| RETURNED MAIL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1121 | KEVII RETURNED MAIL ARCHIVE - MOSTLY TO MIDLAND TOWNS FROM BIRMINGHAM; Remarkable file of 1903-6 envs. all with a single KEVII 1d red tied by Birmingham c.d.s.'s but all returned to senders with varied marks and annotations, inc. red boxed "Firm no known/449" (Leicester", red "NO SUCH/STREET/131" (Edinr.), boxed "Not to be found" (red or black; various towns), "UPPINGHAM" (and other) Squared Circles, diamond "P.B." & "L.C." Manchester marks, "E[Crown]R" Re-sealed labels, and numerous explanatory annotations. Unusual lot. (80 covers approx.). | £100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROYALTY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1122 | 1838 CORONATION: Scarce example of a ticket to the Coronation in Westminster Abbey finely-printed on pink glazed paper with embossed seal of the Earl Marshal completed in ink Her Majesty's Private Box and made out for the Comtesse d'Obriscoff; folds. Also a letter from Lord Palmerston to the Countess originally enclosed with the ticket. (2 items) | £80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1123 | 'V.R.' HOODED CIRCLE ON LATE FEE COVER: 1884 (9.May) OHMS cover addressed to Bolton franked with 1d lilac plus ‡d blue as late fee - each cancelled with a slightly over-inked strike of the scarce London hooded cds with 'V.R.' (code B); scarce thus. PHOTO. | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1124 | COLLECTION of letters & covers from various Royal Houses and Departments, mainly KGVI & QEII, inc. Balmoral, Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, Holyrood, HMYs 'Victoria & Albert' and 'Britannia', scarce Abergeldy Castle (1955 Royal fete) etc. several with cypher h.s. inc. scarce 1938 'GRI' [Morgan 3.17], mourning Es (scarcer 1927 example for Queen Alexandra's death), KGVI funeral invitation etc. plus fine autograph of Sir Edmund Hillary on Mount Everest Expedition notepaper with matching envelope (1953). Interesting lot. (50+ items) | £200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SEALS/WAFERS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1125 | MISCELLANY comprising 1849 EL ex Colombo to the MP Robert Tennent in London with (on reverse) two circular blue wafer seals each embossed with a coat of arms, 1843 env. ex Northampton to Newcastle-on-Tyne with (on reverse) oblong black/greyish blue wafer reading "Religion cannot diminish real happiness; it requires not the sacrifice of innocent pleasure but sanctifies all the enjoyments of life" and an 1842 env. to Exeter bearing 1d red with printed green/white oval "IMPROVED SAFETY ENVELOPE/MITCHELL & CO., 39 CHARING CROSS" plus a small unaddressed env. with original contents - some 14 ornamental wafer seals. A good little group. (4 items). | £100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UNIFORM 4d POSTAGE PERIOD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1126 | UNIFORM 4d POST COLLECTION: Group of ELs inc two scarce London prepaid Es with red m/s '4', 9 unpaid black m/s '4' covers (various towns inc. Lynn, Norwich, Windsor, Liverpool) one with Brighton 'W' and cancelled 'FREE', Edinburgh hand struck '1' during 4d period etc. Also Wrexham UPP hand-struck '1' on two covers. (14 items) | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EARLY LETTERS, 1565-1686 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1127 | THE ROYAL MAIL - ELIZABETHAN TREASURY WARRANT FOR A MESSENGER TO LEICESTERSHIRE; 1 Sept. 1565 ("Elizabeth anno septimo") foolscap manuscript Treasury Warrant (two small worm-holes affecting only 4 words slightly; typed transcript) signed by Queen Elizabeth I's Treasurer "Winchester", authorising payment of £2 for 15 days riding/travel at 2s-8d per day, carrying letters and a writ from London to Loughborough. Attractive example of a Treasury Warrant (that folds to fit an album page showing the full text) illustrating the high costs of royal letter-carrying in the 16th century. [Acquired in Cavendish's 10 Mar. 2001 auction; realised £857.] PHOTO. | £600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1128 | RARE "PAIEZ LE PORT 2d" CHARGE ON 'CORSINI' LETTER FROM FRANCE TO LONDON VIA RYE; Very fine and attractive 20 Feb. 1579 EL from "Lion" (= Lyons) to P. Corsini "In Londra" with the rare endorsement "P[aie]z le port deux [denares = pence] sterling" [i.e. 2d to pay] at the foot of the address. This was in fact the inland Merchant Strangers' Post rate from Rye to London, because Rye was the main port for Lyons trade at this date (via Rouen & Dieppe), and the word "sterling" proves that the rate was English. [A similar 1586 letter from the Corsini correspondence (p.copy included) show a "Paye six deniares sterling" endorsement.] This 1579 cover is one of only a handful recorded with pre-1630 postal rates not passing through Plymouth. [Ex Cavendish's 25 Jan. 2001 auction; realised £747.]PHOTO. | £700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1129 | RARE EARLY "G[roat] ‡" MERCHANT STRANGERS' POSTAL RATE ON COVER FROM COLOGNE TO LONDON; 17 Mar. 1594 EL (minor toning inside) from "Colonia" [= Cologne, Germany] to B. Corsini in "Londra" having a fine "G ‡" (‡ groat, i.e. 2d) arrival charge on the front. Good example of the lowest recorded Merchant Strangers' postal rate, believed to cover a single letter, whereas the higher recorded rates are thought to have been written on the top cover of bundles of letters to the same address. Rare early postal rate. [Ex Hugh Feldman; Cavendish 20 Oct. 2001 auction, realised £402.] PHOTO. | £260 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1130 | VERY EARLY COVER FROM "BRISTOLL" TO LONDON; Attractive 8 Sept. 1600 EL (part typed transcript; signed by "John Whitsone", Mayor of Bristol) addressed "To his very [loving] frinde Mr. Phillipe Corsyny merchant this [be] d[elivere]d, London", from "Bristoll" in very fine condition. Rare; very few pre-1660 letters from Bristol have been recorded; there were very few in the Corsini archive. [Ex Alan Gilbert; Cavendish auction, 10 Mar. 2001; realised £414.] PHOTO. | £300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1131 | RARE 'PHILIP BURLAMACHI' (ONE-TIME P.M.G.) AUTOGRAPH "franco sino mantua" LETTER FROM LONDON; 17 July 1613 EL (one word of address affected by smudge; contents in Italian) from "Londra" addressed "A Mag[istri] Neri e F[ilipp]o Corsini In Firenza" [= Florence], endorsed in a second hand "franco sino a mantua" [= "prepaid as far as Mantua"]; signed clearly by "Fil[ippo] Burlamachi", who was to become (briefly) the British Postmaster General in the early 1640s, and who may also have been the Merchant Strangers' Postmaster in London at the time this letter was written. Doubly rare; an early postal endorsement on an overseas letter from London, and the autograph of an early P.O. personality. Only a handful of Burlamachi letters were found in the Corsini archive. [Ex Cavendish's 25 Jan. 2001 auction; realised £627.] PHOTO. | £400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1132 | PRE-POST OFFICE PERIOD LETTER FROM LONDON TO ESSEX: 1622 (3 June) EL from "London" to "his asewred [= assured] good ffreind & Cosen Mr. Richard Worth these be d[elivere]d at Lucking" (near Halstead). Sent 17 years prior to the establishment of the first public postal system in Britain and hence almost certainly transported via a common carrier. Attractive. [Ex Hugh Feldman]. PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1133 | FIRST POST OFFICE PERIOD LETTER FROM CAMBRIDGE TO LONDON: The first British inland Post Office was set up in July/Aug. 1635 under Thomas Witherings and it is thought that the earliest letters carried by the system bore no postal charges, because most were to/from London & charges were specified to be collected there and in no other towns. This letter - clearly addressed "To his Loving Cosen Mr. William Hurtt at ye East Indys House in Bishopsgate streete, these [be delivered]" was sent from Cambridge and wasa therefore very likely to have been sent by this inaugural P.O. service with postage collected from the addressee. Attractive with a fine wax red seal and one of only a handful of 1635-39 inland letters that have been recorded. [Ex Martin Willcocks & Hugh Feldman]. PHOTO. | £500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1134 | SUSSEX - FIRST PUBLIC P.O. PERIOD INLAND LETTER SENT PRIVATELY TO COLLECT CASH; 22 Sept. 1638 EL from "Ewhurst" (near Battle, Sussex), to Ralph Buskin "at his house in Loose, Kent", carried by special private messenger in order to collect a large sum in cash; "I send my man...for £80" (as a loan). This letter was sent in the brief period after the start of the first British public inland postal service (in 1635) and before the chaos of the Civil War (in 1642) closed down the system. Most mail continued to be carried privately at this time, and no one trusted large sums of money in the new P.O. system. PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1135 | ENGLISH CIVIL WAR PERIOD - COVER SENT BY ROYALIST MESSENGER FROM OXFORD TO LONDON; 16/18 Feb. 1642/3 EL (minor toning; outer address-wrapper fully annotated as containing a "War[rant] from the Lord Keeper and others of his Matie's Privy Counsell for not paying the rent of the Seale Office to Sir Rich Yonge", the separate Warrant still being present) addressed "To Mr. Lucas, Secrie to the rt. hoble. ye E[arl] of Holland, or in his absence to Mr. Young at the Green Seale Office ag[ains]t [= opposite] St. Dunstan's Church" and endorsed "These with speed". The enclosure is signed by "Ed Littleton", "John Culpepere", "Edw. Nicholas" and "Jo. Bankes". It is recorded that Charles I's Privy Council were operating from Oxford at this date, and the filing note records how the letter was sent; "Delivered to me by Mr. Th. Yonge the 8th of Febr. 1642 [=1643] about 7th of the clock at night." It can be assumed that the letter was sent by Royal messenger from the Court at Oxford to London, because the postal service had already become unreliable at this time. Rare Civil War period Royalist letter. PHOTO. | £300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1136 | DEVON - ENGLISH CIVIL WAR PERIOD - PARLIAMENTARY LETTER FROM EXTER SENT VIA A LONDON "POSTMASTER"; "13 May" [filing note; dated to 1649 from other letters of the correspondence - see Martin Willcocks' description of the group, in his "England's Postal History", p.12] EL (archivally reinforced folds do not detract) from Exeter ("Just as I am taking horse at Exeter...") clearly addressed "For Mrs. Robinson at Mr. Medborne's house at the lower end of the Little Centry [= Sanctuary] neare ye Abby in Westminster". There is a highly important additional endorsement on the front; "Leave this wth Mr. Hutchins, Postmaster, at the White Hart neare Charing Cross, to be sent." This is an extraordinarily early reference to an individual Postmaster, and (see Willcocks as above, where a matching cover is illustrated, Pl.4) Edward Hutchins is indeed recorded as "Post-master at the white hart at Charing Cross in the official Jan. 1653 P.O. Notice (see Willcocks, Pl.6). It seems that the Parliamentary P.O. service from the West Country was only opened early in June 1649, so this letter may have been sent in a Government packet, i.e. Free and official. Important early British P. H. gem. [Ex Hugh Feldman; Cavendish 20 Oct. 2001 auction, realised £1,380.] PHOTO. | £1000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1137 | ENGLISH CIVIL WAR PERIOD - LETTER REF. THE POST & THE PLANNED SCOTTISH CORONATION OF KING CHARLES II; 21 Jan. 1649/50 EL (closed seal tear) clearly written from London; addressed "To his honored kinsman Mr. Richard Pershouse at Reynoldshall [near Walsall], [give] this". The letter was sent by private means and has intriguing (pro-Royalist?) contents; "I received the money...by Fourne [a carrier?] & have returned to you [herewith] by him a pound of tobacco...He had...sent them out of towns [= London, whence this letter]...you shall receive it [some gunpowder!] by Samsone the next week...By the last Post I sent a letter to you...which I hope came safely to you." There is an intriguing P.S.; "We have certain intelligence that ye King [i.e. Charles I] is to be crowned in Scotland the 23rd day of Feb. next.", which dated the letter to 1650, because Charles I was not executed until 30 Jan. 1649 and Charles II was indeed crowned in Scotland but not until 1 Jan. 1651. The PS continues; "This weeke the Par[liament] sent to the Posthouse for the Scotch Pacquet of letters..." An early reference to the State censorship of [and interfering with] the mails!! Rare thus. PHOTO. | £300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1138 | RARE NON-BISHOP MARK PERIOD COVER EX LONDON, DATED IN MAY 1661; Remarkable and very fine 21 May 1661 EL from "Drury Lane" (London) signed by "[Earl of] Clare" addressed; "For Henry Shipton at Hamstall Ridware neare Yoxall in Staffordshire." and endorsed "Leave this at the Post House in Litchfield", having a clear manuscript "pt pd 3" on the front. There is no Bishop Mark (though it was introduced only a month before this letter was sent) simply because it was only used on letters ADDRESSED TO London for the first tow years of its use (see J.G.-T.'s article on p.26 of Cavendish's June 2000 'Barrie Jay' auction catalogue). This cover is also of particular interest because the Earl, though entitled to the franking privilege was not able to send letters free until the necessary post-Restoration legislation had been passed, which occurred 3 days after this letter was sent; but then what was 3d to an Earl?! [Ex Barrie Jay; sold in Cavendish's 25 Jan. 2001 auction for £690.] PHOTO. | £400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1139 | 1662 LETTER FROM LONDON TO NORWICH WITH NO BISHOP MARK AND "COMPUTED MILEAGE" 2d RATE: 22nd Feb. 1661/2 EL from "London" to Norwich without Bishop Mark (because they were only applied to letters addressed to London until 1663). The 2d charge mark on obverse is particularly intriguing as Norwich lies some 110 miles from London and this letter should have incurred a charge of 3d (presumably resulting from the P.O.'s use of "computed" - i.e. not properly measured miles which placed Norwich some 80 odd miles from London). A rare example of a pre-1663 "Non-Bishop Mark" cover. [Ex Hugh Feldman]. PHOTO. | £200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1140 | SOMERSET - GREAT FIRE OF LONDON "LOSS OF BISHOP MARK" PERIOD COVER; 16 Nov. 1666 EL from "Nettlecombe neere Dunster [Somerset]" addressed to London and endorsed "post is pd", but without any London arrival Bishop Mark. The Bishop Marks had all burned in the Great Fire in September of 1666, and the replacement set did not come into use until late November of that year, so this is one of only three recorded post_fire Bishop Mark-less covers, and one of very few letters dated during this year to have been recorded. [Ex Hugh Feldman; sold in Cavendish's 10 Oct. 2001 auction for £805.] PHOTO. | £600 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1141 | WILTSHIRE - VERY EARLY LETTER SENT BY BYE-POST TO EGHAM, SURREY; 10 July 1667 EL (faint stains on front) from "Netherhampton" (near Wilton, Wilts.) addressed to a Privy Councillor "at West Horsley Place In Surrey" and unusually endorsed both "post Pd" and "To be left wth the PostMr of Egham". There was no need for the letter to go through London, as it was along the one road as a Bye-post letter, so there is no Bishop Mark. Such P.O.-delivered country letters are very rare as early as this. [Ex P.J. Elkins; sold in Cavendish's 11 Sept. 1998 auction for £253.] PHOTO. | £200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1142 | RARE "HOT CROSS BUN" - 1st BRITISH PROVINCIAL POSTMARK - ON COVER EX GUILDFORD; 4 June 1686 EL (filing fold across address and closed seal tear) from "Worplesdon" (small village in Surrey near Guildford) to London, charged "2" (80 miles and under) with a mostly very fine large Guildford "Hot Cross Bun" mark (one corner just affected by closed seal tear) on the side-flap beside a mostly fine "IV/7" London arrival Bishop Mark. Only 8 examples of the 1681-86 Hot Cross Bun - the very first British handstruck postal mark used outside London and Dublin - have been recorded in private hands (with two others in the archives), of which only two examples of this largest (1686) size. This is one of the finest strikes. [Ex Martin Willcocks & Michael Jackson; illustrated in colour in the May 2000 'Cavendish Chronicle' and sold in our June 2000 auction for £1,092.] PHOTO. | £750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LONDON GENERAL POST INITIALS//NUMBERS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1143 | ALICE GRONE - DOTTED-CIRCLE "G" MARK ON COVER ILLUSTRATED IN 1905 P.H. BOOK; 4 Nov. 1682 EL from "Feens [House]" (near White Waltham, Hants.; carried privately to London for posting) to Bristol charged "3" with a fine "NO/7" Bishop Mark and mostly v. fine fancy dotted-circular frame "G" mark (filing crease) used by Alice Grone the Receiver at Temple Gate. Few examples of this distinctive mark are known. This actual cover was illustrated in part in John Hendy's pioneer 1905 book "The History of the Early Postmarks of the British Isles" (p. copy included of p.51). [Ex Hugh Feldman; sold in Cavendish's Oct. 2001 auction for £276.] PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1144 | EARLY ENCIRCLED "WR" (RARE), "PA" & "LL" (RARE) GENERAL POST R.H. MARKS; 1699/1702 pair of ELs from London to Edinr./Suffolk with mostly fine Bishop Marks plus very fine encircled "WR" (William Rumball; Russell St. Covent Garden; the only recorded example?) and "LL" (John Lloyd?; the only recorded example?); plus 1692 EL to Rotterdam with v. fine brown encircled "PA" mark alone on the reverse. Attractive trio. [All ex Feldman, the last two ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO. | £160 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1145 | RARE R.H. INITIALS MARK STRUCK IN RED INK, MATCHED WITH BLACK EXAMPLE; Fine 2 Nov. 1736 EL from London to Chester with v. fine black Bishop Mark on the lower flap beside a very fine Samuel Harding (St. Martins Lane) "SH" in circle STRUCK IN RED; very few RH marks are known struck in red - Exhibition Quality. Plus 19 Nov. 1740 EL to Brussels with very fine black strike of the matching "SH" in circle mark. Rare pair. [Ex Hugh Feldman; sold in Cavendish's Oct. 2001 auction for £218.] PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1146 | THE MYSTERIOUS & UNEXPLAINED "2" MARKS - IN CIRCLE, IN SQUARE & INTAGLIO; June/Dec. 1786 pair of ELs from Marlborough/Oxford to Hackney/Clapton with fine strikes of Barrie Jay's Fig. 1408 & Fig.1408a on their flaps respectively; plus May 1812 EL from Gloucester Place to the "Foundling Hospital" with a fine to v. fine black intaglio "2 (reversed)" mark (not listed by Jay) on front and back. Could they all be connected with Inspectors of Difficult addresses in the London P.O.?? Rare trio. [All ex Hugh Feldman.] PHOTO. | £200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1147 | "G" (GENERAL OFFICE) & "T" (TEMPLE OFFICE) "PENNY POST/NOT PAID" + TIME MARKS; 1775/86 E/EL (latter ex Aberdeen) with mostly very fine strikes of the 2-ring "PENNY POST/T/NOT PAID" mark (v. scarce; with "O'CLOCK/10/T" - both on the front) or "PENNY POST/G/NOT PAID" mark (on the front; with creased "O'CLOCK/7/G" on the reverse). Good pair. (2 covers). [Both ex Hugh Feldman; first also ex Grace Dove.] PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LONDON'S RARE NAMED R.H. MARKS, 1769-99 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1148 | ALLEN - FANCY 2-RING "STATIONER/ALLEN" MARK; c.1775 local EL with almost very fine 2-ring "ALLEN/STATIONER" mark on the flap beside manuscript "Hales" (? an employee of the shop?) beside very fine small encircled Temple Office "O'CLOCK/1/T" mark, having faint 'Dockwra' mark nearby. Rare example of a profession being included in a named RH mark. [Ex Hugh Feldman.] PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1149 | ANDERSON - RARE "STAR" MARK; 5 Aug. 1788 EL to Nottingham with very fine "ANDERSON*" mark on the flap beside London c.d.s. and near fine large "W/WE" 'Dockwra' mark. Very few known. PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1150 | "BALL" & "CURRIE" MARKS ON PAIR OF COVERS; 1780 E (ex overseas? - to the S.P.G.) & 1783 EL (to Leek) with fine or near fine "W/SA" Westminster 'Dockwra' marks on the reverse beside mostly fine very scarce "BALL" and "CURRIE" Receivers' name marks. Both very seldom seen. (2 covers). | £100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1151 | TOTTERIDGE (MIDDX.) - EARLY & RARE TINY HANDSTRUCK "BEN/NET" RH MARK; 8 Nov. 1769 EL (?from Totteridge) to Essex with very fine rare tiny "BEN/NET" mark (the only recorded example?; very early for a handstruck name) on the flap beside a very fine "REVERSED N" in "PENY" Temple "T/MO" 'Dockwra' mark; plus 9 Oct. 1777 EL from "Totteridge Park" to Bedfordshire with manuscript "Bennett" and fine normal Temple "T/TH" 'Dockwra' mark (ink mark). Good pair. PHOTO. | £200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1152 | CADE & JONES - SCARCE HANDSTRUCK NAME MARKS INC. 'EXPERIMENTAL' D.S. ON LOCAL MAIL; 1775 EL with mostly fine rare h.s. "JONES" (only known example?) beside poor "W/SA" 'Dockwra' on the flap; plus 5 June 1794 EL with very fine "CADE" on the front, having rare black indented-frame 'Experimental' "7 o'Clock/5…JU…94" d.s. (Jay 402; only recorded June/July 1794) on the lower flap. (2 covers). PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1153 | EASTERBY + FRITH - SCARCE LOCAL MAIL RH MARKS; 1777/75 pair of local ELs with mostly fine "EASTERBY" (rare; across the join) and almost very fine "FRITH" (rare) on the reverses, with v. fine Westminster "W/WE" 'Dockwra' across the join beside the latter. PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1154 | 2-RING "GT. KNIGHT RIDER ST/Crick-/itt" GENERAL POST RH MARKS ON FREE MAIL; 7/21 Apr. 1791 large part E and EL franked from London to Horsham/Morpeth each with red 3-ring "FREE/A" narrow diameter c.d.sPHOTO.PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1155 | HAILSTONE - RARE FRAMED RH MARK; 1784 EL to Deptford from "Farnham" (Surrey; carried privately to London) with mostly very fine rare brown framed "HAILSTONE" mark (only known 1783-4) on the flap beside poor 'Dockwra' and Time marks. PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1156 | LARGE "MARTIN" MARKS ON PAIR OF COVERS; Sept. 1795 EL from Cheyne Walk (Chelsea) to Chancery Lane endorsed "Not pd" with a near fine rare "CHELSEA/-3-" RH mark along with a mostly very fine large "MARTIN" mark both on the front; plus attractive July 1799 EL to Chard with mostly v.fine large "MARTIN" mark and very fine red triangular "Penny Poft/Not Paid" mark both on the front. Good matched pair on local and General Post letters. (2 covers). PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1157 | MORGAN - RARE FRAMED MARK; May 1773 EL from "Norwich" (privately carried to London) with mostly very fine framed "MORGAN" RH name (just across the join; only known 1773-77) on the reverse beside a partly fine 'Dockwra' mark. Seldom seen. PHOTO. | £100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1158 | GENERAL POST "Partington" AND RARE MATCHING "RP" IN CIRCLE RH MARKS, ETC.; Oct. 1760 EL from "Cooks Hall" to Surrey with almost very fine unique? encircled chalky black "RP" on the reverse; used by Richard Partington for only 1760. Plus 1772 EL with the better known chalky black "Partington" mark (recorded 1761-82) on the reverse. Good pair. [Both ex Hugh Feldman.] Also 1725/91 pair of ELs with near fine "T/MO" and mostly fine "G/MO" 'Dockwra' marks. (4 covers). PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1159 | THE VERY RARE RED HANDSTRUCK "P-BROKE" RECEIVERS NAME MARK: 1780 (Dec.) EL with partly fine "T/MO" Dockwra mark beside a very fine blood-red "P-BROKE" mark across the join on the reverse. It is very unusual for Receivers' names to be struck in red ink & this is the most attractive of the few we have encountered. Exhibition quality. PHOTO. | £240 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1160 | PRICE - MATCHED PAIR OF HANDSTRUCK & MANUSCRIPT RH NAMES ON COVERS; 1783/85 pair of ELs with mostly very fine rare "Price." mark (only known example?) and manuscript "Price" respectively. Rare matched pair. (2 covers). PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1161 | REEVE & WILLERTON - HANDSTRUCK RH NAME MARKINGS; 1772/73 pair of local ELs with near fine "WILLERTON" and almost very fine large "REEVE" (across the join; only known for 1773), having fair Westminster "W/TV" & "T/TH" 'Dockwra' marks alongside. (2 covers). PHOTO. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1162 | SHARROCK - RARE (UNIQUE?) HANDSTRUCK "Sharrock" RH NAME MARK ON REDIRECTED COVER; Apr. 1783 EL from "YORK" (overstruck straight-line on flap) to London & redirected to Tooting with a very fine "Sharrock" mark (light folds; only recorded example?) on the lower flap beside a very fine Temple Office "T/SA" 'Dockwra' mark. Exhibition Item. PHOTO. | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1163 | SOLDEN - MATCHED PAIR OF SMALL & LARGE HANDSTRUCK RH NAME MARKS; 1788/91 pair of locaL ELs with mostly very fine strikes of the small (rare; 1788 only) and large (scarce; flap removed) "SOLDEN" marks on the reverse; the former with poor 'Dockwra' mark alongside. Rare matched pair. (2 covers). PHOTO. | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1164 | WALTER - FANCY FRAMED RH NAME MARK + BELVIDERE PLACE EX PRISONS, ETC.; 1782 EL (flap faults) from "Fleet Market" (Prison) with mostly fine rare fancy framed "WALTER" mark, 1803 E with partly fine rare double-boxed "Charing/Crofs" mark with tiny "G. JAMISON" above the frame (rare), and 1834 EL (some staining) with fine red (scarce colour) framed Debtors' Prison "Belvide/ Ple/S" RH mark. Good trio. Plus a print of the King's Bench prison. (4 items). | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LONDON POSTAL HISTORY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1165 | MISCELLANY INC. BISHOP MARKS etc: Interesting group of covers written up on leaves inc. (1831) rare RED zig-zag erasure mark on E transferred to 3d post, 1737 fine Westminster Dockwra on E, various Bishop Marks inc. early example c1670s plus 1786 cover with London & Edinburgh marks, various PAID marks inc. 1859 small cds on incoming Belgian cover and Penny, 2d & 3d Post marks etc. Good lot. (39 items) | £180 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1166 | MISCELLANY: Small binder with selection of pre-stamp covers with variety of London Penny and Twopenny Post marks etc.inc. range of receiving houses inc. fine boxed 'Holborn/Hill'(2 types) and '2' handstamps, various PAID marks, large FREE EL etc. (67 items) | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1167 | MISCELLANY: Interesting group of pre-stamp covers and fronts c1808-56, showing a good range of Penny and Twopenny Post marks, a variety of hand-struck '2' & '3' marks, various PAID marks, inspector's crown (1839) and star (1828) etc. Inspection recommended. (61 items) | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1168 | MISCELLANY inc. 1755 EL to Holborn with m/s 'Harford' Receiver's mark, part 1827 E to Cornwall with double- framed "PUT IN AFTER/7 O CLOCK AT NIGHT" in red, 1830 EL ex Cockermouth (horseshoe mark across flap) to Hackney bearing fine boxed "T…P/Rate/2" and 1835 EL from House of Commons (fine red wax 'Library' seal) to Tottenham with fair blue "T.P." of Bridge Street, Westminster. Also ESSEX - WALTHAM ABBEY/CROSS inc. Waltham Cross Penny Post (4 types), step-framed "T. P./Waltham Abbey" on 1835 EL to Lutterworth,, "UPSHIRE" 1905 village c.d.s., 1909 (2) & 1914 (2) skeletons, Krag machine cancellation, PPCs etc. (61 items). | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1169 | QUEEN ELIZABETH I - QUEEN's EXPRESS CHAMBER MESSENGER INVOICE FOR LOCAL LONDON LETTER; Remarkable Dec. 1598 receipted invoice (some dusting and one fold affects Waad's signature; small insignificant piece cut away at foot) for travelling expenses for "Thomas Fynnett one of the Messengers of her Matie's Chamber" for being sent in haste (presumably with a letter) from the Court at Whitehall to "Alderman Bennett's at his house in Alderman Burye" [City of London]; this took just over a day in all (presumably he waited for a reply) and so the charge claimed was 3s-4d (at 2s-8d per day). Boldly signed as authorised by the Queen's Secretary of State "Ro. Cecyll", and by "W. Waad" (Clerk of the Privy Council). Unusual for two reasons; such Warrants for Royal Messengers are seldom seen for local London mail, and they seldom concern Messengers of the Chamber such as this. PHOTO. | £500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1170 | BISHOP MARKS COLLECTION INC. COVER WITH EX SPAIN TO EDINR. WITH 3 DIFFERENT BISHOP MARKS; 1674 EL to Leicester endorsed "Pt Pd 3d" with v. fine London Bishop across the join (one flap cut for display of whole mark) endorsed via "the Angel in Leicester", 1684/99 pair to Edinr. with v. fine London Bishops, 1699/1700 pair from Amsterdam/Bordeaux to London with v. fine Foreign Branch Bishops, other pre-1750 London types, and a 1786 EL from Cadiz to Edinr. with mostly very fine London "IY/20" (FB) and "20/IY" (inland) and red "JY/24" (Edinr.) Bishops. Good lot. (10 covers). | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1171 | BISHOP MARK: 1698 EL (edge loss, discoloured filing crease) ex France with s/l DE S.MALO and fine seal, addressed to London with Foreign Branch 'NO/21' and 2/6 (?) charge. | £40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1172 | SET OF 'EXPERIMENTAL' BISHOP MARKS ON COVERS; 1787 trio with mostly very fine 2-ring "JANUARY/K/19" (only in use for 10 days!), "FEBY./L/19" and "MARCH/B/28" Experimental Bishop Marks nicely placed on their flaps; other marks inc. red "EAST/GRINSTEAD", "84 FAIR/FORD" 1st-Type Mileage and "BRECK/NOCK". Rare set of these month (or less) only marks used only on mail addressed TO London. (3 covers). [All ex 'T.M.S. Collection'.] PHOTO. | £200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1173 | RARE THREE-LINE "G.P.O./GT.SURRY ST./B.F.R." MARK: 1793 EL to Edinburgh with a very fine strike of the rare Blackfriars Road Receiving House mark on the lower left flap (Jay L77a). Rare thus. [Ex Hugh Feldman]. PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1174 | RARE TWO-LINE "G.P.O./WAPPING" R.H. MARK: 1793 EL (some toning) to Aberdeen with a very fine (but overstruck) impression of this rare mark (Jay L77c) on the flap. [Ex Hugh Feldman]. | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1175 | RARE FOREIGN BRANCH TO PENNY POST "PP" TRANSFER MARK ON COVER EX PORTUGAL; Jan./Mar. 1794 EL (faults affect address panel but clear of marks) from "Massarraiolos" (Portugal; near Lisbon) to Wimpole Street in London charged "1/6" with a mostly fine "MR/3" Foreign Branch Bishop Mark on the flap beside a matching black small Handstruck "PP" mark (Jay L1024) which is now recognised as the 1794 forerunner of the rare F.B. "PP/[year]" in circle marks. Only a handful of examples of this first plain "PP" mark - indicating that the letter was to be transferred from the FB PO to the local Penny Post letter-carriers for delivery at no extra charge. Plus pair of 1793(?) ELs ex the same correspondence but without any PP marks. (3 covers). PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ** | 1176 | RARE FOREIGN BRANCH OVAL-FRAMED "ST" MARK ON COVER EX VIENNA TO LONDON; 6 Dec. 1799 EL from "Vienna" to London with Austrian (?) red crayon "4"(?) rate on the front with British "1/-" black rate, having a mostly fine oval-framed "ST" mark (Jay L1057c/1058?; exact size and whether the frame is single or double is not clear) on the front, matching the 2-ring 23 Jan. 1800 London F.B. "FOREIGN OFFICE" c.d.s. on the reverse. Rare; the similar 1806 cover in Cavendish's Apr. 2005 auction realised £391. This mark's meaning is not yet known, but "Swiss Transit" has been suggested. PHOTO. | £240 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1177 | TRIAL "7" DUPLEX CANCELLATION: 1862 (3 March) env from London to Devonport bearing LC14 1d cancelled with two strikes of the trial "CR/LONDON" duplex "7" cancellation. See page 228 of Parmenter. PHOTO PLATE 18 A | £100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1178 | RAILWAY INTEREST: KEVII ‡d wrapper with Krag machine & double ring c.d.s. of "LONDON E.C." addressed to the London office of the Derbyshire firm H. J. Enthoven & Son with fine oval cachet "ACCOUNTS OFFICE/G.E.R./GOODS STATION/BISHOPSGATE" in violet & superb "ROTHERHITHE/ 1.30PM/SP 20/09/S.E." c.d.s. and somewhat crumpled env. endorsed 'Via RAILEX' to London, W.1 with red/white label "EXPRESS./To be handed to/POST OFFICE MESSENGER/at [Liverpool Street]/Station" & matching B.R. paid parcel label from "BROXBOURNE &/HODDESDON" cancelled by B.R.'s depÙt there in April 1961. (2 covers). | £60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1179 | REDIRECTED MAIL:1880 (25 Aug) env from London to Horsey redirected to Stoke newing ton with a large array of h.s. and m/s notes inc "to go as addressed", "Not at 2 Shakespeare Rd Stoke Newington and "No such Road in Hornsey", h.s. inc circular framed "M/N D/H" in two sizes. | £70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COFFEE HOUSE MAIL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1180 | BRISTOL & PORTSMOUTH etc.: Rare letter headed 'Assembly CoffeeHouse, Bristol' (1835) addressed to Poole; 1841 EL addressed from the Parade Coffee House,Portsmouth plus scarce free front addressed to the same establishment; 1713 document referring to 'the upper halfe moon Coffee-house in Norwich'; 1776 -79 printed receipts (2) for rent due at the Coffee House in Kendal. (6 items) | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1181 | CARLISLE: Scarce group of covers addressed to the Coffee House, Carlisle inc. 1806-13 pair of ELs ex London or Bolton with fine clear addresses, 1816 EL to Glasgow written from the Carlisle Coffee House, fine 1828 printed bill headed 'Irving's Crown & Mitre Inn and Coffee House, Carlisle' etc. (5 items) PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1182 | EDINBURGH: Early (1755) E addressed to John's Coffee House, Edinburgh plus another (1811) privately-carried to the Royal Exchange Coffee House; printed sale advice headed 'Royal Exchange Coffee House' (1827) plus an 1831 receipted account from the same Coffee House etc. (6 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 A | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1183 | LONDON - BRIDGE'S COFFEE HOUSE: 1734-39 Pair of ELs ex Amsterdam and addressed 'to be left at Bridges's Coffee House in Cornhill, London' with '10' or '18' charge marks. (2 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 A | £100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1184 | LONDON A - G : 1790 E addressed to Anderson's Coffee House with s/l SALISBURY on reverse; 1792-97 pair of ELs addressed to Batson's,Cornhill, the later with fine s/l BIRMINGHAM; 1769 E with s/l LOUTH addressed to the Bedford Coffee House, Covent Garden. (6 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 A | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1185 | LONDON - C : Interesting group of covers addressed to or from Coffee houses inc. (1796) E ex Oswestry to 'Cannon Coffee House, Cock Spur Street', a rare item addressed to the 'Cocoa Tree Club' in St James' Street (1828) plus an early (1728) EL ex Grimsby to the Crown in Smithfield. Also letters from the Carolina (1808), Clement's Inn (1730) & Coulson's ( 1819). (7 items) | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1186 | LONDON - F : Unusual part-printed invitation to a Masonic meeting at Forrest's Coffee House (1739) with fine London Dockwra mark; also two Es addressed to Furnival's Inn Coffee House (1821-35) plus a letter (1838) written from there. (4 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 A | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1187 | LONDON - G : Substantial group of letters addressed to Coffee Houses inc. Garraways (1759 ex Ipswich), George's (1757 ex Bristol; 1795 ex Oxford; 1808 Welshpool auction bill), the Grecian (1780 with s/l BRISTOL; 1781 with mainly fine SWANZEY) and two to Grey's Inn (1819-36). Also letters written from the Grecian (1773 with m/s 'Missent to Stevenage') & Grey's Inn (1814). (11 items) | £160 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1188 | LONDON - JAMAICA COFFEE HOUSE: Trio of Es addressed to the Jamaica Coffee House inc. (1761) ex Lisbon endorsed 'per the Antelope M of W', 1768 E from New York with part fine BRISTOL/SHIP LRE and (1779) EL ex Bengal with similar LONDON/SHIP LRE mark. Also (1802) a letter written from the Jamaica and (1828) a printed shipping notice directing enquiries to the Coffee House. (5 items0 | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1189 | LONDON - J : 1808 EL ex India addressed to a ship and forwarded to the Jerusalem Coffee House, London; also 1792 E addressed to 'Joe's Coffee House, Miter [sic] Court, Fleet Street'. Scarce pair. (2 items) | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1190 | LONDON - L-M: Good group of covers addressed to Limmer's Hotel (1834 Free), 1814 EL ex Gosport to Lloyd's Coffee House concerning an appeal fund for service-men imprisoned in France plus two other items to Lloyd's, an 1831 E to the London Coffee House and an 1812 EL with Newport Pagnell mileage mark to the short-lived Millington's in Holborn. Also letters written from Limmer's, Lloyd's and the London. (10 items) | £160 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1191 | LONDON - N : Very early (c1690) EL addressed to Ned's Coffee House, Birchin Lane; 1800 E with s/l PORTSMOUTH to the New England Coffee House plus another (1802) E ex Liverpool and (1811) ex Rochdale; two ELs to New Hummums at Covent Garden (1822-33) and an 1819 letter regarding coffee and the New Exchange. (7 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 A | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1192 | LONDON - O :Scarce trio inc. 1708 EL ex Edinburgh (early Edinburgh Bishop Mark) addressed to an MP at Old Man's Coffee House with remarkable wax seal; 1795 letter from Old Slaughter's Coffee House to Ulverstone and 1784 letter from the Oxford Coffee House to Anglesey. (3 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 A | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1193 | LONDON - P : Good group of covers addressed to Coffee Houses inc. Parliament Street (3, 1794-1811), rare and early Pensilvnia (1738) with partial Bristol 'B' , the Piazza (1831, ex Grantham) and the Prince of Wales (1818) - the last particularly uncommon. Also two letters from the Piazza (1829). (8 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 B | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1194 | LONDON - R : Good early (1724) EL addressed to Richard's Coffee House 'near Temple Bare' from Doncaster and another (1813) with Aylesbury mileage; 1765 E ex Sudbury to Roll's in Chancery Lane, a fine KENDAL (1773), MOR/PETH (c1760) & BRECKNOCK (c1790) on three further Es; also a rare early (1724) EL to the Royal and a letter (1797) concerning a meeting at the Royal Exchange. (8 items) | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1195 | LONDON - S : Good lot of covers addressed to coffee houses inc. (1723) St Dunstan's, Fleet Street, St Paul's (2, 1821-22), the Salopian (3, 1793-1802 inc. two with s/l BATH, the third with NAMPTWICH mileage), Searle's (2, 1723), scarce Somerset (1830) and Sussex (1812). Also letters from the Stratford (1818) and remarkably late (1845) item from the St. Paul's. (12 items) | £200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1196 | LONDON - T-W : Very early (c1715) s/l LINCOLN on E to Tom's Coffee House, Covent Garden; 1821 E to the Tavistock with Spilsby mileage; 1750 EL to Tom's, Devereux Court, with weak HERE/FORD; s/l WORCESTER on 1790 E to Wills Coffee House plus 1820 E to the same address with Stamford mileage. Also letters written from Tom's (1828), the Turk's Head (1806) and fine 1751 item ex the West Indies Coffee House with fine Dockwra mark. (8 items) PHOTO PLATE 18 B | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1197 | LONDON - YOUNG BRITISH COFFEE HOUSE: 1733 Attractive EL addressed from Castleton (Derbyshire) to the Young British Coffee House, Ludgate (unrecorded by Lillywhite) with v.fine s/l DERBY. PHOTO. | £100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1198 | RARE LONDON FOREIGN BRANCH 'P' ON INCOMING COFFEE HOUSE MAIL: 1713 E (addressee's surname inked out; no contents but presumably from France or Italy) addressed to Searle's Coffee House, Chancery Lane , endorsed 'Via Lione' and struck with the mysterious encircled 'P' mark used at the London Foreign Branch - few examples recorded. Also (1805) letter to the Bolt & Tun Inn, another to the Cock & Bottle at Leeds (1839, oval PAID/AT/WAKEFIELD) plus various prints. (15 items) | £150 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ENGLISH COUNTIES MIXED POSTAL HISTORY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1199 | MIDLANDS COUNTIES: Miscellany of marks on cover inc. s/l mileages of Stourbridge, Louth, Whitchurch & Stockport plus curved red 'STOCKPORT/J79', s/l STONE on 1798 redirected EL, large Chester cds mileage (1804), Uniform Fourpenny Post period EL ex Evesham (sellotape repair), 1844 handstruck '1' of Ironbridge, Coleford Penny Post item, various Birmingham marks etc. (31 items) | £120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1200 | NORTH OF ENGLAND: Useful range of Liverpool marks on cover c1802-56 inc. various types of ship letter mark, 2 types of fine boxed PAID AT/LIVERPOOL (1831-8), mileage cds, forwarded FREE EL (1836), s/l OXFORD ST h.s. etc. Also good NEWCASTLE/UPON TYNE (1791) and Yorkshire covers & fronts with SOWERBY-BRIDGE UDC in green, Hull large '1d' h.s. etc. Mixed condition. (57 items) | £140 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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