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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 5
201
x 1900 (28 Mar.) envelope to Worcester, Cape, bearing seriffed overprint British Bechuanaland 6d. on 3d. lilac and black Type 1 (surface faults at lower left corner) neatly cancelled, the reverse with Kimberley (15.4) and Worcester (18.4) c.d.s.; flap missing and vertical fold at centre though a scarce stamp used alone. S.G. 10. Photo £500-600
202
x 1900 (7 Apr.) envelope to England, marked "via the North" though prepaid at
the Southern Route with seriffed overprint Cape 3d. on 1d. carmine horizontal pair, Types 3-4, neatly cancelled with a further superb strike alongside, Ipswich arrival c.d.s. (24.6) on reverse. S.G. 3. Photo £500-600

Northern Route via Bulawayo
203
x 1900 (25 Mar.) envelope (opened-out for display) ex the Vyvyan correspondence to England, bearing seriffed overprint Cape 3d. on 1d. block of three (another cut away with right-hand stamp defective at top) Types 5-6 neatly cancelled by two c.d.s. with another alongside, the reverse with Bulawayo (4.4), Helston (13.5) and Mawgan (14.5) datestamps; despite one stamp being excised, a noteworthy cover sent by the Northern Route on the first day of stamp issue. S.G. 3. Photo £200-250
Note: The Northern Route took 13 days to Bulawayo. This rail route, although crossing three international borders to the port of Beira, was safer from Boer sabotage once past Gaberones in Bechuanaland, than the southern railway route through the Cape Colony
204
x 1900 (26 Mar.) large part envelope to Scotland, marked "On Active Service" and countersigned by B.W. Cowan commanding the Bechuanaland Rifles, bearing seriffed overprint Cape 6d. on 3d. magenta Type 1 with light c.d.s., the reverse with Bulawayo and Dundee (13.5) c.d.s.; both the envelope and adhesive (cut out and replaced) with faults though most unusual in being paid at the Southern Route rate of 6d. though sent on the more expensive Northern Route. Few 6d. rate covers going north are recorded. S.G. 4. Photo £200-250
205
x 1900 (29 Mar.) envelope (small faults) to England, bearing seriffed overprint British Bechuanaland 6d. on 3d. lilac and black vertical pair each neatly cancelled, Bulawayo (5.4) and Hartlepool (26.5) c.d.s. on reverse. S.G. 10. Photo £600-800
206
x 1900 (30 Mar.) envelope front and flap "via Beira" to England, bearing seriffed overprint Cape 1d. on 1/2d. green Hope seated (3), 3d. on 1d. carmine and British Bechuanaland 6d. on 3d. lilac and black all neatly cancelled, apparently intercepted by Boers and marked for return to Mafeking in blue crayon in the handwriting of Mr. Howat, the Postmaster. Colourful and most unusual. S.G. 1, 3, 10. Photo £400-500
Note: Early in April, Boer Forces intercepted mail out of Mafeking, shot the runners and attached letters to their bodies which were found the next morning near the defence lines
207
x 1900 (30 Mar.) envelope piece bearing seriffed overprint Cape 1d. on 1/2d. green Hope seated (3), 3d. on 1d. carmine and British Bechuanaland 6d. on 3d. lilac and black, all neatly cancelled, the piece showing trace of blue crayon mark, probably that of the postmaster returning mail to the sender, as in the previous lot, held for six weeks and then reposted on 16 May with addition of seriffed overprint British Bechuanaland 1/- on 4d. green and purple-brown; most unusual. S.G. 1, 3, 10, 11. Photo £250-300
208
x 1900 (6 Apr.) envelope to London and redirected to Reading, originally failing to penetrate Boer lines and reposted on 7th. with seriffed overprint Cape 1/- on 4d. sage-green neatly cancelled and tied with crayon manuscript "1/-" and "JN" (John Nevett) checker's initials alongside, Norwood original destination datestamp (25.5) alongside, the reverse (part flap missing) with Crocodile Pools (20.4), part Bulawayo (23.4), Norwood (25.5) and Reading (26.5) c.d.s. A most unusual "second try" cover with the 1/- on 4d. particularly rare on cover. Brandon Certificate (2004). S.G. 5. Photo £1,200-1,500
Note: On arrival in Bulawayo, the batches of letters received from Mafeking, usually in groups of thirty, were examined on the Military Post Office "Base Train", the postage verified, the batch number noted, and then initialled by the checking clerk
209
x 1900 (28 Apr.) envelope ex the Godley correspondence to Exeter and redirected to Lynmouth, bearing sans-seriffed Bechuanaland Protectorate 1/- on 6d. purple on rose-red (crease at lower right corner) neatly cancelled with a further strike alongside, part Exeter duplex (23.6) below, the reverse with Bulawayo (6.5 with "mei" Dutch spelling for month), Exeter (23.6) and Barnstaple (24.6) c.d.s. Rare with few sans-seriffed printings recorded, particularly on non-philatelic frankings. Brandon Certificate (1980). S.G. 14. Photo £800-1,000
Note: Major Godley was advisor on postal matters in Mafeking

Produced Photographically by Dr. D Taylor on Unwatermarked Horizontally Laid Paper

1d. Cadet Sergeant-Major Goodyear
210
x 1d. pale dull blue with 11 May c.d.s. S.G. 17, £325. Photo £100-120
211
x 1d. pale bright blue with 11 May c.d.s. S.G. 17, £325. Photo £100-120
212
x 1d. blue horizontal pair, each neatly cancelled with 2 May c.d.s. and tied on piece.
S.G. 17/18, £650. Photo £200-250
213
x 1d. deep bright blue cancelled by 14 May c.d.s. and tied on piece. S.G. 18, £325. Photo £100-120
214
x 1d. deep bright blue with 2 May c.d.s. S.G. 18, £325. Photo £100-120

Misperforated
215
x 1d. bright blue dramatically misperforated to right, unused with some gum; a couple of short perfs., otherwise sound. S.G. 17, £1,200. Photo £250-300
216
x 1d. pale blue grossly misperforated to right, Plate 3 [33], showing plate scratch above value tablet and white flaws at top, 10 May c.d.s. S.G. 17, £325. Photo £100-120
Provenance: "Goodyear", Christie's Robson Lowe, June 1993
217
x 1d. blue from the top of the sheet, misperforated to right, 11 May c.d.s. S.G. 17, £325. Photo £100-120

Plate 3 Cracked Plate
218
x 1d. pale blue, [10], tied on piece by 11 May c.d.s. S.G. 17, £325. Photo £100-120
219
x 1d. deep blue, [11], 1 July c.d.s. S.G. 18, £325. Photo £100-120
220
x 1d. deep blue, [12], 9 May c.d.s.; a couple of tiny marks on face. S.G. 18, £325. Photo £100-120

3d. Baden Powell, 18 1/2mm. wide

Unused
221
x 3d. blue, marginal example from the left of the sheet, large part original gum; fine.
S.G. 19/20, £1,700. Photo £600-700

Used
222
x 3d., three examples in contrasting shades, one with 19 April c.d.s., a little soiled, one with
9 May c.d.s., thinned at top and manuscript "AS from BP" in ink on reverse, and one on piece with 11 May c.d.s., diagonal crease. S.G. 19/20, £1,275. Photo £200-250
223
x
3d. pale blue used with seriffed surcharge Bechuanaland Protectorate 6d. on 2d. green and carmine Type 4 vertical pair, each neatly cancelled by 16 April c.d.s. and tied to backed piece; a few light fox marks in places and 3d. with a couple of short perfs.
S.G. 8, 19, £715 £200-250
Provenance: "Goodyear", Christie's Robson Lowe, June 1993
224
x
3d. deep blue, neatly cancelled by 14 May c.d.s.; fine. P.F.S.A. Certificate (1968).
S.G. 20, £425. Photo £150-180
225
x
3d. deep blue used with seriffed overprint Cape 3d. on 1d. carmine, Bechuanaland Protectorate 1d. on 1/2d. vermilion and British Bechuanaland 1/- on 4d. green and purple-brown, cancelled by 17 April c.d.s. and tied on piece; some foxing affecting the surface of the surcharged stamps, the 3d. fine. S.G. 3, 6, 11, 20, £680. Photo £150-200
226
x
3d. deep blue horizontal pair, each neatly cancelled by 2 May c.d.s. and tied on piece; fine. S.G. 20, £850. Photo £300-350

Cover
227
x 1900 (16 May) envelope to Fort Miller, bearing 3d. deep blue, marginal from the right of the sheet, in combination with seriffed overprint Cape 3d. on 1d. carmine, Bechuanaland Protectorate 1d. on 1/2d. vermilion and 6d. on 2d. green and carmine, each neatly cancelled by c.d.s., endorsed "Mafeking Notes, etc." in pencil at foot; the 3d. with damaged lower left corner, the envelope with some light soiling, creases and part of reverse removed, nevertheless a scarce mixed issue franking which appears to have been charged at the book rate of 1/-. S.G. 3, 6, 8, 20. Photo £300-400
Note: Fort Miller was on the Western defence line and was manned by the Town Guard under Capt. Vyvyan

The Reversed Design Variety
228
x 3d. pale blue on blue, variety reversed design, from the upper right corner of the one sheet thus printed, neatly cancelled with 27 April c.d.s. and affixed on fragment. Extremely fine and undoubtedly the finest of the five examples in private hands. One of the great rarities of Mafeking, and indeed all Boer War philately. B.P.A. Certificate (1993). S.G. 19a, £48,000. Photo £35,000-40,000
Note: Of the ten examples known, three are mint and seven are used. One of the mint and two of the used are in the Royal Philatelic Collection, thus leaving only seven examples of this spectacular variety in private hands. The above example is the earliest recorded date of use
Provenance:
"Goodyear", Christie's Robson Lowe, June 1993

3d. Baden Powell, 21mm. wide
229
x 3d. pale blue tied to piece by 12 April c.d.s.; short perf. at foot, tiny red mark at top.
S.G. 21, £1,200. Photo £200-250
230
x 3d. blue with neat 10 May c.d.s.; two tiny handstamps on reverse. S.G. 21 group, £1,200. Photo £300-400
231
x 3d. deep blue, neatly cancelled and tied on 30 April envelope front, marked "200th. day of siege" to defending line of trenches beyond "Fingo Location"; two vertical creases well clear of the adhesive. A most unusual usage. S.G. 22, £1,400. Photo £1,000-1,200

The Broken or Cracked Plate

This variety was the result of the printer having dropped the glass negative, resulting in it breaking in to two parts.
Dr. Taylor was able to fit the two pieces of glass together and carry on with the printing. It is estimated that he printed between 32 and 50 sheets after repairing the plate. Five stamps (positions 6-10) in each sheet show a whitish line where the plate was broken and pieced together. No more than 250 examples of this variety can exist
232
x Position 7: Pale blue, neatly cancelled by 7 May c.d.s. and tied on piece; trace of soiling, otherwise sound. Brandon Certificate (1985). Photo £400-500
233
x Position 8: Pale blue showing "wide" crack and with complete "f" of "oceana fine" papermaker's watermark, part 2 May c.d.s. at foot. Very rare with only ten examples possible. Brandon Certificate (1980).Photo £1,500-2,000
Provenance: "Mafeking", Guido Craveri, February 1994
234
x Position 8: Deep blue, neatly cancelled by 10 May c.d.s.; very fine. Photo £1,200-1,500
235
x Position 9: Pale blue, neatly cancelled by 12 May c.d.s. and tied on piece. Photo £600-700
236
x Position 9: Pale blue cancelled by 12 May c.d.s., together with 1d. deep blue with
4 May c.d.s., both affixed to tissue paper piece marked "Certified to be genuine Charles G.H. Bell/civil commissioner" and with Crowned "civil commissioner/mafeking" datestamp for 14 September. Photo £600-700
237
x Position 9: Dull blue showing "wide" crack across entire top of the stamp, neatly cancelled by 11 May c.d.s. and tied on piece; fine. Photo

Imperforate Between Stamp and Margin Variety
238
x 3d. pale blue on blue from the foot of the sheet and showing "screw hole" in margin, neatly cancelled by 11 May c.d.s.; a few foxed perfs. at left, otherwise fine. Rare. Photo £1,500-2,000
Note: Only two sheets were reportedly were produced imperforate at top and at foot, thus resulting in only eight possible from the foot of the sheet and only two possible with "screw hole"

Banknotes
239
x 1s. "B7905", 2s. "A5104" and 3s. "A3136", the 2s. and 3s. with folds and well used, the 1s. with a light vertical fold, otherwise fresh and fine. Also "mafeking garrison./soup ticket./6d" No 305 £200-250
240
x 10s. green Nos. 884 and 3392, the first toned, the second quartered by folds though of fresh colour. Also a facsimile £150-200
241
x 10s. green No. 1016 with "Commaning" error, well used with soiling confined mainly to reverse £120-150
242
x £1 light blue on "Charter Valley" paper with Bechuanaland Protectorate seal, manuscript serial number "303"; vertical fold at centre. Photo £500-600
243
x £1 deep blue on "bassendean/vellum/ loft dried" paper with manuscript "544" serial number; quartered folds which split the paper in a couple of places and which have been reinforced. Photo £400-500

Ephemera
244
x A selection including "The Mafeking Mail" Nos. 1 (2), 42, 95, 144 and 171, Certificate of Service for Peter Lang who served in the Western Defences, postcard showing banknotes, 1900 Standard Bank pay cheque to Baden-Powell, two Cape Town announcements on the Relief and a large photograph showing Baden-Powell and forty men, marked on reverse "Group of Defenders of Mafeking on visit of Sir. R. Baden-Powell. 1912". A fascinating lot £100-120

Rustenburg

Major-General Baden-Powell and Col. Hoare occupied the town on 14 June 1900. Baden-Powell left the town on 7 August. The next British occupation of the town started with the arrival of Brig.-General Broadwood on 26 September

Postal History
245
x 1900-02 selection of envelopes (16) to England, six sent unstamped (one a captured "in dienst." type) with various "On Active Service" or "No Stamps Obtainable" notations, the others all franked at 1d. (9) or 2d., showing Army P.O. 50 (3) and 55 (13, one struck in blue); faults in places though an interesting group £200-250
246
x 1900-01 envelopes (6) sent by Lieut R. Ford of the Transvaal Constabulary to Belgium, variously endorsed with two sent unstamped with Army P.O. 55 c.d.s. (one in blue) and bearing G.B. 2 1/2d. applied and cancelled in London, one a G.B. 2d. registered envelope, uprated with 2 1/2d., cancelled by Field P.O. c.d.s. and three franked at 2 1/2d. with
V.R.I. values cancelled by A.P.O. 55, Field Post Office B.O. or Pretoria c.d.s.; also 1901 (30 May) envelope from Belgium to Lieut. Ford at the Army Service Corps in Potchefstroom with two different "deceased" handstamps. A fine and unusual group £250-300
247
x 1900 (24 June) Z.A.R. 1d. rose-red and green card to Mrs. Machol in Germany neatly cancelled by squared-circle datestamp, showing Transvaal large ornamental circular-framed "T" handstamp (taxed as invalid postage from Rustenburg) and Konigstein arrival c.d.s. (22.7) on face, no Postage Due apparently collected; a most unusual item. Photo £100-120
Note: Dr. Albert Machol, a medical doctor practising at Rustenburg, was appointed district surgeon by Lord Cecil
248
x 1900 (28 June) envelope, complete with letter, from Major-General Baden-Powell to Mrs. Mercer at Cape Town, marked "On Service Baden-Powell Maj. Gnl" and showing Zeerust transit c.d.s. (2.7), "T2d" in blue crayon and "2d" tax handstamp, Charge Clerk c.d.s. (7.7) on reverse; the letter includes "We were indeed very glad to get out from Mafeking - and are now very busy hunting up the Boers in the open". An interesting cover sent out on the post to the west. Photo £100-120
249
x 1900 (Aug.) unstamped envelopes from Major-General Baden-Powell and his younger brother Major Baden-Powell, both endorsed by them as "On Service", the first to Lady Smyth in England and redirected from Aylesbury to Wales, the second to Rutland, both conveyed out on the evacuation convoy of 8 August and both showing fine Army P.O. 55 c.d.s. applied en route at Pretoria. An unusual pair £100-120
Note: Major Baden-Powell of the Scots Guards was wounded when relieving Mafeking

Elands River Depot
250
x 1900 (Aug.) envelopes (2) from members of the New South Wales Bushmen, the first from Despatch Rider J. Mathews wounded in the attempted relief of the Depot, from hospital in Mafeking to Newcastle with despatch squared-circle datestamp (15.8), taxed at Cape Town with "T" and "1d" handstamps and bearing New South Wales Postage Due 1d. with manuscript cancellation in blue crayon, the second (damaged), complete with four page letter, from Sgt. Scullen-Ward of the 6th. Regiment written on arrival back in Mafeking (13.8) after retreat from the Depot, the contents with comments on the campaign £120-150
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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