| 1121 | 'LEITH SHIP LETTER' C.D.S. : Early (1889) 10a postcard (light central crease) ex Iceland to Birmingham with Reykjavik single-ring cds cancellation and mainly fine strike of the scarce small cds LEITH SHIP LETTER/JU 28/89. Scarce and attractive. PHOTO | £180 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1122 | SCARCE BOXED 'SHIP LETTER/TROON' ON ICELANDIC CARD: 1908 use of Iceland 10a post card to Germany cancelled by 'bridge-type' cds of Reykjavik, with mainly v.fine strike of the scarce boxed SHIP LETTER / TROON and Troon cds alongside; Leipzig arrival cds. An attractive piece. PHOTO | £180 | ||||||||||||||||
| G.B. T.P.O.'S AND STATION MARKS | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1123 | METROPOLITAN AND WELSH RAILWAYS: 1904 Commercial env. to Upper Holloway franked with KEVII 1d adhesive tied by very fine "LONDON W/41" squared circle & (on flap) Metropolitan Railway 2d red label with both adhesive and label tied by s/l "CHALFONT ROAD" (later called Chalfont & Latimer Station) mark; scarce thus. Also small group of cards + 1 env. all bearing KEVII 1⁄2d and/or 1d adhesives showing Wilson types 263, 263c, 384c & 387b of the South Wales Sorting Carriage plus two examples of Wilson type 138 of the Bangor & Crewe T.P.O. (7 items).PHOTO | £150 | ||||||||||||||||
| G.B. OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1124 | AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND: 1840-1900 group of E/ELs, etc. ex the U.K. to Austria & Switzerland inc. 1867 env. (slight faults) to Basle bearing 2d blue & 3d rose, 1868 EL to Vienna bearing wing-margined 6d, 1899 env. (light toning) registered to Lucerne bearing 1/- green tied by Manchester c.d.s., 1900 envelope to Switzerland bearing ½d green & 1d lilac x 7, etc. (12). | £140 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1125 | EGYPT: 1870 (26 Nov.) large part E (some foxing) registered from Lombard Street, London 'Via Brindisi' to Shepherds Hotel, Cairo franked with 4d plate 12 KG & 2/- OA adhesives and also bearing a small Cairo arrival c.d.s. | £75 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1126 | EGYPT AND SINGAPORE: 28 May, 1872 & 19 Feb., 1874 pair of envs. (minor faults) to Alexandria 'via Brindisi' and to 'Post Office/Suez' respectively (latter with very fine "A/SUEZ" British P.O. c.d.s., also on the front) each franked with a 2d blue & a 6d adhesive to pay the 8d rate and 27 Oct., 1876 env. (minor wrinkling at right) to 'Singapore/Straits Settlements' also endorsed 'Via Brindisi' unusually franked with plate 15 2d blue + plate 12 1/- green both tied by fine "PADDINGTON.W/P/19" duplexes. [All ex Robert Johnson]. (3 covers). | £120 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1127 | NORWAY - COVER FROM HULL WITH RARE PERFIN AND HANDSTAMP: 1885 (17 Dec.) EL from M.J. Ellingsen of Leith "via Hull" to Norway bearing 21⁄2 lilac "MJE" perfin plus handstamped in red with the same senders initials cancelled with a fine Edinburgh duplex, on reverse is a fine "HULL/SHIP LETTER" c.d.s.PHOTO | £80 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1128 | SPAIN: 1829-75 group of E/ELs ex the U.K. to Spain inc. 1858 EL bearing 2d blue (2, one badly torn & subsequently "rebuilt") & 4d with red encircled "PP" & Spanish "4R" in black & blue, 1870 EL bearing 6d mauve (large white corner letters without hyphen), 1871 EL to Cadiz with 3d (2) tied by London Office No. 77 duplex, 1872/74 pair of covers to Madrid bearing 6d chestnut & 6d grey respectively, etc. (11). PHOTO | £140 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1129 | SPAIN: 1871 EL ex Manchester to Spain bearing red & 1/- green with red circular "PD" endorsed "Via Perpignan" in manuscript. Also 1875 EL ex London to Bilbao bearing 1d red (2) & 1/- green with red circular "PD" and red boxed "L2" (Late Fee) mark. A neat pair. (2). PHOTO | £120 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1130 | WORLDWIDE: Small group of covers to Foreign destinations with Surface-printed frankings inc. 1871 ex Manchester to Greece bearing 4d & 1/- adhesives, 1879 mourning envelope to Sydney with 6d grey tied by London "W26" duplex, 1882 mourning env. ex Devon to Australia bearing 6d grey tied by Dawlish duplex, etc. (7). | £100 | ||||||||||||||||
| FREE MAIL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1131 | MISCELLANY: Album & folder with collection (mainly fronts) on leaves inc. crowned FREE marks (printed cover ex Poor Law Commissioners noted), various London marks inc. various TO PAY 1D ONLY and TO PAY/2d/ONLY marks, scalloped Sunday c.d.s., inspectors' star h.s. etc. (120 items) | £160 | ||||||||||||||||
| ** | 1132 | MISCELLANY of E/ELs and fronts, c1760-1840 inc. 1799 (red biro endorsement!) EL with curved "HENLEY" & scarce red dotted circle with "FREE" on top, 1806 EL to Northampton with large "apple" type two-ring "FREE" in red, 1833 EL to West Molesey with h.s "3" crossed through signed to bottom left hand corner by Robert Peel, 1839 env. with h.s. "To Pay 1d only", 1840 4d Post Period env. to Islington with UDC of Ampthill & red crowned circle "FREE", etc. (46 inc. 11 fronts). EX CHARLESS HAHN. | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| 1133 | DUBLIN 'FREE' MARKS: Album with collection of fronts (one E) with variety of Dublin 'FREE' marks 1773-1839, some with additional London FREE h.s., s/l TOO LATE and town marks noted. Well written up: inspection recommended. (73 items) | £120 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1134 | EARLY 'FREE' MARKS OF LONDON: Two albums with collection of Frees inc. 1744 E to Scarborough endorsed 'Free Leeds' plus various other m/s examples, encircled FREE types on cover inc. 1764-65 pair of first-type marks , crowned-circles inc. rare 1807 crown-on-top type on EL, scarce Alnmouth/Penny Post on 1839 EL with 'To Pay 1d only' h.s., scarce octagonal 'To be/delivered/Free' (front), 4d Post period item with 'PADDINGTON/PENNY POST' etc. (72 items) | £260 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1135 | RARE FIRST TYPE 'FREE' ON ABUSE OF PRIVILEGE LETTER: 1765 EL (internal repairs) with lightly-struck 'AIR', Edinburgh & London Bishop Marks, addressed to London with very fine strike of the first type circular-framed 'FREE' (large 'F'); the writer states 'I am writing only because I was given a Frank by Dundas Loudoun'. PHOTO | £150 | ||||||||||||||||
| PARCEL POST | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1136 | 19th CENTURYCARRIERS' LETTERS WITH PARCEL ENDORSEMENT; 1828 EL Wilton to Chard (no postal charge) and endorsed "with a Dog"!! (contents state "To my promise have sent the puppy out of Spaniel bitch ...) plus 1840 EL Aberdeen to Fairley (no charges) endorsed "With a Gold Watch". A pair of striking examples of avoiding the postal charges. | £90 | ||||||||||||||||
| PICTORIALS, HAND-DRAWN | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1137 | W. F. THOMAS (ALLY SLOPER ARTIST): 1909 Group of comic pictorial covers (six reduced at top and others with slight faults) each franked with a 1d red adhesive with Exmouth, Caernarvon or Llandudno c.d.s.'s, the envs. bearing hand-drawn cartoon type depictions of gentlemen (13), a totem pole of 4 men's beards, two women (one wearing a bonnet), a boy and a child with a toy train. All these are thought to have been drawn by Ally Sloper artist W. F. Thomas and all are addressed to a Miss P. O'Brien in S. E. London. (18). | £150 | ||||||||||||||||
| POSTAL STATIONERY, Q.V. | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1138 | MISCELLANY:1879-90 The small selection inc 1879 April and September 1½d cards with red circular framed "CANCELLED/X" h.s. 1891 1d pink env to Paris uprated with ½d & 1d tied by a good Hoster cancellation. (10 items). | £60 | ||||||||||||||||
| REGISTERED MAIL | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1139 | REGISTERED WITH HORIZONTAL PAIR 2d BLUES; 1850 EL London to Macclesfield endorsed "Registered" with clear to large margin horizontal pair 2d FG-FH Pl.4 (SG.14) with ms. "6" indicating Registration fee paid in cash. (BPA cert. 1975).PHOTO | £200 | ||||||||||||||||
| UNIFORM 4d POSTAGE PERIOD | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1140 | FREE FRONTS : Group of FREE fronts used during the Uniform 4d Post period inc. 9th January 1840 - last day of 4d post; also EL (3.January 1840) with Burnham UDC and m/s '4' plus large piece (15.December) with Clonmel TOO LATE and m/s '4'. (25 items) | £100 | ||||||||||||||||
| EARLY LETTERS | ||||||||||||||||||
| ** | 1141 | EARLY SILVER COINS - PAIR OF KING EDWARD II/III 'LONG CROSS' SILVER PENNIES; Fine c.1278-1327 pair of small silver English pennies (stated to be London & Canterbury mints) either of King Edward II or King Edward III. Attractive items from a period from which British Postal History does not survive in private hands! (2 coins). | £75 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1142 | "CITO CITO" COVER SENT WITHIN ITALY; 1528 EL (paper slip seal) from "Cismon" addressed to "Venezia" (?) boldly endorsed "C with two small "ito" marks for "Express, Express" in the centre. Fine example of early Italian States mail. PHOTO | £100 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1143 | VERY EARLY 'CORSINI' LONDON "d 101⁄2" POSTAL RATE ON COVER EX ANTWERP; Fine 18 Dec. 1573 EL written "In Anversa" [= Antwerp; written in Italian] addressed to "Magro Filippo Corsini in Londra" with sender's "per q[uest]a" annotation ["by this"] at lower left and having clear "d 101⁄2" Merchant Stranger's Post postal charge on the front. An unusually high postal charge for this early date. [Ex 4 Sept. 1984 'Corsini' auction, lot 192.] PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1144 | Similar 1572 COVER FROM ANTWERP TO CORSINI IN LONDON BUT WITHOUT POSTAL RATE; Apr. 1572 EL written "In Anversa" [=Antwerp; written in Italian] addressed to "Magro. Filippo Corsini In Londra" with flourishes and "pere q[ues]ta" annotation but no postal charge. Early Corsini letter. [Ex 4 Sept. 1984 'Corsini' auction, lot 192.] PHOTO | £100 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1145 | EARLY 'CORSINI' LETTER TO LONDON EX FRANCE WITH MERCHANTS MARK; Unusual and fine Aug. 1579 EL "de Lione" [from Lyons; written in Italian] addressed to "Al Magto. Filippo Corsini In Londra" with "p. t[an]to" annotation but also (unusually for the Corsini correspondence) with fine "*/P" merchant's mark - presumably of the writer, Pierantonio Bandini - across the address. It is thought that these Merchant Marks were designed to enable illiterate staff to recognise specific merchant's goods and letters, but they are remarkable infrequent on Corsini covers. [Ex 4 Sept. 1984 'Corsini'; auction, lot 94.] PHOTO | £140 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1146 | PLYMOUTH (DEVON) - SHIP'S PILOT'S CORSINI LETTER REF. SEIZED CARGO; c.1588 EL apparently from Plymouth ("they have nothing to say against us but that we thrust into Plimouth [sic]...") from Corsini's Agent(?) who is advising him that his goods are safe and that no one knows whose the ship is; "...they know nothyng but that they found by the letters which was both from Hamborow [= Hamburg] and London."!! Addressed; "To the Ryght worshipfull Mr. Bartolline Corsen, marchant in London, geve this" with a red crayon "1" (?) on the front; signed by "Will Dallymer" who states that; "...he [the ship's Captain?] would not hyd the bylls of London and my Lord's passe and the sheper's [shipper's] accounts which brought us all in trouble, and besides that hys pasenger that he carryed out with him did acknowledge that I was pyelat [=pilot!] which was a great hindrance to me..." Was he a smuggler?? Was it around the date of the Spanish Armada? Fascinating item; further research required. [Ex Corsini 4/9/1984 auction; lot 34.] PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1147 | LONDON MERCHANT STRANGERS' "d4" CHARGE ON EARLY LETTER EX ANTWERP; Fine 1593 EL (ref. velvet & tables) ex "Anversa" (Antwerp; written in Italian) to "A Mag. Barto. Corsini in Londra" with unusual postal charge "d4" on the front and possible manuscript "1" at foot of address panel. Fine example of the rare Merchant Strangers Post 4d rate. [Ex 4 Sept. 1984 'Corsini' auction, lot 210.] PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1148 | LONDON MERCHANT ADVENTURERS' (?) 8d POSTAL RATE ON CORSINI LETTER, ETC.; 1600 EL (minor ink-etching; hopes for peace but notes that the present Government is weak!) from "Anversa" [Antwerp; written in Italian] to London addressed "A Mri. Bartolomeo Corsini etc in Londra" with fancy flourish at foot of address, but also with slightly unclear but unusual "8d" postal rate on the front; the style of hand-writing of this postal rate is very different to the usual style associated with the Merchant Strangers so it has been suggested that this letter was handled by the Merchant Adventurers' Post; rare in either case. Plus similar 1596 EL from Antwerp to London with no postal rate (ref. money due in Middelburg). [Both ex 4 Sept. 1984 'Corsini' auction, lot 210.] PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1149 | EARLY LOCAL LETTER SENT WITH A LOAD OF BARLEY IN WEST STAFFORDSHIRE; 24 Mar. 1596 EL (minor wear) from "Cotes" [hamlet 4 miles NE of Eccleshall, presumably] addressed "To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll my very good brother Walter Bagott Esqre, theis be d[elivere]d at Blithfeild" [the West Staffs. village near Abbots Bromley]. Interesting contents ref. the addressee's father's death, a shortage of grain and "I do send you by this bearer [= messenger] some quarters of barley". Good early letter sent along with goods by private messenger in a rural area. PHOTO | £140 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1150 | COMMONWEALTH PERIOD CARRIER's LETTER ENDORSED "[BY] LUNDY" FROM LONDON; 3 Sept. 1653 EL (very slight stains) from "London" addressed "For His Deare freind Charles Lauder" and endorsed with a carrier's name "Lundy" ion the flap. Not signed but mentioning forwarding another le tter. Rare carrier's letter from the Cromwellian period. PHOTO. | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| 1151 | "FARMER OF THE POST OFFICE"; 1663 document (no address/postal markings) from Sir William Morice Secretary of State in the form of a receipt, to Daniel O'Neill "farmer of the post office in part of the Rent thereof due to his Maty for one quarter of a yeare..." [O'Neill was a favourite of Charles and fought valiantly on the side of the Royalist being rewarded in part by the Post Office farm for four years]. Scarce and unusual document. | £240 | ||||||||||||||||
| POSTAL REFORMS | ||||||||||||||||||
| ** | 1152 | JAMES CHALMERS - FAMOUS DESIGNER OF EARLY POSTAGE STAMP ESSAYS - SIGNED DOCUMENT; Large 23 Sept. 1834 sheet from a longer legal document (rental agreement for a property in Dundee?) signed in 3 different places by "Jas Chalmers" the Dundee stationer who proposed Postage Label designs as early as 1838 and whose entries to the 1839 Treasury Competition are well known. rare example of Chalmers' signature. Good ancillary item. Plus original wrapper to the document) (2 items). | £100 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1153 | UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE - FIRST DAY COVER OF 10th JAN. 1840 - WITH "Chancery Le/1 py P Paid" MARK; Fine 10 Jan. 1840 local London E (minor wrinkling; to Wine Merchants in the Strand!) endorsed "Paid" with a fine blue-green "Chancery Le/1 py P Paid" Receiving House mark on the front slightly overstruck by a very fine red octagon-boxed "PD/8NT./JA 10/1840/8NT." datestamp of London's Chief Office. Fine First Day Cover, showing the usage of the 1d mark previously reserved for newspaper and Soldiers' Concession Rate mails.PHOTO | £300 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1154 | 6th MAY 1840 - FIRST DAY OF POSTAGE STAMPS - CASH-PAID PRINTED MATTER COVER; Unusual 6th May 1840 EL (spike-hole just affects address but otherwise v. fine - clearly dated inside and on postmark) to "Ironbridge, Salop" with printed contents (offering to help with London business) from a Parish Overseer at "8 Marchmont Street, Russell Square, London", endorsed "Paid" with a very fine double-framed 'tombstone' London "B/PAID/6 MY 6/1840" d.s. on the front, slightly overstruck on an almost invisible "1D PAID" London R.H. mark, showing that the letter was prepaid in cash. Presumably this was a bulk posting made on this famous date, and so it was quicker not to use the new Postage Labels! Rare thus. PHOTO | £240 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1155 | CHARLES DICKENS - FAMOUS SUPPORTER OF POSTAL REFORM - SIGNED COVER TO THE ARTIST LANDSEER; 24 Jan. 1851 stampless local London cash-paid env. (some dusting) signed on the front "Charles Dickens" and addressed by the great author top "Sir Edwin Landseer, 1 St. John's Wood Road" having a faint blue "D[evonshire St.?]/1D [PAID]" mark on the front overstruck by the red London framed "1 AN.1/W" datestamp. Rare item connecting a gre at author with a great artist! PHOTO | £240 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1156 | MULREADY-STYLE "SMITH'S ENVELOPE ADVERTISER" TEXT IN 1d BLACK COVER EX SCOTLAND; Remarkable 6 July 1840 usage of the "No.1 SMITH'S ENVELOPE ADVERTISER" multiple-adverts text printed in blue as plain paper EL (minor toning and some faults inc. holes from seal) from Edinburgh (fine c.d.s.) to London franked by a fine 4-margin 1d Black (Plate 2; JK) tied by a red Maltese Cross. This Smith's Advertiser text is well known as a Mulready letter-sheet advertiser, but we cannot recall having seen it used as a plain letter-sheet with a 1d Black before. Amazing! PHOTO | £300 | |||||||||||||||
| SHIP LETTERS | ||||||||||||||||||
| ** | 1157 | DARTMOUTH - UNIQUE(?) "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]" MARK ON COVER TO U.S.A.; 18 Oct. 1814 E (flaps cut and glued for display, but with part contents still present; minor staining just affecting a few letters of the mark) from "Manchester" addressed to Rhode Island but posted from Devon and so with a mostly very fine red 2-ring "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/DARTMOUTH" (Rob. M1/PPWSL1; the sole recorded example, referred to by him as "Very rare" and from which his illustration on p.E56 comes) across the join & seal (as per regulations) on the reverse. Still the only recorded example of this mark. Important Maritime Exhibition Item. [Ex Maurice Blake.] PHOTO. | £850 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1158 | FALMOUTH - EARLY SHIP LRE MARK ON COVER EX ANTIGUA; Fine 28 Sept. 1779 EL from "Antigua" to an M.P. in London "P. Capt. Ross" charged "5" with a mostly very fine large "FALMOUTH5/SHIP-LRE" (Rob.S1) nicely placed on the front. Rare so early from Antigua. PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1159 | FALMOUTH - GREEN UDC PACKT. LRE MARK - EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF LOOTING OF SAN SEBASTIAN; 20 Sept. 1813 EL (minor wear & small losses at seal) ex "Pyrenees" (!) to Birmingham from a British officer involved in the Campaign; having a very fine green UDC "FALMOUTH/PACKT. LRE" mark (crossed by closed tear but a much clearer strike than usual). He mentions that "...the French have been reinforced by a Division, but this will not cover their late losses. You must have heard by this time of the Fall of St. Sebastian [on 31 Aug. 1813] & the dressing the Spaniards gave the French the same day...I was in the town...two days after it was taken & never saw such confusion; it was on fire on all sides & the streets filled with dead bodies & rubbish. [Our] sailors also came in for [? a quarter] of the plunder; in going into the town, I met one of these geniuses coming out & on asking him what he had got, he replied [that] he had a good 8-day clock on his back , worth £10, but the son of a bitch of a sentry would noy let him bring it out!..." Good Campaign letter. [Ex Martin Willcocks.] PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1160 | FALMOUTH - BLACK 2-LINE "PACKET LETTER" MARK EX LISBON WITH MENTION OF LORD WELLESLEY; [July] 1809 E (minor faults) to Dublin charged "2/8" with a very fine (for this) black "FALMOUTH//PACKET LETTER" (Rob.P2; only recorded for this year in this colour; one letter just affected by closed tear) on the front; ex Lisbon with part of an interesting letter from a British soldier involved in the Campaign against the French, inc. "We expect to march for[th? with?] L[ord] Wellesley every day...the best method of addressing letters is to Lisbon as there are Dispatches going from this to the Army who will convey the letters also. They must be post paid or they will not be allowed to proceed." PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1161 | FALMOUTH - GREEN "LISBON/F" ON CAMPAIGN COVER REF. WELLINGTON, STARVING MARCHES, ETC.; 27 Mar. 1811 EL (long and fascinating contents) ex the British forces on the march at "Perincis (?) about 21 m[iles] from Calianco (?)" to Scotland charged "2/7" with a very fine (though slightly overstruck) green "LISBON/AP 11/1811/F" mark on the front. The letter gives a graphic description of life on the march; the writer has lost his goat (good for two pots of milk a day) but still has his dog although the march has been tough and starving; "I was three days without eating anything except half a biscuit the first day...one biscuit is sometimes served out among 10 men - never mind what you see in the papers!...Lord W has a large Army but he has Mortier on the Alentagio side to look to. Vizu and indeed all the other towns are burnt, hundreds of the natives lying murthered on the roads...". Good Campaign cover. PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1162 | FALMOUTH - FINE GREEN "AMERICA/F" DATESTAMP ON FORWARDED COVER EX RICHMOND (VA.); 22 Apr. 1812 EL (interesting contents ref. an inheritance in the US) ex "Richmond" to Scotland "P. Packet" with a very fine (rare thus) green "AMERICA/4 JU 4/1812/F" d.s. on the front, having a clear Forwarding Agent's endorsement on the flap; "New York April 27 1812. Received and forwarded by y.mo.s. Kelso & Crump." Fine transatlantic letter that reached Britain just 15 days before the start of the "War of 1812"! PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1163 | FALMOUTH - GREEN "LISBON/F" D.S. ON CAMPAIGN LETTER REF. OX WAGON TRAINS, ETC.; 6 June 1812 EL (some worn folds) from "Aldea Galega" (Portugal) to Scotland charged "2/7" with a very fine green "LISBON/JU 19/1812/F" d.s. on the front. Long and interesting journal-letter about the writer's experiences in charge of a baggage train of ox-carts and the vagaries of army life; "Com. Gen. Dalrymple sent for me & desired me to take charge of the 4th Subdivision of Commt. Wagon Train...We took 7 days going & 7 days coming from Estremos which is only 80 miles from Aldea Galega". Rare insight into the supplies side of the Peninsular Campaign. PHOTO | £120 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1164 | FALMOUTH - GREEN "CADIZ/F" D.S. ON COVER WITH MENTION OF WELLINGTON's CAMPAIGN; 18 Mar. 1813 E from "Cadiz" (filing note) to Scotland charged "2/2" and then "4/4" (double) with red Edinburgh Inspector's "Crown" mark having a mostly very fine green Falmouth "CADIZ/AP 12/1813/F" d.s. on the front. The change of rate was due to the enclosure of a Bill of Exchange for not less than "£1,000 Sterling"! The part contents include news of Lord Wellington's Campaign; "L[or]d W[ellington]will move generally [at] the beginning of the month [April]"; this was the start of his famous offensive that led to the victory at Vittorio, etc. Attractive. PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1165 | FALMOUTH - GREEN UDC "PACKT. LRE" MARK ON CAMPAIGN COVER FROM SPAIN; 31 Sept. 1813 EL from "Camp on the Bidason [River]" (Pyrenees) to Worcester charged "2/2" and redirected to Cheltenham charged a further "6[d]", having a partly fine green circular undated "FALMOUTH/PACKT. LRE" (Rob.P1) on the front. Good contents ref. the ongoing Campaign against the French in Spain; "...during my stay at Vittorio [taken at the famous Battle on 21 June 1813] I was very comfortable, a Major of our Regt. being Commandant, I dined with him in King Joseph's Palace when I chose..."! Also; "...could you see us in Camp, when we are not actually engaged with the enemy, you would be surprised how comfortable we are...", etc. Good letter. [Ex Martin Willcocks.] PHOTO | £140 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1166 | FALMOUTH - RARE RED 2-RING CROWNED "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER" C.D.S. ON COVER; 18/22 Mar. 1815 EL (light toning but fine) from "London" to Madeira "By H.M.S. Warrior(?)" charged "P 7" in red (prepaid a third of the Packet rate), with a mostly very fine rare red 2-ring "[POST] PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/Crown/22 MR 22/5181/[FA]LMOUTH" c.d.s. (Rob. PPWSL1; not recorded by Robertson, but c.4 examples recorded later by Tabeart, of which only one has the date error like this one) across the join (very slightly over the edge), but blessedly clear of the seal itself on the reverse. One of the rarest of all Falmouth marks; not present in most of the great Falmouth collections that have been offered in recent years. PHOTO. | £500 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1167 | FALMOUTH - GREEN "AMERICA/F" D.S. ON COVER FROM ROBERT E. LEE's BROTHER; 12 May 1820 EL (overall light toning barely detracts) from "War Department, Washington" to Bath, charged "2/1" with a a very fine green Falmouth "AMERICA/MY 12/1820/F" d.s. on the front. The letter is written by Henry Lee, son of 'Light Horse Harry' and brother of the famous Robert E. Lee; addressed to the Lee brother's married sister, "Mrs. Dunsier". Interesting contents ref. the death of the writer's neighbour in a duel, the financial crash in the US and ending; "Send your letters to Col. Aspinwall, American Consul in London & he will forWard them to me". Historical item. PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1168 | FALMOUTH - PACKET LETTER WITH "TRINIDAD" FLEURON DATESTAMP; 7/11 Mar. 1831 EL (written in French from "Isle de la Trinite" to London (redirected locally with scarce large red London "GP" mark) with mostly fine "TRINIDAD/MAR 11/[1831]" fleuron d.s. on the top flap. Scarce West Indies cover routed via Falmouth. PHOTO | £100 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1169 | FALMOUTH - INDIA LETTER EX "CANTON" CHINA; 19 Dec. 1839 E from "Canton" (pencil notes as usual for this correspondence) to Rothschild & Co. in London endorsed "pr A Baring" and charged "8" with a very fine red "INDIA LETTER/FALMOUTH" mark (Rob.In.3 - surprisingly rare; Tabeart only records 1839-40) across the join on the reverse with a London arrival mark of 9 May 1840 (only 3 days after the introduction of the 1d Black!). Exhibition Item. PHOTO. | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1170 | FALMOUTH - THE VERY RARE GREEN "INDIA/F" UDC ON COVER FROM ADEN; 4 Jan. - 12 Feb. 1842 E (some ink print-through but totally sound paper) dated from "Aden" and addressed to Scotland "via Falmouth" with a very fine extremely rare green small "INDIA/F" UDC on the front (rare thus), having the Edinburgh arrival c.d.s. on the flap. One of only a handful of recorded examples of this mark in private hands, and probably the only example recorded on mail from Aden. Acquired by Charless Hahn back in 1977. [The similar cover sold in Cavendish's 'Culford Collection' auction of 25 Nov. 2004 sold for £2,990.] PHOTO | £1800 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1171 | FOWEY (CORNWALL) - RARE STEP-TYPE "SHIP LETTER" MARK ON "Detained for Postage" COVER EX CHILE TO U.S.A.; Remarkable Mar./May 1849 EL from "Ship Panama, 23 Lat. 28 South Long 39" addressed to New York and with mention that the writer intended to post the letter from his next port of call, "Talcuhana Coast, Chile, sea port of Conception"; having mostly fine distinctive orange-red small boxed step-type "FOWEY/SHIP LETTER" (Rob.S3; few examples known) on the front along with matching c.d.s. (May 1849), but the latter overstruck by fair London red boxed "No. [23431]/Detained for Postage" and "Returned for/Postage" marks, and so with black "1/4" charge changed to red "1/4" and having London tombstone "PAID" d.s. (29 June 1849) on the front with red "5/CENTS" etc. Rare Ship Letter from this tiny port and an exceptional usage on Chile to USA mail! PHOTO | £240 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1172 | HULL - UNIQUE(?) "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]" MARK ON COVER TO RUSSIA; 12 Apr. 1815 E from "Hull" (filing note) addressed to "Narva" (Russia) and prepaid "P 10" (a third of the normal Packet rate) having a large part very fine strike of the otherwise totally unrecorded 2-ring "POST P[AI]D WITH[DRAWN S]HI[P LE]TTER/[Crown]/12AP12/1815/.HULL." c.d.s. across the seal (as pere P.O. regulations). It is extraordinary that Robertson & Tabeart do not record this Hull mark at all, though it is listed in the County Cat. as YK3436 for 1814-5, but since Charless Hahn's acquisition of it in 1988 we have still not heard of another example. Important Maritime Exhibition Item, and arguably the rarest Yorkshire Prestamp mark of all. PHOTO. | £1500 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1173 | PLYMOUTH - UNIQUE(?) "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]" MARK ON COVER TO GUERNSEY; 25 Mar. 1815 E addressed to Guernsey (very rare destination for a Withdrawn Ship Letter!!) from "Plymouth" (filing note) having a partly fine but rather 'clogged' strike of a black 2-ring "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/5_225[sic]/PLYMOUTH" c.d.s. (very confused date!) on the side-flap, blessedly clear of the seal. Neither Robertson nor Tabeart not the Willcocks 'County Cat.' record this mark at all, although one strike for Dartmouth is known (see above), so it is no surprise that Plymouth had one as well. It is equally rare to find a PPWSL addressed to the Channel Isles (prepaid "4[d]" - a third of the Packet rate?); we cannot recall having seen another one! Important addition to the Maritime P. H. record. PHOTO. | £500 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1174 | POOLE - THE SOLE RECORDED (?) EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-RING "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]" MARK ON COVER; 17 May 1815 EL (slight faults) from "Poole" to Oporto endorsed "To be delivered to their Agent at Vianna" and prepaid 1s-8d (red m/s "Pd 1/8" replacing erroneous "Pd 1/5" on the front!) having a mostly very fine (but date unclear) 2-ring "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/[POOLE" c.d.s. (Rob. PPWSL 1; DT805) slightly across the join (ironed crease but blessedly clear of the seal) on the reverse. Robertson describes this mark as "Rare" in the 1960s, and we are not aware of any other example having been found to date! Exhibition Item of Importance. PHOTO. | £1200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1175 | PORTSMOUTH - RARE "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]" D.S. ON COVER TO MADEIRA; Remarkable 8 Mar. 1815 EL (overall slight toning barely detracts) from "London" to Madeira but sent privately to Portsmouth with contemporary pencil "Pr. Clarence, Capt. Marshall" on the front, prepaid 8½(?) with a mostly very fine 2-ring "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/PORTSMOUTH" d.s. in black (Rob. PPWSL 1; central part of strike a little unclear) across the join (but just clear of the seal) on the reverse. Tabeart records only three examples; only a handful known. Th contents refer to the new French Possessions in India; "I yesterday saw M. le Baron des who is to go out to India as Governor General of the French Possessions in the East...he expects to call at Madeira...[will need supplies of wine;] about a £1,000's worth..."!! Very rare Portsmouth Maritime Gem. PHOTO. | £500 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1176 | QUEENBOROUGH - 'PROOF'-STRIKE OF THE OTHERWISE UNRECORDED 2-RING "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]" MARK; Small piece (date unknown, but paper appears to be c.1900) with a lovely strike of the 2-ring Rob.PPWSL 1 mark with "JA15/1819" date which matches the supposedly 1810 example illustrated by Tabeart, though he notes that it is not yet recorded used on cover. Rare illustrative example, possibly from a handstamp found in the back of a drawer in the Queenborough P.O. [with 1993 note of provenance signed by Patrick Frost]. PHOTO. | £100 | |||||||||||||||
| TRANSATLANTIC - EARLY MAIL, ETC. | ||||||||||||||||||
| ** | 1177 | SCOTLAND TO U.S. - EARLY PACKET LETTER WITH LONDON & NEW YORK BISHOP MARKS; 26 July 1765 EL (reinforced folds) from "DUNBAR" (faint straight-line on flap) prepaid ("Pd 1N6"; 6d inland + 1/- transatlantic) to New York with a fine London "PD" in circle on the front, also having v. fine "31/IY" (London) and "3/OC" (NY) Bishop Marks nicely placed on the side-flap. PHOTO | £120 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1178 | COLONIAL AMERICA - "NEW/YORK" MARK ON CONNECTICUT COVER TO G.B.; Aug. 1766 Missionary E (minor staining at foot) from "Fairfield" (endorsed "New England, Connecticut" for filing) to London "P. [Ship's] Capt[ain]." charged "1N" (double Packet rate) with a partial "NEW/YORK" and matching fine "27/AU" US Bishop Mark on the flap beside a fine "29/SE" London arrival Bishop. Scarce early Packet Letter. PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1179 | EARLY SHIP LETTER TO LONDON VIA SCOTLAND; c.1766 Missionary E (overall toning) ex "North Carolina" to London with a faint town mark ("GREE/NOCK"?) on the flap beside v. fine red Edinburgh "JU/21" & v. fine black London "25/IV" Bishop Marks; charged "2" and then "In [all] 8" suggesting that the letter was privately carried to the Scottish port and posted there. Unusual Scottish routing for early transatlantic mail. PHOTO | £100 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1180 | U.S. MAIL VIA FALMOUTH - EARLY F. AGENT EX COLONIAL CAROLINA & NAPOLEONIC PACKET LRE; 29 Mar. 1771 Missionary E from "Edenton, N. Carolina" to London endorsed "Addressed c/o Messrs. Gibson & Cranberry" and so carried by private means to Cornwall where a very fine large "FALMOUTH" was applied on reverse next to the Forwarding Agent's endorsement; "Falmouth 11 May 1771, forwarded by Sir, y.o.s. Sam Graube (?)", charged "4". Attractive and scarce Colonial American cover. Plus Dec. 1808 EL from New York to Manchester "P. Packet" with a poor undated circular "FALMOUTH PACKT. LRE" on the front. (2 covers). PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1181 | U.S. "WAR RATES" COVER WITH LONDON "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER" MARK; 3 June 1815 EL prepaid "8[d]" from "London" to "Portsmouth N.H." endorsed "P. [Ship] Galen" with a very fine 2-ring black "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]" d.s. (Rob. PPWSL 1) across the seal (some closed tears) with fair red New York "SHIP" on the front and so charged "17[c]" (to pay) on arrival, being the 2c Ship Letter fee plus the inland 10c +50% War surcharge which was only in effect from 1 Feb. 1815 to 31 Mar. 1816. Rare thus. PHOTO. | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1182 | U.S. "WAR RATES" COVER WITH RARE BLACK LIVERPOOL "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER" MARK; 28 June 1815 E (side-flaps removed; sadly abbreviated contents ref. celebrations of the victory at Waterloo and Napoleon's final abdication a few days earlier) from Liverpool to Philadelphia with a very fine (especially for this) 2-ring "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LIVERPOOL" c.d.s. (Rob.PPWSL 1; rare in black) across th seal (as per regulations) on the reverse. Prepaid "9" (a third of the Packet rate) but routed via "BALTIMORE MD." (red 4 Sept. c.d.s. & "SHIP" on the front) so charged "20¾[c]" on arrival, being 2c Ship Letter rate + the inland 12½c +50% War surcharge which was only in effect from 1 Feb. 1815 to 31 Mar. 1816. Doubly rare cover. PHOTO. | £300 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1183 | RED LIVERPOOL "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER" MARK ON COVER TO BALTIMORE;10 Apr. - 1 May 1815 EL (toned areas folded away clear of marks and address) from "Leeds" posted prepaid ("P 2/3") on 1 May from Liverpool with mostly v. fine red 2-ring "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LIVERPOOL" c.d.s. (Rob. PPWSL 1) across the seal (as per regulations); endorsed "p. Georgiana" and having only a fine red "SHIP" on the front and no arrival charge, so presumably landed at Baltimore. PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1184 | U.S. "WAR RATES" COVER WITH RED LIVERPOOL "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER" MARK; 2/8 May 1815 EL (filing notes on front) prepaid ("P1/6"; one third the double Packet rate?) from London via Liverpool (Forwarding Agent endorsement on flap) to Providence, R.I. with partial red 2-ring "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LIVERPOOL" c.d.s. (Rob. PPWSL 1) unusually clear of the seal, on the reverse; landed at "NEW YORK" (red 18 July c.d.s. and fine "SHIP" on the front) and so charged "53[c]" on arrival, being the 2c Ship Letter fee plus the inland double rate of 17x2=34c +50% War surcharge which was only in effect from 1 Feb. 1815 to 31 Mar. 1816. Rare thus. PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1185 | RARE "WELSH ADDITIONAL 1⁄2d" CHARGE ON TRANSATLANTIC "GREAT WESTERN" COVER; 15 May 1839 EL from "CORK" (c.d.s. on flap) to New York endorsed "Post paid single via Waterford & Milford" and "[Per Ship] Great Western" routed via "Bristol" with near fine red boxed "PAID/AT/CORK" on the front and prepaid "1/-1⁄2" which was the standard Uniform Packet rate of one shilling, but also the special extra 1⁄2d charge for the Milford Haven route, charged "6[c]" on arrival in New York. Rare Great Western cover showing that the Uniform 1/- rate was not always Uniform! PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1186 | PANAMA - UNRECORDED (?) F.A.C. ON SURFACE PRINTED COVER TO MEXICO; 16 Oct. 1872 EL (minor toning) from Manchester to Acapulco routed via an Agent in "Panama" and "Via Southampton", franked by G.B. 1/- green (faults) tied by "498" numeral, having v. fine unframed 3-line "ENCAMINADO POR/HOURQUET & POYLO/PANAMA" on the front, along with blue crayon "10" postal charge. This Panama FAC is believed to be the only recorded example, and mail routed to Mexico in this way, via Panama, is rare anyway. Exhibition Item. PHOTO | £300 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1187 | PANAMA - BLUE OVAL F.A.C. ON SURFACE PRINTED COVER TO MEXICO; 9 Feb. 1872 EL (toning) from Manchester to Acapulco routed via a Panama Agent and endorsed "Per S. Graf Bismarck via Southampton" with a v. fine blue oval framed "ENCAMINADA POR/HURQUET POYLO & Ca/PANAMA" on the front, having blue crayon "15" postal charge. Rare thus. PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1188 | Similar 1 Feb. 1872 EL from the same correspondence; no crayon postal charge and only endorsed "Per R.M. Steamer" but with pair of 1/- greens tied by Manchester duplexes; the oval F.A.C. slightly less clear, but still a rare cover. PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1189 | Similar 5 Nov. 1870 EL from the same correspondence but with oval "COLON/DEBE/ULTRAMAR" mark; some faults due to ink-etching, with three 1/- greens (faults) tied by Manchester duplexes, but with v. fine blue oval framed FAC and v. fine Colon P. Due mark (affected by ink-etched line but clear), charged "30" in blue crayon. Endorsed "p. Steamer St. Thomas from Liverpool" and so with "LIVERPOOL/P.L.O." c.d.s. on reverse. Rare thus.PHOTO | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1190 | PANAMA/MEXICO - BALANCE OF THE CORRESPONDENCE, ROUTED VIA LONDON, QUEENSTOWN, ETC.; 16 No. 1870 EL (faults) with fine blue oval Hourquet & Poylo F.A.C. and triple 1/- green franking (London transit c.d.s.), fine double rate 1871 EL via the same Panama Agent but with no FAC, similar single rate 1869 EL "Via Queenstown" and New York but not Panama, and Apr./July 1872 single 1/- green franked pair to Acapulco via Panama but with FACs (one via Southampton). Scarce group. (5 covers). PHOTO | £200 | |||||||||||||||
| TRANSATLANTIC - RETALIATORY RATES | ||||||||||||||||||
| ** | 1191 | OCEAN LINE SS HERMANN FIRST VOYAGE; Scarce 25 Apr. 1848 EL Liverpool to Petersburg Va. endorsed "p Steamship "Hermann" via Southampton" and carried on her first four times delayed voyage under the Bremen Treaty (it would have been quicker to send it by the Cambria sailing from Liverpool!); 16 June 1848 EL London to Washington carried by SS Cambria on the last west bound pre Retaliatory rate voyage; 2 June 1848 EL Liverpool to Petersburg Va. rated "2/-" etc. Good trio. | £75 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1192 | SCARCE COMBINED RETALIATORY RATE AND 3d LATE FEE COVER; 19 Aug.1848 E (9th Retaliatory Rate westbound voyage) Liverpool to Philadelphia via New York and carried by the Cunarder SS Niagara franked by two cut square 1/- embossed (faults/vert. crease, lifted and replaced) plus a strip of three 1d reds tied by 466 numeral with blue ms "58" retaliatory charge. Scarce example of the experimental 3d Late Fee charge used prior to 1849. (See Cavendish Lot 1250, 28 Sep. 2006). PHOTO. | £500 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1193 | RETALIATORY RATE - ZANTE TO BOSTON; Aug. 1848 EL Zante to Boston via London carried by SS Hibernia on the 10th Retaliatory voyage with faint oval Zante d.s. and directed via Baring Bros. Forwarding Agency, red London d.s., ms charges, etc. A scarce origination for retaliatory mail to the USA. PHOTO | £120 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1194 | RETALIATORY RATE PERIOD INC. FIRST VOYAGE; 14 July 1848 EL Liverpool to New York via Boston rated "4/-" with "87[c]" retaliatory rate, carried by SS Europe on her first Transatlantic voyage plus 30 June 1848 EL London to New York via Boston carried by SS Niagara (2nd Retaliatory rate voyage) with fine red "29" h.s. etc. Fine pair. | £140 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1195 | RETALIATORY RATE VOYAGES, 5, 16 AND 19; 20 July 1848 large part E Norwich to New York carried by SS America with cut to shape 1/- embossed, large red "24" etc.; 7 Oct. 1848 EL Liverpool to New York carried by SS Niagara with tied cut square 1/- embossed (vert. crease), red Boston d.s. etc. plus 27 Oct. 1848 E Glasgow to New York, carried by SS America with ms. "1/-", small red "24" etc. (3 covers). | £150 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1196 | RETALIATORY RATE VOYAGES 19 AND 24; 1848 Trio inc. 27 Oct. EL London to New York carried by SS America with large red "24" etc; 1 Dec. env. Glasgow to Troy with good octagonal Glasgow d.s. alongside small thimble Glasgow, red Boston d.s. etc. plus 1 Dec. EL London to Maine with fine red London Maltese Cross style d.s. overstruck by "29" etc, both carried by SS Niagara; this was the last westbound Retaliatory rate voyage. Good trio. | £120 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1197 | EX ITALY & NETHERLANDS RETALIATORY RATE COVERS; 18 Aug. 1848 EL Palermo to New Orleans directed via "Peabody" London carried by SS Europa (11th Retaliatory voyage) with red New Orleans 34 cts d.s. plus 19 Sep. 1848 EL Rotterdam to Philadelphia carried by SS Cambria (14th Retaliatory voyage) with fine red Paid at Liverpool lozenge d.s. overstruck by large "34" etc. Fine pair. PHOTO | £140 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1198 | FRANCE RETALIATORY RATE COVERS INC. FIRST VOYAGE; Pair of 1848 EL to/from France inc. 19 Aug. (faults/v. crease) New Orleans to Paris via Liverpool carried by SS Cambria on 7th Retaliatory voyage with variety h.s., rates inc. ms. "68[c]" etc. plus 21 Nov. Paris to Washington via Liverpool carried by SS Canada on her first voyage with various h.s inc. large red "29[c]" etc. Good pair. | £120 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1199 | RETALIATORY RATE FIRST VOYAGE; 8 Dec. 1848 EL New Orleans to London via Liverpool carried by SS Canada on her maiden east bound leg (23rd Retaliatory voyage) with New Orleans d.s., small "PAID" and "34" h.s. | £75 | |||||||||||||||
| ** | 1200 | RESTORED RATE FIRST WESTBOUND VOYAGE; 29 Dec. 1848 env. Edinburgh to New York franked with cut to shape 10d embossed plus two margin 2d blue carried by SS America on the first west bound Restored rate voyage with variety of h.s. inc. red "12" etc. PHOTO | £120 | |||||||||||||||
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