WORLDWIDE

Thursday 8 June 2006

SALE 684

* = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by one star are subject to V.A.T. at 17·5%. ** = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by two stars are subject to V.A.T. at 5%. PLEASE NOTE: All lots in this auction are subject to the Buyers’ Premium of 15% (plus V.A.T. where appropriate) on their hammer prices. ALL BIDS WILL BE TAKEN AS EXCLUSIVE OF THIS PREMIUM

 

BRADBURY WILKINSON PROOFS AND ESSAYS

 

1

 

SAMPLE 'STAMPS': Small but fascinating group of sample or 'dummy' stamps in black, blue, brown or green produced for a number of purposes such as advertising the company's prowess and thus mainly incorporating its name inc. heads of ancient Briton, of King Charles V (both stamp size in violet and in 'regina' blue on larger piece of white paper) & of KEVII plus a proof of a Luxury Stamp. Also a smaller selection of proofs of central vignettes all in dull purple. (14).

£80

 

2

 

'CINDERELLA' ITEMS: c.1900-31 1/- Shakespeare label in red-brown, 1919 Portsmouth Heroes (in blue on thick paper) and Portsmouth Memorial (in blue & black on thin card) both in blue and two vignettes (one stained) of Yardley medallions. (5)

£60

 

3

BELGIAN CONGO: 1920 Air 50c, 1f, 2f & 5f imperforate printer's samples in issued colours for the latter three but the 50c in black & carmine. (4). PHOTO.

£300

 

4

BELGIAN CONGO: A similar lot but of the frames only and on thicker paper, the 2f & 5f in the issued colours of blue and green respectively but the 50c in red (as against the issued orange) & the 1f in brown (as opposed to the issued dull violet). Tiny thin on the 50c and very slight soiling on the back of the 2f but a remarkable quartet. PHOTO.

£300

 

5

 

BELGIUM: c.1920 Imperforate essay of unissued 25c King Albert design in deep blue. PHOTO.

£100

 

6

 

BRITISH EAST AFRICA: c.1890 2a imperforate printer's sample similar to SG. 6 but printed in dull brown, i.e. the issued colour of SG.4 which is the 1⁄2a value. PHOTO.

£150

 

7

 

BULGARIA: c.1911-23 imperforate printer's samples of various stamps (some of them bi-coloured) from 1911 & 1921/3 issues. One has small thin but chiefly fine. (18). PHOTO.

£400

 

8

 

CRETE: c.1907 imperforate printer's samples, c.1910 unissued 10l design showing coat of arms in three colours (again imperforate), an unappropriated head (Greece?) and what appears to be a sample of a small Greek banknote. (18).

£150

 

9

 

EGYPT: c.1906 imperforate essay of 10m 'Caravan' complete design in carmine, pale blue & black on wove paper. Scarce & attractive; see Balian p.470. Also samples of front (dated 1st June, 1918 in brown-purple) and back (in blue) of (same?) small banknote printed in reverse. (3 items). PHOTO.

£300

 

10

 

FALKLAND ISLANDS: c.1878 6d similar to SG.3 but in Prussian blue as opposed to the blue-green of the issued stamp. PHOTO.

£300

 

11

 

FALKLAND ISLANDS: 1898 2/6d imperforate printer's sample similar to SG.41 but printed in red. Note: the majority of the small number of such samples recorded are perforated 'SPECIMEN' but this one is not and believed to be unique. PHOTO.

£750

 

12

 

FALKLAND ISLANDS: 1898 5/- imperforate printer's sample similar to SG.42 but printed in brown. Note: the majority of the small number of such samples recorded are perforated 'SPECIMEN' but this one is not and is believed to be unique.PHOTO..

£750

 

13

 

FALKLAND ISLANDS: 1898 5/- imperforate printer's sample similar to SG.42 but printed in green. Note: the majority of the small number of such samples recorded are perforated 'SPECIMEN' but this one is not and is believed to be unique. PHOTO.

£750

 

14

 

FORMOSA: 1888 (Apr.) 20 cash imperforate printer's sample in light brown optd. "SPECIMEN" in the same colour. Rare & attractive. PHOTO.

£2000

 

15

 

G.B. - JERSEY: c.1915 Rectangular imperforate samples of triangular Revenue stamps in denominations of 1/- & 2/- (both in brown), 5/- (blue), 10/- (green) and £1 (red).Unusual and most attractive. (5).

£80

 

16

 

INDIAN STATES: Small group of imperforate samples with values of ¼a & ½a or undenominated, five of them without an English name but the sixth headed "BHAWULPORE (sic) STATE". Latter has a small brown stain, otherwise fine. (6).

£100

 

17

 

ITALY: Imperforate printer's sample of a 50 l duty tablet in grey-blue similar to that used for the 1906 King Victor Emmanuel issue. Also 1906 proof in green for the Milan International Exhibition label. (2 items).

£80

 

18

 

MEXICO: Group of all different imperforate printer's samples in either one or two colours, covering various (proposed) issues and one of the frame only. A colourful & attractive selection. (21).

£300

 

19

 

NATAL: Imperforate essay or proof in blue of frame only of 2d (Revenue?) stamp. PHOTO.

£80

 

20

 

NORWAY - LOCAL STAMP: Tromsø 1882 (Jan.) 2ø engraved imperforate printer's sample in pale red.

£80

 

21

 

NYASALAND: c.1893 imperforate proof in yellow, black & orange of unissued 2/6d Revenue stamp. PHOTO.

£120

 

22

 

QUEENSLAND: 1882 imperforate printer's sample of £1 value in brown-purple on thick paper; similar to SG.156 but not in the issued colour. PHOTO.

£100

 

23

 

RHODESIA: 1892 Arms issue imperforate printer's sample in deep blue of £5 value; similar to SG.12 but in the issued colour of SG.10, i.e. the £1 value. PHOTO.

£360

 

24

 

RUMANIA: Selection of c.1906 imperforate printer's samples in one, two or three colours, seven of complete designs, four of frames only and two showing just the vignettes. A different two are perforated "SPECIMEN". Minor faults here & there but chiefly fine. (13).

£200

 

25

 

SERBIA: Pair of 1914 imperforate printer's samples of the same 25p design for King Petar (sic) on the Battlefield both in unissued colours, one being dark blue and the other black. (2).

£70

 

26

 

SOUTH AMERICA: Group of imperforate printer's samples on four stockcards featuring BRAZIL 100r Estado de Pernambuco, CHILE (2) inc. 20c telegraph stamp in green, EL SALVADOR (4) with Giros Tasa in green, another embossed in black (for postal stationery?) & one of the others perforated "SPECIMEN" and PERU (6) with five variants of the same basic design plus one quite different & larger. (14).

£100

 

27

 

SPAIN: c.1922 die proof in brown of 20c Alfonso XIII mounted in sunken frame; see Galvez p.57. Scarce & fine. PHOTO.

£150

 

28

 

SPAIN: Almost identical to the last lot but printed in red. Equally scarce & fine. PHOTO.

£150

 

29

 

SPAIN: Three imperforate printer's samples of two different 1916 Cervantes Death Centenary labels, two being stamp size complete designs both printed in green & black and the third of the black vignette only printed on a much larger piece of paper neatly endorsed in red m/s 'Very nice/H.L.H.' the latter being the initials of Henry Leslie Hendriks as confirmed by approved drafts of visiting cards for him & his wife. (5 items). PHOTO.

£200

 

30

 

TRANSVAAL: Imperforate printer's sample of 1878-80 4d in black on thin card; cf. SG.136 but close to issued colour of the 6d, i.e. SG.137. PHOTO.

£300

 

31

 

TRANSVAAL: Imperforate printer's sample of 1878 Revenue £5 in deep blue. A superb example of the engraver's art. PHOTO.

£300

 

32

 

TURKEY: Five stockcards of c.1913-14 imperforate printer's samples in a variety of colours, values and designs inc. Recapture of Andrinople, most in one colour but several in two. Visually most attractive. (34). PHOTO.

£600

WORLD-WIDE MARITIME

**

33

 

VERY RARE 1st-TYPE "LAND-MAIL" POSTAGE DUE LABEL ON INGOING COVER FROM FRANCE VIA CEYLON; 24 Jan. 1846 EL (some ink-etching of address wording and slight stains on address-panel but attractive) from "Bordeaux" to "Batavia (Ile Java)" with faint red Bordeaux c.d.s. and matching boxed "P.P." on the front, endorsed "English Steamer" with "Via Suez, Ceylon & Singapore" on the front, and so with faint black boxed "SINGAPORE/Bearing" d.s. across the join on the reverse, with manuscript "11 An[na]s" nearby. Also having a fine blue-paper 1st-Type "Aangebragt per Land - Mail./Te betalen port f [2 16] koper./BATAVIA, [12/11 1846" label (tiny faults along top) on the front, not tied (as usual) but clearly belonging. Rare example of this "World's First (?) Postage Due Label" (only in use from Mar. 1845 to Aug. 1846) on cover; the usage on a cover carried via Ceylon is exceptional. Exhibition Item. [The similar cover in Cavendish's 24 Sept. 2004 'Scott Archer' auction realised £2,760.] PHOTO.

£1800

THE JAMES MUNSIE 1790S 1D RATE LETTERS

 

34

 

THE START OF HIS CAREER IN THE ARTILLERY AT WOOLWICH & LATER LETTERS REF. HOLLAND; Trio of Mar./Apr. 1795 ELs ex Woolwich; one sent under cover (asking for 7s/- to be sent by post; "...if you send it, put one wafer in the inside of the letter and lay the money and a wafer on the top as usual to seal [the] letter."), one charged "10" and one charged "10" [+ "1d"] with part scarce "WOOLWH/[1]" mark; all to Glasgow with news of the voyage from Berwick, training, etc.; plus Oct. 1799/Dec. 1801 pair also ex Woolwich but both prepaid 1d for the Concession Rate and countersigned as "Soldiers Letter" charting his rise from Bombardier to Corporal and both with faint scarce red oval "Penny Poft/Pd 1d/Woolwich" marks. Varied condition, but inc. two early Concession Rate covers and interesting reading about the life of a new (and then experienced) recruit. (5 covers). PHOTO.

£140

 

35

 

NORTHUMBERLAND - LETTERS (INC. 1d CONCESSION RATES) EX BLYTH CAMP; July/Sept. 1796 quartet of ELs from "Blyth Bridge Camp" or "Mages Burn Camp near Blyth" to Glasgow, two charged "7" but two prepaid 1d and signed as "Soldiers Letter" (rare at such an early date); all with fair "NORTH SHIELDS" horseshoe marks. Plus June/July 1797 pair also ex this Camp to Glasgow; one battered without address panel, the other (faults) signed as "Soldiers Letter" with fair "NORTH SHIELDS" horseshoe. Varied condition but scarce lot from this small Military Camp. Interesting reading. (6 covers). PHOTO.

£150

 

36

 

NEWCASTLE ON TYNE - 1796 GROUP OF "SOLDIERS LETTER" 1d CONCESSION RATE COVERS; Useful Mar./Nov. 1796 quartet of EL's (some dusting & one with holed address-panel but mostly fine) each to Glasgow prepaid 1d and countersigned as "Soldiers Letter", with partial large "NEWCASTLE ON TYNE" horseshoe, with mostly fine smaller "NEWCASTLE" horseshoe (2) or with no handstruck mark. Good contents; news of his being made a Bombardier, the need for new shoes, and that "there is a great fear of the French landing in this coast as there has been some of their vessels seen cruising about..". Scarce lot. (4 covers).PHOTO.

£160

 

37

 

NEWCASTLE ON TYNE - 1797/8 GROUP OF "SOLDIERS LETTER" 1d CONCESSION RATE COVERS; Apr. 1797 to Oct. 1798 ELs (5) all countersigned as "Soldiers Letter" and prepaid 1d to Glasgow with fair "NEWCASTLE" horseshoe (2) or v. fine to poor "NEWCASTLE ON TYNE" circular marks (one clearly showing the "*" at the foot). Good contents; ref. a False Alarm of the French landing at Greenock, runs on the banks, several French ships taken off the coast near Blyth, clothing costs, army pay/pensions, sending goods by carrier, etc. Good lot. (5 covers). PHOTO.

£200

THE J. FOLEY PENINSULAR WAR LETTERS

 

38

 

NEWS OF WELLINGTON & SOULT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA; 11 Aug. 1809 EL (typed transcript) from Grenadiers Lieut. J. Foley at "Camp Castello Branco" to Ireland (faded address) with fine "CASTº BRANCO" and fair "LISBON" on the front and near fine Dublin 'Mermaid' d.s. on the flap. Good account of Soult's manoeuvres "between us and Sir Arthur [i.e. Wellington; soon to be a Duke]" and news of the Battle of Talavera (on the 28 July); "Sir Arthur has certainly beaten Victor near Madrid...Lord Charles Somerset who was sent to England with despatches has been, it is feared, taken by Soult", etc. Good Campaign letter. PHOTO.

£150

 

39

 

AFTERMATH OF TALAVERA - NEWS OF THE WOUNDED, WELLINGTON's ELEVATION, ETC.; 12 Sept. 1809 EL (long typed transcript) from "Badajoz" to Lismore privately carried (courtesy of a military courier, it seems) and posted from London with fascinating news of the Campaign; "...meeting a number of those brave fellows ...who were wounded at Talavera; many bad cases are ina fair way, though numbers have died of their wounds...typhus fever...8 and 10 dying of a day...We left our ground at Elvas this morning at 5a.m. and entered Spain for the second time...The Commander in Chief now Baron Talavera, as a dispatch brought last night announces, will look at us this evening...A courier goes to Lisbon tonight [and takes this letter].". First hand news of the latest developments and Wellesley's elevation! PHOTO.

£150

 

40

 

"FALMOUTH/PACKET LETTER" MARK ON COVER FROM THE ADVANCE ARMY IN "MONTEGO, SPAIN"; Fine 16 Sept. 1809 EL (long typed transcript) from "Montego, Spain" to Lismore with mostly v. fine black "FALMOUTH/PACKET LETTER" on the front (affected by postal rate but clear) with blurred Dublin ;Mermaid' backstamp. Good letter concerning the continuing Campaign against the French over the border in Spain; "...our Brigade is now the advance of the Army...[discussion of food prices & abundant game]...I'm esteemed too the Regimental interpreter...I've just had a present of a melon and some of the finest grapes ever seen from a charming Senora who lives next door to my billet!!!!...Direct 'Army in Spain'..." Good Campaign letter. PHOTO.

£240

 

41

 

Similar "[FAL]MOUTH/[PACKE]T LETTER" (off edge) EL (extremely long typed transcript; small stain from old sellotape) of 30 Sept./1 Oct. 1809 from "Montego [Spain]" to Lismore with more news of life in the Border area; "Lord Wellington was ill for some time, but is now recovered and conducting military affairs with his usual vigour...", with criticism of the Spanish Army (that had seen the prowess of the British forces at Talavera to inspire them, the Portuguese barbarity to French POW's, local girls, etc. News of Spanish atrocities; "...the peasantry of Gallicia have risen on more than 2000 poor French and put them to the sword...", etc. Good reading. PHOTO.

£150

 

42

 

Similar "FALMOUTH/PACKET LETTER" (faint) on EL (long typed transcript) to Lismore endorsed "Montejo" on the front; "The peace with Austria renders our leaving Spain certain, but whether Portugal is to be defended is the thing...Two or three days back an OfficPHOTO. PHOTO.

£150

 

43

 

IMPORTANT DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA - REFUTING RECENT PRESS CRITICISM?; 27 Nov. 1809 EL (some splitting of folds) from "Montijo" [manuscript name on front = Montego, Spain] to Lismore with a partly fine blue-green "FALMOUTH/PACKET LETTER" on the front, with long cross-written contents (part manuscript transcription of the section relating to the Battle of Talavera; "...with respect to the Battle of Talavera, I differ in some degree from those who only think it a partial repulse; never was British valour more conspicuous...the British force in the field amounted to no more than 17,000 bayonets...they did not receive the smallest assistance from the Spanish line...I think it was a defeat to all intents, and a glorious one...The 1st Battn. of detachments, among whom were 150 of the 'Slashers', charged a column of Grenadiers of seven times their number several times...Lord W[ellington] left his position with an intention of attacking Soult at Placentia, but was prevented as much by the dastardly behaviour of Cuesta's Army...as by our advance, which Soult was aware of..." etc., etc. Important account of the battle. PHOTO.

£200

 

44

 

EARLY BLUE-GREEN "LISBON/F" DATESTAMP OF FALMOUTH ON COVER FROM THE ARMY IN SPAIN; 9-15 Dec. 1809 EL (unnecessary 1960s sellotape on two folds needs removing) to Lismore with mostly fine blue-green Falmouth "LISBON/F" d.s. on the front. Good contents (cross-written & long; no transcript available) start in "Merida" and conclude after some days marching back across Spain towards the Portuguese frontier, at "Badajoz" (five miles from Portugal); "The Commander in Chief [Wellington] is here still". With uncomplimentary comments on the recent French defeat of the Spanish (presumably the Battle of Ocana on 19 Nov. 1809), descriptions of the French advance towards Portugal, etc. Worth careful deciphering. PHOTO.

£150

 

45

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE RETURN TO PORTUGAL - "ABRANTES" & "LISBON" MARKS WITH M/S "EN SERVICIO REAL"; 11-14 Jan. 1810 journal-letter EL (two pieces of 1960s sellotape need removing from internal folds)from "Sardaal" to Lismore endorsed "En Servicio Real" and "Lisboa, pelo correo Inglez!", with fine scarce blue "ABRANTES" and fine black "LISBON" marks on the front; unusual routing via the civil Portuguese P.O. Long letter (v. long typed transcript) giving descriptions of the villages on the writer';s recent route back from Spain into Portugal, with amusing comment on the 'night soil' men of Elvas, comment on the progress at "..Abrantes, where the fortifications are carrying on with great despatch..." (presumably the famous 'Torres Vedras' defensive lines which were to be so effective in 1810), troop locations, etc. The writer ends; "...I enclose you the flower and a small piece of the leaf of the tobacco plant..."; no extra postage seems to have been charged for this! Good letter following the British withdrawal from Spain back into Portugal for the winter. PHOTO.

£200

 

46

 

"PORTALEGRE" & "LISBON" MARKS WITH M/S "POR O CORREO INGLEZ EM LISBOA"; 21-23 Apr. 1810 EL (very long typed transcript; few small pieces of 1960s sellotape inside) from "Portalegre" to Lismore passed through the Portuguese civil P.O. to the British agency at Lisbon. Good contents giving news of promotions, Spanish guerrilla atrocities, sighting the "celebrated heroine Dona Catalina Martin Lopez Bustamente...she has been in seven actions with her uncle, had acted as his aide-de-camp, has been several times wounded...", etc. He goes on; "there is a very formidable French force assembled in or about Salamanca...It seems Lord W intends to cover...the Spanish garrison at Ciudad Rodrigo...Bloody news!! The French were to have attacked the right of the Army of Estramadura this morning at Albuquerque...7,000 men and 500 cavalry...[23 April] The whole Division marches at half-past two, direct for Albuquerque..." Up-to-date news of the French harrying the frontier and British reactions thereto. Good Campaign letter. PHOTO.

£160

 

47

 

Similar 28/29 May 1810 EL (long typed transcript) with the same postal marks (the strikes not so clear) and endorsement; from "Portalegre" to Lismore with news of further escapades caused by the threat of French invasions of Portugal. "...[on the 23 April] we made a movement with all the force British and Portuguese in this part of the country, amounting to nearly 12,000 men, to support the town of Albuquerque, which was threatened by 12,000 French Infantry and from 4 to 6,000 cavalry...but the whole fell back upon Merida...On the 14th [May] the honour of commanding the Grenadiers devolved on me...[then crossing a swollen river en route]...a German woman...lost two charming boys; apes, mules and baggage of all descriptions wer floating down the stream; much ammunition was damaged and some arms lost...". He notes that "It is supposed Ciudad Rodrigo cannot hold out many days when completely invested..." Good Campaign letter. PHOTO.

£180

 

48

 

BLUE-GREEN FALMOUTH "LISBON/F" D.S. ON COVER ENDORSED "POR O CORREO INGLEZ EM LISBOA"; 9/10 June 1810 EL (stains from internal 1960s sellotape on several folds) from "Almeida" to Lismore with this postal endorsement and a mostly fine strike of the "LISBON/F" d.s. Good letter (partial manuscript transcript) ref. the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, etc.; "...it is not very unlikely [i.e. v. likely!] that our communication...will be soon cut off, and all means of sending a letter destroyed, I must even write while these sources remain open. Ciudad Rodrigo still holds out...this is the 16th day of the Bombardment...This morning, early, the fire was tremendously heavy...Badajoz is certainly invested...Lord Wellington made this [place] his residence for four days only.." Gripping account of the gradual tightening of the French forces' grip on the border area of Portugal. PHOTO.

£200

 

49

 

"PORTALEGRE" & "LISBON" COVER WITH PROGRESS-REPORT ON SIEGE OF CIUDAD RODRIGO, ETC.; 17/19 June 1810 EL (small pieces of 1960s sellotape in places; long typed transcript) from "Portalegre" to Lismore endorsed "Portalegre" and "Por o correo Inglez a Lisboa" on the front along with fine "PORTALEGRE" & fair "LISBON" marks. Long letter regarding promotion prospects (he became a Captain in the 24th Portuguese Regiment in June 1810), the Siege, etc.; "...[I] waited on Col. Abercromby...got his promise to forward my application to Lord Wellington...[William] Cobbett I hate as a dangerous reptile whose every word is poison...[it is said] the enemy [the French army] has been reinforced in Estremadura and that a battering train has reached Montyo. Badajoz must fall before a force of 15 or 20,000 men properly provided..." Intriguing letter from the period when Wellington was gradually allowing the French to advance to Portugal as he fell back towards the Torres Vedras lines. PHOTO.

£150

 

50

 

"ALMEIDA" + "LISBON" COVER - DINING WITH WELLINGTON AS CIUDAD RODRIGO IS ABOUT TO FALL; 29 June 1810 EL (some 1960s sellotape on folds needs to be removed; long letter with part manuscript transcript) from "Almeida" to Lismore endorsed "por o correo Inglez a Lisboa" on the front with three doubled/fine strikes of the civil P.O. "ALMEIDA" mark on the front. Good letter ref. dining with Wellington ("I expected in Wellington to have met a morose silent kind of man, but I was agreeably surprised to find him the pleasantest and merryest of the party". Developments at Ciudad Rodrigo are discussed; "...we learned that a Magazine in the enemy's principal battery blew up...two other explosions took place soon after in their lines....Though the enemy have now been now two months before the place, they did not commence the bombardment till 9pm of the 24th...at 5pm yesterday it was renewed in a most horrendous manner...This is still HQ...Lord Wellington does not intend relieving Ciudad...all communication is cut off with the besieged town..." It is lucky there was no censorship of mail at this date!! There is also a fine detailed description of Wellington's meeting with a Spanish guerrilla leader armed to the teeth and wearing stolen French epaullettes, and news of the guerrillas killing 80 out of 100 French cavalry in a single ambush. Good Campaign letter from one in the privileged staff officers position. PHOTO.

£240

 

51

 

THE FINAL LETTER - NEWS OF A COURT MARSHAL - CARRIED ILLEGALLY BY FAVOUR OF AN OFFICER; 4 Nov. 1814 EL (typed transcript) from "Lisbon" to Lismore but carried privately by an officer returning to Ireland - unusually and brazenly endorsed "From Major Hewitt" (though from J. Foley!) on the front - and posted there with fair red "CORK" mileage mark. Good detail of a proposed Court Marshal (with Foley as a witness for the defence) of [Col.?] Cox for the surrender of Almeida (in 1811?) to the French, though he was not in charge and for which he was decorated! The last Foley letter in this collection. PHOTO.

£100

OTHER NAPOLEONIC, CRIMEAN & BOXER WARS M

 

52

 

FREE "O.H.M.S." COVER WITH PARTLY PRINTED "FENCIBLE REGIMENT" REPORT EX KIRKCALDY; 21 May 1798 EL to Earl Breadalbane at Aberfeldy endorsed "O.H.M.S." with a fair "KIRKCALDY" on the reverse, containing a separate "Weekly State of HIS MAJESTY'S [2nd Battn of the 4th Fencible] Regiment of [Foot]" commanded by the addressee, showing that there were 499 men (of the required 500) all accounted for. Fine and rare. PHOTO.

£100

 

53

 

ACTING PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER OF A LISBON MILITARY HOSPITAL WRITES OF THE WOUNDED, ETC.; Fine 4 Dec. 1811 EL (long typed transcript) from "Lisbon" to a friend in Edinburgh with near fine "LISBON"; interesting letter ref. 5 months in the city, the problems of posting newspapers to an Officer at the front, and shipping the sick & wounded to England; "We yesterday embarked above 1,000 sick and invalids for England...The principal depot is now removed from Lisbon and is established at Coimbra, as the rainy season will render it impossible to convey sick so far from the Army." The writer, Dr. J.G. Smith notes that "...I am a geat man on our staff at Lisbon at present, having an Hospital under my own charge..." Rare insight into the medical services of the Peninsular War.PHOTO.

£150

 

54

 

"DEPOT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR, VALLEYFIELD" (SCOTLAND) COVER REF. MONEYS FOR THE PRISONERS; 4 June 1813 fine EL from this little known P.O.W. area near Edinburgh originally enclosing two bank bills (for £50+) "to the Deposit Account of Prisoners Money", addressed to the Bank of Scotland charged "2" with a faint circular "PENNYCUICK P.P.O." mileage mark. Rare item associated with Napoleonic POW's in Scotland. PHOTO.

£120

 

55

 

"AGENT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR ON PAROLE, BIGGAR" (SCOTLAND) - ORDER FOR £100 FUNDS; Fine 13 Nov. 1813 EL to the Bank of Scotland with a fine boxed Scottish "BIGGAR" mileage and charged "1/21⁄2" though endorsed O.H.M.S., being a request for £100 due to the writer, "Peter Despourrins, Lieut., R.N." for £100 as "directed by the Honorable The Commissioners of his Maj's Transport Service". Rare cover related to the Napoleonic POW's in Scotland. PHOTO.

£120

 

56

 

"AGENT FOR PAROLE PRISONERS [OF] WAR, BIGGAR" (SCOTLAND) - ORDER FOR £100 FUNDS; 17 Mar. 1814 EL similar to the previous lot from the same writer. Rare. PHOTO.

£120

 

57

 

CRIMEAN WAR - PAIR OF UNPAID 3d-RATE COVERS INC. RARE LONDON HANDSTRUCK "3" MARK; Jan./Oct. 1855 pair of envs. (former with overall wrinkling) to Ireland "Via Marseilles" each charged "3" one with a fine rare London handstruck "3" and the other in manuscript (the latter with v. fine blue "POST OFFICE/B/BRITISH ARMY" c.d.s.). (2 covers). PHOTO.

£150

 

58

 

CRIMEAN WAR - STAMPED COVERS INC. "OXO" CANCEL, ETC.; June 1855 env. (opened out & with part address crossed out by some idiot) endorsed "Black Sea Fleet" with faint Army PO c.d.s. on the back franked by 1d Red 'stars' (3) tied by fine rare "OXO" Crimean cancels; plus 1854 pair of envs. (opened out) to Ireland from an "Assistant Surgeon, 77th Regiment" each franked by 1d Red 'stars' (3) all cancelled by London numerals in transit, having fine large "POST OFFICE/BRITISH ARMY" backstamps in black or blue. (3 covers).

£150

 

59

 

BOXER REBELLION - GERMAN PEKING & "C.E.F." F.P.O. 5 & 6 COVERS; 23 Jan. 1901 usage of the China 1c red PC (worn but complete) to Germany uprated with a China ½c brown tied by a near fine oval "PEKING" cancel, the ½c also tied by a very fine "K.D. FELDPOSTEXPED/DES/ OSTASIATISCHEN/ EXPEDITIONCORPS/a" c.d.s.; plus 1907 pair of usages of the "C.E.F." o.p. & plain India KEVII ½a green P. Stat. envs. (former with corner fault & file hole but unusually locally addressed from one FPO to another; latter opened out) having v. fine backstamps of the "F.P.O. No.5" and "F.P.O. No.6" (latter Shan hai kwan?). Scarce trio. (3 covers). PHOTO.

£140

THE ANGLO-BOER WAR, 1899-1902

 

60

 

SIEGE OF SCHWEIZER RENECKE - TRANSVAAL VALUES WITH "BESIEGED" OVERPRINT; 11 Sept. 1900 off-cover examples of SG1-3; the Transvaal ½d, 1d & 2d each with fine 2-ring c.d.s. (3)

£120

 

61

 

SIEGE OF MAFEKING ISSUES - RARE UNUSED BADEN-POWELL 3d VALUE; 1900 3d blue, good unused example with some gum. [Cat. £1,200.] PHOTO.

£200

 

62

 

SIEGE OF MAFEKING ISSUES - UNUSED 1d + USED 3d VALUE; 1900 3d blue with part 5 May 1900 c.d.s.; plus 1900 1d blue, good unused example with some gum. Also small dated piece signed by the man himself; - "R.S.S. Baden Powell, Xmas 1901". (3 items). PHOTO.

£150

 

63

 

SIEGE OF MAFEKING OVERPRINTS ON C.G.H. & BRITISH BECHUANALAND; Mar./May 1900 usages of the CGH "MAFEKING/1d/3d/1s/BESIEGED" o.p. on ½d green, 1d red (2) & 4d olive (scarce; on fine piece) plus 1d & 6d o.p.'s on British Bechuanaland GB ½d & BB 3d lilac. Good group. (6).

£120

 

64

 

SIEGE OF LADYSMITH - CARTOON CARDS INC. ONE USED INTERNALLY DURING THE SIEGE, ETC.; Rare 24 Feb. 1900 usage of the 1st type (thin card) red "M'BULWANA" Natal PC with v. fine Ladysmith c.d.s. and no charge, addressed to a "Cycle Dispatch Rider" with message ("Good news; full ration bread next issue"!), similar (thicker) card used in 1901 with GB 1d lilac ex Standerton APO (octagon c.d.s. cancel), later unused (standing soldier) type, stampless Day of Relief env. to GB with v. fine 28 Feb. 1900 "LADYSMITH/NATAL" c.d.s. and cancelled "10c" charge-mark, and fair pair of celebratory PPCs of May 1900. (6 items). PHOTO.

£150

 

65

 

SIEGE OF MAFEKING COVER, BOER O.V.S. LABELS, PICTORIAL CARTOON, ETC.; Eclectic lot inc. rare 7 May 1901 stampless "No stamps available" env. to G.B. from "Lieut. Lang, Mafeking" (10 days before the end of the Siege) presumably sent out after the end of the siege (with 31 May London "PAID" c.d.s.), attractive June 1900 hand-drawn env. front to GB with CGH 1d tied by Cape Town c.d.s. depicting Botha surrendering to (?) Baden Powell, small card signed "Louis Botha", 1900 PPC and off-cover OVS labels (2; one used in Barkly West, Nov. 23 1899) with forged label & 1d lilac. 8 items). PHOTO.

£150

 

66

 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA - RARE 1d BLUE PC USAGE WITH "ARMY P.O.52/S.AFRICA" C.D.S. CANCEL; Remarkable 4 Sept. 1901 usage of the W.A. 1d blue P. Stat. PC (minor wear) addressed to India uprated with GB 1d lilac both tied/cancelled by v. fine single-ring "ARMY P.O.52.S.AFRICA" c.d.s.'s with Indian arrival c.d.s.'s on the front. Rare thus. PHOTO.

£120

 

67

 

BRITISH P.O.W. IN BOER HANDS - PRETORIA MODEL SCHOOL CAMP - 1st-TYPE CENSOR MARK; 9 Feb. 1900 usage of the complete Transvaal 1d+1d reply-paid P. Stat. PC (reply half not used) to "H.M.S. Britannia, Dartmouth" cancelled by Pretoria c.d.s. with blue crayon "G[ezien]" on front, with v. fine large 2-ring claret-purple "COMMANDANT GENERAAL" c.d.s.'s back and front. Matched pair to the similar card to the sender's other brother in the Bill Hart Collection (lot 1203). Attractive POW item. PHOTO.

£120

 

68

 

BRITISH P.O.W. IN BOER HANDS - PRETORIA MUD HALL CAMP - BLUE CIRCULAR CENSOR MARK; Attractive 25 Apr. 1900 env. (minor creasing) to GB with Transvaal 21⁄2d tied by Pretoria c.d.s. having a superb blue 2-ring "GEZIEN/CENSOR" d.s. on the front. Exhibition Quality.PHOTO.

£120

 

69

 

MATCHING P.O.W. COVER FROM MUD HALL CAMP WITH PURPLE BOXED CENSOR MARK; 25 May 1900 env. to GB with Transvaal 1⁄2d+2d tied by Pretoria c.d.s. having a very fine purple boxed "GEZIEN/POSTCENSOR/PRETORIA/Z.A.R." mark on the front, along with a v. fine octagonal French maritime "LA REUNION A MARSEILLE/L.V.No.4" d.s. (unusual thus). Attract ive. PHOTO.

£140

 

70

 

BRITISH P.O.W. IN BOER HANDS - WATERVAL CAMP - RARE BOXED CAMP CENSOR MARK; Stampless c.May. 1900 env. (overall slight wear; flap lost) to Scotland with a very fine initialled fancy boxed "BRIEVEN CENSUUR/Waterval Krijgsgevangenis" cachet on the front. Seldom seen.PHOTO.

£120

MILITARY - OTHER PROPERTIES

 

71

 

WAR OF THE AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION - ARMY BRITANNIQUE; 1745 (2 July) EL from Capt. Dalrymple at Gramont Camp to the earl of Loudon, London "I will not trouble you with any reflections upon our retreat since you are much more capable of making than I am I shall only beg leave to say that I think it decisive for the operations of this Campaign" etc. with v.fine circled "AB". Scarce campaign letter of exhibition quality. PHOTO.

£750

 

72

 

SUPERB HAND-COLOURED SOLDIER's PORTRAIT SENT AT THE 1d CONCESSION RATE FROM CHATHAM; Exceptionally rare 6/7 Aug. 1833 EL (some dusting and weak folds etc.; typed transcript of colloquially spelled contents) to Glasgow headed & countersigned for the Soldier's 1d Concession rate for "Thomas Russell, Gunner, the H[on] I[ndia] E[ast] Artilary [sic]", with a red manuscript "1" and London transit "PAID" d.s. on the front as well as a fine red "CHATHAM" c.d.s. on the flap; headed from "Bramanto Barracks [Chatham]", having a beautifully coloured and proficient portrait of the writer on the first sheet ("I send you my likeness to you for to keep to the memory of your son"), with the covering letter written on the other sheet announcing that the writer ("your disob[edi]ent son") was about to sail for "Beangall" [= Bengal, India]. It is known that 19th century army units sometimes included amateur artists who would provide such portraits of their fellow-soldiers on letter-sheets to be sent to families and loved ones; very few survive and this makes a dramatic Exhibition Item for any collection. [On a par with the late Martin Willcocks' 1837 pictorial naval letter-sheet sold by Cavendish in their May 200 auction (lot 871) for £2,645.] PHOTO.

£2000

 

73

 

OFFICERS LETTERS WITH SCARCE PACKET LETTER H.S. IN RED OR BLACK; Pair from same correspondence; 1860 env.to Dunkeld endorsed "Officers Letter" and "via Panama" with v.fine red "PACKET-LETTER" h.s. (Tab.P6) and rated "1/-" which was 6d. concessionary rate plus 6d. for a letter posted on the Pacific station plus similar 1861 env. to Dunkeld with fine "PACKET-LETTER" (not endorsed via Panama) rated the concessionary "6" presumably because the writer had moved back to the east coast of the Americas. A fine and scarce pair.PHOTO.

£150

 

74

 

OFFICERS LETTERS; Pair from same correspondence (faults/foxing to both) inc 1868 env. to Exeter, endorsed in pencil St. Vincent 1868", with ms. "Officer's letter" and rated "1/-" for the 1oz. concessionary rate plus similar 1869 env. endorsed in pencil "Port Royal March 23 1869". (2 items).

£120

ANTIGUA

 

75

EARLY EL TO LONDON; 1795 EL Antigua to London via Liverpool (ex Codrington correspondence) written by Langford Lovell "Wrote you by Packet advising you that in expectation of a visit from our Neighbours at Guadeloupe, Martial Law was put into force the 16th Instant and our Militia called forth and stationed on Estates contiguous to the Bays .. our mills have stopped grinding and there is an end to sugar making ...St Vincent scarce a dwelling house remains upon any one estate ...that have not been burnt by the Caribs assisted by the French .." etc. Rated "7" with a fine "LIVERPOOL/SHIP" h.s. (Tab.S1).

£120

AUSTRALIAN STATES - N.S.W.

 

76

VERY RARE PRE-1840 SOLDIER's 1d CONCESSION RATE COVER TO G.B. WITH "INDIA SOLDIERS &c/3/LONDON"; Fine 14 May 1838 EL from "Sydney, New South Wales" (long and interesting family letter from a soldier en route to duties at Launceston, Tasmania; describing Sydney, the aborigines etc. and noting the great problems of escaped convicts and murders) addressed to London; headed & countersigned for the 1d Soldier's Concession rate for a Corporal of the 51st Regiment. There is a manuscript "1" (1d prepaid) and a fair red oval "POST PAID SHIP LR./[Crown]/SYDNEY" datestamp on the front as well as a near fine large encircled "INDIA SOLDIERS &c/3/LONDON" mark, with a fair red boxed "DEAL/INDIA LETTER" on the reverse. Concession Rate covers from Australia prior to 1840 are seldom seen. PHOTO.

£750

 

77

RARE 3-LINE BOXED "PAID/AT/MARULAN" ON RARE SOLDIER's 1d CONCESSION RATE COVER TO G.B.; Fine 16 Mar,/8 Apr. 1840 EL (minor dusting) to Bolton headed & countersigned for the Soldier's 1d Concession Rate for a Private in the 80th Regiment with a spectacular array of rare & scarce postal marks; v. fine red boxed "PAID/AT/MARULAN" (White P15a; unique type for this small P.O. alone), v. fine rare unframed "INDIA SOLDIERS/3/LONDON" (Rob.In.Sol.6; 1838-40 only) and fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/SYDNEY d.s. on the front, plus v. fine black crowned oval "GENERAL POST OFFICE/SYDNEY" d.s. (8 Apr.) on the lower flap and fair red boxed London "SHIP LETTER" on the other flap. The contents (typed transcript) tell of mayhem and murder in Sydney - "...since I sent to you last there has been 2 hundred killed and murdered" - and note that the writer has just been drafted to "Towrang". Early Australian Soldiers' letters are rare. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO.

£1500

AUSTRALIAN STATES - TASMANIA

 

78