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"Rossfield" Collection of Great Britain
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| Thursday 24 January 2008 |
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SALE 702
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| * = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by one star are subject to V.A.T. at 17·5%. ** = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by two stars are subject to V.A.T. at 5%. PLEASE NOTE: All lots in this auction are subject to the Buyers’ Premium of 15% (plus V.A.T. where appropriate) on their hammer prices. ALL BIDS WILL BE TAKEN AS EXCLUSIVE OF THIS PREMIUM |
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2000 |
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EARLY (PRE-POST OFFICE) LETTER - SENT BY PRIVATE MESSENGER; Very fine 18 Oct. 1581 EL from "Henry Chyverton" addressed "To the right Worship[fu]ll Pears Edgecombe Esquyer, [these be] d[elivere]d."; sent by private means ("by this bearer, my tennant") more than 50 years before the opening of the British Post Office. The letter concerns land at "Trefrye", which is probably Trefrew near Camelford in Cornwall, the Edgecombe family being well established in the West Country at this date. A dated filing note is fortuitously placed at the foot of the address panel. Attractive 16th century cover. PHOTO . |
£150 |
| ** |
2001 |
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LONDON/NORFOLK/DEVON - EARLY BISHOP MARK COVER WITH "FORWARD 3d" POSTAGE DUE ENDORSEMENT; Fine 15 Mar. 1668 EL from "Yarmouth" (Norfolk) to "Exon" [=Exeter] endorsed "Port paid to London" with "MR/17" London transit Bishop Mark (assisted) on the top flap, also endorsed "forward 3d" for the second postage on from London to Exeter. Rare early Post Office Instructional Marking. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2002 |
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VERY EARLY GOVERNMENT 'DOCKWRA'-TYPE MARK ON LOCAL LONDON COVER; 24 Feb. 1694 EL (minor creasing affects address, but mark unaffected) from "West[minste]r" to "west Drayton near Uxbridge" having a very fine triangular Dockwra-style P.O. "PENY/POST/PAYD/W/MON" mark of the Westminster P.O. on the flap with manuscript "B" Receiving House initial alongside. Pre-1700 'Dockwra' covers are very hard to find. Attractive. PHOTO. |
£300 |
| ** |
2003 |
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STAFFS./LONDON - EARLY "STONE" WITH SCARCE SERIF BISHOP MARK; Attractive 23 Apr. 1720 E to a Bishop in London (and so with "4" charge cancelled, Bishops having free mail at this date; manuscript 'squiggle' at top right to authenticate) apparently from "Leeke" (ref. 'Ipstones') but with a v. fine early "STONE" (23x5 mm; unrecorded type?) on the side flap beside a very fine "25/AP" London Bishop Mark (scarce 1717-23 variety with serif letters, Jay L3g). Exhibition Quality. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2004 |
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PRESTAMP COVERS SELECTION - SHIP LETTERS, FREES, ETC.; 1790-1860 prestamp/stampless covers inc. 1828/40 pair with red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER" d.s.'s of London (to Rotterdam & New York; both by steamers inc. "Great Western"), 1835 franked "Dartmouth/Penny Post"to "Bee Sands", fine 1794 concave "WEYMOUTH" with 3-ring "FREE/C" c.d.s., 1837 red arc-framed London "FOREIGN PAID", 1860 prepaid 6d-rate from London to Sydney, etc. Clean lot. (13 covers). PHOTO. |
£160 |
| ** |
2005 |
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DUBLIN "Addl/1⁄2" MARK - EXCEPTIONALLY FINE STRIKE; 19 July 1837 EL from Kilkenny to Bannockburn charged "1`/5" with a remarkably fine strike of the distinctive 'long-fraction-bar' Dublin "Addl/1⁄2" mark. PHOTO. |
£75 |
| ** |
2006 |
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BRITISH CONSUL IN SPAIN MARKS ON MAIL TO PORTUGAL; 1841/51 pair of fine stampless covers to "Porto" from Cadiz (one "Pr. Tagus") with fine plain encircled "B.C./CONSUL" and similar 2-ring Fleuron type respectively; first charged "120" & the latter with red oval "LEY DE 20/4 50/5-Rs" mark, both having v. fine blue boxed Lisbon "P. BRITo." marks. Good pair; the fleuron type is scarce. (2 covers). PHOTO. |
£120 |
| POSTAL REFORMS |
| ** |
2007 |
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FIRST DAY OF UNIFORM POSTAGE - 5th DEC. 1839 COVER FROM "INVERAW" (SCOTLAND"; Rare 5 Dec. 1839 EL (clearly dated from filing note; headed in error "5 Nov." by writer) addressed to Edinburgh with black manuscript "4" charge (First Day of Uniform 4d Postage) with "BONAW" straight-line namestamp beside a v. fine Edinburgh 7 Dec. 1839 arrival .d.s. on the top flap. 4d-Post FDCs are very seldom seen. PHOTO. |
£300 |
| ** |
2008 |
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UNIFORM 1d POSTAGE - HANDSTRUCK 1d/2d PAID/UNPAID MARKS, ETC.; 1840-45 covers inc. v. fine scarce shield-framed Aberystwith "PAID/1d", v. fine Marlborough "PAID/1", v. fine Newmarket red "1", v. fine Tonbridge "P.1D", v;. fine large black Southampton "2", and 22 Jan. 1840 E endorsed "under 1⁄2oz" from Edinburgh to Jersey with Edinr. Mae West "TOO LATE". Fine clean lot. (7 covers). PHOTO. |
£150 |
| MULREADY STATIONERY & PROPAGANDA COVERS |
| ** |
2009 |
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RARE "VEGETARIAN SOCIETY" PROPAGANDA PICTORIAL COVER WITH BIRMINGHAM SPOON DUPLEX; Attractive 18 Oct. 1857 usage of the very rare "Vegetarian Society" fancy envelope with verses printed back and front in floral frames, etc.; franked by 1d Red 'stars' tied by a v. fine "BIRMINGHAM/75" Spoon duplex, addressed to Worcester. For some years this cover lacked a sizeable piece with the stamp and cancellation, until the actual piece turned up at Cavendish in 1990 in a large Spoons collection; the piece (which was clearly original to this cover) was then put back in place in the original cover by the great American paper-restorer Nancy Poli. It is surprising that the Vegetarian Society was founded in 1847 and is still going strong! There are still only two other examples of this rare envelope recorded; the one illustrated in Bodily/Jarvis/Hahn (with address partially erased) and one other. [This example is ex Shaida.] PHOTO. |
£300 |
| ** |
2010 |
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1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET WITH EDINBURGH LIFE ASSURANCE ADVERTISEMENT:1d letter sheet used within Edinburgh cancelled with a very fine MC date 9th November 1840 and containing printed "Edinburgh Life Assurance Company" advertisement. Fine. (Spec. MA 116a). PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2011 |
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MAY 1840 USE OF 1d MULREADY ENVELOPE:1d Mulready envelope Stereo A147 used from Edinburgh to Nottingham, cancelled with an exceptional strike of the MC and clearly dated 29th May 1840 on reverse. Rare so fine.PHOTO |
£180 |
| ** |
2012 |
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LATE USE OF TWOPENCE MULREADY ENVELOPE:2d Mulready envelope Stereo a197 from Cheltenham addressed to "The Honble Wm Coventry/Earls' Croome Court/Near Worcester" cancelled with a fine "CHELTENHAM" duplex of 10th February 1863. The tips of the flaps have been a little repaired to replace the small portions removed during opening. A scarce late usage. PHOTO. |
£500 |
| ** |
2013 |
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AN UNUSED 2d ENVELOPE:2d Mulready envelope Stereo a202 unused. Fine.
PHOTO |
£100 |
| TREASURY ESSAYS, ETC. |
| ** |
2014 |
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THE FIRST ESSAY OF ALL - THE 1d "LONDON DISTRICT POST" WRAPPER BY CHARLES WHITING; Fine 1837 1d yellow-ochre example of the letter-sheet (folded as a cover) printed by Charles Whiting & Co. on Dickinson silk-thread paper; originally produced for the July 1837 Government P.O. Report - examples were also included in late editions of Rowland Hill's famous P.O. Reform pamphlet. The Number One of British Essays along with the 2d value (see next lot). PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2015 |
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THE FIRST ESSAY OF ALL - THE 2d "LONDON DISTRICT POST" WRAPPER BY CHARLES WHITING; Fine 1837 2d Green example of the letter-sheet (folded as always) printed by Charles Whiting & Co. on Dickinson silk-thread paper; originally produced for the July 1837 Government P.O. Report. Intriguingly there is a partial albino 23 M ay 1864 c.d.s. impression through the two flaps, showing that this letter-sheet was posted in this folded form inside another envelope some 27 years after it was printed. Perhaps Rowland Hill was looking at it again and sent it through the post to a friend (he retired from the P.O. in March 1864)?! The Number One of British Essays along with the 1d value (see previous lot). PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2016 |
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JAMES CHALMERS 1838 2d RED POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY - 1890 REPRINT; Fine example of the 2d Red thin paper James Chalmers Essay with the distinctive differences from the 1838 original (which was printed on thick laid paper, and with different frame & type), but the only one that is generally now available to collectors. It formed part of the reprint sheet given away with the Xmas 1890 supplement to the 'Stamp Collector's Monthly'. Attractive PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2017 |
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'TREASURY COMPETITION' CHARLES WHITING 1d POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY DESIGN IN BLACK & RED; 1839/40 huge-margined example of the (Graveson No.12) "POST OFFICE PERMIT/1⁄2 OUNCE 1d/TO CARRY MATTER NOT EXCEEDING IN WEIGHT" Postage Stamp Essay, compound printed in black & red on thin paper; probably from the famous Plate in the March 1840 'London & Westminster Review'. This was one of Whiting's best designs, and first appeared in a Mercantile Committee circular of c.April 1839. Fine and attractive. [A similar example sold in Cavendish's Apr. 2006 auction - lot 450 - for £862.] PHOTO. |
£400 |
| ** |
2018 |
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'TREASURY COMPETITION' CHARLES WHITING 1d POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY DESIGN IN BLACK & RED; 1839/40 example of the (Graveson No.7) "POST OFFICE/1/PENNY/NOT TO EXCEED HALF OUNCE" Postage Stamp Essay, compound printed in blue & red on thin paper (very tight or shaved margins but attractive). This was the design that figured large in Whiting's prize-winning 1839 Treasury Competition entry. [A similar example, but in black & red, sold in Cavendish's Apr. 2006 auction - lot 449 - for £862.] PHOTO. |
£300 |
| ** |
2019 |
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'TREASURY COMPETITION' CHARLES WHITING 1d MULTI-DESIGN POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY IN BLACK & RED; 1839/40 wide-margined fine example of the (Graveson No.18) "POST PAID/1d/BEAUFORT HOUSE" + "POST/VR 1D/PAID" + "BEAUFORT HOUSE" Postage Stamp multi-design Essays strip, compound printed in black & red on thin paper; probably from the famous Plate in the March 1840 'London & Westminster Review'. This design is unusual in showing several choices for the Postage Stamp, and was produced in this smaller format when Whiting tried to make his work cheaper 'per stamp'. Seldom offered. PHOTO. |
£500 |
| ** |
2020 |
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'TREASURY COMPETITION' CHARLES WHITING UNDENOMINATED EMBOSSED POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY IN BLUE; 1839/40 large-margined example of the (Graveson No.23) crowned "HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE" Royal Coat of Arms Postage Stamp Essay in Blue on thin paper with albino embossing (now somewhat flattened); probably from the famous Plate in the March 1840 'London & Westminster Review'. Attractive. [The 'Mike Salmon' example in Cavendish's Apr. 2006 auction had been cut-to-shape.] PHOTO. |
£240 |
| ** |
2021 |
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'TREASURY COMPETITION' CHARLES WHITING 1d POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY DESIGN EMBOSSED ALBINO ON PAPER; 1839/40 wide-margined example of the (Graveson G) fancy oval embossed "V[Crown]R/POST OFFICE/1D/HALF OZ" Postage Stamp Essay, in colourless embossed relief on paper; probably from the famous Plate in the March 1840 'London & Westminster Review'. Impossible to photograph! PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2022 |
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'TREASURY COMPETITION' BOGARDUS/COFFIN POSTAGE STAMP ESSAY DESIGN IN BLACK; 1929 'Royal' reprint in black on white paper (very fine) produced from the original Bogardus/Coffin brass Die found among Rowland Hill's papers in the 1920s; produced in a very small quantity for King George V and a few other notable philatelists. Bogardus & Coffin won one of the four Treasury Competition prizes; these reprints are now believed to be the only items of their work available to collectors. [The brass Die is still held in the Queen's Collection.] [This example ex Cavendish's 'Pegasus' auction, Sept. 2003, where it realised £322.] PHOTO. |
£240 |
| ** |
2023 |
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RARE EARLY CHARLES WHITING 'EMBOSSED QUEEN's HEAD' ESSAY; c.Feb./Mar. 1840 Proof of the 'facing right' Whiting Essay with Embossed Queen's head similar to the Wyon Die but facing the other way and with an extra outer oval (uncleared panel at top) created early in 1840 when Whiting was still trying to win the contract for Postal Stationery. [Finer (and with wider margins) than the example sold in Cavendish's Apr. 2006 'Mike Salmon' auction - lot 461 - which sold for £322.] PHOTO. |
£300 |
| RAINBOW COLOUR TRIALS |
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2024 |
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State 2C 1d dull rose red on ungummed unwatermarked white wove paper. Fine. PHOTO. |
£2400 |
| ** |
2025 |
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State 2A 1d Lilac rose on unwatermarked ungummed white paper dipped in prussiate of potash. A marginal example from the right of the sheet, light horizontal crease. PHOTO. |
£2200 |
| ** |
2026 |
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State 2C 1 deep red-brown on ungummed unwatermarked thin wove paper. Fine. PHOTO. |
£2400 |
| ** |
2027 |
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State 2C 1d black on unwatermarked ungummed thin wove paper. Fine. PHOTO. |
£2200 |
| 1840 1D BLACKS |
| ** |
2028 |
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Plate 1a KL grey-black (moderate wear)mounted mint with much crazed browned gum. Clear to good margins. Scarce. SG Spec AS2 Cat £8,500 as mint. PHOTO. |
£500 |
| ** |
2029 |
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Plate 1a HF tied to small piece by two strikes of a red MC. Fine. PHOTO. |
£140 |
| ** |
2030 |
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Plate 1a FF grey-black (showing moderate plate wear) used on part E (no side flaps) dated 18th July 1840. Good to large margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£140 |
| ** |
2031 |
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Plate 1a TK (double "T") wide even margins, trace of short crease at top. GJ worn impression, very clear MC cancellation. Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2032 |
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Plate 1a BH very fine with almost complete central upright MC cancellation. Bolaffi Cert. 91995). PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2033 |
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Plate 1a HE grey-black (very worn impression), neatly cancelled. Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2034 |
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Plate 1b KI-KJ a crisply cancelled pair, three wide margins, clear at left. KJ vertical bends. Good appearance. PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2035 |
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Plate 1b FH (recut side-lines). Fine. Also the matching 1d red, three margins, cut into at foot. PHOTO. |
£150 |
| ** |
2036 |
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Plate 1b HC used on part front and back used within Edinburgh dated 2nd January 1841. Crisply cancelled with a red- brown MC. Good to wide margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
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2037 |
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Plate 1b FI (double "F"), neatly cancelled. Fine.PHOTO |
£120 |
| ** |
2038 |
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Plate 1b KH (recut sidelines) lightly cancelled, wide margins, light horizontal crease. Plate 4 MK neatly cancelled to leave profile clear, horizontal bends. (2). PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2039 |
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Plate 1b DJ crisply cancelled and fine.Bolaffi Cert (1995). PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2040 |
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Plate 1b LJ tied to small piece by two clear strikes of a black MC. Good margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2041 |
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Plate 2 OG-OH a crisply cancelled pair, good margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2042 |
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Plate 2 BB matched in red. Fine four margined examples. PHOTO. |
£180 |
| ** |
2043 |
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Plate 2 DD wide margins, clear central cancellation. Fine. PHOTO. |
£140 |
| ** |
2044 |
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Plate 2 HI used on EL from Bridgewater to Taunton dated 21st November 1840, lightly cancelled (not tied) by a ruby shade of a MC with "BRIDGEWATER" c.d.s. in the same colour below. Tiny tear at top. Good to wide margins. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2045 |
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Plate 2 OC cancelled with an orange MC. Good to wide margins. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2046 |
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Plate 2 GA lightly cancelled. Fine. PHOTO. |
£80 |
| ** |
2047 |
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PLATE 3 USED ON COVER WITH BOXED "MISSENT/To LIVERPOOL" HANDSTAMP:Plate 3 RA used on E from Manchester to Dorchester dated 18th June 1840, cancelled by a red MC with boxed "MISSENT/To LIVERPOOL" alongside. Clear to large margins. Missent h.s. are rare on 1d black covers. PHOTO. |
£300 |
| ** |
2048 |
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Plate 3 PA (small loop to "P") with central MC cancellation. Good to wide margins. SA good even margins, central MC cancellation, corner crease. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2049 |
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Plate 3 GB lightly cancelled. Fine. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2050 |
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Plate 3 QE wide margins, neat central cancellation.Fine. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2051 |
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Plate 4 HI-HJ a pair, nicely cancelled. Good to wide margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£220 |
| ** |
2052 |
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Plate 4 HG neatly cancelled on local Glasgow front dated 14th September 1840. Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2053 |
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Plate 4 TJ central cancellation, ample to large margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2054 |
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Plate 4 NI tied by a black MC to a printed Prices Current from the Corn Exchange Manchester to St Ives dated 27th February 1841. Three wide margins, close at left. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2055 |
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Plate 4 GE wide margins. fine.RPS Cert (1999). PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2056 |
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PLATE 5 KF WITH VIOLET MALTESE CROSS CANCELLATION:Plate 5 KF with large part violet MC cancellation, good even margins, corner crease. Very rare SG Spec A2vf. Cat £6,000. BPA Cert (1957). PHOTO. |
£1800 |
| ** |
2057 |
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Plate 5 PE-PF a fine wide margined pair. PHOTO. |
£220 |
| ** |
2058 |
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Plate 5 HI (double I) matched in red. Fine four margined examples. PHOTO. |
£180 |
| ** |
2059 |
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Plate 5 SI cancelled with a MC leaving profile clear on EL from Glasgow to Dunbarton dated 15th December 1840. Fine. PHOTO. |
£140 |
| ** |
2060 |
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Plate 6 JI wide to large to very large margins with frame line of JJ at right. Fine. PHOTO. |
£140 |
| ** |
2061 |
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Plate 5 IF intense black with very fine central carmine MC cancellation. Fine.RPS Cert (2005). PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2062 |
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Plate 5 IK used on EL from Stanton to Nottingham dated 5th August 1840. Close (ragged at foot) to good margins PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2063 |
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Plate 5 OK cancelled to leave profile clear, good to wide margins. PHOTO. |
£80 |
| ** |
2064 |
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Plate 6 LD with central MC cancellation.Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2065 |
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Plate 6 BI used on E (no side flaps) within London dated 16th February 1841, cancelled with a black MC. Clear to wide margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2066 |
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Plate 6 HC good to wide margins, smudged cancellation, creased. Plate 7 AF good margins, sound. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2067 |
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Plate 7 RJ-RK a large margined pair. Fine. PHOTO. |
£240 |
| ** |
2068 |
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Plate 7 ML wide to very wide margins. Fine. RPS Cert (2005). PHOTO. |
£140 |
| ** |
2069 |
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Plate 7 ML lightly cancelled. Fine. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2070 |
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Plate 7 TI used on EL from London to Lynn dated 14th November 1840. Close to good margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2071 |
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Plate 8 CC mint with small part, small margins, corner crease and soiled. SG Spec. AS46 Cat. £9,000. PHOTO. |
£400 |
| ** |
2072 |
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Plate 8 CK-CL a pair, three wide margins, close at left. PHOTO. |
£200 |
| ** |
2073 |
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Plate 8 LC good even margins, clearly cancelled. Fine. Matched with a fine red. PHOTO. |
£150 |
| ** |
2074 |
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Plate 8 QK with to very wide margins showing part of RK at foot. Fine. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2075 |
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Plate 8 DL (re-entry) neatly cancelled. Fine. SG Spec. AS46a. PHOTO. |
£120 |
| ** |
2076 |
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Plate 8 IA used on EL from Penzance to Andover dated 22nd December 1840. Very close to huge margins. The cover is a little rust spotted. PHOTO. |
£100 |
| ** |
2077 |
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Plate 8 OA central cancellation, ample margins. Fine. PHOTO. |
£80 |
| ** |
2078 |
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Plate 9 RA-RB a wide margined pair, light bend between stamps, initialled "AD" (A Dienna) on reverse. PHOTO. |
£240 |
| ** |
2079 |
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Plate 9 LH neatly cancelled and fine, matched with a centrally cancelled red. Fine. PHOTO. |
£160 |
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