| 961 | MARSHALL ISLANDS - "Kwadjelen" MANUSCRIPT CANCEL ON 5pf "YACHT" POSTAL STATIONERY CARD TO AUSTRIA; Very fine 30th Nov. 1908 usage of the Marshall Isles 5pf green PC to Vienna cancelled by both a clear "Kwadjelen 30/11/1908" manuscript marking and by a light Jaluit transit c.d.s. Rare thus. [Ex Tom Roberts.] PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 962 | Similar very fine 30th Nov. 1908 usage of the 10pf red "Yacht" PC to Vienna with clear "Kwadjelen 30/11/1908" Manuscript Cancel and fine Jaluit transit c.d.s. [Ex Tom Roberts.] PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 963 | MARSHALL ISLANDS - "Ligub" MANUSCRIPT CANCEL ON 5pf "YACHT" REPLY-CARD PAIR; 1908 usage of a very fine unsevered pair of the 5pf+5pf green cards to Vienna cancelled (outward card only) both by a clear "Ligub 10/12/1908" manuscript cancel and by a part "JALUIT" transit c.d.s. Rare thus. [Ex Tom Roberts.] PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 964 | Similar very fine Dec. 1908 usage of the single 10pf Yacht PC to Vienna cancelled by both a clear "Ligub 10/12/1908" Manuscript Cancel and by a partial Jaluit transit c.d.s. [Ex Tom Roberts.] PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 965 | MARSHALL ISLANDS - COMMERCIAL COVER TO GERMANY WITH YACHT 30pf CANCELLED BY ATOLL-MAIL "Arno" MANUSCRIPT MARKING ; Feb. 1909 env. (corner fault and with note of sender's name on the front) to Germany franked by a Yacht 30pf cancelled by a clear "Arno 19/2 09" Manuscript Cancel, with very fine Jaluit transit c.d.s. on the reverse. Rare thus. [Ex Tom Roberts.] PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 966 | NAURU/MARSHALL ISLANDS - EARLY PICTURE POSTCARD WITH 10pf YACHT FRANKING; Sept. 1913 PPC (view of "Nauru" village) to Liverpool with Marshall Isles 10pf tied by a very fine "NAURU/MARSHALL/INSELN" c.d.s. with a second strike alongside. Rare pre-war card of Nauru. PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| CHINA - FRENCH & GERMAN POST OFFICES | ||||
| 967 | S.S. DONNAI COVER EX "ARMÉES INDO-CHINE" WITH BOTH CIRCULAR & OCTAGON DATESTAMPS ; Attractive 3rd March 1863 env. from Saigon to Paris with French 1862-71 20c Blue (forces' Concession Rate) tied by a near fine dotted "Anchor" cancel, with very fine red "COR. D'ARMÉES/INDO-CHINE" 2-ring c.d.s. and matching "COL.F V.SUEZPAQ.F/DONNAI" octagonal d.s. alongside, both struck on board this ship. The letter was endorsed "Saigon" by a Post Office clerk at top left to ensure that the Concession Rate was not challenged. Very rare and of Exhibition Quality. [Ex Roberts.] PHOTO - | £850 | ||
| 968 | SAIGON COVER WITH FRENCH COLONIES "EAGLES" TIED BY "ANCHOR" CANCELS AND UNDERPAID ; Attractive 28th Aug. 1864 E (minor faults) from "Saigon" to Marseilles "Voie de Suez" franked by General Colonies 1859-65 40c "Eagles" pair (margins all round but one creased prior to use) tied by fine dotted "Anchor" cancels with very fine black octagonal "COL.F.V.SUEZ PAQ.F/IMPER." d.s. and very fine red "COL.F.V.SUEZ PAQ.F./1 MARS. 1" c.d.s. both alongside, but also with near fine black boxed "AFFRANCHISSEMENT/INSUFFISANT" (struck on board ship?) and m/s "4" (decimes to pay) on the front. Rare thus. Exhibition item. [Ex Roberts.] PHOTO - | £1,500 | ||
| 969 | SHANGHAI - FRENCH P.O. COVER WITH RARE "LIGNE N/PAQ.FR.No.10" C.D.S.; 30th Oct. 1875 EL from Shanghai to London "via Marseilles" franked by French 40c (crease) & 80c both tied by a single mostly fine "5104" numeral with fine matching "SHANG-HAI/CHINE" c.d.s. alongside; there is also a very fine rare 2-ring "LIGNE N/PAQ.FR.No.10" c.d.s. on the top flap. Scarce thus. PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 970 | GERMAN POST OFFICES IN CHINA: Pocketbook containing the mint & used range of adhesives inc. 1898 20pf mint & 50pf used, 1901 set to 1m used, 1901 3m used, 1905 11/2d on 3m used, 1906 11/2d on 3m mint, etc. Also a small range of Cameroon with vals. to 5m mint. (44). PHOTO - | £90 | ||
| 971 | KIAUTSCHOU - SCARCE EARLY GERMAN "GRUSS AUS" CARDS; 1898 pair of attractive coloured "GRUSS AUS KIAU-TSCHAUOW" PPC's (one very fine unused, the other with crease and some toning but posted within Germany in Jan. 1898). One depicts a child soldier with a map of the area, the other depicts a German soldier in the hands of two Chinese girls. Elusive items. (2 cards). PHOTO - | £75 | ||
| 972 | Similar fine unposted c.1898 PPC showing a map of the area and vignettes inc. gun-boats (having a hand-written message in German from "Kiau-Tschou"); plus 1901 PC's to Germany cancelled by fine "KIAUTSCHOU/DEUTSCHE POST" & "TSINGTAU/KIAUTSCHOU" c.d.s.'s (first a 5c green "KIAUTSCHOU" Yacht P. Stat. card, the second with "KIAUTSCHOU" 5c green Yacht). (3 cards). | £50 | ||
| 973 | GERMAN "KIAUTSCHOU" YACHT-ISSUE COVER & CARDS; Commercial 1912 env. to USA with 10c blue tied by fine "TSINGTAU-Gr.HAFEN/KIAUTSCHOU" c.d.s., 1908 PC to GB with 4c red tied by Tsingtau c.d.s. and 1906/13pair of commercial usages of the 2c green P. Stat. cards (first to China with v. fine "TSINANFU/CHINA/(DEUTSCHE POST)" arrival c.d.s.) cancelled by mostly fine to v. fine "TSINGTAU" & "TSINGTAU-TAPAUTAN" (?) c.d.s.'s. Good lot. (4 items). | £100 | ||
| 974 | CHINESE STEAMER COMPANY SHIP POSTCARDS; c.1910 very fine pair of unused cards depicting the "S.S. KIANG WAH" of the "China Merchants Steam Navigation Co." and the "DAIREN KISEN KAISHA" Co. steamer "DAIREN-MARU" (latter with map of the Yellow Sea route). Scarce pair. Plus very fine unused c.1908 PPC of the P&O SS Nyanza. (3 cards) . PHOTO - | £75 | ||
| HONG KONG | ||||
| 975 | RARE PRE-1840 LETTER FROM BRITISH REFUGEE AT "HONG KONG" DURING THE 1st OPIUM WAR ; Rare 31st Oct. - 1st Nov. 1840 EL (one double sheet only from two) to London "p. Copeland" with clear file-note "Bibby Adam & Co., Hong Kong" on top flap beside a mostly very fine black Rob.S12 "SHIP LETTER/DOVER" (very scarce; 1839-40 only). The contents (dated 1st Nov. 1839 ) are a continuation of the 31st Oct. 1839 letter ref. shipping movements, and were written by "J. Edmond" who says; "We have no later intelligence from Macao or Canton". Rare example of a pre-1840 letter from the island of Hong Kong (very few collections include anything from the island dated prior to 1840, because it was basically uninhabited prior to that); sent from the ships anchored there after the evacuation of the British merchants from Hong Kong. Good "Page One" for any Hong Kong Collection. [Ex Ishikawa 1980.] PHOTO - | £750 | ||
| 976 | DOUBLE F.A.C. COVER TO U.S.A. WITH RARE RED OVAL "FORWARDED/by/Bush Halsted & Co./HONG KONG" & RARE LIVERPOOL HARNDEN MARK ; Unusual Aug. 1844 EL (minor wear of some folds) from "Hong Kong" to "Boston, Mass., via Southampton" (long personal letter from husband to wife mentioning problems of mails via Mexico, etc.) with a very fine "HONG-KONG" c.d.s. on the top flap, beside a mostly very fine strike of the red oval Hong Kong F.A.C. (few known for this firm); charged "1/-" and "58"(cents) on the front. There is a secondary address via Harnden of Liverpool on the front, and there is a very fine large black rare circular "HARNDEN & Co./of Liverpool /Have Paid Postage/ TO LIVERPOOL [1/0]/TRANS-ATLANTIC [1/0]/TO BE COLLECTED [2/0] /by/HARNDEN & Co. OF U.S." nicely placed on the front. Exceptional markings and clear routing for an early Hong Kong letter to the US. Exhibition quality. PHOTO - | £750 | ||
| 977 | EARLY TICKET/WARRANT FOR VOYAGES TO/FROM HONG KONG BY P. & O. STEAMERS; 1850 partly printed invoice-ticket (some toning) for $8 for a voyage from "H. Kong to Whampoa" with printed "S.S. CANTON" heading. Rare thus. Plus 1875 Admiralty (London) warrant for a Naval Officer to travel by P. & O. "Mail Steamer" to "Hong Kong" with detailed printed list of luggage allowances. Good pair. (2 items). | £50 | ||
| 978 | "B62" COVER AT THE 8c-RATE TO SHANGHAI ; Attractive 7th/11th Sept. 1865 E (very minor staining near stamps) from Hong Kong (fine oval sender's cachet on front) to Shanghai "Pr. [Ship] Yesso", franked by Hong Kong 4c grey (2) tied to each other by very fine "B62" cancels, with fine blue "SHANGHAE" arrival c.d.s. on the flap. Scarce example of the local 8c rate. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £400 | ||
| 979 | EARLY LETTER FROM JAPAN TO CAPE TOWN POSTED FROM HONG KONG WITH RARE BLUE "INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID" MARK ; Attractive 17th Dec. 1865 env. (minor toning but with original contents) from "H.M.S. Princess Royal, Yokohama" to the writer's sister in "Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope", posted from Hong Kong, franked by H.K. 6c lilac pair tied by whisker of v. fine "B62" cancels and by manuscript "6" in black. There are 29th/30th Dec. 1866 "HONG KONG" backstamps in blue & in black on the back, and on the front there is a very fine rare blue HK "INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID 1/21/21/2" mark (Webb Mii), as well as m/s "d10" and "6" marks and a fine Cape Town arrival c.d.s. Very rare thus. | |||
| The contents add greatly to our understanding of this cover, which was sent a year before the opening of the British P.O. in Yokohama; "...please tell me if the postage I put on is not enough. We have to get Hong Kong stamps as we best can, tie our letters together & direct them to the Postmaster at Hong Kong (unless they are direct for England), so we have no knowledge of how our letters go. I have always put on 12 cents, i.e. sixpence ". [Ex Ishikawa, 1981.] PHOTO - | £850 | |||
| 980 | VERY RARE "STEAM CHINA" MARK ON 1st TRANS-PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP SERVICE COVER EX HONG KONG ; Remarkable 11th Feb. 1867 env. (minor wear etc.) to New Jersey, USA "Via San Francisco", franked by Hong Kong 8c orange tied by a fine "B62" numeral and spectacularly overstruck by a very fine "SAN FRANCISCO CAL/MAR/21/10" transit charge-mark. Also on the front is a very fine strike of the very rare large orange-red "STEAM CHINA" mark struck by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company itself , with manuscript "Due 10c" charge and red crayon "4" marking. Believed to be the only surviving cover carried on the inaugural voyage of the P.M.S. Co. from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Marvellous and Highly Important Exhibition item. [Ex Ishikawa, 1981.] PHOTO - | £3,000 | ||
| 981 | ORANGE-RED OVAL "CHINA AND JAPAN/STEAM SERVICE" CACHET ON 16c-RATE COVER TO U.S. ; Attractive 15th July 1868 EL from "Hong Kong" to Boston "Via California", franked by HK 12c blue (cut perfs. at top) and 4c grey both tied by light "B62" numerals (for the double 8c rate), having a very fine red "HONG KONG/PAID ALL" c.d.s. on the front beside a mostly very fine rare orange-red oval "CHINA AND JAPAN/ STEAM SERVICE" cachet. The latter mark is the earliest of only five examples recorded by Webb on Hong Kong mail. Significant Exhibition item. [Ex Adrian Hopkins & ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £1,200 | ||
| 982 | 14c-RATE "B62" COVER TO INDO-CHINA ; Attractive 23rd Aug. 1868 E from Hong Kong to "Saigon Pr [ship] Imperatrice" with v. fine blue sender's cachet on the front, franked by HK 12c pale blue and 2c brown for the 14c rate to this unusual destination (with near fine 2-ring "COCHINCHINE/SAIGON" arrival c.d.s. on the top flap). Rare thus. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £500 | ||
| 983 | 28c-RATE COVER TO INDIA ; 28th Jan. 1869 EL (some toning and some faults; latter mostly on reverse) from HK to "Calcutta pr. Messageries Imperiales Str. Tigre to Galle", franked by HK 12c blue pair (tied by light "B62" numerals) and 4c grey (tied by crease) for the double rate, with red m/s "1/2" on the front. Unusual rate and ship endorsement. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 984 | THE RARE CLARET-RED OVAL "CHINA AND JAPAN/STEAM SERVICE" CACHET ON 8c-RATE COVER TO U.S. ; 19th Jan. 1869 EL (minor creasing, etc.) from Hong Kong to "New York, p. S[teamer] China via San Francisco", with red oval sender's cachet on the front, franked by HK 8c orange (creasing) tied by very fine "B62" numeral, with v. fine red "HONG-KONG/PAID ALL" c.d.s. and mostly very fine oval "CHINA AND JAPAN/STEAM SERVICE" cachet (of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.; in a distinctive claret-red ink) alongside. The single 8c-rate Trans-Pacific rate and one of only five covers with this cachet that Webb recorded . [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £1,200 | ||
| 985 | 8c + 12c LATE FEE TRANS-PACIFIC COVER TO U.S. FROM FIRST SAILING WITHOUT THE "STEAM SERVICE" CACHET ; 19th Oct. 1869 EL from Hong Kong to "San Francisco p. Str. Japan" with sender's oval cachet and v. fine red "HONG KONG/PAID AL" c.d.s. on the front, franked by HK 8c orange (top right as usual; for the single rate) plus 12c blue (faults, but placed sideways in bottom left corner, indicating a Late Fee), both tied by fair or very fine "B62" numerals. This cover was carried on the first U.S.P.M.S. Co. sailing after their oval "STEAM SERVICE" cachet was withdrawn. Rare Late Fee Cover. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £600 | ||
| 986 | THE VERY RARE "62B" CANCELLATION ON TRANS-PACIFIC 8c-RATE COVER "PER GREAT REPUBLIC" ; Attractive 12th Sept. 1875 env. to "Iowa per Great Republic" franked by a HK 8c orange tied by a mostly superb strike of the (usually unclear) "62B" numeral error, with very fine red "HONG KONG/PAID ALL" and S.F. transit c.d.s.'s on the front. Webb only recorded five examples of this famous Numeral Error on cover ; this must be as clear as any that has been recorded. Important Exhibition Centre-piece. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £2,000 | ||
| 987 | THE RARE CANADIAN ROUTE FOR MAIL TO U.S. - HONG KONG STAMPS CANCELLED AT VANCOUVER ; 7th Feb. 1900 env. ("JM&Co" flap; presumably a commercial letter from Jardine Matheson & Co.) to Boston "Per Empress of China Via Vancouver", franked by HK 10c purple on red pair tied by very fine "VANCOUVER/B.C." c.d.s.'s and with no other postal marks, apart from the Boston arrival d.s. on the back. Plus a fine unused c.1910 PPC of the ship. Very rare thus; the Canadian route is seldom seen, but this exceptional cancellation is very rare indeed on cover. [Ex Angus Parker and Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £600 | ||
| 988 | "CHINA NAVIGATION CO. LTD" SHIP CARDS OF THE HONG KONG ROUTES; 1908 official PPC of the "Taming" steamer sent to G.B. with HK KEVII 4c red tied by Victoria c.d.s. (the message describes a ghastly typhoon which the ship - and this postcard! - recently survived: "...it weathered the most fearful typhoon; 30 hours of suspense...We hove to for 30 hours, everything battened down..."), 1910 usage of the official S.S. Changsha's PPC (some faults) of the HK-Australia Line, and a similar unused c.1910 PPC of the S.S. Kinling of the Yangtse Line. Scarce trio. (3 cards). | £75 | ||
| 989 | "HONG KONG, CANTON & MACAO STEAMBOAT CO." OFFICIAL POSTCARDS; 1905 pair of PPC's depicting the paddle-steamer "Sainam" at Wuchow (China 4s brown tied by Canton c.d.s.) or on the "West River" (stamp removed); plus 1906 pair of different views of the S.S. "Kinshan" (one unused; the other with stamp removed - one with vignette of her Captain). Scarce lot. (4 cards). | £50 | ||
| 990 | P. & O. SHIP CARDS INCL. BOXED HONG KONG "PAQUEBOT" ON SCARCE KEVII FRANKING; 1906 PPC of "S.S. NAMUR" with HK 4c tied by HK c.d.s., Oct. 1936 PPC of "S.S. RANCHI" with G.B. KEVIII 1/2d pair tied by v. fine scarce boxed "PAQUEBOT" with matching "HONG-KONG" c.d.s. alongside, and 1937 usage of the same SS Ranchi card but from GB with KEVIII 1d tied by Southampton mark. Scarce trio. (3 cards). | £50 | ||
| 991 | HONG KONG HOTELS - RARE OFFICIAL POSTER-TYPE POSTCARDS; Attractive c.1910 pair of fine unused coloured PPC's for "REPULSE BAY HOTEL, HONG KONG, CHINA" & "The PEAK HOTEL, HONG KONG, CHINA". Rare pair; both by the artist "DAN SWEENEY". (2 cards). PHOTO - | £60 | ||
| HONG KONG - TREATY PORTS | ||||
| 992 | RARE 18th CENTURY LOCAL CANTON LETTER FROM ON BOARD THE SHIP "LORD HOLLAND" ; 24th Nov. 1778 EL from "On board the Lord Holland" acknowledging receipt of a consignment of "200 chests" of "Bohea Tea", signed by John Corner; addressed to "Jas. Bradshaw, Canton" with a fine endorsement on the flap in Chinese characters . Clearly carried by local Chinese boatman. Rare thus; one of very few recorded pre-1800 letters from China in private hands. [N.B. This ship was impounded for smuggling on her return to Britain from this voyage!] [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £500 | ||
| 993 | VERY EARLY OVERSEAS LETTER FROM CANTON WITH POSTAL MARKS - "SHIP" LETTER VIA NOVA SCOTIA ; 7th Nov. 1817 EL (reinforced folds) from "Canton" to "Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A." per "Brig Panther, Capt. Lewis", having a partly fine, pale claret-red "FALMOUTH N.S." with manuscript date "Mar.28th" below, matching a very fine handstruck "SHIP" (unrecorded?) alongside on the front, and charged "141/2". This is very early for a letter from China and a rare early Nova Scotia Ship Letter mark. Exhibition item. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £800 | ||
| 994 | LORD NAPIER's POSTAL SERVICE IN CANTON - THE VERY RARE RED STRAIGHT LINE "CHINA" MARKING ON COVER TO G.B. ; 12th Jan. 1835 EL (family contents ref. trade, ordering a black hat, etc.) from "Canton" to London "[Per Ship] Minerva", with a very fine (for this) red Handstruck "CHINA" mark nicely placed on the front, beside a very fine twin-boxed "WEYMOUTH/SHIP-LETTER " (Rob.S4), and charged "2/7". Arguably this is the finest of the five recorded examples of this rare "CHINA" mark , that was used briefly (recorded 12th Sept. 1834 to 1st March 1835 only) by the British P.O. in Canton during Lord Napier's time; see Webb p.259. Important Exhibition item; the "Martin Willcocks" cover (not so fine) sold at Cavendish for £5,290 on 31st May 2000. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £4,000 | ||
| 995 | HEAVY "SHIP LETTER/WEYMOUTH" COVER FROM CANTON JUST PRIOR TO THE EXPULSION OF BRITISH MERCHANTS; 29th/31st Jan. 1839 EL from "Canton" ("Bibby, Adam & Co.") to London "p. Mary" with a very fine red downward-step-type red "SHIP LETTER/WEYMOUTH" on the back (Rob.S5; filing crease); charged "11/2 Oz 9/-" (6 times single rate). Contents ref. trade and shipping; from the last weeks prior to the closure of Canton - compare with the Oct. 1839 letter from this firm in exile in Hong Kong. [Ex Alan Robertson.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 996 | Very similar 31st Jan. 1839 E from "Bibby, Adam & Co." in "Canton" to London "p. [Ship] Mary" with a near fine strike of the same "SHIP LETTER/WEYMOUTH" mark (crease) on the flap; charged "1/6" as a single letter. Good pair to the previous lot. | £75 | ||
| 997 | HONG KONG ADHESIVES WITH "CANTON" C.D.S. CANCELLATIONS; Useful 1884-1911 group of off-cover HK adhesives (23; QV values from 2c to $1 incl. scarce overprints) with mostly very fine hand-picked strikes of the small straight-name "A/CANTON" c.d.s. (Type B); plus scarce KEVII $5 with very fine, curved-name, Type D "CANTON/B" c.d.s. (rare thus; not listed for this value). Good lot. (24 stamps). | £120 | ||
| 998 | HONG KONG USED IN CANTON COVER WITH "LIGNE N/PAQ.FR.No.1" DATESTAMP; 3rd/4th April 1894 env. (minor stains) to France "Par Caledonien" franked by HK 10c purple-on-red tied by a v. fine "CANTON/*" c.d.s. with a superb strike of the 2-ring "LIGNE N/PAQ.FR.No.1" c.d.s. alongside. Rare thus; Webb did not record ANY Hong Kong franked covers with this French Maritime marking. [Ex Tom Roberts.] PHOTO - see plate no. 38 | £150 | ||
| 999 | MACAO - PRESTAMP COVERS TO G.B. WITH "KINGSBRIDGE/SHIP LETTER" MARKS; 1824/37 pair of EL's from "Macao" to London, per "H.C.S. Vansittart" and "Judith", each with a mostly very fine step-type "KINGSBRIDGE/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S1 - affected by ink-mark or slightly overstruck) on front and back. Scarce pair. [Both ex Robertson.] | £150 | ||
| 1000 | MACAO - PACKET LETTER VIA "INDIA" TO G.B., ETC.; Oct. 1841 EL from "Macao" to London endorsed "Per Str. Victoria" and "Via Suez & Falmouth", with "2/-" charge and v. fine "INDIA" in oval, but no Far East marks; clearly sent by private means to India and posted there. Scarce thus. Plus 6 1832-43 letters (no address wrappers) from "Macao" to G.B. per named ships/routes. (7 items). PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| JAPAN - FOREIGN POST OFFICES, ETC. | ||||
| 1001 | BRITISH P.O. IN YOKOHAMA - VERY EARLY COVER TO G.B. ; 28th Aug. 1862 env. (some toning, opened out for display and with back flap removed and neatly replaced back-to-front to show sender's dated annotation; "With E. Clarke's Compts., Yokohama, Japan, 28.8.62 ") to Wales "via Southampton", endorsed "paid" with very fine small red boxed Hong Kong "PAID" on the front beside red m/s "1/-". This "PAID" mark was used only on transit mail through Hong Kong from other Chinese Treaty Ports. There is a fine blue 1st Sept. 1862 "HONG KONG" c.d.s. (slightly overstruck) on the back. One of the earliest known covers from Yokohama (mentioned in Webb p.287.) after it was opened to British influence from 1860. Rare thus. [Ex Ishikawa, 1981.] PHOTO - | £750 | ||
| 1002 | RARE "A88" BRITISH MAIL-BOAT CANCEL ON 2/- RATE COVER FROM "YOKOHAMA" TO IRELAND VIA "HONG KONG" ; Remarkable 1st Feb. 1865 env. (opened out for display) to Dublin "via Southampton", endorsed "Naval Officer's Letter, Severn" on the front and franked by four small letters G.B. 6d lilacs (one with corner perf. missing) tied by mostly very fine "A88" numerals; also endorsed (by recipient) on the front - "Yokohama Feby. 1st 1865". There is a deleted manuscript "4" charge on the front and mostly fine "HONG KONG" (13th Feb; in blue) and "H & K PACT" (5th April) c.d.s.'s on the back. Carried by P&O ships Formosa, Simla & Ripon. Extraordinary quadruple rate cover with the very rare British Mail Boat cancellations. Exhibition item. [Ex Ishikawa 1981.] PHOTO - | £1,500 | ||
| 1003 | EARLY G.B. 1s-4d RATE COVER TO "YOKOHAMA, JAPAN"; 1st Jan. 1869 E (minor faults) from London to this address "Via Marseille & Shanghai", franked by G.B. 1/- green (pl.4) & 4d vermilion (pl.10) tied by duplexes, having v. fine "HONG KONG" (13th Feb) and fair "YOKOHAMA" (24th Feb.) British P.O. c.d.s.'s on the back. Rare so early. PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| 1004 | VICTORIA (AUSTRALIA) - RARE EARLY INGOING COVER TO JAPAN ; 24th Feb. 1866 E (minor faults but with interesting content) to "Nagasaki, Japan" endorsed "via Galle" and franked by Victoria 6d black pair tied by fine "MELBOURNE/VICTORIA" duplexes, with near fine 31st March "HONG KONG" transit c.d.s. on the flap. One of the earliest known ingoing covers from Australia to Japan. Rare. [Ex Ishikawa, 1981.] PHOTO - | £400 | ||
| 1005 | FRANCE - EARLY INGOING COVER (CANCELLED ON BOARD SHIP) TO FRENCH P.O. IN YOKOHAMA; Unusual 19th June 1867 E from Lyons to "Yokohama, Japon" franked by Empire perf. 80c red (2) tied by fine Dotted "Anchor" cancels, with a very fine matching "LIGNE V/PAQ.FR.No.2" 2-ring c.d.s. (struck on S.S. Said in the Mediterranean) on the front, and with a very fine scarce 2-ring "YOKOHAMA/BAU FRANCAIS" c.d.s. on the top flap. Exhibition item; it is rare to combine an Anchor cover with so unusual an address. [Ex Tom Roberts.] PHOTO - | £200 | ||
| 1006 | Similar 19th Sept. 1868 E from "Marseilles" to Yokohama "[Par] Malle francaise via Suez" franked by a French Empire 80c red tied by a mostly fine Dotted "Anchor" cancel with a partial 2-ring "L[igne] V/PAQ. FR. No.3" c.d.s. (S.S. Said) and small matching boxed "PD" alongside, having a partial 2-ring French P.O. "YO[KOHAMA]/BAU. FRANCAIS" c.d.s. on the flap. [Ex Roberts, 1982.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 1007 | YOKOHAMA COVER TO ITALY - WITH VERY LATE USAGE OF THE "B62" NUMERAL ; Spectacular 14th May 1869 EL from "YOKOHAMA" (v. fine black British P.O. c.d.s. on back) addressed to "Genova...Via Brindisi, p. P & O Str. Aden" franked by Hong Kong 2c brown + 30c vermilion tied to each other by fine "B62" numerals with mostly very fine boxed "PIROSCAFI/POSTALI/ITALIANI" mark and very fine British P.O. "ALEXANDRIA" transit c.d.s. on the front. Charged "10" on arrival. The latest recorded "B62" cover from Yokohama recorded by Webb; the "Y1" numeral came into use soon after this letter was sent. Rare destination and an Exhibition item. [Ex Ishikawa, 1981.] PHOTO - | £600 | ||
| 1008 | REWARD NOTICE FOR $10 FOR SEAMAN ABSCONDED FROM U.S. SHIP IN YOKOHAMA; Foolscap (8x13 ins.) 12th May 1874 manuscript notice from the Captain of the "U.S.S. Tuscarova" at "Yokohama, Japan" offering $10 for delivery of an "A.W.O.L." seaman, with details of his appearance etc. Annotated as paid out, so presumably he was found! Rare thus and very fine. | £30 | ||
| 1009 | P.O. CONTRACT & NOTICE REF. MAILS TO CHINA/JAPAN VIA SUEZ CANAL OR VIA SAN FRANCISCO; 1874 16-page printed (8x13 ins.) "POST OFFICE (EAST INDIA AND JAPAN MAILS) CONTRACT" ref. carriage of mails from Britain via the newly opened Suez Canal by P&O ships; plus Nov. 1883 British P.O. printed Notice (8x13 ins.) giving several months' Queenstown sailing dates for "MAILS for JAPAN and CHINA Via SAN FRANCISCO". Both mostly fine; scarce pair ref. two very different routes. (2 items). | £60 | ||
| 1010 | Similar lot but the 1874 P.O. (via Suez Canal) 16-page Contract alone. Very fine. | £40 | ||
| 1011 | FRENCH MARITIME "YOKOHAMA/MARSEILLE" MARKS ON COVERS; 1899/1906 cover/cards with mostly very fine strikes of the Ligne N octagon datestamps cancelling French stamps on mail to Paris/Lyon (latter registered); Y to M Nos.1 & 10, plus M to Y No.8 (2). Plus an unused PPC of an M.M. ship in the Suez Canal. Very attractive lot. ( 5 items). [Ex Roberts; lot 491.] | £100 | ||
| 1012 | Similar lot, but the later period "YOKOHAMA/MARSEILLE" datestamps; 1914-25 covers with French frankings tied by octagonal/circular d.s.'s of Y to M (No.7; scarce "F.M." overprint cover with French marine cachet) and M to Y (Nos.5x2, 6, 7, 8 & 9; various types) routes; plus an unused PPC, 7 similar d.s.'s on pieces and a 1924-6 50cx10 booklet pane with "No.9" octagons). Good lot. (16 items). [All ex Roberts.] PHOTO - | £150 | ||
| 1013 | JAPAN MAIL STEAMSHIP CO. ("Nippon Yusen Kaisha") PICTURE POSTCARDS; Useful collection of 1900-14 cards depicting N.Y.K. steamers (almost all different; incl. 5 used - ex Straits Settlements, Egypt, France & Germany). Mostly fine to v. fine. (9 cards). | £100 | ||
| 1014 | OFFICIAL N.Y.K. (JAPAN MAIL STEAMSHIP Co.) MENUS & LUGGAGE LABELS; Set of 4 1917 unused "S.S. FUSHIMI-MARU" menu-letter-sheets with fine colour printing, pair of similar plain pictorial 1936 menus from the same ship, and 3 c.1930 unused fine coloured N.Y.K. coloured pictorial luggage-labels (one with string). Scarce lot of mostly very fine shipping-line ephemera. (9 items). PHOTO - | £85 | ||
| 1015 | LUGGAGE-LABELS FROM A CRUISE TO THE FAR EAST; c.1910 small group of mostly unused and highly colourful luggage labels from Korea, Canton, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shibzuoka, Penang, Soerabaia, etc. Rare survivals and very exhibitable. (10 labels). PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| 1016 | BALANCE OF THE JAPAN COLLECTION - PASSENGER LETTERS, 1921 EUROPEAN TOUR STAMPS, SHIP-CANCEL, ETC.; Useful c.1907-21 lot incl. 4 1907-8 letters (no envs.; one ex Yokohama on P&O pictorial paper; others ex Malta/Penang/Shanghai) from Quartermaster G. Gunn (no relation?!) on board SS Nubia, 1913 PPC (of Hawaii with Japan 4s tied by v. fine purple "CHIYO-MARU/I.J. SEA POST" c.d.s. ship's cancel, Japan 1921 European Tour stamps (depicting steamers; two mint sets plus 2x10s blue used on piece), and 4 other Japanese ships' PPC's and a modern cover. (19 items). | £100 | ||
| MALAYA, SINGAPORE, ETC. | ||||
| 1017 | RARE BOXED "SINGAPORE/SHIP LETTER/1839 Feb/Bearing" MARK ON COVER FROM PONDICHERRY TO BATAVIA; 6th Jan. 1839 EL (few worm-holes clear of marks do not detract; overall slight toning) from "Pondicherry" (French India) to "Batavia, pr [Ship] William" charged "60" on the front, but with a very fine black boxed "SINGAPORE/SHIP LETTER/1839 Feb./Bearing," mark (just across the join) on the back. Rare thus and of Exhibition quality. PHOTO - | £240 | ||
| 1018 | BOXED "SINGAPORE/Paid" MARK ON COVER FROM MALACCA TO BATAVIA; Long April/July env. from "Malacca" (contemporary pencil note) to the "Orphan Chamber at Batavia" with a fair red boxed "SINGAPORE/Paid" mark on the back and a very fine blue "BATAVIA" arrival c.d.s. on the front. Attractive & scarce. | £150 | ||
| 1019 | THAILAND - RARE EARLY COVER FROM BANGKOK TO SAN FRANCISCO VIA SINGAPORE (INDIA USED IN STRAITS) & HONG KONG ; Attractive and remarkable 17th Oct. 1859 EL from "Bangkok" to "San Francisco California via Singapore" franked by India 1a brown (small corner perf. faults, etc.) tied by partial Singapore "B/172" octagon, with various manuscript charge-markings alongside on the front, as well as very fine red boxed "PAID" of Hong Kong , red oval Bangkok sender's cachet, very fine "SAN FRANCISCO/FEB/4/1860/Cal" c.d.s. and matching very fine small fancy "SHIP/6" arrival mark. There is a large red oval "FORWARDED BY/BOUSTEAD & Co." Forwarding Agent's Cachet (of Singapore?) on the top flap slightly overlapping a near fine blue (9th Nov. 1859) "HONG KONG" c.d.s., and there is a faint red boxed "SINGAPORE/SHIP LETTER" d.s. across the seal tears. Very rare routing and combination of marks for an early Transpacific letter with India Used in Straits Settlements Franking and Hong Kong transit marks. Exceptional and Important Exhibition Item. [Ex Ishikawa, 1980.] PHOTO - | £3,000 | ||
| 1020 | OFFICIAL PRINTED REPORTS ON "PENANG MAILS" (1868) & THE INVASION OF MALAYA (1941); 1868 British Parliamentary Report (6pp.; 8x13 ins.) ref. correspondence between the Treasury and P&O ref. a proposed Penang mails contract; plus 1948 "London Gazette" giving history of the 1941 losses of H.M.S. Repulse & Prince of Wales during the Japanese Invasion of Malaya. (2 items). | £50 | ||
| 1021 | SINGAPORE - RARE COVER TO EUROPE "VIA NAPLES" WITH FRENCH "POSS. ANGL./PAQ.FR.N No.9" SHIP's OCTAGON DATESTAMP ; Attractive June 1879 EL (minor flap faults) from Singapore to Nantes "Per French Mail via Naples", franked by Straits Settlements 8c orange tied by a superb sender's private red "KALTENBACH, FISCHER & Co./SINGAPORE" c.d.s. and a partial Singapore "B/172" octagon; having a very fine red "SINGAPORE/PAID" c.d.s. and a very fine black octagonal "POSS. ANGL./PAQ.FR. N No.9" d.s. (large "N"; struck on the S.S. Tigre) nearby. Rare routing and a rare example of a French ship's mark on mail from Malaya at this date. [Ex Roberts.] PHOTO - | £300 | ||
| 1022 | STRAITS SETTLEMENTS ISSUES ON & OFF COVER WITH FRENCH MARITIME CANCELLATIONS ; Unusual lot incl. 1890 commercial usage of the Straits 3c blue Postal Stationery PC from "Singapore" to Germany cancelled by very fine "LIGNE N/PAQ.FR.No.6" octagonal d.s.'s, 3 1904/6 PPC's to France with Straits KEVII 3c (2 types; 2 on picture sides) tied by mostly very fine 2-ring "LIGNE N/PAQ.FR.No.7" c.d.s.'s (all carried by different identified ships), and mostly QV collection of off-cover Straits adhesives (2c to $2) all cancelled by octagonal (27) or 2-ring (4) "LIGNE N" d.s.'s; nos.4, 5, 6 & 7. Very scarce study. (31 stamps and 4 cards). [All ex Roberts.] PHOTO - | £400 | ||
| 1023 | SINGAPORE/PENANG/HONG KONG MARINE SORTER DATESTAMPS, ETC.; 1900 usage of the German 10pf red PC from Prussia to "Hong Kong, China" with a nearly very fine "SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG/B" transit c.d.s. on the front, similar 1902 usage of the Belgium 10c red PC to Singapore from Brussels with a partly fine "PENANG TO SINGAPORE" fleuron-type c.d.s., and 1903/12 pair of Hamburg-America fancy letter-paper sheets (one with pictorial ship's env. with Straits KEVII 8c tied by Singapore c.d.s.). (5 items). | £100 | ||
| 1024 | NETHERLANDS COLONIES - K.P.M. (ROYAL PACKET NAVIGATION CO.) OFFICIAL SHIPS' POSTCARDS, ETC.; c.1914/5 Official black & white cards depicting K.P.M. Tasman (2), Melchior Treub & one unidentified (2 used); plus unusual 1928 PPC ("from Bali"; small sellotape marks well clear) to USA with N.I. 121/2c orange tied by v. fine purple oval "KONINKLIJKE PAKET VAART/s.s. v/d. WIJCK/* MAATSCHAPPIJ *" ship's cancel, with shield-shaped "PADANG...." d.s. alongside. Scarce group. (5 cards). | £75 | ||
| 1025 | "ROTTERDAM LLOYD" & "NEDERLAND" STEAM NAVIGATION CO. CARDS, ETC.; c.1920 N.V.S.M. "SINGAPORE" luggage-label, fine used 1926 "ROTTERDAMSCHE LLOYD" Official advertising PPC to Holland with Dutch 10c red tied by light "POSTAGENT ROTTERDAM-BATAVIA" c.d.s., 1929 menu-card of the N.V.S.M. "S.S. JAN PITERSZOON COEN" depicting "Waterval to Tjikanti", and fair c.1929 unused letter-card depicting that ship. Scarce group. (4 items). PHOTO - | £75 | ||
| 1026 | "ROTTERDAMSCHE LLOYD" OFFICIAL CARD & PICTORIAL CRUISE-MAP; c.1910 fine unused Official advertising PPC depicting a steamer and Egyptian boatman ("JOS. ROVERS" artist); plus equally colourful c.1920 folding pictorial R.L.R.M.L. route-map (4x9 ins.; opening to 23x12 ins.) for a trip between Rotterdam and Surabaya with 14 views of the N.E.I. and 4 of the steamers. Rare and attractive pair. (2 items). PHOTO - | £85 | ||
| 1027 | OFFICIAL ROTTERDAMSCHE LLOYD STEAMER CARDS; Very fine unused group of c.1905/10 multicoloured PPC's depicting steamer & Egyptian boatman (artist "JOS. ROVERS"; see previous lot illustration), a steamer vignette with exotic "SUMATRA JAVA" gateway scene, or the S.S. "INSULINDE" & the S.S. "TAMBORA". (4 cards). | £100 | ||
| 1028 | "JAVA-CHINA-JAPAN LINE" PICTORIAL FOLDING CRUISE-CHART; Spectacular and large (9x15 ins. opening to 33x42 ins.) folding coloured map (mostly very fine condition; by Stanfords) of the whole Far East area showing cruise routes for this shipping line; in card covers depicting exotic figures, also with b/w views of the "M.S. TJINEGARA" and three ships' interiors. Magnificent advertising item! PHOTO - | £100 | ||
| MARITIME BOOKS, ETC. | ||||
| 1029 | ABBOT, WJ - 1913 PANAMA AND THE CANAL IN PICTURE AND PROSE. (412pp) Red cloth cover with attached pictorial card. A comprehensive account of the Panama Canal, illustrated with 18 colour plates, over 600 B&W photographs and a coloured fold out map of the Canal Zone and surrounding area. Minor scuffing to cover. Scarce. | £100 | ||
| 1030 | BEMMELEN & HOOYER - 1897 KONINKLIJKE PAKETVAART-MAATSCHAPPIJ - GUIDE TO THE DUTCH EAST INDIES. (212pp) Green cloth with gold embossed title and ship Royal Steam Packet Company Pocket Book "with 16 Plates, 13 maps (coloured fold outs) and plans, etc" inc. large folded map of all the RSPC routes. Ex library copy with ms. inscription on title page by the initial owner Sophie Schlather "Dec 20 1902 Arrived in Java". Scarce. | £100 | ||
| 1031 | BIRD, M - 1957 SAMUEL SHEPHEARD OF CAIRO. (135pp) The comprehensive history of this world famous hotel, derived in the main from the letters of the founder, Samuel Shepheard. Blue cloth board cover with illustrated dustcover (repaired); gives details of the "Overland Route" and life in Cairo during that period. Included is a colourful Shepheards Hotel luggage label. | £50 | ||
| 1032 | COPE CORNFORD, L - 1924 A CENTURY OF SEA TRADING 1824-1924 THE GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY LIMITED. (180pp) First Edition of this centennial publication for the GSNC, the oldest steamship company in the world, with a number of B&W plates and additionally 8 magnificent colour plates by the leading marine artists Wyllie and Spurling. Bound in blue cloth boards with gold embossing; some foxing which does not affect the illustrations. Difficult to find. | £75 | ||
| 1033 | COTTON, SIR EVAN - 1949 EAST INDIAMEN THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S MARITIME SERVICE.. (218pp) Cloth covered board covers with dust cover (faults); the comprehensive account of the famous East India Company with colour plate of the Company's flags plus 11 B&W illustrations of ships, sailors etc. | £75 | ||
| 1034 | FINDLAY, AG - 1870 A DIRECTORY FOR THE NAVIGATION OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. (c.1140pp). Second Edition re-bound in plain board, "A directory for the navigation of the Indian Ocean, with descriptions of its Coasts, Islands etc. from the Cape of Good Hope to the Straits of Sunda and Western Australia including also the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf; the Winds, monsoons, and currents, and the passages from Europe to its various ports"; a most comprehensive work (and title!). Fold out charts giving routing details, currents, charts etc. An early and scarce publication. | £100 | ||
| 1035 | FRY, H - 1896 THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC STEAM NAVIGATION. (324pp) Blue cloth cover; an authoritative account of 50 different Transatlantic Shipping Companies. Includes 50 B&W illustrations of ships & owners with fold out route map of the Cunard Steamers. Fine condition. | £50 | ||
| 1036 | H.M.G. - 1852 LOSS OF THE "AMAZON". (126pp) Parliamentary Blue Paper in new marbled boards containing the detailed report of the Officers appointed to conduct the Official Inquiry into the loss of the Royal Mail Steam Packet "Amazon". Amazon was on passage to the West Indies when she caught fire just to the west of Brest, subsequently sinking with large loss of life. She was carrying the first consignment of postage stamps printed by Perkins, Bacon & Co. for Barbados; several months elapsed before new supplies of stamps reached the island. | £150 | ||
| 1037 | H.M.G. - 1875 EAST AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE. (140pp) "Slave Trade No. 1 (1875) Correspondence with British Representatives and Agents Abroad, and Reports from Naval Officers, relative to the East African Slave Trade". A Government Blue Paper with the accumulation of reports for the year 1874, mainly from Zanzibar but including Muscat and Madagascar. Much detail on the activities and actions taken to prevent the trade. | £150 | ||
| 1038 | INTERNATIONAL NAVIGATION Co. - 1898 AMERICAN LINE. (80pp) Blue cloth covered board with pasted on plate depicting an angel with sword and olive branch, "In War and Peace". The account of the four passenger ships of the American Line converted to auxiliary cruisers for the Spanish-American war. With fully illustrated text and at the rear a Roll of Honour of the men who served during the war. Some repairs but otherwise a clean and scarce copy. | £100 | ||
| 1039 | KONIG & EBHARDT - 1902 GENERAL STEAM NAVIGATION Cos. GUIDE BOOK. (100pp) Coloured card cover (repaired bottom r. corner with sellotape) with illustration of twin-funnelled steamer at sea, crown, crossed flags etc. Comprehensive text with large number of B&W illustrations and foldout map at the front giving details of the Company’s' routes etc. Scarce survivor! | £75 | ||
| 1040 | LIVERPOOL JOURNAL OF COMMERCE - c.1915 FLAGS OF MERCHANT SHIPPING. Superb folding linen on cloth (32" x 21" opened) sheet, in green with gold embossing cloth folder, illustrating in colour the House Flags and Funnels of 323 Shipping Companies alongside 60 House Flags of Sailing Ships, together with National Flags & the 27 flags of the International Code of Signals. Fine and attractive. | £75 | ||
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