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Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Stamps of the World - The Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902 Featuring Occupation and Siege Issues The Harry Birkhead Collection
Auctioneer: Spink Location: 69 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4ET
Contact: Tel: +44 (0)20 7563 4000 Fax: +44 (0)20 7563 4066
Date: 12th March 2014 Time: 10:00AM
Details: Viewing:
19th to 21st February - Stand 122 at Stampex Exhibition
Monday 10th March 10am to 5pm
Tuesday 11th March 10am to 5pm
Private viewing by appointment only
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Auction Lots - Page 4
151
x 1900 (Aug.) envelope from Lourenco Marques via Durban to Ladysmith, franked at 100r. and with Opened Under Martial Law label, 1901 envelope from Nondweni and card from Harrismith, both uprated, to P.O.W.'s in Ladysmith with both showing framed
"P. of War./passed/s.o.p. natal/censor" handstamp, 1902 (Jan.) front from O.F.S. to a P.O.W. in "B Kamp" Ladysmith, and 1902 (30 Apr.) envelope to Harrismith with fine triangular-framed "passed/censor/burgher/camp/ladysmith" cachet in violet £80-100

The Siege Handstamp
152
x A comprehensive collection on a range of envelopes/cards (16) with dates from 7 (first recorded date)-26 February, two unfranked, the others mainly bearing Natal 1d. though one on a 1/2d. card, one with Natal Telegraph 1d. and one most unusually bearing G.B. Army Official 1/2d., varieties include "seige" for 8th., 9th. and 21st., the last with additional "21th" error, and others with incorrect or inverted letters; a fine group £300-400
153
x A selection of envelopes/cards (9, three unaddressed) and pieces (3) with dates between 14 and 28 February, one with "seige" error and one dated 28 February sent out to Pietermaritzburg on 1 March; a couple with faults though generally good to fine £120-150

The "Long Tom" Siege Cards
154
x An essay in blue drawn by Earl Roberts in a vertical format on thick card (105x163mm.) showing military personnel and civilians above an entrenchment and headed "New Years Greetings", marked on reverse "That was printed in the siege in Ladysmith"; soiled, severed vertically and repaired, nevertheless very rare being one of only three examples believed to exist. Also (ex. Griffith) 1900 Valentine card printed in Ladysmith on thick photographers card showing soldiers with horse bodies and inscribed "The Siege Valentine" and "In commemoration of the horseflesh diet, called Chevril. Siege of Ladysmith 14th. February, 1900." £80-100
155
x A selection of the issued cards (7), comprising Types I and II addressed locally and both with Siege datestamp, the latter with "seige" error, Type I to Pietermaritzburg arriving 3 March, Type II to England arriving 25 March and with deleted tax mark, Type II via Lourenco Marques to Beira with arrival c.d.s. (13.3), triangular-framed "passed/press/censor2" and taxed "10c" as normal military mail; also Type I with forged Ladysmith Rail c.d.s. and Type V unaddressed philatelic creation with 27 February c.d.s. £180-200
156
x A selection comprising Type II to Pietermaritzburg with arrival c.d.s. (3.3) and details of the siege in the message, Type II to London with arrival c.d.s. (25.3) and cancelled tax mark, Type II to London though apparently not sent, Type V unaddressed philatelic creation with 27 February c.d.s., one to Pinetown in 1902 and one modern reproduction £100-120

Lydenburg

The town fell to the British on 6 September 1900. Transvaal stamps and
postal stationery found in the town were overprinted "V.R.I." with or without
additional surcharge, and used between 7 September and 8 October

Postal History
157
x 1900-02 selection of military mail covers to England, comprising 1900 (July) bearing 1d. lilac with "army post office/3 m.b./south africa" rubber datestamp, 1900 stamped and unstamped, both with Natal P.O.A. 43 obliterators, 1901 bearing 1d. with F.P.O. 25 c.d.s. and 1902 to a P.O.W. on Burts Island, Bermuda bearing 1d. with A.P.O. Lydenburg c.d.s., censor labels and arrival c.d.s. An attractive group £100-120
158
x 1900 (Sept.) trio of civilian mail covers, two to Durban (one bearing G.B. 1/2d. pair) and one to England, all three with Natal P.O.A. 43 obliterators, and 1902 envelope (opened-out) Standard Bank envelope to Durban bearing 1d. lilac with light A.P.O. Lydenburg c.d.s. with censor mark alongside £60-80

Stamps
159
x 1d. rose-red and green, with long-tailed "r" and 3d. on 3d. rose-red and green, part original gum; the first with small light fox mark. R.P.S. Certificates (1973 and 1963 respectively). S.G. 2, 5, £300 £60-70
160
x 3d. on 1d. rose-red and green block of four and two pairs (one vertical, both with one showing long-tailed "r"), part original gum; a few faults in places though scarce multiples. B.P.A. Certificate (1985) for the horizontal pair. S.G. 5, £1,120 £200-250

Postal Stationery
161
x 1/2d. green reply card and 2d. sage-green registered envelopes sizes F and G, all unused; the first with a soil mark on face, the two registered envelopes with some foxing though a scarce trio. R.P.S. Certificate (1971 or 1972) for each £60-80

Mafeking

The town was surrounded by the Transvaal Army on 12 October 1899.
The siege lasted seven months and the town was relieved on 17 May 1900 after 217 days

Postal History
162
x 1899 (11 Aug.) unstamped envelope (torn at top through opening), complete with letter, from Johannesburg to "The Officer in Charge, Imperial Troops, Mafeking", marked at top "Will the postmaster kindly hand this over", marked as received by the Postmaster,
Mr. Howat, and with arrival c.d.s. (25.8); the contents referring to the possibility of bringing a "flying column" of men up to Johannesburg and to bring up "5 or 6000 small arms" as well £80-100
163
x 1899 (Oct.) envelope (opened-out for display with "mafeking club" imprint on flap, endorsed "Oct: 18: All right-") to Dublin, signed by Dr. W. Hayes at top left, smuggled out of Mafeking to Kuruman, bearing Cape 1d. carmine cancelled by "kuruman/bechuanaland" c.d.s. (25.10), upon arrival redirected to Skerries and with "rathmines d.d. dublin" c.d.s. (5.8) at lower left. One of only two recorded covers out of Mafeking via Kuruman. A remarkable item involving two towns besieged by the Boers. Photo £800-1,000
Note: Edward Ross's diary of the Mafeking Siege records that some letters were sent out by special runner via Kuruman, 190 miles west of Mafeking, during October 1899
Provenance:
"Goodyear", Christie's Robson Lowe, June 1993
164
x 1899 (20 Oct.) "In Veld Dienst" envelope (two vertical creases) from the Kraaipan area to Pretoria, showing Lichtenburg double-ring datestamp on face, Ottoshoop (20.10) and arrival (23.10) c.d.s. on reverse; also G.B. 1d. lilac on piece with Lichtenburg squared-circle datestamp (1.6.00, the first day of occupation by British troops) £60-80
Note: On 12 October at Kraaipan, 50 miles south west of Mafeking, Boer Troops destroyed the rail tracks and captured a train with several British troops and two guns. Mafeking was invested the following day
165
x 1899 (30 Oct.) envelope "On Active Service" from Macloutsi, Bechuanaland, to England, bearing 1897 1/2d. (2) and 1d. (3) twice cancelled by c.d.s. with a further strike below,
the reverse with Palapye (2.11), Bulawayo (5.11) and Durban (6.12) c.d.s.; the adhesives with a few faults though a rare and spectacular franking. The earliest recorded Rhodesian Force mail out of Bechuanaland during the first month of the war. Photo £700-900
Note: Lt. Col. Plumer, with about 100 men, occupied Fort Tuli on 11 October 1899. On 24 October, a squadron under Capt. K. Maclaren, advanced via Macloutsie to Baines Drift,
80 miles south
Provenance:
Bill Hart, 1993
166
x 1899 (Dec.) and 1900 (Jan.) pair of envelopes ex the Vyvyan correspondence to his wife in London, both bearing Cape 1d. cancelled at Crocodile Pools, Bechuanaland and not in Mafeking due to fear of interceptance by the Boers, the first marked "Siege No. 3" with the Crocodile Pools c.d.s. dated 20 December 1899 and with Bulawayo (22.12), Durban (9.1) and Notting Hill (3.2) c.d.s, the second marked "Siege No. 6" with Crocodile Pools c.d.s. dated 9 January 1900, the British authorities realising that this office was in Bechuanaland and that the Cape 1d. stamp was not valid, applying large "T" and "5d/f.b./a" handstamps, Bulawayo (11.1) and Notting Hill (24.2) c.d.s. on reverse.
A wonderful pair. Photo £600-800
Note: Lt. Col. Vyvyan of the Buffs was stationed in Mafeking to prepare for war and he trained members of the "Town Guard" some months before hostilities began. He was Town Commandant during the siege. He served in both the Matabele and Mashona Rebellions in Rhodesia. See also lots 203 and 227
167
x 1900-02 selection of military mail, comprising 1900 unstamped soldier's envelopes (2) and 1901 envelope with V.R.I. 1/2d. pair, all with F.P.O. 4 c.d.s., one taxed 1d., 1900 and 1902 soldier's envelopes, both franked with 1d., one marked "No Stamps Available On Active Service" the other from Capt. Wallace at Rooi Grond, complete with letter including various comments on Mafeking and the Boers, and 1902 from Lt. L.K. D-Arcy marked "No stamps available" with squared-circle datestamp and triangular-framed censor mark £150-200
168
x 1900-02 selection of civilian mail comprising 1900 envelope (faults) to England franked at 4d. and 1902 envelope to Cape Town franked at 7d., both cancelled by single-ring datestamp, 1900 envelope to England bearing 1/2d. pair sharing squared-circle datestamp, 1902 unstamped envelope to Berlin and redirected locally, showing squared-circle datestamp, framed "passed/press censor" handstamp in violet and taxed 25c., and 1902 envelope to Germany, bearing 3d. (3) cancelled by Army Post Office Mafeking c.d.s. and showing framed "passed/press censor" handstamp in violet £120-150
169
x 1900 (Jan.) unstamped envelope (small tears at top through opening), with British South Africa Police emblem on flap, from Lt. Col. Bodle to his father in England, marked
"Free-On Active Service Rhodesia Regt." and countersigned by Capt. Rolt, taxed "4d" in blue crayon alongside large "T" handstamp, both cancelled out by circular-framed "fb/m" Foreign Branch handstamps and with London Paid c.d.s. (16.3) alongside, the reverse with Bulawayo (24.1) and Thame (17.3) c.d.s. Photo £400-500
Note: In 1899 Lt. Col. Bodle was in charge of positions along the Limpopo River. On 31 March he and Major Rolt were wounded at Ramathlabama only 6 miles outside Mafeking. The Rhodesians retreated, losing 48 men
170
x 1900 (Feb. and May) unstamped soldier's envelopes from members of the B.S.A.P., probably with Col. Plumer's Force advancing on Mafeking, the first countersigned by a Captain and showing "T" handstamp deleted in London and London Paid c.d.s. (1.4) on face, Bulawayo (14.2) and Colchester (2.4) c.d.s. on reverse, the second from "Reg No. 1073 Trpr H Foster BSAP Active Service" and countersigned by the Officer Commanding B Squadron, deleted manuscript "T" mark and London Paid c.d.s. (25.5) on face, Bulawayo (10.4) and Oxford (25.5) c.d.s. on reverse; an interesting pair. Also 1899 letter from East London with "We have no news from Mafeking, only that Col. Plumers relief column has arrived there from the north which is good news" £150-200
171
x 1900 (18 Mar.) typed message on rice paper from Capt. J.A. More, commanding the Railway Division, with a fascinating group of notes regarding life in Mafeking during the siege, a further part of a message from Capt. More on rice paper with "Extracts from general orders, concerning Railway Division, issued by Col. R.S.S. Baden-Powell, Commanding Frontier Force. October 7th 1899.", and 1900 (21 Apr.) envelope (damaged and stamp torn away) to Cape Town, sent out via the Northern Route via Crocodile Pools and Bulawayo £60-80
172
x 1900 (May) soldier's envelope from Corpl. Blunt to his father General Blunt at Banbury, countersigned by Lt. E. Hartland "O.C. - C Squad RFF", sent via the Northern route with Crocodile Pools (18.5) and London Paid (23.6) c.d.s. with large "T" handstamp deleted, arrival c.d.s. (23.6) on reverse. Photo £100-120
Note: Lt. Hartland was killed the day after this letter was countersigned by him, during the engagement to relieve Mafeking
173
x 1900 (7 June) "On Active Service" envelope to Scotland, complete with letter, from Capt. Ramsey "O.C. Lobatsi", with the enclosed letter written at Lobatsi and posted at Mafeking (9.6) with London Paid c.d.s. (7.7), Stow arrival c.d.s. (8.7) on reverse; the letter refers to him being in Mafeking and points on the line, the camp at Lobatsi and his feeling that "the Boers are giving up their arms" and that "the last shot in the Boer War has been fired". Photo £200-250
174
x 1902 (24 May) envelope from P.O.W. P.A. Coetze at St. Helena to a family relative in the Women's Refugee camp at Mafeking, bearing 1d. carmine cancelled by c.d.s. alongside a fine strike of the triangular-framed "passed/censor./st. helena/head office." cachet in deep violet, upon arrival Opened Under Martial Law label applied and tied by two Mafeking censor labels and arrival squared-circle datestamp on reverse. Photo £150-200

The SURCHARGED Stamp Issues

Surcharged in Seriffed type on Cape of Good Hope Stamps
175
x 1d. on 1/2d. green (Hope standing) (2) and 3d. on 1d. carmine Type 1 vertical pair, used; the upper stamp in the pair creased, otherwise sound. S.G. 2, 3, £370 £100-120
176
x 3d. on 1d. carmine horizontal pair, Types 1 and 2, Type 1 showing "B" omitted, fresh with part original gum. R.P.S. Certificate (1973) for a block of four, this being the lower pair. S.G. 3, £650. Photo £200-250
177
x 3d. on 1d. carmine block of four, Types 1 and 2, each horizontal pair sharing 13 April c.d.s.; a couple of trivial imperfections, otherwise sound. S.G. 5, £260+. Photo £100-120

Surcharged in Seriffed type on Bechuanaland Protectorate Stamps
178
x 1d. on 1/2d. vermilion block of six (3x2), Types 1-3, each neatly cancelled with 5 May c.d.s.; lower left stamp with trivial imperfections, otherwise fine. S.G. 6, £480+. Photo £200-250
179
x 1d. on 1/2d. vermilion strip of six (possibly split at centre), Types 1-6, neatly cancelled with 13 April c.d.s. and affixed to piece; fine. S.G. 6, £480+. Photo £200-250
180
x 1d. on 1/2d. vermilion, Type 1, variety surcharge inverted, neatly cancelled and affixed to small piece by part March c.d.s.; fine and very rare. R.P.S. Certificate (1962). S.G. 6a, £7,500. Photo £3,000-3,500
181
x 2d. on 6d. green and carmine, Types 1, 2, 3 with additional Types 1 and 4 showing surcharge misplaced to top leaving both stamps with "mafeking" virtually omitted, used with the last on piece; a couple a little faded, otherwise sound. S.G. 8, £600 £180-200
182
x 6d. on 3d. purple on yellow, Types 1 to 6 used with one on small piece, good to fine. Three with certificates. S.G. 9, £2,550. Photo £600-700

Surcharged in Seriffed type on British Bechuanaland Stamps
183
x 6d. on 3d. lilac and black, fresh with part original gum; tiny thin at right, otherwise sound; also a used example, some foxing. S.G. 10, £645. Photo £150-200
184
x 1/- on 4d. green and purple-brown Types 1, 2, 3 and 4, used; the first three with slight loss of green, the last with fine colours and on small piece. S.G. 11, £440 £120-150
185
x 1/- on 4d. green and purple-brown, variety surcharge double, Type 1 in seriffed type and one in sans-serif type, fresh with part original gum. A fine example of this very rare stamp which is believed to be a trial printing. S.G. 11ab, £14,000. Photo £7,000-8,000
186
x 1/- on 4d. green and purple-brown, variety surcharge double, Type 3 in seriffed type and one in sans-serif type, fresh colours and neatly cancelled and tied by 1 May c.d.s. on piece. A fine example example of this rare stamp which is believed to be a trial printing. Brandon Certificate (1989). S.G. 11ab, £7,000. Photo £3,000-4,000

Surcharged in Sans-Seriffed type on Bechuanaland Protectorate Stamps
187
x 3d. on 1d. lilac horizontal pair with part to very large part original gum; the left-hand stamp with a vertical crease, the right-hand stamp with small curved gum crease. A scarce multiple. S.G. 12, £2,200. Photo £500-600
188
x 3d. on 1d. lilac block of four and horizontal pair, used on pieces with 23 April and 11 May c.d.s.; fine. S.G. 12, £600+. Photo £200-250
189
x 6d. on 2d. green and carmine, a block of four with each clearly cancelled by 7 May c.d.s. and tied on piece; the upper-left stamp with trace of soiling, the upper-right stamp with trace of foxing at right. S.G. 13, £400+. Photo £150-200
190
x 6d. on 2d. green and carmine, four examples with datestamps of 8, 9, 12 and 14 May, one thinned, two on pieces and fine. S.G. 13, £400 £120-150
191
x 1/- on 6d. purple on rose-red (2), one (fractional colour loss) with 30 April c.d.s., the other (fine colour) on piece with 3 May c.d.s. S.G. 14, £260 £100-120

Surcharged in Sans-Seriffed type on British Bechuanaland Stamps
192
x 1/- on 6d. purple on rose-red, good colour and neatly cancelled by 10 May c.d.s. on piece; fine and scarce. B.P.A. Certificate (1951). S.G. 15, £850. Photo £300-400
193
x 2/- on 1/- green, good strong colour and neatly cancelled by 11 May c.d.s. on piece; fine. S.G. 16, £650. Photo £250-300
194
x 2/- on 1/- green, neatly cancelled by 28 April c.d.s. on piece; fine. S.G. 16, £650. Photo £250-300

Covers

There were two mail services, a local service and external communications.
These were run under the supervision of the Military Authorities
The Local Mail Service
The postal rates were 1d. within the town limits and 3d. to outposts and forts.
Bookpost was 1d. and the newspaper rate was 1/2d. per paper

Town Letter
195
x 1900 (24 Mar.) envelope to "A Ellerecamp Esq. care of Julius Weil", bearing seriffed type Cape 1d. on 1/2d. green (Hope seated) Type 3, with c.d.s.; a couple of trivial imperfections though fine for these scarce items and posted only one day after issue. S.G. 1. Photo £700-800

From Defence Lines, Forts and Outposts into Town
196
x 1900 (4 Apr.) envelope to "B. Isaacs Esqr. c/o Aldred & Ross" bearing seriffed type British Bechuanaland 1/- on 4d. green and purple-brown (fine) Type 5 neatly cancelled and tied; the envelope with some creasing and small portion of reverse missing, nevertheless an early incoming franking. S.G. 11. Photo £500-600
197
x 1900 (16 Apr.) envelope to "Mr. Isaacs, Dalls Store, Market Square", bearing seriffed overprint Bechuanaland Protectorate 6d. on 2d. green and carmine Types 1 and 4, both neatly cancelled; folded horizontally and vertically which is typical of mail carried by "bicycle" boy scout. S.G. 13. Photo £600-800
198
x 1900 (27 Mar.) envelope to "R Moon Esq. c/o WW & Co.", bearing seriffed overprint Cape 3d. on 1d. carmine neatly cancelled, signed "Baden Powell 1937" at lower left corner; vertical fold and repair at top. B.P.A. Certificate (1981). S.G. 3. Photo £500-600

External Mail Services

There was a Southern Route via Kimberley at a rate of 6d. and a Northern Route via Bulawayo at a rate of 1/-

Southern Route via Kimberley
199
x 1900 (26 Mar.) envelope to Mowbray, Cape, bearing seriffed overprint Cape 6d. on 3d. magenta (upper left corner rounded), Type 2, lightly cancelled, arrival c.d.s. (16.4) below where redirected to Kenilworth, arrived 17 April where reposted "via Sir Lowry's Pass" to Gordon's Bay with addition of Cape 1d. cancelled the same day, arrival c.d.s. (17.4) together with four other transit c.d.s.; a little soiling though a rare stamp on cover and a most unusual item of redirected mail. S.G. 4. Photo £800-1,000
200
x 1900 (26 Mar.) envelope to Durban, bearing seriffed overprint Cape 3d. on 1d. carmine horizontal pair, Types 2-3, lightly cancelled and tied, the reverse with Barkly West (11.4), Kimberley (12.4) and Durban c.d.s.; vertical fold at centre. One of the few covers known to Natal. S.G. 3. Photo £600-700
Auction Details - AUCTION ALREADY HELD
Stamps of the World - The Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902 Featuring Occupation and Siege Issues The Harry Birkhead Collection
Auctioneer: Spink Location: 69 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4ET
Contact: Tel: +44 (0)20 7563 4000 Fax: +44 (0)20 7563 4066
Date: 12th March 2014 Time: 10:00AM
Details: Viewing:
19th to 21st February - Stand 122 at Stampex Exhibition
Monday 10th March 10am to 5pm
Tuesday 11th March 10am to 5pm
Private viewing by appointment only
Page: 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9