SHIP LETTERS - BRISTOL TO DOVER |
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THE "ALAN ROBERTSON" SHIP LETTER PAGES
Many of the Lots in the following sections of British Ship Letter markings came from a series of very large albums with extra-large pages that were compiled in the 1960’s by the late Alan Robertson, the author of the definitive work on these marks, "The Maritime Postal History of the British Isles". John Gunn acquired the albums intact some twenty years ago and has retained the original captions and pages wherever possible. These covers (and many others to be found in the overseas lots later in this catalogue) are mounted and written up in Alan Robertson’s distinctive style, using black card with black & red captions. In many cases – like the page illustrated intact here (see lot 1) – Robertson has added fine Victorian prints of the ports at which the letters were landed, alongside the covers (exactly as he did in the Ship Letters section of his book). Where the descriptions mention "Bartlett" and other prints, these almost invariably come from the Robertson albums. The empty albums (with many pages ready to re-use) are offered as a lot at the end of the auction. |
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| 1 | BRISTOL - TRANSATLANTIC MAIL EX TRINIDAD, CANADA & U.S.A.; 1830 EL from "Trinidad" to London "p. [Ship] Pomona via Bristol" with a fine black twin-boxed Rob.S7 "BRISTOL/SHIP-LETTER" nicely placed on the front; plus 1840/1 pair of EL's to London with very fine Rob.S8 "BRISTOL/SHIP LETTER" marks in black & vermilion-red (former affected by light ink smudge) ex Quebec & New York. Plus a fine "Bartlett" print of "REDCLIFFE CHURCH AND BASIN, BRISTOL". (4 items). PHOTO - | £120 | ||
| 2 | BRIXHAM (DEVON) - MADEIRA COVER, ETC.; 1846 EL (minor faults; ref. the costs of a gravestone recently erected on the island) to Aberdeen "P. [Ship] Dart" with a fine "MADEIRA" c.d.s. on the top flap and a mostly fine step-type "BRIXHAM/SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S4) on the front; plus a similar 1846 E from "Pernambuco" (blue oval firm's cachet) to London "p. Irving" with a mostly fine Rob.S4 "BRIXHAM/SHIP LETTER" on the front. Scarce pair. Plus two fine 19th century prints of Brixham/Torbay (by Turner & Duncan). (4 items). | £100 | ||
| 3 | COWES (ISLE OF WIGHT) - EARLY "SHIP LRES" MARK EX GRENADA; Attractive 1789 EL from "Grenada" to London "By the Resolution Capt. Domett[?]", having a very fine strike of the distinctive Cowes Rob.S1 mark nicely placed on the front. Exhibition item. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 4 | COWES (ISLE OF WIGHT) - SCARCE INDIA LETTERS, ETC.; 1820 EL from "Madras" to Sittingbourne "Pr. Emma" with a very fine oval "MADRAS/SHIP LETTER" datestamp on the front beside a partly fine and very scarce boxed "INDIA LETTER/ISLE OF WIGHT" (Rob. In.1; first recorded year of usage - perhaps struck in London - see Tabeart pp.127/8), 1825 E from Havana (in pencil) to London "p. Salthouse" with a partly fine black downward-step-type "SHIP LETTER/COWES" on the flap (Rob.S2), and an 1836 " from Calcutta to Edinburgh "[P]r. Asia" with a mostly fine scarce red boxed "INDIA LETTER/COWES" (Rob.In.3) on the flap (? matching the red ink of the London transit c.d.s.??). Also a c.1840 Creswick print (of Cowes?). (4 items). PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 5 | DARTMOUTH (DEVON) - TRANSATLANTIC MAIL EX NEW YORK; 1836/8 pair of covers (E & EL) from New York to London per "[Ship] Quebec" and "Packet of 8 Jany.", each with a mostly very fine step-type "DARTMOUTH/SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S3 - one just shaved by crease) beside a fine matching c.d.s. on the flaps; both charged "4/9" but one endorsed "Only double" by the addressees and clearly charged treble rates in error. Good pair. Plus a c.1840 Stanfield print of Dartmouth. (3 items). PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 6 | DARTMOUTH (DEVON) - FORWARDING AGENT's BOOTLEG COVER, ETC.; 1836 E from "Lisbon" to London with no Ship Letter rates or marks but having the endorsement "Forwd. by Y.M. obt. Sts. R.L. Kingston & Sons, Lloyds Agents" on the top flap beside a fine "DARTMOUTH" c.d.s; rare example of the evasion of a Ship Letter charge. Plus an 1840 EL from "Pernambuco" to London with a mostly very fine Rob.S3 "DARTMOUTH/SHIP LETTER" mark and matching c.d.s. (both crossed by filing fold) on the top flap. Good pair. (2 covers). | £100 | ||
| 7 | DEAL (KENT) - SHIP LETTERS EX BAHAMAS, B. AYRES & U.S.A.; 1824/42 pair of covers to Brighton/London ex "Nassau" (Bahamas; "Pr Highlander, Capt. Mitchell") & "Buenos Ayres" (Argentina; "per Diamond") each with a mostly very fine step-type "DEAL/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S8; one creased); plus 1838 E from New York to London "pr Ontario" with an 80% (partly off edge) red downward-step-type red "SHIP LETTER/DEAL" (Rob.S10; crease but scarce) on the flap. (3 covers). | £100 | ||
| 8 | DEAL (KENT) - INDIA LETTERS SET; 1821-34 set of four covers all from Bombay to Scotland (same correspondence) with mostly very fine strikes of the four different "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" marks (Rob. In.1/2/3/4), and each with a Scots "&Mac189;" Mail Tax mark. Three by named ships; "Blenden Hall", "Phoenix" & "Duncan Gibb". Good set. (4 covers). | £100 | ||
| 9 | Similar group of 9 1819-34 covers from Bombay/Calcutta/Delhi/Madras to Scotland, all having fair to very fine strikes of the boxed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" marks (Rob. In.1/2/4); endorsed by ships "Lord Inglefield", "Blenden Hall" (2), "Orpheus", "Stockton", "Lady Fensham", "L. Raffles" & "La Sophie". Good variety; the 1819 cover is noteworthy because it was en route when the new India Sea Postage Act came into force. (9 covers). | £150 | ||
| 10 | DEVONPORT (DEVON) - OVAL "Ship Lre/(Crown)/DEVONPORT" MARK IN RED; 1814 E from Corunna to London with an 85% but very fine strike (slightly off edge) of the scarce Rob. S1 mark on the front. One of very few of the oval marks to have been struck in this colour. Also a fine c.1840 Allom print of Drake's Island etc. (2 items). PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| 11 | DOVER (KENT) - COLLECTION OF ALL-DIFFERENT INDIA/SHIP LETTERS; 1798 EL from "Philadelphia" to the "Island of Guernsey" endorsed "p. William Penn" with a partly fine concave "DOVER/SHIP LRE" (Rob.S5; 1797-9 only), 1829/38 pair with very fine downward-step-type "SHIP LETTER/DOVER" marks (Rob.S10/11; ex Pernambuco & N.Y. - first "p. David Owen"), and 1821-36 quartet ex India with mostly fine to very fine boxed "INDIA LETTER" marks (Rob.In1/2/4/6; latter in red). Good lot. Also a c.1840 Harding print of Dover. (7 covers + 1 print). | £140 | ||
| 12 | DOVER (KENT) - OTHER INDIA/SHIP LETTERS; 1834/8 pair of E's to London ex Rio/Havana (first by | |||
| "Harmonia") with very fine strikes of the scarce downward-step-type Rob. S11 "SHIP LETTER/DOVER" mark, and 1821/31 trio ex the same corresp. to Scotland with fine to very fine In.1 "INDIA LETTER/DOVER" (2) and scarce In.7 "DOVER/INDIA LETTER" marks. Plus two c.1840 prints of Dover. (5 covers + 2 prints). | £100 | |||
| ENGLISH SHIP LETTERS - FALMOUTH | ||||
| 13 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - THE EARLY "SHIP LRE" MARK ON COVER EX JAMAICA ; Jan./April 1773 E (minor faults) from "Jam[aica]" to London "By the Nancy, Capt. Brown" with a very fine Rob.S1 "FALMOUTH/SHIP LRE" mark (filing fold) nicely placed on the front. Scarce so early and so fine. Exhibition item. PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 14 | Similar Jan./April 1773 EL (different correspondence - ex the "Fitzherbert Papers") from "Jamaica" to London with a fine strike of the same Rob. S1 "FALMOUTH/SHIP LRE" mark (filing crease) struck on the same day as the previous lot, being sent "By the Nancy, Capt. Brown". Interesting contents about the slave trade; "The new Negroes that have been imported lately are what we call Windward Slaves - Chambas, Dunkerers &c - the worst kind of Negroes imported here except the Angolas, and the choice of them are sold at £70 and the Duty a head - to buy such Negroes for Sugar Works is throwing away money. Whenever I have an opportunity of buying Gold Coast Men and Eboe Women, I will then buy as you direct." Rare insight into Jamaican 18th century West African Slave Trade. PHOTO - | £240 | ||
| 15 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - THE SHORT-LIVED HORSESHOE-TYPE "FALMOUTH/SHIP/LRE" MARK ON COVER EX JAMAICA; Attractive July/Oct. 1794 E (minor wear) from "Jamaica" to Edinburgh "By the Irresistible" ("Favoured by J. H. Clarke" crossed out) with a very fine strike (for this) of the Rob.S2 (1793-12802 only and little-used; see included signed letter from Alan Robertson himself) nicely placed on the front. [Ex Philbrick.] PHOTO - | £240 | ||
| 16 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - THE 2-LINE "PACKET-LETTER" MARK; June 1809 EL from "Cadiz" to Redditch (Worcs.) with interesting contents ref. a bull-fight etc. (mentions this letter was to be sent "in the Manchester Packet") charged "9/10" (v. high rate with extra local &Mac189;d charge on back; "9s/10&Mac189;d"), having a very fine strike of the elusive black "FALMOUTH/PACKET-LETTER" mark (Rob. P2; only known in 1809 in this colour) nicely placed on the front. [Ex Philbrick.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 17 | Similar 18th Sept. 1809 E (minor faults; addressee's surname erased) from Portugal to Dublin with a mostly fine strike of the short-lived black Rob.P2 "FALMOUTH/PACKET-LETTER" mark on the front. The part contents ref. the Peninsular Campaign; "They [donkeys] are all in requisition for conveying Provisions to the Army. After the Action of Talavera I lost two horses - one a Beauty [?]. On replacing them I am almost ruined; a common thing costs 40 guineas..." The Battle of Talavera was fought by Wellington's Army on 28th July 1809. [Ex Philbrick.] PHOTO - | £120 | ||
| 18 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - GREEN "CADIZ/F" DATESTAMP; Sept. 1810 EL from "Cadiz" to Manchester charged "4/-" with a very fine green "CADIZ/30SE30/F" datestamp (creased) on the front. The letter was carried by the "Walsingham" Packet Ship. The contents (full transcript) relate to an insurance claim for the cargo of the Ship "Experiment", and mention the stagnation of the War. [Ex Philbrick.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 19 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - GREEN CIRCULAR "PACKT. LRE" MARK ON BRITISH OFFICER'S LETTER FROM THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN; 5th Feb. 1814 EL from "St. Pierre, 2 miles from Bayonne, upon the road to St. Jean Pied de Port" to Scotland with a mostly fine scarce green circular "FALMOUTH PACKT. LRE" mark on the front slightly overlapped by the boxed "Addl./&Mac189;" mark. The contents (transcript included) describes the difficulties of winter with the British Army in the field ("...losing men every night, deserting to the Enemy"), the gruesome surroundings ("...Cattle are lying all over the fields, dead from starvation...") but also describing good sport with woodcock & snipe and the acquisition of "...a glass window from the French Picquet for this house..."). The officers obviously had a good time! Interesting Campaign letter from the closing stages of the Peninsular War. [Ex Philbrick.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 20 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - COLOURED SHIP LETTER MARKS; 1812-50 covers incl. 1812 EL from Corunna with partly fine scarce square-crown oval "SHIP-LETTER/(Crown)/FALMOUTH" (Rob.S4), and four mostly very fine red (2) or blue (2) step-type Rob.S6 "FALMOUTH/SIP LETTER" E's ex B. Ayres (3) & Bahia. (5 covers). | £100 | ||
| 21 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - INDIA LETTERS & GREEN BOXED "&Mac189;" MARK WITH BLACK OVAL "INDIA"; 1822/31 pair of E's from Bombay to Scotland with mostly very fine boxed "INDIA LETTER/FALMOUTH" marks (Rob.In.1) sent per "Nestor" & "Arrandale"; plus an unusual April/June 1838 E from India to Scotland (interesting contents ref. the writerís fortune of £45,000 and plans to return to Europe) endorsed "Pr. Steamer", with fine black "INDIA" in oval and very fine green boxed Falmouth "&Mac189;" on the front (the rare "INDIA/F" mark was not introduced until 1840). Scarce trio. (3 covers). | £150 | ||
| 22 | FALMOUTH (CORNWALL) - UNRECORDED (?) HANDSTRUCK "6" MARK WITH SCARCE "SHIP LETTER" C.D.S.; 23rd March - 22nd May 1868 front & contents to Langholm, Scotland from "Guayabo" (Argentina) with a very fine distinctive black handstruck "6" charge-mark (the Ship Letter rate), matching the mostly very fine scarce "FALMOUTH-SHIP-LETTER/A" c.d.s. (Rob. S9; last recorded year). Written by one "Geo. Graham Bell" to his namesake grandfather (any relation to Alexander G. Bell??). This Falmouth "6" mark does not appear to have been recorded before; it is a very rare example of a charge-mark used in Britain for the 6d Ship Letter rate. [Ex Philbrick.] Plus two modern covers and a fine 1856 Turner print of Falmouth. (4 items). PHOTO - | £140 | ||
| ENGLISH SHIP LETTERS - FLEETWOOD TO LEWES | ||||
| 23 | FLEETWOOD (LANCS.) - VERY RARE SANSERIF "SHIP-LETTER" MARK ON CARD FROM ICELAND TO DENMARK ; Fine and attractive 18th Jan. 1915 usage of the Iceland 10a red PC from Reykjavik (v. fine c.d.s.) to Copenhagen with a very fine strike of the Rob.S1 "SHIP-LETTER/FLEETWOOD" mark nicely placed on the front. Very few Fleetwood Ship Letters are known and only from the 1914-9 period. Exhibition quality. PHOTO - | £650 | ||
| 24 | FOWEY (CORNWALL) - THE RARE BOXED "INDIA LETTER" MARK IN UNRECORDED RED INK ; Jan./May 1839 EL (some staining clear of marks) from Madras to London "Pr. Carnatic" with a red boxed "MADRAS/SHIP LETTER/POST PAID" d.s. on the flap beside a very fine red boxed "INDIA LETTER/FOWEY" (partly across seal and crossed by fold but readily legible); the latter has only been recorded in black by Robertson/Tabeart, and only on a handful of covers. Rare Cornish Maritime Exhibition item. PHOTO - | £500 | ||
| 25 | GRAVESEND (KENT) - UNUSUAL SHIP LETTER WITH RARE RED "KING'S SEA/POSTE. PAID/CALCUTTA" MARK AND LONDON BOXED "MORE TO PAY"; Feb./Aug. 1817 E (Missionary content ref. Penang etc.) from "Calcutta" to London "[Per Ship] Wellington" with a very fine and spectacular boxed red Calcutta mark nicely placed on the front beside a near fine downward-step-type "SHIP LETTER/GRAVESEND" (Rob.S6; 5 years earlier than recorded) and a nearly fine rare boxed London "MORE TO PAY" mark (struck in the Ship Letter Office?). Colourful Exhibition item. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 26 | GRAVESEND (KENT) - DIFFERENT SHIP LETTER MARKS; 1829 EL from Hamburg to London "via Ostende" with a very fine downward-step-type "SHIP LETTER/GRAVESEND" (Rob.S6) in black, 1838/9 E from NY to London "Pr. British Queen" with similar but overstruck red Rob.S8 mark, and 1838 E from "Havana" to London "p. Mary" with a 95% very fine boxed "Gravesend/Ship Letter" (Rob.S9; light fold). Good trio. Plus a very fine c.1840 "Bartlett" print of Gravesend harbour with two fine paddle-steamers, etc. (3 covers + 1 print). | £100 | ||
| 27 | GRAVESEND (KENT) - INDIA LETTER MARKS; 1824/6 pair of E's from Bombay/Calcutta to Scotland/London per "Isabella" & "Indian" with partly fine boxed Rob.In.1 "INDIA LETTER/GRAVESEND" marks on the front & flap, 1832 E (from India?) to London "p. Mab" with exceptionally fine black boxed Rob.In.2 mark, and Feb./Aug. 1838 EL (long cross-written contents) from "KURNAUL" (fine boxed d.s.) to Devon via London with overstruck red boxed "INDIA LETTER/GRAVESEND" (Rob. In.1; scarce in red). Plus a fine c.1840 "Bartlett" print of Gravesend harbour and a c.1840 "Fussell" print of Gravesend landing stage. (4 covers + 2 prints). PHOTO - | £140 | ||
| 28 | HARWICH (ESSEX) - BOXED "SHIP LETTER" MARKS ON DANISH MAIL; 1925/30 pair of envs. to London with Danish adhesives tied by "HARWICH" or "ESBJERG" c.d.s.', each with a mostly very fine boxed sanserif "HARWICH/SHIP LETTER" mark (Rob.S6) on the front; plus a similar large 1928 stamped piece with stamps tied by "PARKESTONE/HARWICH" c.d.s.'s with very fine boxed S6 mark. Scarce. (3 items). PHOTO - | £120 | ||
| 29 | HARWICH (ESSEX) - SERIF & SANSERIF "SHIP LETTER" MARKS; 1923 env. with several Danish adhesives all tied by fine "PARKESTONE/HARWICH" c.d.s.'s with a very fine boxed "HARWICH/SHIP LETTER" mark (Rob.S5; last year of use) nicely placed alongside; plus 1932 PPC with Danish 15o tied by the Parkestone c.d.s. with mostly very fine sanserif boxed Rob.S6 "HARWICH/SHIP LETTER" mark alongside. Two scarce covers. Plus a c.1840 printed vignette of Harwich harbour. (3 items). PHOTO - | £140 | ||
| 30 | HULL (YORKS.) - ALL DIFFERENT SHIP LETTER MARKS ON MAIL FROM/VIA HAMBURG; 1835-46 covers from Hamburg (3), Stettin & Breslau to G.B. by unnamed steamers but with mostly fine to very fine Rob.S7 (v. scarce; known 1835/6 only), S4, S8 (in red), S9 and S11 (in blue, with black Hamburg "VIA HULL") marks. Good study. (5 covers). | £120 | ||
| 31 | HULL (YORKS.); Similar lot of Ship Letter covers ex Hamburg (3), Annaberg, and Copenhagen and one from Glasgow to Sweden via Hamburg & "GREIFSWALD", all with mostly fine to very fine "HULL/SHIP LETTER" marks, incl. scarce S7, red S8 (2), S9 and S11 (2; both blue). Useful lot. (6 covers). | £100 | ||
| 32 | HULL (YORKS.) - SHIP LETTERS FROM NORWAY, ETC.; 1859/62 pair of E's from "CHRISTIANIA" to London/Edinburgh (both have apparently had stamps removed) with very fine scarce small sanserif "HULL/SHIP-LETTER" d.s. (Rob.S13) and fine similar S14 c.d.s.; plus 1852 E to London ex Hamburg with larger sanserif boxed d.s. (S12) and a c.1840 "Balmer" print of the port. (4 items). | £85 | ||
| 33 | KINGSBRIDGE (DEVON) - SHIP LETTER FROM BRAZIL WITH LONDON "S H" INSPECTOR's MARK; March/May 1846 E from "Maroim" (Brazil) to London "Pr. Alwina" with a fine downward-step-type "SHIP LETTER/KINGSBRIDGE" (Rob.S2; late date - crease) on the flap beside m/s "Not known at Shoreditch Branch", having a very fine scarce Shoreditch "S H" mark on the front. It is unusual for a Huth letter to be mis-sorted! | £85 | ||
| 34 | LEWES/NEWHAVEN (SUSSEX) - SHIP LETTER EX CHILE WITH "Dobcrofs/P P" ARRIVAL MARK; Unusual Oct. 1838 E from Valparaiso to Saddleworth (Lancs.) "p. Strathfield Say" with very fine step-type "LEWES/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S2) on the front with a light but fine red boxed "Dobcrofs/P P", having a partly very fine "NEWHAVEN" UDC (showing the routing through this village to Lewes) on the top flap. Unusual combination of marks. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| ENGLISH SHIP LETTERS - LIVERPOOL TO LONDON | ||||
| 35 | LIVERPOOL (LANCS.) - SHIP LETTERS COLLECTION; 1820-53 covers with good variety of the "LIVERPOOL/SHIP LETTER" marks inc. 1820 E from US with m/s Forwarding Agent note of New York, covers ex Chile/Argentine/Brazil/Mexico, 1829 Philadelphia "PAID", 1842 E to the Admiralty from a ship's surgeon at Valparaiso and 1853 E from Rio with m/s Pernambuco Forwarding Agent's note. Good variety with several endorsed by named ships. Also 3 attractive "Bartlett" c.1840 prints of Liverpool & its harbour. (7 covers + 3 prints). | £120 | ||
| 36 | LIVERPOOL (LANCS.) - "SHIP LRE" FOR "INDIA LETTER" ERROR; Aug./Dec. 1832 E from Bombay (?) to Edinburgh "per [Ship] Hall" with a light "LIVERPOOL/SHIP LRE" (Rob.S3; second period of use) on the flap overstruck by a partly fine boxed "INDIA LETTER/LIVERPOOL" (Rob. In.4a) with a second very fine strike alongside. Rare error for a letter landed at Liverpool. Exhibition item. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 37 | LIVERPOOL (LANCS.) - INDIA LETTERS COLLECTION; 1820-37 covers ex Bombay/Madras/Calcutta all to Scotland and by various named ships, with fine to very fine Rob. In.1, 2 or 4 marks; other marks incl. Addl/&Mac189;'s, red Edinr. "G(Crown)R" and black curved "POSTAGE/TO/EDINBURGH/NOT PAID" marks (2). Useful lot. Plus a c.1840 "Bartlett" print of the harbour. (10 covers + 1 print). | £150 | ||
| 38 | LIVERPOOL (LANCS.) - PACKET LETTER OFFICE C.D.S.'s INCL. 1d SAILOR's CONCESSION RATE COVER; 1863 env. (slightly grubby) to Edinburgh headed & countersigned for the 1d Concession Rate for a seaman "on Bord H.M.S. Philomel" with 1d Red "stars" (corner fault) tied by v. fine "466" with mostly v. fine red "PAID/LIVERPOOL/BR. PACKET/9 JU 63/2-A" c.d.s. alongside; plus same v. fine red c.d.s.'s on 1871 front with GB 1/- tied by Valparaiso duplex and on damaged 1894 Niger Coast env. Also Sept. 1870 E from Glasgow to Montevideo with v. fine small black "LIVERPOOL/P.L.O." c.d.s. on flap. Useful group. (4 items). PHOTO - | £120 | ||
| 39 | LIVERPOOL (LANCS.) - THE VERY RARE SMALL "LIVERPOOL/LANDING STAGE" C.D.S. CANCEL ON 1s-7&Mac189;d-RATE COVER TO SENEGAL ; Colourful 4th Nov. 1896 env. (unhelpful "magic"-tape around some edges does not affect stamps) to "Goree, Senegal, Per [Ship] Cameroon", franked by QV Jubilee 6d (2)+5d+2&Mac189;d all tied by very fine strikes of the very rare small "LIVERPOOL/A/LANDING STAGE" c.d.s., indicating that the special late fee (1/-?) had been prepaid. Few examples known, and a rare franking destination. Exhibition item. PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 40 | LONDON - VERY EARLY LETTER SENT FROM TURKEY BY PRIVATE SHIP; Fine 22nd Aug. 1655 EL from "Smirna" (ex the Pengelly correspondence) addressed to London "per ye Adam, Q.D.G." with no postal charges, being sent before the introduction of the Ship Letter system. Good forerunner Ship Letter from the Cromwellian Period; rare at this early date. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 41 | LONDON - THE VERY EARLY PAID SHIP LETTER MARK; 1801/2 EL (slightly toned) from Bombay to "Madeira" sent privately to London and posted there, with a very fine double oval "Poft Paid Ship Lre/(Crown)/LONDON" mark (Rob.S41) on the front with red m/s "1/-" rate. Rare thus. [Ex John Sussex.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 42 | LONDON - THE UNIQUE (?) RED DOUBLE OVAL "Ship Letter/(Crown)" MARK ; Fine 18th Oct. 1799 EL from London to Madeira charged "10" with a superb RED strike of the oval "Ship Letter (Crown)/LONDON" mark (Rob.7; light creases) nicely placed on the front. This remains the sole example of this mark to have been recorded in this striking colour so far. (See Tabeart p.178). Exhibition item. PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 43 | LONDON - CROSS-CHANNEL SHIP LETTERS FROM THE CONTINENT; 1805-47 covers with a good range of London "SHIP LETTER" marks (Rob.S10, S20, S19, S25x2, S28x3 & S69), mostly fine to very fine on covers ex Neufchatel (1812), Charente (1816 to Guernsey), Bilbao, Leipzig, Breslau, Boulogne, Rotterdam, Bremen & Le Havre. Plus an 1847 E to London "[Per] Montrose" with 2-ring "B.C./CADIZ" mark. Good nucleus for expansion. (10 covers). | £120 | ||
| 44 | LONDON - HAMBURG MAIL WITH "SHIP LETTER/(Crown)" C.D.S.'s; 1827-31 covers from Hamburg to London all with mostly very fine "SHIP LETTER" c.d.s.'s (Rob.S23, 24 & 25) in black; one cover (1830) has been endorsed "Pr Steam Paket Recomandirt" [= Registered], but this was impossible for such a Ship Letter. (5 covers). | £120 | ||
| 45 | LONDON - "SHIP LETTER" MARKS & PACKET MAIL EX SOUTH AMERICA; 1833-50 covers to London by named ships (incl. "Frederick Huth"!) from Vera Cruz (1833 by "Briseis" with "FRANCO EN/VERA CRUZ" - sent by naval brig), B. Ayres (1837; rate changed to "10/3" with red Foreign Branch Crown - by naval brig "Cockatrice"), Rio (1838 via Le Havre), Valparaiso, Pernambuco, Bahia (3) and Rio (1847 with fine British P.O. "RIO-JANEIRO" c.d.s. but also with red London "SHIP LETTER" struck in error and crossed through). Good variety. (9 covers). PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 46 | LONDON - SHIP/PACKET LETTERS TO/EX CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, ETC.; 1811-58 covers incl. 1811 large part E "p. H.M. Ship Barbadoes", 1818 EL from C.G.H. with fine scarce small boxed "SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S37), 1820/24/27/47/49 group prepaid from/via London to C.G.H. all with mostly very fine red oval "POST PAID SHIP LETTER/LONDON" datestamps (S46/47/52) or a plain S29 c.d.s., 1852 env. charged "3/8" "By H.M.S. Gladiator" to London with fine red boxed London "PACKET LETTER", the same boxed mark on 1858 env. charged "6" with green Irish "BLACKHILL/MAGHERA" arrival UDC, and 1858 E from Cape Town with fine red London "SHIP LETTER". Good variety. (11 covers). | £150 | ||
| 47 | LONDON - INDIA LETTERS COLLECTION - ALMOST ALL WITH DIFFERENT LONDON INDIA/SHIP LETTER MARKS; 1785-1844 covers incl. 1785 E from Calcutta to Edinburgh "p. Rodney" with fine early "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" (Rob.S6), similar 1798 EL "p. Prince William Henry" with smaller Rob.S3 mark, 1801 E (faults) to Wales with fine oval "Ship Letter/(Crown)/LONDON" (Rob.S7), 1804/8 pair with large/small c.d.s.'s (S15/18), 1819 EL ex Madras with near fine scarce anonymous oval "SHIP-/(Crown)/LETTER" (S11), 1811/4 S9 (2), 1829 black "SHIP LETTER" (scarce so early), 1830/3 boxed "INDIA LETTER/LONDON" (Rob. In.4) pair, 1831 prepaid red oval d.s. (S48) on cover to Bombay, etc. Mostly by named ships. Good nucleus for expansion. Also 1 c.1840 "Bartlett" print of the Thames at the Tower of London.(14 covers + 1 print). | £150 | ||
| ENGLISH SHIP LETTERS - LYMINGTON TO POOLE | ||||
| 48 | LYMINGTON (HANTS.) - VERY EARLY SHIP LETTER EX BARBADOS ; Sept. 1779 EL (minor toning of part address) from "Barbados" to London (c/o "Jamaica Coffee House"), with a very fine strike of the rare large "LIMINGTON/SHIP LRE" mark on the lower flap. Few examples of this first Lymington mark (Rob. S1; 1774-99) have been recorded. Rare thus. PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 49 | LYMINGTON (HANTS.) - EARLIEST KNOWN "LYMINGTON/SHIP LRE" [ON TRANSATLANTIC COVER EX U.S.]; April/June 1800 EL from "Charleston" (USA) to Bristol "Pr. the Rising Sun Capt. Mahlmann" with a very fine strike of this Rob.S2 mark (until recently only known 1820-45, and still 2 years earlier than recorded by Tabeart) on the front; redirected to "Exon" (= Exeter) and then to Bristol with near fine 2-line "BRISTOL" d.s. on flap. Rare thus. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 50 | LYMINGTON (HANTS.) - RED "SHIP LRE" MARK ON COVER EX BRAZIL; May/June 1840 EL from "Bahia" to London "p. [Ship] John Scott" with a very fine red Rob. S4 "LYMINGTON/SHIP LRE" mark on the flap partly overstruck by the London arrival c.d.s. Scarce in this colour. PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| 51 | LYMINGTON (HANTS.) - RARE BLUE "LYMINGTON/SHIP LRE" MARK ON COVER EX BRAZIL; Sept./Nov. 1850 E from Bahia to London with a mostly very fine BLUE Rob. S4 mark nicely placed on the front. This unusual colour has only been recorded for 1849/50. Attractive and rare thus. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 52 | LYMINGTON (HANTS.) - BOXED "INDIA LETTER" MARKS ON MAIL EX INDIA & BRAZIL; 1830/40 pair of E's from Calcutta/Rio to London per "Roxburgh Castle" & "Ann", each with a mostly very fine black boxed Rob.In.1 "INDIA LETTER/LYMINGTON" mark slightly across the join (latter creased). Scarce pair. (2 covers). | £120 | ||
| 53 | MARGATE (KENT) - SHIP & INDIA LETTER MARKS; 1830/6 pair of E's from Bombay/Calcutta to Scotland with scarce black Rob. In.2 & very scarce red Rob. In.3 marks (partly overstruck or overwritten); plus 1839/45 E's from New York ("p. Toronto") & Rio ("p. Citizen") with very fine black "MARGATE/SHIP-LRE" (Rob.S4) and red downward-step-type "SHIP LETTER/MARGATE" (S5; seldom seen in red). Good group. Also c.1840 Turner print & vignette of the harbour and a fine1901 "Furling Sails" PPC used from Margate. (7 items). | £140 | ||
| 54 | MEVAGISSEY (CORNWALL) - THE RARE "SHIP LETTER" MARK ON COVER FROM MAURITIUS TO FRANCE ; Unusual Jan./May 1848 E (closed tears barely detract) from "PORT LOUIS" (blue oval firm's cachet on the front and poor c.d.s. on flap) to Bordeaux "p. Coromandel via Londres" with a very fine step-type "MEVAGISSEY/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S1 - only known 1842-50 - closed tear) on the flap, with red boxed "COLONIES/&c ART.13" (closed tear) on the front. Rare thus.PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 55 | PENZANCE (CORNWALL) - THE RARE OVAL "Ship Lre/(Crown)/PENZANCE" MARK ON COVER EX MADEIRA; June 1813 EL (full transcript) from "Madeira" to Andover with a 90% complete strike (partly off edge) of the Rob.S2 "Ship Lre/(Crown)/[PE]NZANCE" mark on the front. Few examples of this oval mark have been recorded (and only for 1808-13). [Ex Philbrick.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 56 | PENZANCE (CORNWALL) - LATER SHIP & INDIA LETTERS; 1821 EL from "Demerary" (British Guiana) to Glasgow with mostly very fine step-type "PENZANCE/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S3) nicely placed on the front, and 1849 E from B. Ayres "Pr. Empress" to London (endorsed "Consignees" but charged full 8d rate) with similar mostly very fine S3); plus 1831 EL from "Bellary" (India) to London via Madras with a partly fine twin-framed "INDIA LETTER/PENZANCE" (Rob. In.1) on the flap. (3 covers). | £120 | ||
| 57 | PLYMOUTH (DEVON) - VERY EARLY "SHIP.LRE" MARK EX JAMAICA; Fine April/July 1768 EL from "Jamaica" to London "p. the Britania Capt. Bull" (ex the Fitzherbert archive) with a very fine small "PLYMOUTH/SHIP.LRE" mark (Rob.S1; corner of first letter shaved by light fold) nicely placed on the front. Exhibition quality. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 58 | PLYMOUTH (DEVON) - LATER SHIP/INDIA LETTERS INCL. "SHIP" FOR "INDIA" ERROR; 1826 E from Bombay (?) to Scotland with mostly very fine step-type "SHIP LETTER/PLYMOUTH" (Rob.S6) struck in error and so overstruck by a mostly very fine boxed "INDIA LETTER/PLYMOUTH" (Rob. In.1) with a second very fine strike of the latter nearby across the join; a rare Error. Plus 1832/3 EL (printed contents) from Calcutta to Edinr. with overstruck red boxed In.2 "INDIA LETTER/PLYMOUTH", 1824/35 pair of E's from Mexico/Lisbon to London with near fine (both overstruck) step-type Rob. S6 marks (latter with Fox & Sons Plymouth Forwarding Agent endorsement), and 1898 env. (Canary Is. flap) to London "Per Str. Doune Castle" with Spain 25c blue tied by v. fine "PLYMOUTH SHIP LETTERS" c.d.s. (S11). Also c.1840 "Harding" print of M. Edgcombe. (5 covers + 1 print). PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 59 | POOLE (DORSET) - EARLY TRANSATLANTIC "SHIP LRE" COVER; 1801 E (pencil note; from N.Y.) to London "pr. Two Friends" with a very fine small "POOL/SHIP LRE" (Rob.S1; 3 years later than recorded), crossed by filing fold but attractive. Scarce marking. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| ENGLISH SHIP LETTERS - PORTSMOUTH TO WEYMOUTH | ||||
| 60 | PORTSMOUTH (HANTS.) - ALL-DIFFERENT SHIP LETTER MARKS COLLECTION; 1773 EL from Kingston (Jamaica) to London with partly very fine "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LRE" (Rob. S2), 1796/7 E from Lisbon (?) to Edinr. with mostly fine scarce concave "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LRE" (Rob.S7; early date), 1813 EL from Corunna to London "By the Spanish Ship Clemente" with double oval Crown type (S9), 1822 E from Baden with fine red S13, 1837/44 pair ex Havana (one with fine oval "G & F SCHUMACHER" F.A.C; crease) by "Belvidere" & "Victoria" with fine S13 & S16, and 1837 E from New York "Pr Quebec" with fine scarce red downward-step-type "SHIP LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" (Rob.S15) across the join. Good lot; all different marks. Plus c.1840 "Cooke" (3), & "Turner" prints of the harbour. (7 covers + 4 prints). | £140 | ||
| 61 | PORTSMOUTH (HANTS.) - EARLY 2nd-TYPE "SHIP LRE" PAIR EX JAMAICA; 1772 EL's (from the Fitzherbert archive) from "Jamaica" to London by "H.M.S. Tryall" or "the Dawkins, Capt. Slupart", each with a mostly very fine 90% strike of the large "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LRE" mark (Rob.S2; one with light crease) slightly off the edge on the front. Good pair. (2 covers). | £100 | ||
| 62 | PORTSMOUTH (HANTS.) - THE RECENTLY RECOGNISED Rob.S2a VARIANT "SHIP-LRE" MARK ON COVER EX JAMAICA; 1777/8 EL from "Kingston, Jama." to London "By the Pallas, Man of War" with a fine strike of the "wide-M" "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP-LRE" mark (Rob.S2a; see Tabeart p.253 - recognised after the Fitzherbert auction) on the front (filing crease). Rare thus.PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| 63 | PORTSMOUTH (HANTS.) - THE LATER "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP-LRE" MARK ON COVER EX JAMAICA; 1783 EL from "Jamaica" to London "p Success M[an of] War" with a very fine large Rob.S4 "PORTSMOUTH/SHIP-LRE" on the front. Attractive. PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| 64 | PORTSMOUTH - INDIA LETTERS TO SCOTLAND; 1826-33 covers by named ships (Shelpomenie, Hibberts, Mary Anne, Hero of Malowa, Simpson & H.M.S. Champion) from Madras/Bombay to Edinburgh with mostly fine to very fine Rob. In.3 marks (5; inc. one red) or double-frame In.4 mark. Useful lot. Plus ac.1840 "Cooke" print of the harbour. (6 covers + 1 print). | £120 | ||
| 65 | PORTSMOUTH (HANTS.) - OTHER INDIA & SHIP LETTERS; 1824-33 E's ex India (4) with mostly very fine Rob. In.3 (3; one in red) and In.4 "INDIA LETTER" marks, and1827/36 trio ex Rio/Valparaiso/US(2) with fair to very fine Rob.S13 "SHIP LETTER" marks; all named ships. Plus a c.1840 "Cooke" print of the harbour. (8 covers + 1 print). | £100 | ||
| 66 | RAMSGATE & ROMNEY (BOTH KENT) - INDIA & SHIP LETTER COVERS; 1832 E from India to Edinr. with fine (though partly overstruck) boxed Rob. In.2 "INDIA LETTER/RAMSGATE" on the flap; plus 1842 E from B. Ayres to London "pr. Chamois" with mostly very fine boxed Rob.S5 "NEW ROMNEY/SHIP LETTER" on the top flap. Good pair. Plus c.1840 "Turner" print of Ramsgate harbour. (3 items). | £100 | ||
| 67 | RYDE (ISLE OF WIGHT) - BLACK STEP-TYPE SHIP LETTER COVER EX CUBA; Attractive 1839 EL from "Havana" to London "Pr. Bruce" with a very fine Rob.S3 "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" mark nicely placed on the front. Exhibition item. Plus c.1840 vignette of the Ryde pier. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 68 | RYDE (ISLE OF WIGHT) - SHIP MAIL FROM BRAZIL; 1825 EL from Bahia to London oddly with no S.L. mark but with a fine orange-red "RYDE/80" lined mileage mark alone and only charged "8" inland rate (evasion of postage); plus 1837 E from Rio to London endorsed "Cowes, John Woodall" with a fine step-type Rob.S3 "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" (light crease) nicely placed on the front and charged "1/4". Good pair. (2 covers). | £120 | ||
| 69 | RYDE (ISLE OF WIGHT) - THE SLOPING "SHIP LETTER" MARK IN BLACK; 1845 E from Rio to London "p Ido" with a superb strike of the elusive "RYDE/SHIP-LETTER" mark (Rob.S5) nicely placed on the front. Exhibition quality. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 70 | Similar 1848 E from Rio to London "p. Flora" with a near very fine Rob.S5 "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" mark IN RARE RED INK on the front (filing crease hardly detracts). Only recorded in this colour for 1848. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 71 | Similar 1850 E from Bahia to London "p. Scandia Chamal" with a nearly very fine Rob.S5 "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" mark IN BLUE on the front. Scarce and attractive. PHOTO - | £120 | ||
| 72 | Similar lot; 1855 E from Rio to London with fine to very fine BLUE Rob.S5 "RYDE/SHIP LETTER" mark nicely placed on the front. Scarce thus. PHOTO - | £120 | ||
| 73 | ST. MAWES (CORNWALL) - RARE EARLY SHIP LETTER FROM JAMAICA; July 1827 EL (internal faults & slight spotting hardly detract) from "St. Elizabeth's" (presumably an estate in Jamaica) to Exeter endorsed "By Bl[ac]k River Packet, Captn. Baker", charged "1/5" with a very fine downward-step-type boxed "SHIP LETTER/ST. MAWES" mark (Rob.S1; first recorded year of use) on the flap. Seldom seen and rare this early. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 74 | SOUTHAMPTON (HANTS.) - SHIP & INDIA LETTERS COLLECTION; 1821-37 covers ex Rio/B. Ayres/Le Havre/New York/Bombay with mostly fine to very fine boxed "SOUTHAMPTON/SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S6; blue, 1821), "INDIA LETTER/SOUTHAMPTON" (In.2), downward-step-type Rob. S8 (scarce; recorded for 1826 only; this cover ex NY at high "2&Mac189; oz 14/2" rate), similar blue S7, and 1836/7 pair of step-type S5 & S9. Useful lot. Also c.1840 pair of "Nash"/"Westall" prints of the harbour. (6 covers + 2 prints). | £100 | ||
| 75 | SOUTHAMPTON (HANTS.) - THE BLUE "M.B" MOBILE BOX MARK; 1846 EL (toned filing fold clear of marks) from Le Havre to London with a very fine Rob.MB1 boxed "M.B" mark on the front, matching the fine blue "SOUTHAMPTON" c.d.s. on the top flap. Scarce thus. PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| 76 | SOUTHAMPTON (HANTS.) - THE POST-1840 SHIP LETTER MARKS; 1845 pair of E's from Spain to London - one with fancy "FRANCO" and m/s "Via de Vapor Ingles Southampton pr. la Corunna" charged "1/3" and the other with superb 2-ring "B.C./CADIZ" and near fine blue Rob.P1 "PACKET LETTER/SOUTHAMPTON" - 1867 E from New York (stamp removed) to London per "Harmonia" with very fine scarce S13 sanserif "SOUTHAMPTON/SHIP LETTER" and matching "6d" mark, 1882 env. with Brazil 200r black tied by cork with v. fine Rob.S14 "SOUTHAMPTON/SHIP&Mac183;LETTER" c.d.s. nearby, and 1894/1906 trio with the S14/15 c.d.s.'s as arrival mark or cancelling Spanish/G.B. stamps. Good lot. Also c.1840 "Nash" print of the harbour. (7 covers + 1 print). PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 77 | SWANAGE (DORSET) - THE RARE RED BOXED "SHIP LETTER/SWANAGE" MARK; 1839 EL from Havana to London with a very fine strike of the Rob.S4 boxed "SHIP LETTER/SWANAGE" mark (slightly overstruck and with crease, but only known in 1830 in black and in 1839 in red) on the flap. Rare mark. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 78 | SWANAGE (DORSET) - RED BOXED INDIA LETTER MARK ON COVER EX MAURITIUS; Feb./May 1839 EL from "Port Louis" to London per "Kite" with a faint red 2-ring "MAURITIUS/POST OFFICE" c.d.s. on the flap, beside an exceptionally clear red boxed Rob.In.1 "INDIA LETTER/SWANAGE" mark (light fold) of which few examples are known. Exhibition quality. PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 79 | WEYMOUTH (DORSET) - EARLY SHIP LETTER MARKS; 1792 front & part flap (ex West Indies?) to London "p Warship" with a very fine large "WEYMOUTH/SHIP LRE" (Rob.S1; few examples known) on the front, plus 1808/9 part E and E from W. Indies (?) and Venezuela (?) to London each with near fine oval "Ship Lre/(Crown)/WEYMOUTH". Scarce trio. Plus c.1840 "Warren" print of the harbour. (4 items). | £120 | ||
| 80 | WEYMOUTH (DORSET) - BOXED "INDIA LETTER/WEYMOUTH" COVERS; 1830/2 pair from Patna & Bombay to London & Glasgow (latter "per Triumph") with mostly very fine (creased) scarce Rob.In.2 mark on the front (with "PATNA/POST PAID" UDC on the flap) or very fine In.1 mark nicely placed on the front (beside Manchester"Addl/&Mac189;" mark). Scarce pair. Also a c.1840 vignette of the harbour. (3 items). PHOTO - | £100 | ||
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