GERMAN STATES
561 MISCELLANY:Extensive, duplicated mint & used ranges on leaves inc. Baden, Bergdorf, Bremen, Bavaria, Brunswick, Hamburg, Hanover, Lubeck, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, Prussia, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Thurn & Taxis, Wurttemburg & Confederation issues. Also some Alsace-Lorraine and Heligoland. While some are reprints, there are many useful and interesting examples present inc. shade and cancellation interest. (Many 100s) £200
GERMAN GROUP
562 CARTON with the extensive collection of Germany, Occupations, West Germany & East Germany housed in six large stockbooks. (Few 1,000s). £100
563 ALBUM/POCKETBOOK with the interesting selection inc. Memel, Saar, Berlin & West Germany. A somewhat unorganized but unusual accumulation. (Small Qty.). £150
564 THREE STOCKBOOKS with the duplicated accumulation of Posthorn/Heuss defins., sundry commems., Danzig & a little Spain. (Qty.). £90
565 STOCKBOOK with the mint & used somewhat duplicated accumulation of Colonies & Occupation issues. (Sev. 100s). £100
566 STOCKBOOK housing substantial miscellany of mint & used stamps c1880-1970s and covering Empire, Inflation, Third Reich, East West Germany, Berlin etc. with many useful items noted inc. 1951 Posthorn 60pf mint, Berlin 1956 buildings to 3m etc. Inspection recommended. (100s) £100
GERMAN COLONIES
567 MISCELLANY: Useful collection on leaves with ranges of 'Yacht' type stamps and a few precursors, better material inc. 1913 Reg'd E from Truk (Carolines), GEA/Wuga 7½h pair, GEA values to 3r franking cover (faults) with provisional reg'n label of Taveta and feldppost cancellations, cards from Swakopmund & Tsingtau. Also German P.O. (Germania) issues. (Qty) £140
GERMANY
568 CARTON with the varied accumulation in five stockbooks inc. sundry Danzig, Saar & West Berlin. (Many 100s). £75
569 TWO BINDERS with the extremely varied accumulation of covers & cards from 1920s Inflation issues, 1947-50 Berlin & Postal Tax labels, Postal Stationery inc. uprated, WWII Feldpost, etc. Condition variable but still well worth a look. (Approx. 170). £300
570 FINE USED COLLECTION, 1871-1933: Extensive, duplicated collection on leaves from useful group of brustschild issues, eagles and Germania with plenty of shade and cancellation interest, through very substantial ranges of inflation period stamps, 1926 airs to 1m, charity sets, 1928-31 zeppelin set plus Polar flight 2m, officials etc. (Many 100s) £200
571 MINT COLLECTION 1900-1932: Collection on leaves with 'Germania' issues to 5m, extensive duplicated ranges of definitives inc. inflation provisionals with scarcer noted, 1930 IPOSTA sheet (adhesion at corners but block fine u/m, officials etc. (100s) £140
572 CANCELLATIONS: Carton with cancellations study in 2 binders and 2 folders - covers and pieces with cancellations from c1920s onwards with better noted inc. 1936 Olympics m/s on reg'd E ex Olympic Village, good range of commemorative types etc. Inspection recommended. (Many 100s) £120
573 DANZIG & SAAR: Mint & used collections from c1920 - a bit sparse but with useful stamps inc. Saar charity sets and commemoratives. Worth inspection. (100s) £100
574 POST-WWI PLEBISCITES etc: Mint & used collection on leaves inc. plebiscites of Marienwerder, Allenstein, Schlesvig, Carinthia & East and Upper Silesia - the last with extensive study of opt. varieties. Also a few WWI occupation issues, Memel, Rumanian Ukraine etc. (100s) £150
575 THIRD REICH: Duplicated ranges of mint & used stamps on leaves 1933-45 with better items inc. fine used 1933 Wagner set, 1934 airs, Colonisers & Trades, 1935 Costumes and other Welfare issues, Hitler Birthday sheets (5), Nurburgring opts etc plus officials and a few censored cards. Useful lot. (100s) £150
576 WWII OCCUPATIONS, FELDPOST etc: Miscellany on leaves inc. issues for German occupation of Alsace-Lorraine, Luxembourg, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine etc. plus Sudetenland cancellations on piece, ghetto stamps and locals. Also Afrika Korps feldpost pair unused (one with fault), 'Kurland' and 'INSELPOST' opts on feldpost stamps plus Crete red 'Inselpost' item - the last expertised. Interesting lot. (Qty) £150
577 ALLIED OCCUPATIONS, 1945-49: Useful mint & used collection on leaves inc. AMG with perf. variations, numerals (both m/s used), 1948 currency revaluation opts, buildings, commemoratives inc. Hannover m/s m&u, French & Russian Zones issues etc. Inspection recommended. (100s) £200
578 LOCAL ISSUES, 1945-46: Interesting collection of locally-produced stamps or surcharges of the immediate post-WWII period with a number of scarce issues inc miniature sheets and covers etc. Includes 12 cash-paid covers. Good specialist lot - inspection essential. (Qty) £200
579 CANCELLATIONS: Collection of cancellations c1890-1950s, mainly on piece but with several interesting covers noted, mounted on leaves and with emphasis on railway cancellations and commemorative date-stamps, inc. a study of Leipzig Fair cancellations on DDR covers etc. (Many 100s) £100
580 'STADTPOSTS': Substantial and most interesting collection on leaves illustrating the wide variety of local delivery stamps and stationery produced by the private town posts c1885-1900 with mint & used ranges plus many items used through the stadtposts inc. commemorative issues / cards etc. The most extensive and attractive such collection that we have offered - a tremendous lot for the specialist: viewing a must. (1000s) £700
GERMANY - WEST
581 THREE STOCKBOOKS with the extensive duplicated accumulation, 1949-90s including some better items. (Very many 100s). £100
582 ALBUM with the near complete (chiefly unmounted) mint collection, 1956-77 inc. definitives, commems., charities & min. sheets. (Few 100s). £180
583 MINT COLLECTION 1949-2000: Lightly-mounted mint collection on leaves with elusive, highly-catalogued early issues, charity sets and definitives with a useful degree of completion evident - ideal for further development. Good lot. (100s) £200
584 FINE USED COLLECTION etc: 1949-93 Issues on leaves inc. scarcer early issues,charities etc. to 1993. Also an extensive collection of mint stamps with 'muster' (sample) overprints c1964-2002. A substantial lot with much of interest. (Many 100s) £180
585 1948-53 Mint range inc. 1949 Stamp Centenary, UPU, Bach, 1951 St. Mary's Church (one value toned), 1951 Relief Fund then complete to 1953 Munich. High Catalogue value. (37). £240
586 1949-53 Mint & used ranges on stockleaf, basically complete either mint or used between SG.1033 & 1092. (40). £240
587 1951 Posthorn set mounted mint. The 40pf is toned but the 70pf, 80pf and 90pf are all fine. (16). PHOTO. £300
588 ATM MACHINE LABELS: Extensive collection of both mint labels and their uses on cover c1981-2002 housed in two albums (123 covers and various stamps). Also a quantity of ersttagblatter and a sho-box of covers. (Qty) £75
GERMANY - BERLIN
589 TWO STOCKBOOKS with the extensive predominantly used duplicated accumulation. (Sev. 100s). £100
590 FINE MINT & USED COLLECTION, 1948-90: Extensive, duplicated collection on leaves inc. 1948-49 overprints, 1949 buildings to 5m (no 3m), ranges of elusive commemoratives etc. Better than average lot with high catalogue value - inspection recommended. (Many 100s) £200
591 1949-53 Mounted mint group comprising 1949 Bear set, 1950 Philharmonic pair, 1951 Stamp Day pair & 1953 Church set. (11) £120
GERMANY - EAST
592 MINT COLLECTION, 1945-73: Lightly-remaindered collection in album on Schaubek leaves with issues from Russian Zone onwards inc. Thuringia theatre sheets, 1948 & '52 Famous Germans, 1949 Goethe sheet then extensive ranges of commemoratives inc. UPU, DEBRIA, Bach, Academy, 1951 China, Five Year Plan sets, m/s etc. Very high cat. value. (Many 100s) £240
593 COLLECTION c1949-90: Mint & used ranges of stamps on leaves - the mint collection to 1988 with strength from the 1960s onwards but useful earlier issues; the used collection mirrors the mint but with some better earlier stamps e.g. 1949 UPU, DEBRIA sheet etc. Substantial lot. (Many 100s) £140
GIBRALTAR
594 STOCKBOOK containing a useful collection of mint & used stamps from SG.1 with other QV values to 50c and KEVII/ KGV to 1/- but real strength in QEII inc. definitives to £5 (4), many commemoratives inc. plate &/or 'traffic lights' and other blocks of four, "To Pay" labels & sheetlets. Also a COVER ALBUM containing 1977-85 presentation packs and QEII FDCs both with values to £5, two more sheetlets etc. (Several hundred stamps, 33 packs, 29 covers, 4 sheetlets etc.). £140
595 TWO STOCKBOOKS with the QV-QEII mint & used duplicated accumulation. (Few 100s). £75
596 STOCKBOOK with the early to modern mint & used accumulation. (Few 100s). £75
597 MISCELLANY of mint & used QV - QEII stamps mounted on album leaves and some loose in packets inc. useful KGV with shades & values to 2/-, even better KGVI with shades, perfs. & values to £1 and real strength in QEII inc. shades, values to £5, many commemoratives inc. plate blocks of up to ten, the odd cover, sheetlet and booklet pane, many miniature sheets, 'To Pay' labels with values to £2 and much thematic interest throughout inc. aircraft, birds, flowers, marine life, ships & sport. (Many 100's). £280
598 YEAR PACKS for 1994-2001 inclusive containing commemoratives, miniature sheets, the odd booklet and a few extras. STC c.£340. (8 packs). £75
GILBERT AND ELLICE ISLANDS
599 BOXED ALBUM with the chiefly mint collection, 1953-85 showing a high degree of completion for the period inc. Kiribati & Tuvalu. (Few 100s). £120
GOLD COAST
600 COLLECTION on leaves, QV-QEII with useful 19th Century ranges inc. 1889 20/- green & red mint, 1900 10/- green & brown used (6, fair to fine), a small group of QV & KEVII low value mint plate blocks, later vals. to 10/-, etc. (Few 100s). £180
GREECE
601 MINT COLLECTION, c1875-2004: Attractive collection of mint stamps housed in an album with much of interest inc.1906 Olympics (3d with fault) plus 3l & 10l imperf., 1913 opts, useful post-WWII inc. 1952 Airs, '54 Art & Enosis sets etc. Viewing recommended. (100s) £150
602 COLLECTION of used issues on leaves inc. imperf. Hermes values to 80l, 1896 & 1906 Olympics sets to 5d, few occupation issues etc. Inspection recommended. (100s) £100
GREENLAND
603 MINT COLLECTION (much unmounted) on stockleaves with much of merit inc. 1936 Thule locals , 1938-46 set, 1945 Pictorial set, 1945 Liberation set plus 2k with blue opt., 1950-60 set, etc. (Approx. 250 inc. 1973 20o emerald sheet of 50). £240
604 COLLECTION, 1916-2004: Extensive, mainly mint collection with a few 'parcel post' types then useful ranges from 1938 onwards with particular strength in modern mint stamps inc. booklets etc. Also a substantial cancellations study - mainly 1970s-'80s covers on leaves with wide range of town cancellations. Inspection necessary. (100s) £150
605 1938 1o to 1kr. Ten unmounted mint sets. Cat. £450. (90). £120
606 1956 Overprint pair (SG.37/38) unmounted mint x 20. Cat. £1,000+. (40). £240
HAITI
607 RARE 'PAID AT JACMEL':1862 E (small loss to address panel) addressed to St Thomas with oily red strike of the rare crowned circle PAID/AT/JACMEL, plus crayon '4d' charge; also 1875 E to France ex Miragoane, forwarded via the British P.O. at Port au Prince with fine FAC of Serre & Co. - boxed 'GB/1F60c' accountancy mark. (2 items) PHOTO. £120
HONG KONG
608 FLAT BOX with the extensive and valuable QEII collection on leaves including a wealth of 21st Century issues. Much of merit with a large amount of mint in evidence (a fair amount of unmounted noted) including Definitive sets, a wide selection of Commems., min. sheets, booklets, etc. A fabulous lot which must be seen to be properly appreciated. (Many 100s). £400
609 COLLECTION of QV-KGVI issues on leaves inc. a useful range of 1863-74 types, surcharges inc. 1891 $1 on 96c purple/red unused (2), 1891 Jubilee, 1898 $1 on 96c black with "SPECIMEN" opt. (faults), KGVI defins. to $10 mint, RSW $10 mint, etc. Poor to fine. (Approx. 400). £300
610 AFTERMATH OF 1st OPIUM WAR - EARLY COVER TO G.B. FROM BRITISH FORCES IN "CHUSAN", VIA INDIA; 15 June 1844 EL from "Chusan" to Derbyshire endorsed "Via Bombay and Falmouth (changed to Southampton), overland Pr. Steamer", with Madras backstamp (27 Aug.) and fine red oval-framed Bombay "INDIA" on the front and charged "1/-". Good letter from British officer (Erskine correspondence) with the British Forces continuing the Occupation after the 1st Opium War; "I will try to get you some views of China. I am trying to take some sketches with the Camera Obscura...I am living in a China man's house with two other Officers; we pay rent about 15 shillings a month, which is a hardship I think, as we have conquered the country and ought not to pay out to the conquered...We are to have a performance at our' theatre' in a few days..." There is a note that the writer died (in China?) on 10 Mar. 1846. Rare thus. PHOTO. £150
611 AFTERMATH OF 1st OPIUM WAR - EARLY COVER AT 1s-4d RATE FROM "SINKAMOON" (CHUSAN) TO G.B. VIA "HONG KONG"; 30 Mar. 1845 EL (minor faults) from "Sinkamoon" to Derbyshire endorsed "Overland Via Bombay and Southampton Pr. Steamer" with "1/-" rate changed to "1/4" and fine sanserif "HONG KONG" transit c.d.s. on the top flap. Also with mostly fine red "BARLBOROUGH" UDC arrival mark on the front. Good letter from an officer (ex the Erskine correspondence) with the British military force still occupying the area; "...our men have been now more than three years (the regular time) away". Rare thus. [Plus p.copy & typed transcript of the next letter from this correspondence.] PHOTO. £200
612 STAMPLESS MAIL TO FRANCE - OVERLAND ROUTE: 1861 (11 June) E (light filing crease) to Mareuil, France with cachet of Vaucher Freres, Hong Kong, endorsed 'Pr Overland Mail via Marseilles' with Hong Kong cds, Marseille entry and French TPO transit; charged '9' - the 90c rate for the overland/British packet route from the Far East. Unusual destination. PHOTO. £100
613 1863 48c rose large part gum with inverted watermark. One pulled perf. & other minor imperfections but a scarce stamp nevertheless. SG.17w, Cat. £2,250. PHOTO. £400
CANTON
614 'CRICHTON CORRESPONDENCE' - LETTERS FROM THE SHIP ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR CANTON, ETC.; 1790/1 EL's (4) from James Crichton to his brother in Dumfries from London (Sept./Oct. 1790 pair), Dover ("Ship Taunton Castle, Indiaman"; fair "DEAL" mark) & "Isle of Wight" (Jan. 1791; "Taunton Castle, E. Indiaman" with "PORTS/MOUTH" mark) with very long contents ref. working to obtain a situation overseas, and then the storms preventing their departure for India & China. Good background information for this remarkable correspondence; the 'Taunton Castle' reached China within the year; see next lot. (4 covers). £100
615 VERY RARE EARLY LETTER FROM "WAMPOA" TO G.B. WITH "LONDON/SHIP LRE" MARK; Remarkably fine and long 1 Jan. 1792 EL headed "Ship Taunton Castle, Indiaman, Wampoa [sic] near Canton, China" from James Crichton to his brother in Dumfries, endorsed "P. packet Woodford, Q.D.C." with a faint "LONDON/SHIP LRE" on the front, charged "1" and then "10". This is the earliest letter from Canton to G.B. that we have recorded; we have recorded only one earlier letter from Canton - the 1756 cover to France in Cavendish's 'Richard Chan' auction [6 Mar. 2003, lot 121; realised £1,840] - and Webb (p.259) notes that he had seen no covers from Canton prior to 1834! Long and interesting letter with a good account of trade and life on board ship. Rare thus; the earliest China cover from this important newly discovered correspondence. PHOTO. £600
616 LETTERS FROM LONDON (E. INDIA COFFEE HOUSE, ETC.) & "SHIP BOMBAY CASTLE" ABOUT TO SAIL; 1792/3 group of letters (all with postal marks) from James Crichton in London (4; one headed from "E. India Coffee House"; rare thus) and from "Ship Bombay Castle, Indiaman, Gravesend" (finished at sea; with near fine "PORTSMOUTH" mark) to his family in Dumfries. Good contents about the writer's plans for this next voyage to the Indies; "China has prevailed - that Empire is now my object...if Mr Cheap's plan succeeds, you shall ere long find me Surgeon to the English Factory in China"...[which did indeed happen]. (5 covers). £100
617 "CANTON, CHINA" - RARE EARLY LETTER TO G.B. "PER [SHIP] BUCCLEUCH", ETC.; 26 Mar. 1795 EL (minor dusting) from James Crichton headed "Canton, China" to Dumfries endorsed "Per Buccleuch, Capt. Wall" (crossed out when posted in London) and charged "1/6"; ref. his recent arrival at "the English Factory" (a trade warehouse in fact) in Canton, etc. Rare; very few pre-1800 letters from China have been recorded. Plus long (15-side!) 8 Jan. 1795 letter (no address wrapper) from Crichton on "Ship Duke of Buccleuch, River Tigris, China" to his mother giving a very full account of his voyage from St. Helena, exploring Penang, seeing the Dutch Governor at Malacca, monsoon problems en route to Macao, etc. This latter letter is mentioned in the other as having been sent "by the [Ship] Ocean]" from Canton. Fascinating reading and a rare pair. (1 cover + 1 letter). PHOTO. £300
618 "CANTON, CHINA" - RARE EARLY "LONDON/SHIP LRE" COVER TO G.B. "PER [SHIP] BRIDGEWATER"; 16 May 1795 EL (dusty filing folds but sound and complete) from James Crichton headed "Canton, China" to Dumfries endorsed "Per Bridgewater, Q.D.C." with a very fine "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" (dusty crease) on the front, charged "1" and then "1/7". Long contents with fascinating news of the recent petitions of the merchants ("...I was one out of only 18 who...forced our way to the house of the Viceroy, tho' opposed by thousands of Chinese" to present a petition asking for a Hong merchant's debts of £500,000 to be paid!!) and the Dutch Ambassador's visit to Peking to see "that most great of all earthly Beings, Kieng Long, Emperor of China... Thrice nine times those admitted to the presence prostrate themselves with their faces to the earth..." Rare early cover from China and a rare insight into the difficulties of trade with the Empire. PHOTO. £400
619 "CANTON, CHINA" - RARE EARLY LETTER TO G.B. SENT BY SWEDISH SHIP WITH "DOVER/SHIP LRE"; Remarkable and fine 8 Jan. 1796 EL from James Crichton headed "Canton, China" to Dumfries with a very fine "DOVER/SHIP LRE" on the front, endorsed "Per [Ship] Sophia Magdelena Q.D.C.", charged "1/1" and then "2/10". The letter starts; "A Swedish Indiaman is to be dispatched this day for Europe, which opportunity I gladly embrace to write to you..." Crichton notes that a recent letter from England was the first he had received in China for two years! It seems that the Napoleonic wars had made it difficult to communicate with the Far East; "John writes me of a letter wrote [to me] in January sent by a Ship in the first Fleet from England, but as that Fleet carried out a considerable military force, and are supposed to have gone to C.G.H., not one of the ships are yet arrived in China...You make no allowance for a Ship being captured, or letters destroyed in time of war..." It is most unusual to find an early letter sent by a Swedish ship; the Swedish 'Factory' at Canton was next door to the English one in the 18th Century. PHOTO. £500
620 "CANTON" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. SENT "P [SHIP] CIRENCESTER"WITH NEWS OF THE CAPTURE OF THE CAPE, CEYLON, ETC; Fine 21 Mar. 1796 EL from James Crichton to his brother in Dumfries sent under cover to London and posted there but endorsed "P. Cirencester", posted from London with a 3-ring datestamp in RED (colour in error; should have been black), charged "9". Good contents beginning "The Cirencester packet is just closing..." and with fascinating reference to recent British successes in the east; "Seven Indiamen arrived here from the Cape a few days ago - that place fell, or rather yielded, to British Arms in Septr., as has done Ceylon, Mallacca and almost the whole of ye Dutch Settlements in ye Eastern world... The Emperor of China has ordered ye compleat liquidation of all Shiskinqua's debts". Rare letter from the Far East during the early years of conflict in the Napoloenic period. PHOTO. £300
621 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER ROUTED TO/VIA THE U.S.A. ("VIA PHILADELPHIA"); Remarkable 14 Nov. 1796 EL (minor dusting) from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his mother in Dumfries intriguingly endorsed "Fav[oure]d by Capt. Hardie, P. [Ship] Piqou, Capt. Dale, via Philadelphia", charged "1/8" and then "2/4" (presumably including the Falmouth Packet rate), with the London c.d.s. (24 May 1797) across the join on the reverse. There is news of the writer's prosperity due to trade; "My salary which is £300 yearly is but trifling when compared to the advantages I derive in other respects from the privileges & liberties I enjoy from the [East India] Company...Some American concerns too in which I am engaged have the prospect of turning out well." There is also; "P.S. I send this by way of America under charge of my friend Capt. Hay, late of the 'Phoenix County' ship." Believed to be the earliest recorded letter from China to America; the previous earliest was dated 1809 (see Cavendish's Richard Chan auction of 15 Oct. 2003, lot 257, which realised £1,495). Important Exhibition Item. PHOTO. £500
622 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER "P. [SHIP] BOMBAY CASTLE" WITH "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" MARK; 1 Jan. 1797 EL (part address-panel & flap lost at right, but displays well with internal heading folded over damage) from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his mother in Dumfries endorsed "P. [Ship] Bombay Castle" with a mostly very fine "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" (filing crease & small part lost) on the front, charged "1" and then "11". Good contents; "I am happy now to tell you that I have succeeded to the Head of our department in China..." with great prospects for financial gain, noting that the man he replaced has just returned to Europe "by way of America (not the worst plan in time of war)". PHOTO. £240
623 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. ROUTED VIA AMERICAN SHIP DUE TO WAR; Fine 5 Nov. 1797 EL (no postal marks) from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his brother at Dumfries sent under cover; "I give this the chance of reaching you by the American Ship 'Ocean', Capt. Coffin, who sails this day for Europe"; he has not heard from home for a whole year (due to the war?). With intriguing reference to the wrecks of Indiamen off Amboyna; "You must have long since heard the fate of the 'Ocean' Indiaman...Patton and all the crew were saved by effecting their escape in three Malay boats (which were seized after a spirited attack by a handful) and reaching Amboyna". The 'Taunton Castle', in Company, had well nigh struck on the same rock..." He mentions having entertained the Marquis of Bute's son for a time after his escape from the Wreck. Good insight into the problems of communications with the Far East. PHOTO. £150
624 "CANON, CHINA" - RARE EARLY LETTER TO G.B. SENT BY SWEDISH SHIP & "OVERCHARGED"; 31 Jan. 1798 EL from Crichton to his brother in Dumfries helpfully endorsed on the front "China 1st Feby. /98" and "p. Gustavus de Droit", having a nearly very fine scarce concave "DOVER/SHIP LRE" (filing fold) on the front, charged "1/7" and then "3/7" but further endorsed in red (by the P.O.) "Overcharged 2/4" (rare thus). The contents reveal that the Gustavus de Droit was a Swedish ship (the Swedish 'Factory' was next to the English one in Canton in the 18th century); "I must not let the Swedish Ship sail for Europe without telling you that I am well..." It is most unusual to find an early China letter carried by a Swedish ship. PHOTO. £400
625 CANTON/MACAO - LETTER TO G.B. FROM "CANTON, CHINA" SENT BY FAILED EXPRESS TO THE FLEET DEPARTING MACAO; 2 Mar. 1798 EL (no postal marks; finally sent in cover in next lot) from Crichton at "Canton, China" endorsed "Per Neptune, Q.D.C." in which he notes that; "The Packets of all our large Fleet of Indiamen which sail from this port for Europe under convoy of H.M.S. Trident, L. Sybille & Fox were closed yesterday." but apparently sent by express boat to Macao to catch the Fleet; the P.S. of 4 May 1798 reveals that "This letter was returned to me this morning from Macao...it unluckily missed the Fleet..." Clearly there was some arrangement for last minute letters from major Canton merchants to catch up with the Fleet at Macao, but it did not always work. Rare thus. PHOTO. £300
626 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. "PER THE [SHIP] GANGES" WITH "LONDON/SHIP LRE"; 4 May 1798 EL (some dusting but with long contents; 11 sides!) from Crichton at "Canton, China" to Dumfries endorsed "Favd. by Capt. Garnault of the Ganges Q.D.C." having a fine "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" (light filing fold) on the front, charged "1" and then "1 Oz 1⁄4, 4/3". Fascinating news of the progress of his trading career; he has had the cargoes of 5 East Indiamen to Bombay (jointly with a rich Persian merchant) in the last year, plus a cargo from "Prince of Wales Island". He now has an assistant who has made £500+ on his own account in the last 6 months (!!) so "guess then my own profits"! He needs to buy a country house back in Scotland, asks after friends at "Dumfries House" [recently in the news in 2007!], and asks his brother to buy their sister Peggy a horse and set aside £300 from his profits for her wedding day. PHOTO. £400
627 "CANTON, CHINA" - RARE EARLY LETTER SENT TO G.B. BY DANISH SHIP WITH CONCAVE "DEAL/SHIP LRE"; Fine 19 Dec. 1798 EL from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his brother at Dumfries endorsed "p. favour Capt. Stuart, [Ship] Bernstroff, Q.D.C." with a very fine scarce concave "DEAL/SHIP LRE" (light fold) on the front, charged "1/1" and then "2/5". The letter gives further news of mercantile success, asks his brother to buy him a country estate as soon as possible (!), advises that he sent £1,000+ home in March and will send £1,000 home each year, although money makes more interest in China than in England. He also warns of growing French naval influence in the area; "The combined Fleets of France & Spain lie in wait at Manila to intercept our homeward fleet of Indiamen that sail next month", hence (presumably) he sends this letter by a non-British ship; "The Danish Ship Bernstroff receives her dispatches this day for Europe, by which conveyance I cannot omit [writing]..." It is most unusual to find early Chinese mail sent by a Danish ship; the Danish 'Factory' was one of the six allowed in Canton in the 18th century. Rare thus and attractive. PHOTO. £400
628 MACAO/CANTON - NEWS OF FRENCH ATTACK ON MACAO FLEET - EX "CANTON, CHINA" VIA "DOVER"; Remarkable and fine 30 Jan. 1799 EL from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his brother in Dumfries giving up-to-thee-minute accounts of the French naval attacks; endorsed "Pr. Drottingen, Capt. Nisson, Q.D.C." (a Swedish ship as revealed by the letter in the next lot) with a partial concave "DOVER" (not treated as a Ship Letter seemingly), charged "1/6" and then "3/6". The contents reveal the French attempts to take over the China Trade; "By an Express this morning received from Macao, three Spanish Line o Battle Ships, three Spanish with three more French Frigates, made their appearance in these roads on the 27th instant and were immediately engaged in hot action by the 'Intrepid', English Man of War of 74 guns...The superior force of the Spanish and French Fleet...makes it by far the most eventful and critical moment...ever experienced in China....Another Express dispatched yesterday from Macao this moment [has] arrived - our ships taken by surprise have for the moment put to Sea. The Enemy are in possession of the Roads...I shd. not be surprised if they had the temerity to dash up the [Pearl] River to plunder and burn our Fleet of Indiamen....Another Express! The intrepid Hargood is again returned top port - with his three ships he has offered hard battle to the Spanish Admiral with six ships...both Fleets are in sight of each other...10th Feb. '99...the dastardly Spaniards have declined hard Battle. Our valuable Fleet of Indiamen are now dispatched and at this moment leaving China with a heavenly gale...tomorrow we leave this for our summer residence at Macao..." Exceptional details of the little-known Far Eastern theatre of the Napoleonic Wars! Rare carried by a Swedish Ship too. PHOTO. £500
629 "CANTON, CHINA" - LETTERS WITH NEWS OF THE COWARDLY SPANISH FLEET & THE DEATH OF THE CHINESE EMPEROR; 29 Jan. & 16 Apr. 1799 pair of fine letters (no address wrappers) headed by Crichton from "Canton, China" and sent to his brother back in Scotland, with intriguing news of the Far East; "...the Spanish Squadron who took a peep of us here on the 27th Jany. ran back there [Manila] as fast as possible tho' their force was double to ours!", and "The Emperor of China is no more...his Successor has decapitated the Prime Minister of his Father...As the Captain of the Dane is just embarking for Europe..." His Assistant now earns £1,500/£2,000 per year, and he spends the hot summer months in his house in Macao, swimming, riding and entertaining the Macao Governor! One carried by Danish ship. the other entrusted to "Mungo Gilmore" Captain of the 'Anna' from Bengal. (2 letters). £150
630 "CANTON, CHINA" - RARE EARLY LETTER TO G.B. CARRIED BY DANISH SHIP 'KRON PRINTZEN'; 10 Jan. 1800 EL (some closed tears around seal and some grime on address-panel, etc.) from Crichton in "CANTON, China" to his brother in Scotland endorsed "P. [Ship] Kron Printzen, Q.D.C." with a fient oval-framed "Ship Lre/[Crown]/PORTSMOUTH" on the front, charged "1/8" and then "4/-". Further news of interventions at Canton by the Spanish Fleet; "Our coast here was infested by a second visit from part of the Spanish Squadron stationed at Manila...the enemy's ships blocked up or Port upwards of a month; the Dons [Spaniards] however did not make a single capture". [The 25 May letter (see next lot) reveals that the K. Printzen was a Danish ship.] Rare news of further Napoleonic War effects in the Far East, and rare having been carried by a Danish vessel. PHOTO. £300
631 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. WITH FINE OVAL "Ship Letter/[Crown]/LONDON" MARK; 25/26 May 1800 EL (worn fold clear of marks; enclosing letters from Crichton to both his mother & brother in Scotland, hence the triple rate) from "Canton, China" endorsed "P. Glatton, Q.D.C." with a mostly very fine oval-framed "Ship Letter/[Crown]/LONDON" on the front, charged "1/-" and then "3/9". Interesting contents ref. the writer's now being wealthy enough to renounce his father's inheritance in favour of his sister and brother. Plus Swept./Oct. 1800 pair of ELs from Crichton's Agents in London sending "Bank Post Bills" (for £70 & £25) to Crichton's brother on his behalf, and advising that mail for China can be sent out towards the end of the year. (3 covers). PHOTO. £300
632 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. CARRIED BY SWEDISH SHIP 'DROTT[N]INGEN" VIA DEAL; 30 Mar. 1801 EL (worn fold & some dusting affects address side) from Crichton in "Canton, China" to his brother in Scotland, endorsed "P. [Ship] Drottningen Q.D.C." and posted on arrival at "DEAL" (boxed mileage mark on the front) as an inland letter and most unusually prepaid ("P 2/-"). [The Drott[n]ingen carried the Jan. 1799 letter - see above - which was duly revealed as a Swedish ship in the April 1799 letter in the following lot above.] Interesting contents ref. various investments in ships including c.£1,500 on one of Capt. Bishop's enterprises (of the ship 'Nautillus') to Rio & port Jackson, which seems to have been the same enterprise that led to George Bass (of Tasmanian Bass Straits fame) being lost somewhere in the Pacific in 1803; plus mention of French ships taken recently. PHOTO. £300
633 "[SHIP] NEPTUNE, BOCCA TIGRIS, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. VIA LONDON FORWARDING AGENT; 8 May 1801 EL (closed tear near seal barely affects) from Crichton on board "Neptune, Bocca Tigris, China" (heading folded round neatly to display beside address-panel) to his brother in Scotland endorsed "p. Neptune" and charged "1/10" as an inland letter (London c.d.s. on front) being sent via a London Agent; endorsed on flap; "Forwarded p. Post [7th] Dec 1801 by Arthur & Lar[ken]" (part lost with seal). He mentions sending mail TO China via his London Agents "Arthur & Larken, Copthall Court, London", the Principal Tea Inspectors of the East India Co. Rare Forwarding Agent on early Chinese mail. PHOTO. £300
634 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY COVER TO G.B. SENT BY LOCAL CANTON "EXPRESS BOAT" & VIA LONDON FORWARDING AGENT; 9 May 1801 EL from Crichton at "Canton" to his brother in Scotland charged "1 Oz 1⁄4 4/7" with a fine "Forwarded p. Post the 4 December 1801 by Arthur & Larken, London" endorsement on the flap, being a "Dup[lica]te of the previous lot (letter headed "Neptune, Bocca Tigris") but sent after the Fleet at the last minute; "Another Express Boat is just now despatched to the Fleet by which I give this a chance". The letter clearly did catch the Fleet and actually reached London three days earlier than the original! Rare example of local Canton Express Boat mail at a very early date. PHOTO. £400
635 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. WITH LONDON FORWARDING AGENT ENDORSEMENT; 15 Jan. 1802 EL (minor dusting) from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his mother/brother in Scotland sent by the Fleet ("Being a good deal hurried at the despatch of the Fleet just about to sail...") with comment on recent (!) news of the British successes in Egypt and funds sent to England; sent under cover to his London Agents and so with neat endorsement on lower flap; "Forwarded p. Post, London, the 2nd March 1803, from Arthur, Larken & Co.", posted (after over a year in transit) as an inland letter and charged "1/10". Plus 1 Dec. 1801 letter (possibly enclosed with the Jan. 1802 letter) announcing Crichton's new partnership in Canton with "Mr. John Fullerton Elphinstone". (1 cover + 1 letter). PHOTO. £300
636 "CANTON, CHINA" - FINE "Ship Letter/DOVER" COVER TO G.B. BY DANISH SHIP 'PRINCESS OF DENMARK'; Attractive 20 Feb. 1802 EL from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his sister in Scotland having a very fine oval-framed "Ship Letter/[Crown]/DOVER" on the front, charged "10" and then "1/4"; instructing her that monthly despatches can now be sent to him in China via his London Agents, "Arthur & Larken", and noting that "I write this scrawl in a Chop Boat to send by a Danish Indiaman just leaving this port...P. Princess of Denmark, Q.D.C.". Rare example of a letter sent from the local Express-mail boat. Plus two letters without address-panels from Crichton to his brother; 28 Mar. 1802 & Duplicate of 15 Jan. 1802. (1 c over + 2 letters). PHOTO PLATE 16. £400
637 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. VIA LONDON FORWARDING AGENT WITH A PUNCH BOWL; 23 May 1802 EL (minor dusting) from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his brother in Scotland with "Forwarded p Post from London 3d March 1803" endorsement [of Arthur Larken & Co.] charged "1/10" inland rate with London backstamp. Good contents with mention of "Peace in Europe" (notified by a Spanish ship from Manila!) and Bonaparte. Claims he has made £5,000+ p.a. for several years, will send £10,000 soon to buy a country estate, and that "By this ship, the 'Free Briton', I send you...[a large porcelain punch bowl]" (hence transmission via a London Forwarding Agent). Plus a duplicate of a 28/31 Mar. 1801 letter (no address wrapper) sent by ship 'Duke of Buccleuch'. (1 cover + 1 letter). PHOTO PLATE 16.. £300
638 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. ENDORSED "P. [SHIP] GLATTON"; 25 Nov. - 3 Dec. 1802 EL (no postal markings) from Crichton at "Canton, China" to his mother in Scotland endorsed ""P. [Ship] Glatton, Q.D.C." below the address. Originally intended to be sent with the season's first Fleet to India, it originally enclosed presents of £500 and £300 for his sister & brother. Fine condition. PHOTO. £150
639 "CANTON, CHINA" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. SENT WITH THE BRITISH FLEET; 5 Feb. 1803 EL from Crichton in "Canton, China" (originally enclosing several copy letters/bills but now only with a "Duplicate" of his 1 Aug. 1802 letter to Bruce & Co. ref. credit of £5,000 for his brother) to his brother in Scotland sent under cover and posted from London with a 21 July 1803 London backstamp, charged "1 Oz 1⁄2 5/6"; with a note that "The Packets are just closing" and originally sent with "seconds" Bills for £2,400, but mentioning £15,000 remitted to other London bankers! Clearly trade in China was very lucrative during the Napoleonic Wars period!! PHOTO PLATE 16.. £300
640 "CANTON" - EARLY LETTER TO G.B. WITH "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" C.D.S. & "£1"+ POSTAL RATE; 7 Mar. 1804 EL (some toning; corner of address-wrapper lost just affecting postal rate but clear of datestamps) from Crichton at "Canton" to his brother in Scotland (sent probably by the "Swedish Indiaman" referred to in an enclosed Feb. 1804 duplicate letter) with a partly fine large single-ring "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" c.d.s. (9 Feb. 1805) on the front, regarding large sums of money remitted to London (£10,000+!). The postal rates are "4 Oz 5/4" and then "£1", which indicates 16 times 4d Ship (per 1⁄4oz) Letter rate (= 5s-4d) plus 16 times inland 11d (for 364 miles), making 16x15d = 240d, which was exactly £1, a very high prestamp postal rate for mail from China! Plus inland 10 Dec. 1803 letter from Crichton's London bankers to his brother in Scotland. (2 covers). PHOTO PLATE 16.. £200
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