|
2019 |
|
THE "HENNIKER HEATON"-APPROVED ‡d+‡d "QUERY POST CARD" ESSAY BY JOHN GRAHAM; Very fine c.1892 example of the attractive printed Essay for a ‡d+&Mac189;d PC with both stamps, along with addresses for both message and reply, all on the front; having explanatory text on the reverse inc. "Mr. J. HENNIKER HEATON, M.P., the great and world-known enthusiast and expert on the subject of POSTAL REFORM, approves of the card, and hopes for its introduction..." The idea was not adopted, but it is very ingenious. Rare item associated with the great Postal Reformer of the late 19th century, H. Heaton. PHOTO |
£200 |
|
2020 |
|
P.O. CIRCULAR REF. "LIST OF PLACES WHICH HAVE NO FREE DELIVERY"; 1898 printed blue-paper P.O. form (some faults at edges, but folded to fine central section to fit album-page) with this unusual title, asking each Postmaster to fill out a list of "Every house at which the Postman does not actually call". Even after nearly 60 years of "Universal" 1d Postage, many areas of Britain were not given P.O. delivery! With a p.copy of the text of the 1897 Chancellor of the Exchequor's speech about this very subject. [See also the 1841 Rowland Hill memo. above.] |
£75 |
| MULREADY STATIONERY |
|
2021 |
|
JOHN DICKINSON's July 1839 LEAFLET PROMOTING HIS SPECIAL PAPER FOR THE PROPOSED "POST OFFICE FRANKS" [i.e. MULREADY STATIONERY]; Important and very rare printed 4-page foolscap leaflet (some horizontal folds - can neatly fit on an album-page - and very minor faults, mostly on the reverse) entitled "REMARKS ON THE MODE OF CARRYING INTO EFFECT THE REUCTION OF POSTAGE" privately printed by "JOHN DICKINSON" himself and dated "London, 15th July, 1839" on the front. He basically promotes the use of his own special paper (i.e. with embedded silk threads) for the Postal Stationery wrappers that are about to be produced for the imminent change to Uniform Penny Postage. He claims that no-one else can produce a safer or cheaper product than his, and he lists the arguments against the use of "stamped slips" (i.e. Postage Stamps!). Important document - the only example that we have recorded - produced by the man whose paper was destined to be used for all the Mulready Stationery and much of the later Postal Stationery and even the first High Value Embossed stamps. Unique? PHOTO - see plate no. |
£750 |
|
2022 |
|
1d MULREADY UPRATED WITH RED HANDSTRUCK "1" HAVING THE BLUE "SMITH's ENVELOPE ADVERTISER" INSIDE; 4 Aug. 1840 usage of the 1d Black Mulready letter-sheet (minor creasing) to Stroud cancelled by a fine orange-red Maltese Cross, matching the fine "DALKEITH" boxed d.s. and fine matching red Handstruck "1" all on the front. This letter obviously weighed above the ‡ ounce and so it was sent at the 2d rate with the second penny prepaid in cash. There is "SMITH'S ENVELOPE ADVERTISER No.II, PAGE 2" printed in blue inside; neatly folded to show the heading below the address-panel. Rare; Mulreadys uprated with Handstruck "1" marks are very seldom seen. PHOTO |
£240 |
|
2023 |
|
CHARLES WHITING's 1840 ESSAY FOR A REPLACEMENT FOR THE MULREADY - THE "HARWOODS ENVELOPES" WRAPPER WITH BI-COLOUR & EMBOSSED STAMP ESSAYS; Rare c.Aug. 1840 Composite Essay by Charles Whiting: - a folded letter-sheet (central vertical crease well clear of stamps & with very minor perimeter faults) with the fancy "HARWOODS/ENVELOPES" full-size-sheet Essay printed in brown on one side, and the other having imprinted Stamps at top left and top right when folded as a letter. These Stamps are the oval embossed "PAID" Essay (that led to the 1d Pink envelope design, but printed here in pale blue), and the square composite blue & red "PRINCIPLE SUGGESTED/V R/BEAUFORT HOUSE" Essay with "A3/CW" corner-letters, respectively. Whiting was still seeking the Postal Stationery contract as the Mulready was needing to be replaced within a few months of its issue; this Essay was produced by Whiting to demonstrate once again his printing skills. Important part of the story of the transition from Mulready Stationery to the Embossed Envelopes that appeared in Feb. 1841. PHOTO A PHOTO B |
£850 |
|
2024 |
|
ROBERT WALLACE WRITES TO THE CHANCELLOR ADVOCATING THE INTRODUCTION OF 1d PINK LETTER-SHEETS TO REPLACE THE MULREADY; Important 21 Mar. 1841 Autograph Letter, Signed, from Robert Wallace M.P. to the Chancellor of the Exchequor Francis Baring (later Lord Northcote) suggesting that 1d Pink Letter-sheets should be introduced on special watermarked paper, and so replace the Mulready Letter-sheets. The 1d pink & 2d blue Embossed Envelopes had been introduced in Feb. 1841, but the Mulready Letter-sheets were still the only prepaid wrappers available until 1844. Wallace writes (in his usual cramped hand-writing! - full typed transcript included) concerning a mock-up of such a 1d pink wrapper that he had enclosed with this letter (colour photo included - it was sold separately for £4,830 in the 1996 Northcote Papers auction in London, when this letter was overlooked in another lot!):- "I enclose such a sheet of paper as I propose shall be made by paper-makers under the supervision of a strict Excise, to be thereafter Stamped, and then sold by all Stationers; as the Covers, Envelopes and loose adhesive Stamps are. Such sheets would largely increase postage and the duty on paper, because the Mercantile world and the Working Classes would largely use them. [Another version of this same mock-up 1d pink letter-sheet, but annotated in Charles Whiting's hand, was recorded by Robson Lowe in the Sept. 1978 P.J.G.B.] Wallace was, as usual, ahead of his time, and the Mulready wrappers remained in sole use until 1844. Rare letter from the originator of the Postal Reform movement of the 1830s, and an important record of this design. [Ex the Northcote Papers.] PHOTO |
£750 |
|
2025 |
|
EARLY COMMERCIAL RIVAL TO THE MULREADY - THE I.R. TAYLOR "Paid" LETTER-SHEET; 24 Aug. 1841 usage of the specially blue printed letter-sheet with "Paid" at bottom left of the address-panel and "Sold by I.R. TAYLOR, Law and general Stationer, 33, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane" along the top with red m/s "1" from St. Ives (Hunts.) to Cambridge (a business letter from one solicitor to another). This design was used for cash-paid letters but examples are very rare; we have only noted four used examples recorded, all dated in 1841, since it was first mentioned in the PHS Bulletin of Dec. 1945. Oddly, this and the Buchanan covers seem to have been the only recorded rivals of any kind to the universally unpopular Mulready designs. PHOTO |
£500 |
|
2026 |
|
THE VERY RARE ORKNEY ISLES "STAMPS & TAXES" TEXT 1d MULREADY USED LOCALLY IN KIRKWALL; 6/7 May 1842 fine usage of the Stereo A232 1d Black Mulready letter-sheet sent locally in the Orkneys to Kirkwall, cancelled by a very fine black Kirkwall Maltese Cross having a faint red boxed "KIRKWALL" d.s. on the top flap. The contents are a printed circular from "STAMPS & TAXES, Kirkwall, 6th May 1842" requesting payment of overdue tax. Doubly rare; very few Orkney usages of the Mulready are known, and this is the only example of this special Taxes Office text that we have seen. PHOTO |
£300 |
|
2027 |
|
MULREADY LETTER-SHEET REPLACEMENTS - THE 1d PINK - CUT-OUT FROM AN ENV., SPECIMEN & EARLY USAGE; Rare 29 June 1842 E franked by a cut-out (file crease) from the existing 1d pink envelope (which had appeared in Feb. 1841) tied by a very fine black Maltese Cross [Ex Bruce Auckland], 1844 fine 1d pink Letter-sheet with large red "SPECIMEN" overprint, and early usage of the issued 1d pink Letter-sheet with 2 May 1844 London No. in Maltese Cross cancel. Scarce trio; it is strange that it took the authorities so long to replace Mulready Letter-sheets, when the 1d pink Envelopes had replaced Mulready Envelopes three years earlier. (3 covers). PHOTO |
£140 |
|
2028 |
|
MISCELLANY of 1d Letter sheets (3, stereos 11 x 2 & 16) & envelopes (2, stereo A137 - scarce "displaced" stereo & stereo A278 - rare, from 2nd. series) all unused, some faults as usual but a useful lot. (5). |
£200 |
|
2029 |
|
MISCELLANY comprising 1d Letter sheet (stereo A15) & envelopes (2, stereos 139 & 175) plus 2d Letter sheet (stereo a91) unused. Some faults as usual. (4). |
£150 |
|
2030 |
|
MISCELLANY comprising 1d Letter sheets stereo 11 (two, one used from Worcester to Britannia Square, backstamped with "181" for "1840" error; the second surcharged "2" in error (this overcancelled below Britannia with London numeral). Also two further used Letter sheets, both poor. (4). |
£120 |
| MULREADY CARICATURES |
|
2031 |
|
SPOONER's No.6 "WRITING, WRITING" CARICATURE ENVELOPE SENT UNPAID FROM SOUTHWELL; Fine 21 Sept. 1840 usage of the Spooner Caricature env. No.6 (designed by H. Hurst) addressed to Wooler with a fine "SOUTHWELL" UDC and a fine "NEWARK" c.d.s. on the flaps (which can be opened out for display), having a small manuscript "2" charge below the address. Very attractive. The design illustrates all kinds of comic characters reading letters (love letters, begging letters, etc.). Bodily/Jarvis/Hahn recorded only 6 complete examples of this rare design. Exhibition Item. PHOTO |
£750 |
|
2032 |
|
SOUTHGATE's No.3 MULREADY CARICATURE ENVELOPE SENT CASH-PAID FROM LEAMINGTON; 17 Sept. 1840 usage of the "Peg-leg Sailor" design ("No.3, REJECTED DESIGNS FOR THE POSTAGE ENVELOPE"; minor creasing etc.) to Hampstead with a red manuscript "P1" on the front (prepaid 1d in cash) and a fine "LEAMINGTON" c.d.s. nicely placed on the side-flap. Bodily/Jarvis/Hahn only recorded six sound used examples of this design. Rare Mulready Caricature. PHOTO |
£500 |
|
2033 |
|
THE JOHN DOYLE "HB" BROADSHEET MULREADY CARICATURE; 26 May 1840 large "HB Sketches No.639" Caricature (35.5x26 cms.) mounted on large album-page, published by"Thos. McLean" and drawn by John Doyle (signed by him "HB"), being a political satire with Lord Palmerston as Britannia in the "FOREIGN OFFICE" sending "WAR" to the Orient (a direct reference to the 1840 1st Opium War with China) and cherubs to destroy the whisky in America; Daniel O'Connell & the Duke of Wellington are depicted cheering ("Hurrah! for Repeal") while Lord Monteagle & Sir. T Baring are worrying about revenue ("Post office deficency in the quarter £272,000. Total deficiency in the year to be made up by new taxation, £2,000,000."). There is even an address; "To Mr. John Bull, &c, &c." The aim was to disconcert those who applauded Penny Postage. Rare and fine. PHOTO - see plate no. |
£300 |
|
2034 |
|
DERAEDEMAEKER REPRINTS OF SOUTHGATE MULREADY CARICATURES: The small selection comprising nos. 1, 2, 3 & 6 good to fine unused examples on white paper. (4). |
£140 |
| TREASURY ESSAYS, ETC. |
|
2035 |
|
EARLY PERKINS BACON "PROOF" OF A LINE ENGRAVED BANKNOTE; Spectacular c.1825/6 India Paper "Proof" of the "LEITH BANKING COMPANY" 1 Guinea Banknote (few creases; laid down on contemporary paper) with fine oval 1d Black-like vignette portrait of King George IV (?) and other sophisticated security-design elements. There is a tiny "Perkins & Heath, Patent Hardened Steel Plate" imprint at the foot. This shows just how sophisticated the printers of the 1d Black had been as many as 15 years before the Treasury Competition had even been held; had they entered the Competition it is almost certain that they would have submitted this kind of Proof to support their entry. Rare and attractive. [Ex Bruce Auckland.] PHOTO |
£240 |
|
2036 |
|
DICKINSON 2d LETTERSHEET: An example of the 1837 Dickinson 2d lettersheet essay in green; folded with some strengthening to edges and minute loss of margin at bottom corners. Scarce. |
£100 |
|
2037 |
|
THE RARE 1st EDITION OF THE "JOHN W. PARKER" LETTER-SHEET ESSAY (1838) IN COMPLETE ASHURST PAMPHLET; June 1838 complete and fine 133-page Pamphlet entitled "FACTS AND REASONS IN SUPPORT OF MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PLAN FOR A UNIVERSAL PENNY POSTAGE BY W.H. ASHURST" (2nd Ed.) containing the rare 1st Edition of the folded yellow & black Parker letter-sheet Essay (between pages 42 & 43; still just attached to the original insertion sheet, having been largely separated to allow the Essay to be displayed beside the title-page of the Pamphlet without fully detaching it). This important Pamphlet outlined the arguments in favour of Hill's famous 1837 plan, but it also notably described, and included an example of, an Essay for reply-paid letter-sheets for ordering books:- "Mr. Parker, for the purpose of illustrating the amazing extent to which the revenue would be increased, through the medium of the post-office, if postage were reduced to one penny, printed off a number of circulars which would come into use in his trade...*[See the annexed specimen]". The later version of this Essay (with different contents), included in the March 1840 London & Westminster Review, had a different form of address, namely "Publisher, West Strand, London"; the example included in this 1838 pamphlet had the earlier form:- "Cambridge Bible Warehouse, West Strand, London". Important Exhibition items in excellent condition. [Ex the George Moffatt set of the "Mercantile Papers"; see next lot.] (Pamphlet + Essay). PHOTO |
£1500 |
|
2038 |
|
AUTOGRAPH MEMORANDUM, SIGNED, BY THE POSTAL REFORMER GEORGE MOFFATT - REGARDING ASHURST's PUBLICATION OF HIS PRO-REFORM PAMPHLET; c.1839 manuscript "Note" signed by "George Moffatt, Hon. Treasurer" [of the Mercantile Committee on Postage, 1838-40] regarding the presentation copy of Ashurst's "FACTS AND REASONS" pamphlet included in the previous lot:- "The accompanying pamphlet of "Facts and reasons", though not issued by the Mercantile Committee, but published by Mr. Ashurst at his own expense, is inserted [in this set of the 'Mercantile Papers'] as the best and most proper acknowledgment of the great and important share Mr Ashurst had in superintending the preparation of Evidence for the Parliamentary Committee [on Postage], upon which all subsequent proceedings were based". An important contemporary acknowledgment of a major Postal Reformer written by a fellow Postal Refomer. [Ex George Moffatt's own set of the Mercantile Papers.] PHOTO |
£400 |
|
2039 |
|
THE VERY RARE 1839 "STAMPS" LEAFLET WRITTEN BY HENRY COLE & PRODUCED BY THE MERCANTILE COMMITTEE ON POSTAGE; April 1839 single printed sheet (12x21 cms.; few horizontal folds, mostly well clear of the text) that was produced by the M.C.P., being the most important of their whole series of 1838-9 propaganda circulars (now known as the Mercantile Papers) to explain what exactly the new Postage Stamps might look like. Interestingly the four illustrated designs include 1d and 2d values but there are also 4d and 6d designs. The text under the heading "STAMPS", which is now known to have been written by Rowland Hill's assistant, Henry Cole, reads thus:- "There are some persons who seem to think that envelopes are necessary, and object to them, because letters enclosed in them will not receive the impression of the Post-office daily stamp [i.e. postmark], which is sometimes wanted for evidence [in legal cases].....there is another mode of stamps which seems to us to have certain advantages of cheapness in production and portability over the first we mentioned. Small stamps, about the size of the following [illustrations], printed on the principle of the government medicine stamps, might be prepared on paper glued at the back, and easily affixed, like a French wafer, to any letter written on common paper. The Post-office stamp being marked on such a stamp, would prevent its being used a second time." Similar to the example illustrated on the front cover of James Grimwood-Taylor's 1990 "British Postal Reforms". Arguably the most Important of all pre-1840 Essays, this was the first generally circulated illustation of Postage Stamps; it is thought that no more than 1,500 of these circulars were printed; only five or six have survived. Marvellous Key Item for any collection of the 1d Black and its origins. PHOTO |
£2000 |
|
2040 |
|
THE UNRECORDED TREASURY COMPETITION ESSAY OF JOHN WOOD - THE NEWSPAPER STAMP STRUCK FOR HIM ON A PLAIN ENVELOPE; Circa Oct. 1839 very fine small laid paper envelope with a superb impression of the "G1" 1d red Newspaper Tax Stamp (this was a "reserve" die kept at Somerset House) to the right of the address-panel and with an albino embossed impression of the personal Seal of Office of "JOHN WOOD/STAMPS/& TAXES". John Wood was the supreme chief of the Stamp Office at Somerset House in 1838-9, and as such he gave lengthy evidence to Robert Wallace's Select Committee on Postage in March 1838, when he condemned the idea of Postage Labels. He advocated instead the use of the existing newspaper stamps on plain paper:- "We could undertake to stamp paper in any form....and to distribute that paper over the country." He also sent in at least three entries to the Treasury Competition in Oct./Dec. 1839 (nos. 23,480, 23,484, 23,945 & 27,752), and it seems clear that this 1d Envelope Essay was produced for that Competition. As far as we are aware, this is the only recorded example of the John Wood Envelope Essay. Most attractive and a Significanr Essay produced on the instructions of the head of the country's most important producers of pre-1840 tax-stamps. [For further information on these two dies and John Wood's career, see H. Dagnall's recent "Creating a Good Impression", p.98 - where Wood's personal stamp is illustrated - and the 1981 Chandler/Dagnall book on Newspaper Stamps, pp.113-115.] An Important Addition to the Record of the Tresury Competition. PHOTO . |
£4000 |
|
2041 |
|
THE UNRECORDED TREASURY COMPETITION ENTRY PAMPHLET OF WILLIAM COOPER OF SOUTHAMPTON; Important 21st Oct. 1839 privately printed 12-page pamphlet (13x20.5 cms.; minor stitching faults at left and some slight dusting) headed "PENNY POSTAGE" giving the exact text of Cooper's entry to the Treasury Competition, which is recorded as having been received at the Treasury (No. 24,441) on 24th Oct. 1839. A number of Competition enties (including that from Charles Whiting) took the form of printed pamphlets; it seems that this is not the actual copy sent in to the Treasury but that it is one retained by Cooper for his own use:- it is, we believe, the only example recorded. Cooper's suggestion was to avoid stamps of any kind (labels or wrappers) and simply mark every letter with handstruck charge-numerals (red for prepaid and black for unpaid mail)!! He did not win a prize, but the handstruck "1" and "2" marks remained in common use for cash-paid letters, in place of stamps in many areas, right through the 1840s. Unique? PHOTO . |
£500 |
|
2042 |
|
1839 TREASURY COMPETITION ENTRY - PAMHLET IN SUPPORT OF A NEW SYSTEM OF SECURE (QUASI-REGISTERED) MAIL; Privately printed 1840 6-page leaflet (13x20 cms.; some spotting but inscribed "To Miss Cornelia Morris From the author" on the title-page) entitled "PENNY POSTAGE. A PLAN FOR ENSURING THE SAFE DELIVERY OF EVERY LETTER UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM" by Rev. F.O. Morris" (of Doncaster or Retford?), giving the content of a newspaper article that was published in Doncaster on 2nd Nov. 1839, in which he advocates a scheme of giving a Certificate of Posting for every letter handed in at a Post Office. Such a cumbersome system would never have been possible, but it shows the understandable worries of the public at the prospect of greater volumes of mail and prepayment, which could lead to letters being less secure in transit. Rare; the only example of this pamphlet that we have recorded. PHOTO |
£500 |
|
2043 |
|
TREASURY COMPETITION WINNER, JAMES BOGARDUS - OFFICIAL PRINTED PATENT FOR HIS STAMPS DESIGN; Official Patent Office 2-page 1857 printing of the James Bogardus "A.D. 1839, No.8208 SPECIFICATION" for "APPLYING STAMPS TO LETTERS, &c" (the separate blue-paper covers rather worn but the text in fine condition, folded to fit an album-page), giving a simple outline of his idea for affixing postage labels to the backs of letters. This plan - jointly entered by Bogardus and his partner Francis Coffin - won one of the four £100 prizes given to the four best of the 2,600 entires in the 1839 Treasury Competition. It seems likely that it was this patent that stopped the government from approving the use of labels like this; the patentee could have held them to ransome for a large sum in royalties! The only example of this Patent that we have recorded in private hands. [See also the 4 following lots.] PHOTO - see plate no. |
£240 |
|
2044 |
|
BOGARDUS/COFFIN TRASURY COMPETITION DESIGN - FANCY OVAL WITH QUEEN's HEAD SILHOUETTE IN RED; 1929 "Royal" reprint in red on white paper (very fine), produced from the original Bogardus/Coffin brass die found among Rowland Hill's papers in the 1920s; produced in a very small quantity for King George V and a few other notable philatelists. [The brass die is still held in the Queen's Philatelic Collection.] Rare; few known. PHOTO |
£240 |
|
2045 |
|
Similar lot; the 1929 Royal reprint of the Bogardus/Coffin Essay, but printed in black. PHOTO |
£240 |
|
2046 |
|
Similar lot; the 1929 Royal reprint of the Bogardus/Coffin Essay, but printed in dark brown. PHOTO |
£240 |
|
2047 |
|
PRESTAMP COVER WITH A PORTRAIT WAFER-SEAL - THE STIMULUS FOR THE BOGARDUS/COFFIN ESSAYS?; Feb. 1839 EL posted from Florence to Hampshire sealed by an attractive green cameo embossed wafer seal of "RAFFAELLO SANZIO". The postal marks include a fine "FIRENZE", and a very fine blue 2-ring "SARD./3 PONT-DE-J 3" c.d.s. It seems likely that Bogardus and/or Coffin got their idea for their 1839 Essays from early wafer-seals similar to the example sealing this letter. Such seals are not recorded ub G.B. prior to 1836, and those with cameo portraits such as this only appeared in Italy from c.1838. PHOTO |
£150 |
|
2048 |
|
THE ORIGINAL 1839 JAMES CHALMERS CIRCULAR 1d BLACK POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY - ON ENTIRE LETTER WITH ORIGINAL TREASURY COMPETITION "22290/39" MANUSCRIPT NUMBER; Superb 30th Sept. 1839 mock-up Entire Letter (trivial hinge-marks and pencil notes on the blank side) as entered by the famous Postal Reformer James Chalmers of Dundee for the 1839 Treasury Competition; the "GENERAL POSTAGE/Not ex half an oz./1d./ONE PENNY" label (wmk. "N"; rare thus) is affixed to the back of the letter-sheet by a red wax seal, and it has been tied by the Chalmers 2-line "DUNDEE/SEPT. 30, 39." cancellation in black, with a second strike alongside. Also on the back of the letter-sheet is a very clear manuscript "22290/39" Treasury clerk's incoming mail annotation, which proves that this item was indeed part of James Chalmers' official Sept. 1839 Entry for the Treasury Competition. Extremely rare; very few such original Treasury Essays (with the authenticating clerk's number) are still in private hands. Only a handful of Chalmers Essays are still available to collectors today. [Ex the "Daisy" London 1980 Grand Prix Collection; lot 2, sold for £9,775 in Oct. 1996.] PHOTO |
£10000 |
|
2049 |
|
ROBERT SIEVIER's 1839 TREASURY COMPETITION DESIGN; Very fine 1839/40 small sheet (11x18 cms.) with printed explanation of Sievier's design, an example of which is embossed and printed in red and blue at top left, with "PENNY/POST" captions within the fancy blue inner frame around the albino embossed geometric centre. This is the same design as that entered (on folded letter-sheets) by Sievier in the 1839 Treasury Competition. This example was clearly produced by Sievier himself; it may have been privately circulated by him or it may have been one of those that he gave to the publishers of the important March 1840 "London & Westminster Review" article all about Postage Stamps and their proposed designs. Rare and attractive. PHOTO |
£750 |
|
2050 |
|
WHITING TREASURY COMPETITION ESSAY, 1839: A very fine, fresh example of the Whiting 'POST/OFFICE.NOT TO/EXCEED/HALF/OUNCE' label printed in black & red, with neat, even margins and attractive appearance. PHOTO |
£200 |
|
2051 |
|
WHITING ESSAYS: A fine example of the 1848 Art Journal page illustrating Whiting's embossing & security printing work - an oval 'PAID' stamp with the Queen's head, two 'Beuafort House' labels, an example of rose-engine work and a coloured 'banknote' type design. A fine, fresh example with slight toning at the top margin. |
£100 |
| IMPORTANT LINE-ENGRAVED COVERS |
|
2052 |
|
6th MAY 1840 - CASH-PAID COVER, WRONGLY CHARGED POSTAGE DUE, ON THE FIRST DAY OF USE OF THE 1d BLACK; Remarkable and very fine 6 May 1840 EL (clearly dated inside) sent locally in London on this famous date, with a very fine "8NT8/MY 6/1840" datestamp on the top flap and an overstruck "PAID" Tombstone d.s. on the front. The letter was in fact prepaid in cash, but a very fine black Handstruck "2" was struck in error at first and then replaced by a very fine red Handstruck "1" mark. Unique (?) combination of marks on a 6 May 1840 cover. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see plate no. |
£500 |
|
2053 |
|
THE UNIQUE "POSTAGE STAMP CARICATURE" COVER OF 6th/7th (?) MAY 1840; Extraordinary envelope endorsed "Prepaid" and addressed to Edinburgh; there is a partly fine black "Hampftead NO/1py P.Paid" mark on the front beside the 9 May Edinburgh "PAID" arrival c.d.s., and there is a fine 7 May "BARNET" transit c.d.s. on the side-flap. It was sent by the London Cross-Post system northwards and not via central London, and so it may have been posted from Hanpstead on 6 May 1840, but this cannot yet be proved. The most unusual feature of this cover is the piece of 1d Black selvedge (presumably from Plate 1 with part inscription; "In Wetting the Back be careful no...") on the lower flap, which would be just about the right size to take a single impression of the Hampstead Paid mak, but is "tied" instead by a small embossed pink wafer-seal inscribed "THANK ROWLAND HILL FOR THIS"!! It seems likely that this is an echo of the very first description of the Postage Stamp (in Rowland Hill's 1837 pamphlet); "A bit of paper just large enough to bear the stamp [i.e. postmark], and covered at the back with a glutinous wash, which the user might, by applying a little moisture, attach to the back of the letter". Who would forge such an item; where could a forger obtain a piece of genuine 1d Black selvedge for less than a King's ransome? It seems therefore that the sender of this letter was not impressed with the 1d Black and sought to criticise it by using a related "sticking plaster" on the back of his letter, while prepaying the postage in cash!! Unique?! We have no record of any other Caricatures of the First Postage Stamp, although the Muready Stationery weas famously (and ruthlessly) lampooned by its opponents. Exhibition Item and Conversation Piece. [Ex James Grimwood-Taylor; illustarted in his 1990 "British Postal Reforms", p.67.] PHOTO |
£1500 |
|
2054 |
|
7th MAY 1840 COVER TO ITALY WHICH PROBABLY WEIGHED LESS THAN THE 55 1d BLACKS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO PREPAY IT!; 7 May 1840 EL from London to "Leghorn Via Marseilles" prepaid "10 [+] 3.9 [=] 4.7" for the extortionate #oz rate via France. In fact this letter was underpaid and so the oval London "P-D" mark was struck in error; "P.F. was struck en route and a "14" charge applied on arival. It is interesting to note that a Block of 55 1d Blacks (which could have been used to prepay this 2nd Day Cover!) might well have needed another 4s-7d to be prepaid for the resulting extra weight of the block itself!! Rare overseas cover sent just a day after the Introduction of the 1d Black. PHOTO |
£100 |
|
2055 |
|
THE VERY RARE "SPLIT 1d BLACK" COVER WITH TWO HALVES OF DIFFERENT 1d BLACKS USED SUCCESSFULLY IN PLACE OF A WHOLE STAMP; The amazing 13 Nov. 1840 EL sent from Liverpool to Manchester franked what at first glance appears to a be a perfectly normal 1d Black; on closer inspection it can bee seen that it is the slightly overlapping vertical halves of two different stamps cleverly lined up to defraud the Post Office. The "stamp" (two halves of different Plate 7 stamps; lettered "H" and "L") is tied by a light orange-red Maltese Cross matching the fine "LIVERPOOL" c.d.s. across the join on the reverse, and there is a very fine Manchester "5" Inspector's Mark (probably connected with the railway service between the two cities) on the top flap. We have never seen another example of this Successful 1d Black Postal Fraud on cover, although we are aware of at least two similar Imperf. 1d Red covers, with similarly "Split Stamps", having been recorded (one was offered in a London auction in 1997 with an estimate of £8-10,000). Very Important Line Engraved Classic Cover. [Ex James Grimwood-Taylor, who discovered this cover in a metal deed-box containing the papers of the Pickford Family in c.1981; illustrated in colour in Gavin Fryer's 2000 "Reform of the P.O.", p.78.] [With 1999 B.P.A. Certificate of Genuineness.] PHOTO |
£10000 |
|
2056 |
|
THE UNIQUE(?) 1840 2d BLUE "STAMP USED BEFORE" COVER CHARGED 4d POSTAGE DUE; Remarkable 25 Oct. 1840 E (from the addressee's brother and sealed with his wax seal) sent from Leamington (mostly very fine c.d.s.on the top flap) to Norwich (fair arrival c.d.s. on the top flap) franked by a previously used (lightly cancelled by a partial orange-red Maltese Cross) 1840 2d Blue (OE; almost 3 margins), obviously used in an attempt to defraud the Post Office of 2d postage. There is a bold red endorsement alongside the stamp- "Stamp used before" - and a fine black manuscript "4" charge. The sender did not seek anonymity and so one must assume that he used this stamp for fun, to see if it was noticed, rather than for great profit. While it cannot be proved that this stamp originated on this cover, the date, charge and annotation prove that it must have originally had a single 1840 2d Blue, and we can see no reason why this should not be the original stamp. Therefore this lot is offered "as is" and not subject to return. Whatever the status of the stamp, this is a Unique example as far as we are aware of a "Used Before" cover with a 2d Blue. There are about a dozen similar 1d Black covers in private hands, but this remains the only recorded example with a 2d Blue. Important Exhibition Item. [Ex James Grimwood-Taylor & believed to be Ex Frank Holland of "Allcock & Holland"; illustrated in colour in Gavin Fryer's 2000 "Reform of the P.O.", p.824.] PHOTO |
£5000 |
|
2057 |
|
8d-RATE COVER WITH STRIP OF FOUR PLATE 2 1840 2d BLUES CANCELLED BY RARE RED MALTESE CROSSES; Very rare 17 Feb. 1841 large EL (closed internal tear, and some toning etc., but complete) to Lichfield franked by an attractive Strip of Three and a Single placed as a Strip of Four (HC + HD-HF) Plate 2 1840 2d Blues (all with four good to wide margins - almost entirely unaffected by a fold just below their lower margins) tied by fine orange-red Maltese Crosses, matching the mostly fine "DERBY" c.d.s. on the lower flap. The letter weighed over 3oz and up to 4oz, hence the 8d rate. This is a very late date for a major P.O. to have still been using red cancellation ink. Extremely rare; very few covers with the Plate 2 1840 2d Blue cancelled in RED have been recorded; to find such a Multiple Franking cancelled in this colour is exceptional. PHOTO |
£2000 |
|
2058 |
|
THE RARE "DOUBLE MALTESE" CROSS OF SPILSBY ON 1d BLACK COVER; Remarkable 1 Apr. 1841 E to Lincoln franked by a Plate 9 1d Black (QD; 4 very close margins) tied by a very fine black Maltese Cross with an additional strike of the Maltese Cross deliverately struck to the left of the address, having a matching very fine "SPILSBY" c.d.s. on the top flap. Very few examples of this Double- Maltese Cross usage have been recorded (almost all from Lincolnshire) and they may have been associated with problems of stamps being pilfered in transit in that area. See Alcock & Holland's 1940 "Postmarks of G.B. & Ireland", p.232, which records the practice from Aug. 1841 to March 1842, which explains just how rare it is to find 1d Black covers with this cancellation. Exhibition Item. [With 2001 B.P.A. Certifictae of Genuiness.] PHOTO |
£500 |
|
2059 |
|
RARE 1d BLACK COVER WITH "MIS-SENT TO LIVERPOOL" MARK IN RED; Attractive 18 June 1840 E from Manchester to Dorchester franked by a Plate 3(?) 1d Black (RA; 4 close to wide margins) tied by a very fine red Maltese Cross with a very fine red framed "MIS-SENT/TO LIVERPOOL" mark alongside. Exhibition item; Missent marks are rare on 1d Black covers. [Ex Gordon Millson.] PHOTO |
£200 |
|
2060 |
|
TREASURY ROULETTE 1d RED ON COVER - THE UNIQUE USAGE FROM BAKEWELL IN DERBYSHIRE; 26 July 1853 env. (flaps opened out to display the two backstamps; each on a different side-flap) sent locally from the village of "ASHFORD [IN THE WATER]" (mostly fine blue UDC on one side-flap) to Bakewell (fine green 26 July c.d.s. on the other side-flap), franked by a fine Plate 157 1d Red with "Treasury" Roulette (ML; SG Spec.B2a) tied by a fine Bakewell "41" numeral. This is one of only a dozen non-London, on-cover usages recorded, and the only one known used from the Midland counties. [An ordinary London Treasury Roulette cover sold for £7,475 at auction in Sept. 2001.]The envelope's flap has a fancy entwined "C" motif and a Mayfair (London) stationer's imprint and so it is virtually certain that this stamp was used by Ashford's principal resident in 1853, the Hon. George Henry Cavendish M.P., who was a senior Government figure and probably had Treasury connections. Most attractive and Rare. [Ex Beaumont, 1965.] [With 1986 BPA Certificate of Genuineness.] PHOTO |
£5000 |
| 1840 1D BLACKS. |
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The 1840 1d blacks are arranged in plate order and cancelled in red unless otherwise stated. |
|
|
|
2061 |
|
Unplated. Three examples, JH, MF & OH, the former with black MC, the other two cancelled in red. All with margins clear on all four sides, MF close at SE corner. (3). |
£100 |
|
2062 |
|
1d BLACK USED ON SECOND SUNDAY: Plate 1a ND in grey black shade with three margins showing moderate plate wear, particularly below portrait, tied to large part E by red MC with mainly very fine "WOLVERHAMPTON/MY17/1840" c.d.s. also in red well to the left. S.G.3 Spec AS2. PHOTO |
£500 |
|
2063 |
|
Plate 1a, TC used on EL within London clearly dated 13th May 1840, alongside is struck a watery and barely readable framed "TP Chigwell Row". Three good to large margins, just "nicked" at upper right corner. |
£150 |
|
2064 |
 |
Plate 1a, KE with good margins all round tied by slightly oily red Maltese Cross on Nov.1840 printed price list from London to Oban. Cover badly torn but adhesive fine. |
£60 |
|
2065 |
|
Plate 1b, EK-EL horizontal used pair. Margins clear on three sides, cut into at right. |
£80 |
|
2066 |
|
Plate 2, PF-PG (recut letter square), good to very large margins showing part of adjoining stamp at right. Fine. PHOTO |
£120 |
|
2067 |
|
Plate 3, TL with large margins and central MC cancellation. Fine. PHOTO |
£80 |
|
2068 |
|
Plate 3, HJ good to wide margins, horizontal crease and plate 7 RB central cancellation, clear to good margins, |
£60 |
|
2069 |
|
Plate 4, IB on bleute paper, close to good margins, cancelled with a clear part strike of the MAGENTA MC. Scarce. SG Spec. A1vd Cat. £950. PHOTO |
£200 |
|
2070 |
|
Plate 4, ML unused with small part toned gum. Close to wide margins. Fair only. PHOTO |
£200 |
|
2071 |
|
Plate 4, LE good to wide margins and SC good margins, cancelled in black. Small thins. |
£100 |
|
2072 |
|
Plate 5, FH (fault at NW corner where taken roughly from the sheet tied by ink mark and red Maltese Cross to cover addressed to London with fine & rare "Above authorized weight" s/l mark in black (used out of period) and m/s "2" (additional rate) alongside. Unusual thus. PHOTO |
£200 |
|
2073 |
|
Plate 6 HH and an unplated 2d KD, both with ruby MC cancellations, cut into but rare. |
£140 |
|
2074 |
|
Plate 6, RE, State II fine used four margined example with burr lines at sides. Somewhat heavy black Maltese Cross. A scarce state of the plate. Cat. £350. PHOTO |
£140 |
|
2075 |
|
Plate 6, FJ-GJ a vertical pair cancelled in black, GJ close to wide margins, FJ trimmed margins and other small faults.PHOTO |
£80 |
|
2076 |
|
Plate 6, LC used on EL from Whitminster to Stroud, good to wide margins. Also a 1d Mulready front mounted on piece used to Lemberhurst cancelled with a fine black MC. |
£80 |
|
2077 |
|
Plate 6, KB used with indistinct red Maltese cross cancel margins good to very large, showing part of next stamp below. |
£50 |
|
2078 |
|
Plate 6, SC tied on folded & torn EL from London to Oban by neat red Maltese Cross. Clear margins all round a bit tight at top. "T.P./Holloway Rd" handstamp in black at left. |
£50 |
|
2079 |
|
NO LOT. |
|
|
2080 |
|
Plate 7, SI with a black MC and fortuitous red cancellations. Fine |
£70 |
|
2081 |
|
Plate 7, JG-JH a pair on thin paper, close to wide margins. JG vertical crease, JH fine. PHOTO |
£65 |
|
2082 |
|
Plate 8, LD State 2 cancelled in black, small margins and SE State 2, close to good margins. |
£70 |
|
2083 |
|
Plate 8, FL used with light red Maltese cross, good margins, this stamp in greyish-black shade unusual for this plate. PHOTO |
£65 |
| ** |
2084 |
|
Plate 10, NL with black MC cancellation. Good margins on all four sides. |
£75 |
|
2085 |
|
Plate 10, OH with black MC cancellation. Fine. |
£70 |
| 1840 2D BLUES |
|
2086 |
|
An unplated group comprising a vertical pair FA-GA with black MC cancellations, a marginal single AA with black MC cancellations and a pair with central "131" numeral of Edinburgh. All cut into on at least one side and the vertical pair is toned. |
£140 |
|
2087 |
|
A very good used example tied to small piece by black MC cancellation. PHOTO |
£120 |
|
2088 |
|
Plate 1 strip of 4 (vertical crease affects one) good used, margins just about clear all round but cut into in a couple of places. PHOTO |
£400 |
|
2089 |
|
Plate 1, KA-KB a pair with black MC cancellation, close to wide margins, KB small rub under eye, KB fine. PHOTO |
£100 |
|
2090 |
|
Plate 2, RD-RE + RF-RG+RH-RH being three pairs which were originally a strip of six used on three pieces from the same correspondence from Reading to Devizes. RD-RE clear to wide margins, RE vertical bend, RH-RH just touched to wide margins and RF-RG good margins, RF clear profile. All cancelled in black. PHOTO - see plate no. |
£600 |
|
2091 |
|
Plate 2 QA with central red MC cancellation. Fine. PHOTO |
£160 |
|
2092 |
|
Plate 2, ED good margins, smugily cancelled in blackand FC a pale shade with central MC cancellation, clear to wide margins, small thin. |
£120 |
|
2093 |
|
Plate 2, HF with numeral cancellation. Close to good margins. PHOTO |
£100 |
| 1841 1D REDS |
|
2094 |
|
THE Jan. 1841 P.O. NOTICE REF. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 1d RED & EMBOSSED POSTAL STATIONERY ENVELOPES; Jan. 1841 P.O. Notice "No.3" (21x35 cms.; few usual folds but very fine) ref. the fact that "AN immediate Alteration is about to be made in the Adhesive Postage Label Stamps [i.e. the start of the 1d Red & 1841 2d Blue], and a new description of Stamped Envelopes, both Penny and Two-penny, introduced...", and the fact that the new stamps/envs. will circulate alongside the old ones "until the stock of the latter remaining on hand is disposed of..." Rare Notice ref. the Birth of the 1d Red. PHOTO - see plate no. |
£100 |
|
2095 |
|
COLLECTION of 120 red-brown plating copies with three of four margins and 1844 London Inland Office numerals in diamond cancellations. Some stamps have faults but mainly fine or very fine examples. S.G.8 Spec B1/B2; Cat. £1,800+. (120). |
£180 |
|
2096 |
|
MISCELLANY: Selection of covers franked with multiples & singles to make various inland rates inc. 11d, 5d, 4d (6), 3d and 2d (11). Very mixed condition. (20 covers). |
£120 |
|
2097 |
|
MISCELLANY comprising plates 19 SC, 23 DL & 37 AB (marginal fault at foot) all on E/ELs & all having wide margins + MC cancellations, plate 98 LA used on env. to Jersey with "SHIRLEY COMMON" UDC (Hampshire) in blue on back, plate 129 GE used on EL ex Crewkerne to Glastonbury with Christmas Day, 1851 transit c.d.s. of Bath on reverse, plate 106 GC on EL from London to Wakefield, loose plate 59 GL, plate 94 pair MD-ME, plate 157 strip of four EI-EL on piece and 6 x plate 69 (faults) on a small piece. Mainly fine examples. |
£100 |
|
2098 |
|
BLACK PLATES ON COVERS: A selection of covers dated March to May 1841 franked with three/four margined examples clearly showing the "O" flaw. (9 covers). |
£100 |
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