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Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Auction No. 30)
Auctioneer: Argyll Etkin Limited Location: London
Contact: Tel: 0207 930 6100 Fax: 0207 930 6109
Date: 26th October 2012 Time: 12:30PM
Details: Viewing at Stampex:
Wednesday 26th September 11.30am to 7pm
Thursday 27th and Friday 28th September 10am to 6pm
Saturday 29th September 10am to 5pm
Please contact Argyll Etkin for further viewing options
Page: 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18  
Auction Lots - Page 6
251
1890 2d + 2d Reply Paid postcard, the outward half sent from London to Antwerp, the reply half still attached and sent from Antwerp back to London. An unusual use both ways of this uncommon 2d card. £100-120
252
1953 QEII Coronation 6d Air letter with the stamp printed on the reverse in error, the upper and right sides also not cut to shape. A spectacular major error, the first example we have recorded. Photo on Page 46. £450-500
253
1954-67 National Blood Transfusion Service stamped to order reply cards comprising KGVI 1 1/2d outward half used; KGVI 1 1/2d + 1/2d reply half unused; QEII 2d + 1/2d complete card unused and used card (faults) with unused reply half; QEII 2 1/2d complete card unused and used card with unused reply half; QEII 2d card used with unused reply half; also QEII 2d postcard used, a scarce group. (8). £160-200

Railways and T.P.Os
254
1860-1981 Covers and cards with various T.P.O cancels, many philatelic and modern, older commercial items include 1900 Dublin & Queenstown T.P.O with Paquebot handstamp, etc. Also some station cancels and other railway related handstamps, etc. (126). £100-120
255
1933 Picture postcard of Ullswater with KGV 1d tied by Saltburn-by-the-Sea c.d.s., with fine circular cachet "THE CRUISE OF / "THE NORTHERN BELLE" / 28 JUN / LNER / 1933". The first year of use of this scarce cachet, applied to mail posted on the train during its two week holiday 'cruise' around Britain; the cachet was used on similar 'cruises' each summer from 1933 until 1939. Photo on Page 47. £120-150

Royalty

The royal collection of Mrs Alice Bruce (1885-1960) who was appointed Housekeeper at Windsor Castle in 1939 and was personally known to members of the Royal Family, who corresponded with her until her death in 1960. Autograph letters from Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Princes Elizabeth and later as Queen, Princess Margaret and The Duchess of Kent, together with signed photographs form the core of the collection, subsequently expanded by the nephew of Mrs Bruce to encompass Royal Household postmarks, covers, postcards and ephemera.

Also see lots 237-240.

Queen Mary (1867-1953)

Evacuated to Badminton House, Gloucestershire, for the duration of WWII, from where Queen Mary's mail was sent via Bristol.
256
1942 (July) Registered cover with red "Bristol Paid" c.d.s and Badminton single ring c.d.s on reverse, addressed and initialled "MR" by Queen Mary; with autograph note to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, "I hope to go to the christening of the Duke of Kent's baby on Aug 4th (but perhaps this is hush hush)....", and enquiring after an inventory of Queen Victoria's fans; with a further note dated 1944 regarding another catalogue of "Queen Victoria's fans and lace". (3). £120-150
257
1943 (April) Registered cover with red "Bristol Paid" c.d.s and Badminton single ring c.d.s on reverse, with War Economy label addressed and initialled by Queen Mary to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, reused on a cover sent to the Queen initialled "M" by her daughter, Princess Mary, Princess Royal; with signed autograph memorandum "Mary R" thanking Mrs Bruce for "jams and jellies". (2). £120-150
258
1942 Stampless cover to Queen Mary at Badminton initialled "M" by her daughter Princess Mary, cancelled at Harewood, Leeds; together with two registered mourning covers in the hand of Queen Mary to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, both with red "Bristol Paid" c.d.s and initialled "MR" by the Queen, one with a War Economy label over the handwriting of Princess Mary. The Royal Family was in mourning following the death of Prince George, Duke of Kent, in an air crash in August 1942. (3). £150-180

Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother (1900-2002)
259
1948 Registered express cover from Buckingham Palace unusually with two impressions of the cypher of King George VI, in the hand of Queen Elizabeth and initialled "ER", to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle. With autograph letter signed "Elizabeth R" following the birth of Prince Charles, "We are all so happy about (Princess Elizabeth's baby) ..... the King is feeling the benefit of the treatment to his leg but I fear it will be rather a long job .... you must come up soon and see THE baby!". Photo on Page 47. £350-400
260
1949 Registered express cover from Balmoral Castle to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle in the hand of Queen Elizabeth, initialled "ER" with the accompanying autograph letter signed "Elizabeth R" - "I am so distressed to hear about the trouble you are having with your leg" .... hoping you will be able to enjoy a little Highland air and sun". £200-250
261
1954 Registered express cover from Clarence House with St James's St B.O c.d.s, to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, initialled "ER" by the Queen Mother with accompanying two page letter signed "Elizabeth R" thanking her for a "lovely tea cosy" that "arrived at the right moment, for the morning tea one is getting old and faded ... I am so grateful for your wonderful and loyal service to us all - such a comfort and support through the years of joy and sorrow". Photo on Page 49. £200-250
262
1948 and 1950 Registered express covers sent from Buckingham Palace and Balmoral Castle to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, in the hand of Queen Elizabeth, initialled "ER". The cover from Balmoral has both a "Balmoral Castle Official Paid" c.d.s in red and an oval "Registered - Buckingham Palace" datestamp on the front, presumably where it was sorted before delivery to Windsor. (2). £180-200

Queen Elizabeth II (b. 1926)
263
1945 (April) Autograph letter written by Princess Elizabeth on Buckingham Palace notepaper thanking Mrs Bruce "for the quite lovely book of Rupert Brooke's collected poems which you gave me for my birthday .... it is very nice and peaceful down here and I am sure the short holiday will do us all a great deal of good". Written two weeks before VE Day. £300-350
264
1946 (Nov.) Registered express cover from Buckingham Palace to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, in the hand of Princess Elizabeth and initialled "E", with the accompanying autograph letter signed "Elizabeth" regarding sale of work on behalf of the Sea Rangers, "We would be very grateful if you could make some of your delicious fudge for us to sell .... we ought only to have (raffles) during the evening, so that we shall not be making more money than we ought to! ... I hope the Servant's Hall will make a good place for a sale ..". Photo on Page 49. £350-400
265
1954 (Sep.) Registered express cover from Balmoral Castle to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle in the hand of the Queen and initialled "ER", with the accompanying two sided autograph letter signed "Elizabeth R", regarding staffing, "I would rather have someone younger .... I hope you can arrange this". Photo on Page 49. £350-400

Princess Margaret (1930-2002)
266
1942 (Aug.) Autograph envelope (not posted) with the cypher of KGVI, in the hand of Princess Margaret and initialled "M", addressed to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, Windsor, England (!) with the original two sided autograph letter signed "Margaret" thanking her "for the two pretty little pussy-cats they are so sweet. My birthday was very nice ... we went out shooting and it did not rain for once". £180-200
267
1943 (Aug.) Autograph letter on Buckingham Palace notepaper to Mrs Bruce signed "Margaret" thanking her "for the sweet little daffodils and thyme .... I had a wonderful birthday with lots of presents". Some creasing. £120-150
268
1946 (Aug.) Registered express cover in the hand of Princess Margaret and initialled "M", with red "OFFICIAL PAID / BALMORAL CASTLE" c.d.s, to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle, with accompanying autograph letter signed "Margaret", thanking her "for the sweet little bowl of flowers you sent me for my birthday". £180-200
269
1952 (Mar. 8) Mourning envelope to Mrs Bruce at Windsor Castle (not posted) initialled "M", with accompanying autograph letter on Buckingham Palace notepaper signed "Margaret" following the death of King George VI on 6 February, "I know how devoted you were to the King and so you must feel a little of our own sorrow. He was such a wonderful person .... Mama is being so very brave and so very like herself. We will have such happy memories when our grief is less .... he will always be there to help us all". Photo on Page 49. £350-400

Prince Charles and Princess Anne
270
1960 (May) Correspondence card with Royal Arms to Mrs Bruce - "Thank you so much for the delicious fudge and chocolate you sent us, it is lovely, Love from Charles and Anne". £100-120

Signed Photographs and Christmas Cards
271
The Duke and Duchess of York with Princess Elizabeth, studio photograph signed "Elizabeth" and "Albert" on the mount and dated 1929, a charming image. £300-350
272
Studio photographs by Marcus Adams of the King, Queen and Princesses signed on the mount "George R.I" and "Elizabeth R" and dated 1936, together with an unsigned photograph of the Queen and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret in 1941 (mark on image). (2). £300-350
273
c.1944 Christmas card showing the Royal Family, the King in uniform, signed "George R.I" and "Elizabeth R". Wartime cards are scarce due to their limited distribution. £220-250
274
1953 Single sided card showing the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne in the throne room, Buckingham Palace on Coronation day, signed "Elizabeth R" and "Philip" dated 1953 in the Queen's hand. £300-350
275
1954 Christmas card signed "Elizabeth R" by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, showing her portrait by Cecil Beaton; and the original envelope registered from Sandringham to Mrs Bruce in the hand of the Queen Mother, initialled "ER". £100-120
276
1959 Christmas card signed "Elizabeth R" by the Queen Mother with her portrait. £60-80
277
1959 Christmas card with a photograph of the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, signed below the image "Elizabeth R" and "Philip", and dated by the Queen. £300-320

Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
278
1942 Mourning cover and card with an autograph message to Mrs Bruce following the death of her husband, the Duke of Kent, in an air crash in 1942; cover and correspondence card - "you must come to see the baby, he has grown a lot and is so sweet (Prince Michael)"; correspondence card - "thank you for the lovely pink bunny you sent Michael. He loves it and likes patting it to hear it squeak!"; and a letter in pencil from Prince Edward and Princess Alexandra of Kent dated February 1942 - "Papa took me to see the film Dumbo. I think Dumbo was very funny and rather sweet ....". (6). £150-180

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
279
Photograph of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester with their two sons, signed on the mount "Henry" and "Alice", with a Christmas card similarly signed dated 1956. (2). £100-120

Royal Tours/Visits 1927-1964
280
Real photograph postcard of Queens Gardens posted from Nelson, New Zealand to "Mrs Bruce, White Lodge, Richmond Park", from a member of the royal party accompanying the Duke and Duchess of York on their first visit abroad, with message - "We arrived in NZ 3 weeks ago and its a wonderful country ... the Duke and Duchess are charming the hearts of all the people"; 1939 postcard showing the King and Queen in Canada with two photographs; 1951 Christmas card showing the royal train in Canada signed by Helen Lightbody, former Governess to the Princesses; 1963 royal visit to Australia aerogramme with royal visit slogan and first hand account of seeing the Queen; 1964 cover with the cachet of "Flag Officer, Royal Yachts" posted during the visit of the Queen Mother to the West Indies. (7). £120-150
281
1903 Postcard of the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert with KEVII 1/2d cancelled at Cowes and a superb strike of "HIS MAJESTY'S YACHT / AU 7 / 03 / (crown)" datestamp at the lower left, addressed to London during Cowes week. Photo on Page 49. £180-200

Ephemera
282
c.1857 Printed description of Windsor Castle; numerous tickets and invitations including Queen Victoria's funeral, admission to the Royal Mews, grounds of Balmoral, Palace of Holyrood House, marriage of Princess Margaret; royal menus for Balmoral Castle (1937), Royal Yacht Britannia (1954), Queen Mother (1972); Bassano studio photograph of the 1947 Royal Wedding showing Princess Elizabeth, Prince Philip, the King and Queen with the retinue; autograph letters by Princess Beatrice regarding the death of her nephew Prince Christian Victor in 1900 in Pretoria, Princess Alice Mary, Countess of Athlone regarding the Royal Wedding veil; 1902 letter from King Edward's valet requesting "two suit lengths of the attached material" (still present); a silver 'Asprey' photograph frame with a facsimile signed photograph of King George V; and numerous other items of interest. (46). £320-350

Royal Household Mail
283
c.1902-2000 Collection of covers, postmarks and cachets used at royal residences and by the Royal Household, including covers written by Queen Mary (4, two with autograph letters); 1953 Coronation stamps on registered covers from Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace; postmarks of Holyrood Palace and Abergeldie 1955; letters relating to Mrs Bruce, Housekeeper at Windsor Castle from 1939; unused royal stationery; a rare printed Government Telegram envelope addressed to His Majesty the King; etc. (Approx 120 items in two albums). £420-450

Royal Postcards and Souvenir Covers
284
1902-2011 Collection of postcards from King Edward VII onwards, souvenir covers commemorating royal events and anniversaries (some with postmark interest), souvenir brochures and booklets, etc. (Approx 145 items in three albums). £120-150

Uniform 4d Post
285
First and last day 4d Post entires. December 5th 1839 entire letter from London to Andover with very clear datestamp on reverse, manuscript "4" charge; and 9th January 1840 entire letter from Edinburgh to Melrose with handstruck "4" charge and clear datestamp on reverse. Both letters with vertical file folds, otherwise fine, a good pair showing the first and last day of the 4d rate. (2). £200-250
286
1839 Metropolitan Life Insurance questionnaire prepaid 4d from London to Long Ditton (Dec 9), completed and posted back unpaid the following day, with "Long Ditton/Penny Post" and "KINGSTON" c.d.s (Dec 10). An exceptional item showing paid and unpaid uses, both address panels displaying well. Photo on Page 54. £200-250
287
Prepaid Mail. 1839-40 Entire letters and entires prepaid 4d (4), 8d or 1/4 (scarce, over 1oz weight), a few faults. (6). £100-120
288
Unpaid 2/8 Rate. 1839 (Dec 29) Unpaid entire weighing over 1oz sent from Ecclefechan to Settle, initially charged 1/4, deleted and increased to 2/8. During the 4d Post Period unpaid letters weighing over 1oz were charged twice the deficiency. The 1/4 rate initially marked on this letter would have been correct if prepaid, the rate correctly being doubled to 2/8 as it was unpaid. Very scarce. £120-150
289
Ship Letter. 1839 Entire letter from Montevideo to London, received during the 4d Post Period with London backstamp (Dec 17) and "DEAL / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S8), charged 1/-, the uniform ship letter rate of 8d + 4d inland postage. £100-120
290
Foreign Mails. 1839 (Dec 22) Large part entire (side flaps removed) from Bordeaux to New South Wales sent as a ship letter via London, paid 48 decimes, backstamped in London (Dec 26) with red "PAID SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp and curved boxed "FOREIGN PAID" handstamps, marked as 2/6 paid. Backstamped upon arrival in Sydney, charged 3d. Also 1840 (Jan 9) entire letter from Dublin to Brussels posted on the last day of the 4d Post Period, prepaid 2/4 and charged 10 decimes. Two unusual items. (2). Photo on Page 54. £120-150
291
Free Franks/Penny Posts. 1839 (Dec 12) Free frank from Woodgates to Margate sent via London, backstamped "Woodgates / Penny Post" and handstamped "To Pay 1d only", and other 1839 (Dec) entires or entire letters charged 4d all with Penny Post handstamps of Twickenham, Shirley (2, one prepaid), Bridgewater or Canterbury. (6). £80-100
292
London. 1839-40 Entires and entire letters from London all charged 4d, including a Dead Letter Office Returned Letter wrapper. Also a local post letter charged 2d and a free front. (11). £100-120
293
Southern England/Midlands/Wales. 1839-40 Entire letters and entires charged 4d, from Nottinghamshire, Wales (2), Hertfordshire (3), Devon (2), Norfolk, Bedfordshire (2), Oxfordshire, Cornwall, Lincolnshire (2), Herefordshire, Gloucestershire (2), Hampshire (3), Warwickshire or Buckinghamshire. Also a 4d Post Period entire from New Buckingham to Wymondham charged the local 2d rate, and two earlier letters, one with red boxed "Potton / Penny Post". Two letters sent to H.M.S "Talavera" at Devonport, six with undated circles. (26). £200-300
294
Northern England. 1839 (Dec 5) Entire letter from Gateshead to Edinburgh charged 8d on the first day of Uniform 4d Postage, unfortunately with a heavy vertical fold and stain, and other entire letters all charged 4d from Lancashire (14), Co. Durham, Northumberland (2), Cheshire (2), or Yorkshire (3), mainly fine. (23). £220-300
295
Scotland. 1839-40 Entire letters all charged 4d (13), one posted on January 9th, the final day of Uniform 4d Postage. Also one earlier letter. (14). £90-120

Handstruck "4" Charge Marks
296
Aberdeen. 1839 (Dec 21) Entire letter to Edinburgh with fine handstruck "4" in black. £100-120
297
Edinburgh/Glasgow. 1839-40 Entire letters all with fine handstruck "4" charge marks of Edinburgh (2) or Glasgow (4) in black. (6). £280-350
298
Haddington. 1840 (Jan 2) Entire letter to Melrose with fine handstruck "4" in black. £100-120
299
Leith. 1839 (Dec 27) Entire letter to Kirkcaldy with good handstruck "4" in blue. £100-120
300
Leith. 1840 (Jan 4) Entire letter to Charleston with fine handstruck "4" in blue. £100-120
Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Auction No. 30)
Auctioneer: Argyll Etkin Limited Location: London
Contact: Tel: 0207 930 6100 Fax: 0207 930 6109
Date: 26th October 2012 Time: 12:30PM
Details: Viewing at Stampex:
Wednesday 26th September 11.30am to 7pm
Thursday 27th and Friday 28th September 10am to 6pm
Saturday 29th September 10am to 5pm
Please contact Argyll Etkin for further viewing options
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