561 RARE BRITISH POW MAIL EX N. KOREAN CAMPS + N. KOREAN FORCES' MAIL; 1951/53 trio of stampless POW envs. to GB with varied cachets and last with British censor label; plus c.1951/3 group of 5 stampless North Korean forces' (?) OAS envs. with varied chops/marks. Scarce group. Plus 1961 PC ex N. Korea (N.N.S.C.) to Canada. (9 covers). PHOTO £150
562 SOUTH KOREAN FORCES' MILITARY MAIL, ETC.; c.1950-3 Collection of mostly stampless OAS envs. ex various S. Korean APOs (Nos. include 052, 101, CTC 51, 117, 105, 111, 110, 92, 91, 96, 99, 98, 207, and 102), 1953 stamped soldier's env. ex rear guard (not entitled to free mail!), and 3 UN period envs. ex APOs 51, 116 & 151. Scarce lot. (40 covers). £140
563 KOREAN WAR BRITISH FIELD POST OFFICES COLLECTION; Remarkable c.1950-5 group of covers all ex British forces in Korea inc. wide range of FPOs, etc.; 158, 406, 740, 790, 948, 707, 734, 376, 798, etc.; plus aerial propaganda leaflet, registered mail, 'Honour' envs., AIr Letters, etc. Some stampless but mostly with GB KGVI/QEII frankings. Much still unsorted; ideal nucleus for further study and expansion. (c.159 items). £300
564 KOREAN WAR - THE ONLY RECORDED COVER FROM A BRITISH SOLDIER SENT FREE UNDER PUBLIC LAW 609:1953 (15 July) env with m/s "FREE AIRMAIL" from Osaka Army Hospital to London with a good "PL609" h.s. which was used on mail sent by wounded troops evacuated to Japan from Korea who were entitled to free postage. Believed to be the only example from a British soldier..PHOTO PLATE 23A £100
565 KOREAN WAR - THE BRITISH NAVY COLLECTION; c.1950-5 covers/cards inc. wide range of ships' cachets, many AIr Letters, Fleet Mail cancels, a few with US connections, Aug, 1953 double-oval "NAVAL OFFICER IN CHARGE/KURE" (creasing), 1953 large env. with both oval "NAVAL STORES OFFICER/HONG KONG" and Australian Base PO No.8 c.d.s., etc. Scarce group. (35 items). £120
566 KOREAN WAR - NON-BRITISH EUROPEAN CONTINGENTS' MAIL; Unusual c.1950-5 Collection of forces mail from other European contingents in the war; Belgian, 7), Danish (3; Red Cross ship), French (9), German (2; Red Cross), Greek (2), Italian (1), Netherlands (6), Norwegian (2), Swedish (Red Cross); many routed via US APOs and almost all from small units so a very scarce lot. Plus several souvenir Korean/UN miniature 'sheets'. Good lot. (48 items). £140
567 KOREAN WAR - AUSTRALIAN FORCES MAILS INC. VARIED A.P.O. CANCELS, ETC.; c.1950-4 covers/cards (& 2 red P.O. Bag tags), and a few pieces. Scarce lot with some RAAF marks, HMA SHIPS marks (some via US/British POs), regd. envs. etc. APO numbered c.d.s.'s noted include 216, 453, 495, 388, 8 Base, 080 (1946), 497, 512, 214, etc. Also a few pieces and 7 PPCs. Remarkable lot worthy of further research. (85 items). £150
568 KOREAN WAR - CANADIAN & U.S. FORCES' MAILS; c.1950-4 Collection inc. a good range of scarce Canadian "CFPO" & "CAPO" marks (latter with 31950 oval d.s.'s; one stampless OAS, the others tying GB frankings); plus a similar number of items ex US forces with machines, duplexes, scarce regd. 2-rings, Air Force items, instructionals, etc. Good lot. (74 items). £150
569 KOREAN WAR-THE RARE US APO PORTAL FOR POSTAL ERROR ETC:1951 3c env uprated with 1c & 2c used from A.P.O. 25 to USA with the rare error "PORTAL" for "POSTAL" in duplex error. Also 1950 (26 Nov) env from 41, Independent Commando, BFMO, Tokyo to St Ives with a fine "U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE.1052/A.P.O. duplex. (2 covers). PHOTO PLATE 23A £100
570 KOREAN WAR - NEW ZEALAND FORCES' MAIL INC. VARIED APO/FPO CANCELS, ETC.; c.1950-4 covers inc. Air Letters etc with FPO c.d.s.'s, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 444 (several inc. four scarce 1951 oval types in black, green & blue), HQ marks, etc.; mostly stampless but several GB/Australian frankings and a few NZ. Difficult lot to assemble. (47 items). £140
571 KOREAN WAR - OTHER SMALLER NATIONS' CONTINGENTS' MAIL; c.1950-5 covers ex scarce groups inc. the Contingents of Ethiopia (3), India (11), Philippines (1), South Africa (11; good lot), Thailand (1), and Turkey (1). Good lot; very hard to find mail from these smaller countries' contingents. (40 items). £120
572 KOREAN WAR AERIAL PROPAGANDA LEAFLETS & POST-WAR FORCES' MAIL; c.1954-82 mixture of covers inc. 7 items of scarce aerial propaganda aimed at POWs in the North, in Russian, in the name of neutral Sweden, "safe passes", etc., and a good range of post-War UN-period mail, mostly e British FPO but inc. a couple of US and other countries. Intriguing study. (55 items). £100
573 NORTH KOREAN MAIL:c1954 local env franked with 1950 rouletted 1wn sage green. 1956 env from Goree to Budapest with 1952 Heroes 70wn, Peace Propaganda 20wn and 1954 Pagoda 5wn on reverse. .(2) PHOTO PLATE 23A £100
JAPAN
574 WORLD WAR II - SPECIAL MILITARY COMMEMORATIVE PPCs & CANCELS; c.1942-5 lot inc. cto env. with purple plane/tank cancel, similar but addressed env. with plain c.d.s., and collection of unused Military Picture Postcards with wide range of subjects inc. Borneo, Sourabaya, Java, Rangoon, Pearl Harbour, Pacific Is.(?), etc. Scarce group. (22 covers/cards). £100
575 THE ATOM BOMB - MAIL TO/FROM THE A-BOMB FORCES IN THE WEEK OF HIROSHIMA; 9 & 10 Aug. 1945 Air Letter and V-Mail form both to the same GB address from Commander D. Bird on HMS 'Duke of York' at Guam, 3 and 4 days after the Bomb had been dropped by a plane flying from Guam; "Well, this atomic bomb is a fact...it is rather ghastly to contemplate even, 150,000 people killed in two seconds; that sort of thing is awful whoever they are & whatever they may have done." and "Big ceremony on board this morning when the C in C invested Ad[miral]. Nimitz with the GCB." Plus 17 Aug. 1945 env. ex US to the "U.S.S. Indianapolis", the ship that had taken the A Bomb to Guam, which was sunk on her return voyage before the surrender of Japan on 14 Aug.; marked "Returned to Sender..." Moving trio. (3 covers). PHOTO PLATE 23A £150
576 JAPANESE SURRENDER DAY - 2 SEPT. 1945 CELEBRATORY SHIPS' CACHETS; Unusual Collection of covers (6 stampless - one being OHMS to GB - the others with US, Australian & GB frankings) all with fancy locally made celebratory cancels, inc. USS Missouri, HMS Duke of York (3), HMAS Shropshire (2), USS Wilkes Barre & "Nippon Amphibious Forces". Good lot. (16 covers). PHOTO PLATE 23B £240
577 POST-WAR "RAFPOST" MARKS USED IN JAPAN INC. REGD. MAIL, ETC.; Collection of 1946-48 covers with mostly fine to v. fine "RAFPOST" c.d.s.'s, inc. Nos. 11, 320, 321 & 322 (+ one unidentified in purple) with varied frankings (GB, Australian BCOF, or Indian) or stampless OAS; three are registered (with boxed purple "R.A.F.P.O. 321", "R.A.F.P.O. 322" or "RAFPOST/JAPAN 11" R marks. Good variety. (23 covers). £120
578 ALLIED FORCES MAIL DURING POST-WAR OCCUPATION OF JAPAN; c.1946-56 Collection of over 100 covers with wide range of Allies FPO cancels with many scarce registered covers; the vast majority being Australian APOs, but inc. strong section of US APOs, as well as 9 scarce Indian FPOs, only 13 British FPOs, and 13 scarce New Zealand APOs. Good basis for further expansion. (109 covers + 7 stamps/pieces). [Much ex George Crabb.] £300
579 BALANCE OF THE JAPAN WWII & POST-WORLD WAR II COLLECTION INC. POW CARD, APOs, ETC.; 1943/5 ingoing POW env. & PC (scarce 1˝d P. Stat. PC with FPO c.d.s.) ex GB to POWs at Kawasaki & Hakodate POW Camps, 21 Mar. 1946 stampless OAS PPC (of writer's ship 'Strathmore') to NZ with NZ APO 222 c.d.s. ("Passed Hiroshima couple of days ago"), Dec. 1945 parcel form with India 1r +4as + 1a tied by British FPO 260 c.d.s.'s, 1947 Indian FPO 112 env., and scarce 1952-4 trio with British Fleet Mail Office cancels. (11 covers). £100
INDO-CHINA
580 FRENCH MILITARY MAIL: Box with ranges of covers ex French troops in Indochina c1945-56 with various FPO cancellations & cachets, also Indian Army FPO material inc. used from Laos & Cambodia plus later material from international peace-keeping forces in the area. (Qty) £200
AUSTRALIA
581 FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN WAR ARTIST, LIEUT. A. MOORE - WAR LETTERS TO HIS WIFE REF. BELSEN, ETC., ETC.; 1944/45 group of Air Letters all written by Moore and sent to his wife back in Australia from varied allied FPOs around Europe where he was commissioned by the army to record the Allied trials, tribulations & successes towards the end of the war; of particular note is 31 Apr. 1945 letter referring to his visit to Belsen Concentration Camp where he painted some shocking factual images; "While I was painting (or sketching I should say) in the Belsen Horror Camp, my photograph was taken for the press and particulars were taken; I think it may appear in Australian papers, but I wouldn't like you to see it as I am sure the surroundings are far too horrible, but it is a good thing for people to know just what has been going on." Remarkable and historic lot. With photos (+ negatives) of Moore and several of his famous paintings (inc. one of Belsen). (14 covers). £150
582 ILLUSTRATED ENVELOPES APPARENTLY FROM AUSTRALIAN FORCES IN ENGLAND:1943 (15 May) env from West Norwood to NSW with a fine water colour of a British Sergeant marching . 1943 (17 June) env from Camberwell to Sydney with a watercolour picture of a flag against a cloudy sky. However the reverse of each has magnificent and striking water colours of a seated nurse giving the thumbs up sign (one has the caption ?WE?VE GOT VON ARNIM! KEEP THE FLAG FLYING?) both are initialled ?HW 43?. An exceptional pair. PHOTO £140
583 THE R.A.F. IN AUSTRALIA:1942-45 covers (7, inc a blue RAF honour env) to UK from various Australian air basses with various h.s inc oval "R.A.A.F. CENSOR/860", boxed "ON ACTIVE SERVICE R.A.F." and 1942 Salvation Army env from N.S.W. to Dorset. £100
584 INTERNEE CAMPS: Group of covers, cards, etc. inc. 12 censored covers ex an internee in Camp 2, Victoria to a MIss Plattner in Appenzell, Switzerland with various frankings & censor markings (Australian & German), 1945 env. ex a Liberated POW to Clapham, London with circular "ARMY P.O./0127" on obverse & "AUST. ARMY P.O./232" on reverse, two long Red Cross Society envelopes with 9d Platypus & 5/- Robes frankings to the International Red CRoss Council General in Geneva, 1945 POW air postcard to Naples with violet "2/PASSED/BY/CENSOR/1603", etc. (21). £150
CHRISTMAS ISLAND & THE A BOMB TESTS
585 U.S. FORCES' A.P.O. 915 COVERS, BRITISH "OPERATION GRAPPLE" F.P.O.s, ETC.; 1942/3/4 trio of envs. (first c.t.o. latter two commercial to US) with v. fine "AMERICAN BASE FORCES/A.P.O. 915" duplexes used on Christmas Is., 1956/67 US APOs, 1957 local env. to HMNZS Pulnaki at BFPO 170 with Gilbert Is. franking cancelled by "CHRISTMAS ISLAND" c.d.s.'s, and a detailed 1956-65 study of covers with other British FPO 158 , Maritime Mail, FPO 1063 and "B.F.P.O./CHRISTMAS ISLAND" cancels of the Atom Bomb tests and after. Scarce lot. (25 covers + 7 pieces). £120
586 "OPERATION GRAPPLE" - ATOMIC BOMB TESTS FORCE - H.M.S. WARRIOR CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.; Remarkable Mar. - July 1957 correspondence of Air mail envs. (47) to GB from the same seaman Fellows on "HMS Warrior" during her involvement in these tests; all (almost all dated by the sender - with official listing of the ship's voyages - one dated on the day the Bomb was tested, 15 May 1957) ex Christmas Island or Malden Island, cancelled by London "POST OFFICE/MARITIME/MAIL" machines - rare commercial mail from this undertaking. Plus battered booklet on Op. Grapple, and 12 other covers (some with the BFPO cancels). Rare group. (59 covers). £120
587 CHRISTMAS ISLAND ? THE UNIQUE UNDATED FPO: 1957 (22 Feb) a small piece bearing GB ?Wilding? 6d & 5/- (corner fault) tied by ?FIELD POST OFFICE? undated circle, the piece also bears a small parcel post label with central ?B.F.P.O./CHRISTMAS ISLAND? c.d.s. PHOTO PLATE 23B £100
PACIFIC ISLANDS
588 BRITISH SOLOMON IS. - WORLD WAR II O.A.S. COVERS EX NEW ZEALAND & U.S. FORCES; July 1944, Feb. 1945 & May 1945 stampless OAS envs. to NZ having v. fine "R.N.Z.A.F./C/N.Z.A.P.O." c.d.s.'s (of Guadalcanal) and (May 1945) v. fine "TULAGI" c.d.s.; plus Feb. 1944 env. (faults) to US with US 6c (faults) tied by scarce Bougainville "U.S. POSTAL SERVICES/A.P.O./37" c.d.s. AL with censor marks; oval, straight-line, manuscript & U.S. boxed types. Rare lot. (4 covers). PHOTO PLATE 23B £150
589 BRITISH SOLOMON IS. - CAPTURED JAPANESE PCs WITH N.Z.E.F. CANCELS, ETC. c.1945 pair of Japanese military PCs used locally with partly fine scarce purple "N.Z.E.F./NO.7/NZ APO 150" marks each with v. fine triangular purple "SERVICE/No./454/CENSOR" marks; one stampless, the other (very slight faults) with KGVI B.S.I. 1⁄2d, 11⁄2d, 2d & 21⁄2d all tied by the NZEF cancels. Plus fine Mar. 1945 env. to Australia with B.S.I. 2s-6d tied by "MUNDA" c.d.s. with "LUNGA" backstamp and oval Guadalcanal signed censor mark plus label. Rare trio. (3 covers). PHOTO £120
590 FIJI - NEW ZEALAND FORCES MAIL:1941-45 covers from NZ forces in Fiji to NZ or Tasmania with a good range of NZEF PO h.s. and censored h.s. inc. boxed "PASSED BY NAVAL CENSOR/No 12 (New Zealand)" and initialled. (16 covers). £100
591 FIJI RELATED MAIL:1941 covers (6) with "FIRST TRANSPACIFIC AIR MAIL/Suva, Fiji to U.S.A." violet cachets. 1941 env from London to Suva franked at the 4/6d rate by N Atlantic & Trans-Pacific Service. £100
592 FIJI - A RARE AIRGRAPH FROM MAKOGAI:1944 (15 Feb) An airgraph from Makogai to Lydeard St Lawrence with ?LEVUKA? c.d.s. of 17 Feb. 1944. PHOTO PLATE 23B £120
593 GILBERT & ELLICE ISLANDS: 1941 E to Cayman Brac with 11⁄2d stamp and boxed PASSED BY CENSOR with Cayman 2d stamp tied by 'T' paying postage due; also 1944 Fanning Island local cover with 4-line PASSED BY CENSOR/No 1 h.s. and, most unusually, with UK PC90 sealing tape. Interesting pair. (2 items) PHOTO PLATE 23B £100
594 NEW CALEDONIA: Trio of censored stamped covers ex Noumea (2) or Bourail 1941-42 inc. item to London ex FF Army captain, item to USA with pink New Caledonia tape and numbered censor plus cover to military officer on Tahiti, forwarded to Australia & Canada - censor tapes inc. unusual use of CENSURE/F.A.F.L. example. Scarce. (3 items) PHOTO. £150
595 NEW CALEDONIA - CENSORED MAIL EX U.S., N.Z. & BRITISH FORCES; 1942 commercial pair of envs. to GB/NZ with N. Caledonia frankings tied by Noumea c.d.s. or US "A.P.O." duplex having British naval tombstone and 3-ring red us + "CENSURE ALLIEE" marks respectively; latter also with N. Caledonia censor label. Plus c.1944 OAS env. to Canada with (correctly) uncancelled N. Caledonia franking, with partly fine purple "N.Z.E.F./NO. 9/A.P.O. 150" mark and fair green triangular "No.110" censor (of Bourail Depot Hospital) on the front. Rare trio. (3 covers). PHOTO £100
596 NEW CALEDONIA - NEW ZEALAND FORCES MAIL:1943-44 covers mostly to NZ from the 3rd NZ unit with various NZAPO numbers, the majority are censored. (27 covers). £100
597 NEW GUINEA - WWI: Pair of censored covers to London bearing N.W.P.I. 1d reds (one badly torn), one with s/l "PASSED BY CENSOR", the better with oval crowned circle "PASSED CENSOR/RABAUL". Scarce despite cover faults. (2). PHOTO £100
598 NEW HEBRIDES - A “V” MAIL FROM ESPIRITU SANTU:1945 (18 April) an illustrated “V” mail from Navy 140 (Espiritu Santu – New Hebrides) to Massachusetts. £100
599 PAPUA/NEW GUINEA - JAPANESE FORCES' MILITARY CARDS + ALLIES' AERIAL PROPAGANDA; c.1943 fine pair of Japanese Military PCs (one with minor wrinkle) ex Rabaul & ?Rabaul to Japan having the usual censor chops; one with printed picture of palm trees & harbour; rare pair. Plus 7 Jan./June 1944 aerial propaganda leaflets dropped by the allies over Papua/New Guinea (? etc.) inc. safe conduct passes & English instructions to British/Allied POWs (creased; "If you have been starved or underfed for long periods DO NOT Eat large quantities of solid food..."). Scarce group. (9 items). PHOTO PLATE 23B £150
600 PAPUA/NEW GUINEA - AUSTRALIAN FORCES' MAIL - R.A.A.F./NAVY & ARMY EX MOROTAI IS.; June/Aug./Dec. 1945 trio of covers to Australia endorsed "O.A.S." (stampless with scarce purple oval "R.A.A.F. CENSOR/230" and v. fine scarce "No.11 R.A.A.F. BASE P.O./PACIFIC" c.d.s.), regd. with Australia 3d(2) (tied by "[R.A.N..?] POST OFFICE/[NUMBER 4?]" c.d.s. with naval censor , "H.M.A. SHIPS" and black boxed "R.A.N.P.O. NP. 4" mark), or endorsed "DIRECT BAG" (from Army Red Cross; with Australia 3d tied by "AUST. ARMY P.O." c.d.s.). All from Morotai Island off the western tip of P.N.G. Rare trio. (3 covers). PHOTO £150
601 PAPUA/NEW GUINEA - AUSTRALIAN FORCES - MAIL EX LAE, MADANG, FINSCHAFEN & MILNE BAY; 1943/44 pair of envs. to Australia with Australia 1d/3dx2 frankings tied by "AIR FORCE P.O./NO.236/201" c.d.s.'s (the frist with oval "R.A.A.F./766" censor and the other regd. with oval "R.A.A.F./255" censor and v. fine scarce purple boxed "R/AIR FORCE P.O. 201/NO...."); plus local 1944/45 local pair with phil. Australian frankings tied by "ARMY P.O./0111" (with regd. marks) or "No.7 AUST BASE P.O./B" c.d.s.'s both struck at Lae with boxed military censors; plus 1945 naval censor trio to Australia each with Australia 3d tied by fair to fine "R.A.N. POST OFFICE/NUMBER 2" c.d.s.'s of Madang. Scarce group. (7 covers). PHOTO PLATE 23B £160
602 PAPUA/NEW GUINEA - NEW ZEALAND FORCES' MAIL INC. AUSTRALIAN USAGE OF HONOUR ENV.; Attractive May 1945 usage of the NZ Honour env. to NSW with Australian 1d+2d tied by "AUST. UNIT POSTAL STN./374" c.d.s.'s of Emirau Island (NG); plus stampless OAS quartet of envs. to NZ all with mostly very fine "R.N.Z.A.F./N.Z.A.P.O." c.d.s.'s codes "D" (2; Torokina, Bougainville) and "F" (2; Emirau Island). Scarce group. (5 covers). PHOTO PLATE 23B £140
603 PAPUA/NEW GUINEA - U.S. FORCES' MAIL EX LAE & CAPE GLOUCESTER; Sept. 1943 US 6c P. Stat. Air Mail env. to USA cancelled by v. fine "A.P.O. 922" (Townsville) duplex but sent from "A.P.O. 713" at Lae; plus July/Dec. 1944 pair (former regd.) to Queensland with US 30c+1c (on 6c env.) or single 6c tied by double hollow ovals (regd.) or v. fine "U.S. ARMY POSTAL SERVICE/40/A.P.O." duplex respectively both ex Cape Gloucester. Scarce trio. (3 covers). PHOTO PLATE 23B £120
604 PAPUA/NEW GUINEA - P.N.G. FRANKINGS ON MILITARY/A.P.O. MAIL & WITH CIVIL CENSOR; Dec. 1941 & Feb. 1943(?) Air envs. to Australia franked by Papua 4d or 3d+1d tied by plain P. Moresby c.d.s. or fine "A.I.F. FIELD P.O./No.12" c.d.s. (latter with v. fine crowned censor tying label), Sept. 1940 env. to Brisbane with Papua 1d+3d tied by P. Moresby c.d.s.'s but with purple boxed Army "Concession Postal Rate" mark on the front and scarce purple "ARMY/SIGNALS/MO...NA" c.d.s. on the back, pre-War 1939 env. ex P. Moresby (Dept. of Defence imprint) and Oct. 1941 civil censor env. with NG 5d tied by Bulwa c.d.s. Good lot. (5 covers). PHOTO £150
605 TONGA - RARE CENSORED O.A.S. COVER TO N.Z. WITH 3-RING "DEFENCE FORCE" CACHET; Fine stampless "O.A.S." env. to Dunedin with fine "NUKUALOFA/TONGA" c.d.s. and v. fine matching purple boxed "CENSORED/Signature" with 3-ring "TONGA/O.H.M.S./DEFENCE FORCE" marks (latter back and front). Rare thus and very attractive. PHOTO £120
606 BALANCE OF THE PACIFIC IS. COLLECTION - SAMOA, FIJI. PHILIPPINES, & TIMOR; 1943-55 covers inc. scarce stampless Jan. 1943 env. to USA ex Upolu in Western Samoa with "U.S./NAVY/THE MARINES/ARE COMING" duplex, 1945 stampless OAS env. ex Fiji Contingent with v. fine purple circular "N.Z.E.F./FIELD POST OFFICE" and special F for Fiji coded censor triangle, 1955 Johore cover to Fiji with "FIJI INF. REGT." cachet, 1943 Jap. Occ. of Manila cover, 2/3 Sept. 1945 "VICTORY" o.p. on celebratory env., and 1944 usage of the Japanese Military PC to Japan ex "North Australia Expedition Army" while occupying Timor. Good variety. (6 covers + 2 stamps). PHOTO PLATE 24A. £120
NEW ZEALAND
607 NEW ZEALAND FORCES IN UK MAIL:1940-45 covers to & from NZ with a good range of FPO numbers inc British type 455 (Aldershot), NZ types 3 & 5 (Margate), 2 (Broadstairs), 7 (Birchington) and HQ (Westgate on Sea). and "N.Z.E.F./FIELD/POST OFFICE" h.s. in blue. (22 covers). £100
608 MISCELLANY WITH COVERS MAINLY FROM THE M.E.F.:1942-45 The accumulation of covers/cards and honour envs (17) from various New Zealand units mainly based in the Middle East with a wide range of h.s. inc "M.P.O./K.W.5" c.d.s. "M.P.O./K.W.7" c.d.s. "M.P.O./K.W. 17" c.d.s. "R.N.Z.A.F./F/N.Z.A.P.O." c.d.s. and a good range of censor h.s. (102 covers). £120
U.S.A.
609 U.S.A. - P.O.W. CAMPS & RELOCATION CENTRES: Interesting group of covers from German, Italian & Japanese POWs held in US camps (10) inc. fine Red Cross E returned with REPATRIATED cachet; also a group of scarce stamped covers from POWs /enemy aliens en route to US citizenship inc. (1942) E ex Japanese detainee with fine boxed DETAINED ALIEN/ENEMY MAIL/EXAMINED/U.S.I.& N.S. (20 ITEMS) £120
610 POST WWII COLLECTION OF A.P.O. MARKINGS ON COVER: A remarkable collection of post-WWII period covers (largely 1950 to 1962) displaying a wide range of frankings and an exceptional range of A.P.O. markings between nos. 1 & 1007. The collection consists of nos. 1 (2), 3, 4, 6, 7 (2), 8 (2), 10 (2), 12 (2), 21 (2), 22 (2), 23, 24 (4), 25 (3), 27, 28 (3),29, 30, 32, 33, 34 (3), 35 (2), 36 (2), 39 (3),42 (2), 46 (3), 55, 56, 57 (2), 58 (2), 59, 61, 62 (2), 63 (2), 64, 65, 66 (2), 67 (2), 69, 70 (2), 71, 73, 74, 75 (3), 76 (2), 81 (2), 82, 83 (2), 84, 90, 99, 105, 108 (3),109, 111 (3), 112, 114 (2), 115, 117, 120, 121, 122 (2), 124 (4), 125 (3), 127, 129 (2), 130, 139 (2), 143 (3), 147, 152 (2), 154 (3), 162 (2), 164, 168, 169 (3), 171 (2), 172 (2), 174, 175 (2), 178 (2), 179, 180, 186, 188, 189, 192, 199, 201 (3), 205, 206, 207 (2), 208 (3), 209 (2), 210, 215 (2), 216 (3), 217, 218, 219, 221 (2), 223, 224 (2), 225 (3), 226, 227 (3), 228, 230 (4), 231 (2), 235 (2), 238, 239 (3), 240, 245, 246, 247, 248, 253 (2), 257, 258, 264, 271, 282, 285 (3), 277, 301 (2), 305, 317 (2), 319, 320, 323 (2), 324, 328 (3), 331 (3), 332, 334 (4), 345, 346, 354 (3), 368, 378, 401, 403 (5), 406 (2), 407 (3), 438 (3), 468 (2), 500 (5), 503 (2), 541, 547 (2), 612, 613, 616, 633, 676 (2), 677 (2), 696 (3), 703, 704 (2), 706, 707 (2), 710, 713 (3), 715, 716, 719, 729, 731 (2), 732, 733, 735, 742 (2), 755, 757 (3), 777 (3), 800, 807 (2), 843 (2), 845, 851 (3), 856 (2), 858, 864 (2), 902, 919 (2), 925 (2), 928, 929 (3), 937 (2), 942 (2), 942 (3), 944, 949 (3), 953, 957, 958, 971 (2), 994 (2), 1007, 1052 (2), 1105 & 1107 (3). A magnificent lot. (Approx. 330). £360
UNDERCOVER ADDRESS MAIL
611 MAIL TO/FROM LONDON P.O. BOXES 164 (LIBERATED POWs), 218 (BELGIAN ARMY), & 260 (POLISH ARMY); 1945 pair of Air Letters (one stampless & one with KGVI 11⁄2d imprint) from/to ex-POWs en route back to England from the Far East, 1944 Air env. (creases) from USA to PO Box 218 redirected with v. fine red oval "BELGIAN INDEPENDENT/PARACHUTE COMPANY" d.s., and 1941/2 pair ex London/Uganda to PO Box 260. Scarce group. (5 covers). PHOTO PLATE 24A £140
612 MAIL TO/FROM LONDON P.O. BOX 237 (DUTCH ARMY); 1941/3 covers to (ex US, 1941) and from (3) London PO Box 237; the latter three inc. 3 Oct. 1941 env. to Hoek with GB KGVI 1⁄2d+11⁄2d tied by unclear c.d.s.'s with v. fine scarce "Non admis par service allemand" across the front, and 1943 pair to Heerbrugg with GB 21⁄2d pairs tied by machine cancels that have had the town name erased by censors. PHOTO £120
613 P.O. BOX 506 LISBON - COVERS EX FRANCE: 1941 E with French franking (4f50) and 'T' with m/s '0,20' charge alongside, ex Charolles (SetL) addressed to Box 506 Lisbon, with Marseille & Lisbon transits and sealed with PC90 OPENED BY/EXAMINER 1168 label. (One stamp affixed with damaged corner).Also a second, similar example ex Cannes with 2f50c franking and OBE/ 5,843 sealing label. (2 items) £120
614 P.O. BOX 506 LISBON - COVERS FROM YUGOSLAVIA & HOLLAND; 1943 env. registered from Zagreb (Yugoslavia 1k +7k pair) with German & British censor labels; rare for mail to PO Box 506 from this country. Plus 1940 env. to PO Box 506 from Roesdurg (?) with Dutch 5c+71⁄2c also having both British & German censor labels. (2 covers). PHOTO PLATE 24A £200
615 "THOMAS COOK & SON LTD./ENEMY MAIL" CACHET ON GERMAN COVER TO LISBON P.O. BOX 506; Rare Oct./Nov. 1940 env. (minor faults) from Germany (10pf+25pf tied by c.d.s.) to Lisbon PO Box 506 readdressed with yellow label to GB having v. fine triple-oval purple "THOS. COOK & SON LTD./+ ENEMY MAIL +" d.s. (rare) on the front as well as having GB KGVI 21⁄2d ("TC/S" perfin) tied by 1 Nov. 1940 London machine cancel. Rare thus. [Ex Dave Birtwell.] PHOTO £120
616 CZECHOSLOVAKIA - YELLOW LABEL & PLAIN COVERS TO GB VIA LISBON PO BOX 506; 1941 trio od envs. to GB from Prague & Fiestany (2) all with Czech frankings and both German & British censor labels. the first redirected with yellow label having oval Thos. Cook d.s. and with KGVI 21⁄2d ("TC/S" perfin) tied by London machine, the others presumably sent on under separate cover. Scarce trio. (3 covers). PHOTO PLATE 24A £120
617 OTHER UNDERCOVER ADDRESSES - LISBON, NEW YORK, LONDON & A.P.O.; German 1943 PC (Hitler franking) to "R. Alexandre Herculano 41" (Polish Red Cross in Lisbon), 1943 env. (address cut off) to GB ex "Rua Bernardino Costa 47, Lisbon", 1940 env. from Berlin to New York "Post Box No.252" (Canada!), 7 May 1945 Belgian PC to London PB281 (Czech Air Force), 1942 env. from Lisbon to London Box 434 (? French connection), and c.1940 stampless British naval env. to "2005 c/o Army P.O." (details not known as yet?). Plus 1942/4 pair od envs. with giant London Red X cachets and 4 PO slips about Red X mail/Thos. Cook/PO Box 506 system. Scarce lot. (12 covers). £150
618 FREE FRENCH FORCES - LONDON POST BOXES / BCM7: Items of mail addressed to Free French Forces through London Box Numbers inc. 236 (3 plus one written from), 244(2), F107 & F136; also various items ex BCM7 (London) inc. fine reg'd OHMS cover, 'confidentiel' cover with Old Dean Camp cachets etc. (20 items) £180
619 FREE FRENCH FORCES - LONDON, P.O. BOXES: Group of covers to FF personnel in London inc. use of Box 244 / 244B (2, Army), F10 (Navy) and 236 (2, Air Force); with various censorship inc. dual French & British. Good group. (5 items) £160
HOSPITAL SHIPS & TRAINS
620 AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL SHIPS - BOXED CACHETS, ETC.; c.1943/4 trio of stampless OAS envs. to NSW each with fair to v. fine purple "H.A. HOSPITAL SHIP" cachets (2 boxed) as well as boxed purple A.I.M. censor marks (Nos. 263, 376 & 600); one with v. fine "EGYPT/53" c.d.s.; plus c. 1943 env. to NSW with Australia 2d tied by Fremantle c.d.s. ex "Q/1 Hospital Ship". Scarce group. 4 covers). PHOTO £140
621 BRITISH HOSPITAL SHIPS' MAIL COLLECTION; c.1940-5 lot inc. stampless 1940 trio ex "HMHS Vasna" (2) or HMHS 4 (Vasna), 1943/6 pair from/to HMHS Leinster, 1942 env. (stamps cut off) to HMHS Somersetshire, 1944 env. endorsed "Not El Nil [HS]", 1940 pair (one regd.to SG!) ex HMHS Isle of Jersey, |Oct. 1939 env. redirected to "Hospital Carrier St. Andrew", c.1945 trio to/from HMHS Vita, and 1942 correspondence of 4 air letters, 1 env. & 1 airgraph all from HMHS Aba with a PPC of the ship. Also c.1945 airgraph env. returned to sender endorsed "Returned to UK by Hosp. Ship". Good lot. (20 covers). £150
622 NEW ZEALAND HOSPITAL SHIPS; Fine pair ex HMNZHS Maunganui:- 5 June 1945 stampless OAS env. to GB with v. fine purple rubber "N.Z.E.F./FIELD/POST OFFICE" in circle, plus undated c.1945 Air Letter (Australia 3d tied by fair blue rubber "N.Z.E.F./FIELD/POST OFFICE" in circle). Also similar v. fine rubber circular cancels on 3 Aug. 1945 & c.1945 envs. to NZ tying US 6c or NZ 3d, ex 'Wanganui' (pencil note; "Posted at Manus, Admiralty Island") with "BRITISH FLEET MAIL" 2-ring c.d.s. and ex No.1 NZHS respectively. Scarce group. (4 covers). PHOTO £140
623 SOUTH AFRICAN & SWEDISH HOSPITAL SHIP + RED CROSS VESSEL MAIL; 1943/4 trio to S. Africa (stampless env. + pair of Air Letters with S. Africa or GB 3d tied by Egypt FPO/unnamed Paquebot c.d.s.'s) with mostly v. fine purple boxed "S.A. HOSPITAL SHIP/S.A.HOSPITAAL-SKIP/No.1/C/O ARMY POST OFFICE/P/A S.A. MILITERE POSKANTOOR" cachets (of the SAHS Amra) on the front; plus 1943 env. to Sweden with Canada 20c pair tied by anonymous machine cancel ex"Swedish Red Cross ship 'Bardaland'". Scarce lot. (4 covers). PHOTO PLATE 24A £140
624 U.S.A. - HOSPITAL SHIP & EXCHANGE-SHIP 'GRIPSHOLM' MAILS; 1944 correspondence of four 6c-rate US envs. to New York all ex a "C.Y.S." combatant on the British "H.M.H.S. Oxfordshire", Dec. 1944 stampless OAS env. to NY with "U.S./NAVY" duplex ex "USA HS Emily", and 1947/54 pair ex USAT Charles A Stafford & HMHS Maine; plus 1943/5 covers to/from/via the Motor Ship 'Gripsholm' which was used for prisoner and Red Cross exchanges between Japanese and Allied forces in Portuguese India. Rare lot. (12 covers). PHOTO PLATE 24A £150
625 HOSPITAL TRAIN MAIL - U.S. & BRITISH FORCES IN EUROPE; Rare 1941-5 group of covers ex British (3; 1941 Honour env. with KGVI 10d tied by Egypt FPO c.d.s. having partial purple oval "No.5 AMBULANCE TRAIN" cachet, 1944 redirected env. endorsed "Evacuated Hos. Train", and Sept. 1945 OAS env. ex "No.1 B.R.C. Mobile Hospital B.A.O.R.") and American (May 1945 env. ex "55th Hospital Train APO887 cover with "US 11 BPO" machine) Hospital Trains; plus 1947 US env. ex 80th Hospital Train Unit, APO757" (Frankfurt). Scarce lot. (5 covers). PHOTO £120
MARITIME MAIL INC. TRANSPORT SHIPS
626 MISCELLANY; 1940-c.1960 Miscellany of Transport ship mails inc. June 1940 env. to France and redirected to St Cecile with Censor h.s. and ms. "Written in Polish"; c.1944 pair Canada to London/Scarborough with two line blue "DELAYED TRANSMISSION/FOR PURPOSES OF SECURITY"; 1953 env. Singapore to Leeds carried on HMT Empire Fowey; 1942 pair env. Brazil to Yorks./IOM franked with Brazilian stamps but posted by troops routed via Bahia; other HMT noted inc. Nevasa, Empress of Australia, Asturias, Cameronia, Marine Flasher(!), etc. Good selection that needs close inspection.(approx. 50 items) £100
627 TRANSPORT SHIPS WITH AUSTRALASIAN CONNECTIONS; 1940-46 selection of covers with Australasian connections inc. 1940 pair env. to Sydney/Strathfield NSW with either "H.M. TRANSPORT No.4" or "No.5" (Otranto and Orford); 1941 pair env. to New Zealand/London with "NZEP/FIELD/POST OFFICE" h.s. and "CENSORED/ON SHIP" both from HMT J23 Athlone Castle; 1940 env. to Dunedin posted onboard HMT X7 Andes with "CENSORED ON SHIP" h.s. etc. Good selection. (20 items). £100
628 "DESTROYERS FOR GREAT BRITAIN" COVERS & A COVER TO H.M.S. HERMES TRAGICALLY RETURNED: 1940 covers commemorating the transfer of Town Class destroyers to GB from USA with various cachets and cancellations relevant to the ships. Also 1942 (2 March) env to the chaplain of H.M.S. Hermes from his wife with the tragic “RETURN TO SENDER” label “It is with the deepest/regret you are informed that/the addressee is missing/presumed killed on active/service” tied by red “ADMIRALTY” h.s. (21 covers) £100
629 QUEEN MARY & QUEEN ELIZABETH; 1941-45 small group of covers from the "Queens" during their transport days of WWII inc. 1941 env. to Sunderland with red circular "POSTAGE PAID" and purple straight line "(POSTED) ON BOARD HIRED TRANSPORT"; env. to Montreal with purple "POSTED/ON BOARD/HMTRANSPORT" resealed with Examiner 2061 tape; 1944(?) env. to Angus with similar purple h.s. and Examiner 2378 tape, etc. Additional ephemera inc. WWII photos of Queen mary at sea, GI's onboard etc. (5 covers plus ephemera). £100
630 SUBMARINE MAIL: 1939-44 covers inc some air letters from submarines comprising Cyclope, Porpoise, Spiteful, Olympus (on the China station), L53 cachet on an unused PPC, Umbra (2), Varne, Pandora, Shakespeare and Unruffled. Also 1945 covers (2) from the British Submarine Yard Philadelphia. (15 covers) £200
631 LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS ALLOWING SIR PETER SAVORY PASSAGE AS A NAVAL COURIER: 1943-45 A series of letters and documents allowing Sir Peter Savory uninterrupted passage as a Admiralty Courier, the documents inc daily passes, passenger warrants, large numbers of immigration h.s. A unique group. (32 items). £100
632 WORLDWIDE MARITIME MAIL: Album with the interesting collection of post-1940 covers, cards & related ephemera (largely photographs of ships). An emphasis on India, Malaysia & South Africa with a good range of cachets, frankings, etc. (Approx. 110 covers/cards plus a small amount of ephemera). £150
BLITZ, CRASH & WRECK MAIL
633 RARE LONDON "BLITZ" - UNRECORDED (?) "UNDELIVERED/OWING TO ENEMY/ACTION" MARK; Fine 22 Nov. 1940 OHMS Inspector of Taxes small window env. (address removed with contents but almost certainly local London mail) cancelled by London SW1 machine but returned to sender with very fine large purple "UNDELIVERED/OWING TO ENEMY/ACTION" cachet back (initialled) and front, along with matching boxed purple P.O. "UNDELIVERED FOR REASON STATED/RETURN TO SENDER". The first example of this dramatic mark - dating from the time of the London Blitz - that we can recall having seen. Exhibition Item. PHOTO £150
634 THE LONDON BLITZ - UNDELIVERABLE MAIL & RE-OPENED P.O. CACHET; Sept./Oct. 1940 env. ex USA to Chancery Lane returned to sender with v. fine purple "RETURN TO SENDER/GONE AWAY" on the reverse endorsed "Unable to deliver owing to Enemy Action [signature]" on the flap (rare thus), Jan. 1941 meter franked local London env. with partly v. fine rare purple post-Blitz purple "Moorgate Post Office/has Re-opened at/33 Eldon St EC2" cachet on the front, and 1936 philatelic FF cover rescued from a Chancery Lane safe deposit after the blitz with the private "DAMAGED BY WATER...DURING AIR RAID SEPTEMBER 1940" cachet applied after the event. Also 4 PPCs of Blitz damage in London. (7 items). PHOTO PLATE 24A £120
635 LONDON BLITZ - PARCEL POST "FREE" LABELS WITH EXPLANATORY P.O. LABELS DUE TO BOMBING; Mar./June 1943 part & complete brown paper parcel wrappers (latter to Worcs. with one KGVI 21⁄2d still attached) each with date-stamped "RETD. LR. SECTION/LONDON POSTAL REGION" c.d.s.'s as well as specially produced and very rare P.O. "This parcel has possibly been affected by phosphorous (enemy action)...re-wrapped" (piece) and "It is regretted that the accompanying parcel sustained damage subsequent to enemy action" (whole wrapper) labels. Very rare; the only Enemy Action parcel items that we can recall having seen. [One ex George Crabb.] PHOTO PLATE 24A £120
636 THE RARE BLITZ ILLUSTRATED "DELAYED BY/ENEMY ACTION HANDSTAMP + PROOF STRIKES:1944 (19 May) env with re-seal label from London, NWI to Beckenham with a fine strike of the rare "bomb" surrounded by "DELAYED BY/ENEMY ACTION" h.s. Very few genuine examples are recorded. Also two proof strikes in red on a single piece. Ex George Crabb.PHOTO £160
637 CANADA - "RECOVERED/SALVED FROM THE SEA, "DAMAGED BY FIRE & WATER" COVERS, ETC.; 21/27 May 1940 pair of envs. (one with stamp washed off, the other with 3c Meter frank) from Canada to GB each with purple mostly v. fine "SALVED FROM THE SEA" or "Recovered from the Sea" cachets (former with Liverpool c.d.s. on repair tape), and 1 May 1945 env. from Canada to GB (stamp washed off) with v. fine purple "DAMAGED BY FIRE & WATER". Plus 1943 unrelated stampless OAS env. to Canada ("APO/S.C.2" machine) with v. fine scarce "No.1 Ship's Conducting Staffs/Embarkation Transit Camp" c.d.s. on back. Scarce group. (4 covers). £100
638 AIR CRASH COVERS INC THE "CYGNUS" AND "YANKEE CLIPPER":1937 (28 Nov) env ex. Cygnus from Penang to Jersey with a fine boxed "DAMAGED BY SEA/WATER" h.s. and sealed with official tape on reverse. 1937 (29 Nov) env ex Cygnus from Palestine to London with boxed "DAMAGED BY SEA/WATER" and sealed with large amounts of "FOUND/OPEN/OR/DAMAGED" tape. 1940 (22 Jan) env from Batavia to Sydney with large "RECOVERED FROM/LOST FLYING BOAT" h.s. 1943 (22 Feb) env plus ambulance env. from Trinidad to London both with boxed "DAMAGED BY SEA WATER" h.s. applied to "Yankee Clipper" mail. (4 covers). PHOTO £120
639 WRECK MAIL WITH NORTH AMERICAN CONNECTIONS:1940 (May) env (possibly ex Eros) from Canada to London with violet "SALVED FROM THE SEA" h.s. and another dated 1943 with similar h.s. 1943 (Feb) env from North America to Dundee with partly framed "DAMAGED BY/SEA WATER" violet h.s.1944 (March) Air letter from FPO 313 (Canadian forces in Italy) to UK with a fine "SALVAGED FROM/AIR CRASH" h.s.1959 env from Toronto to Woking with "FOUND IN DAMAGED/CONDITION AT TORONTO" & "SHORTPAID FOR AIR CONVEYANCE/PORT INSUFFISANT POUR AVION" h.s. (5 covers) £120
640 AIRCRAFT & SHIP WRECK MAIL - ARGENTINA, INDIA, USA & C.G.H.; 1940-3 covers (4) with "DAMAGED BY SEA WATER" (3; all different) and one with "SALVED FROM THE SEA" (1940 OHMS from HMS Comrin to Cape of Good Hope (apparently ex Wreck of SS Eros); the other three from India/Argentina/USA to GB (former identified as from Yankee Clipper Panam flight that crashed at Lisbon & sank). Scarce group. (4 covers). £120
1-80 81-160 161-240 241-320 321-400 401-480 481-560
561-640 641-720 721-725 Index