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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
Page: 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  
Auction Lots - Page 6
251
x 1900 (Aug.) soldier's envelope from a member of the 10th. New Zealand Regiment to New Plymouth, marked "Nr. Rustenburg" and reverse and with Mafeking squared-circle datestamp (28.8) on face, arrival datestamp (9.10) on reverse, and 1900 (1 Sept.) soldier's envelope from Sergt. Zaffert of the Elands River Detachment to Durban, not countersigned by the Commanding Officer and showing Mafeking squared-circle datestamp and oval-framed "t/1d" handstamp in a type apparently not recorded by Hart and Kantey; both with faults though a most unusual pair £80-100

Otto's Hoop
252
x 1900 "in dienst." envelope bearing Transvaal 1/2d. cancelled by Otto's Hoop squared-circle datestamps (2) in violet with day and year dates showing "89" or "98", and seven strikes of four different Commissioner instructional marks, intaglio Arms handstamps or other datestamps, all in the same deep violet colour, at upper right is affixed a Mafeking Baden-Powell 18mm. 3d. deep blue with 7 May c.d.s. on small piece; the envelope with creases and other faults, the 3d. stamp sound £100-120
253
x 1900 (July) unstamped soldier's envelope from Capt. B.W. Cowan, Acting Commander at Otto's Hoop to Cairo, marked "On active service. No stamps available", showing Field Post Office B.O. c.d.s. (9.7) and bearing G.B. 2 1/2d. with London c.d.s. (27.7) and London Paid c.d.s. of the same date alongside, paying the onward transmission postage to Egypt, , small part Mafeking d.s. and Ismailia, Cairo (2.8) datestamps on reverse; most unusual. Photo £200-250
Note: Capt. Cowan commanded the Bechuanaland Rifles in Mafeking and was mentioned in despatches by Baden-Powell
254
x 1900 (28 Aug.) soldier's envelope (some foxing) from Private Boyd to England, countersigned by the Officer Commanding the Rhodesian Field Hospital and showing Mafeking (28.8, the day Lord Methuen arrived from Elands River siege with relieved troops), F.P.O.B.O. (1.9) and London Paid c.d.s., and 1900 (11 Sept.) envelope (225x105mm.) from Lt. Col. Grey (leader of the fateful Jameson Raid in 1896) of the 2nd. Rhodesian Field Force to London, showing Mafeking and London Paid (5.10) datestamps £100-120

Recovery of Looted Mail Handstamps
255
x 1900 (27 Apr.) envelope from Pietersburg to Cape Town, bearing Transvaal 1d. rose-red and green with double-ring datestamp, pre-war Z.A.R. Found Open and Resealed label and showing, on reverse, superb "found in rustenbg/by british forces" handstamp in violet, Pretoria (8.11) and Cape Town (13.11) datestamps. Photo £400-500
Note: It was Lord Methuen's task to "tidy up" the Western Transvaal. He raided all the farmsteads during October where these mails were found
256
x 1900 (15 May) envelope (faults) from Kaapsche Hoop to Natal, , bearing Transvaal 1d. rose-red and green with double-ring datestamp, pre-war Z.A.R. Found Open and Resealed label and showing, on reverse, superb "found in rustenbg/by british forces" handstamp in violet, Pretoria (8.11), Durban (9.11) and Tongatt (12.11) datestamps. Photo £300-400
257
x 1900 (Nov.) envelope to Cape Town, showing fine "found in rustenbg/by british forces" handstamp in violet alongside circular-framed "t" and "2d." h.s., part Transvaal c.d.s. on reverse; the envelope with a couple of small tears at top and part flap missing. Also a large part envelope front to Salt River with nearly complete strike of the handstamp and taxed at 1d. for double wrapper rate. Photo £400-500
258
x 1900 (Nov.) envelope to London, showing a fine strike of the rare "found in rustenbg/by british forces" handstamp in violet and with manuscript "5d to pay" at left, framed "t/25/centimes" and large "5d./f.b./a." handstamps, the reverse with Pretoria (6.11) and London (3.12) c.d.s.; two creases clear of the handstamp. Rare. Photo £400-500
Provenance: Bill Hart, June 1993
259
x 1901 (13 Jan.) G.B. 1/2d. brown card (one corner creased) from Buffels Poort to Dorchester and redirected to Glasgow, marked "Field Service - No stamps" with the stamp impression cancelled by Army P.O. 54 c.d.s. for 15 January, showing "included in mail bag lost on/cape railway and recovered/25th july 1901" cachet alongside Severn Stoke arrival c.d.s. (19.8); the contents include "We are out in the mountains watching the passes while the supplies are passed through to Rustenburg whence we lie 14 miles E". Photo £300-400

Transvaal stamps handstamped "v.r." in violet or black

Unused
260
x 1/2d. green (2, one with overprint in deep dull violet), 1d. rose-red and green, 2 1/2d. blue and green and 3d. purple and green, unused with part gum; one 1/2d. and the 2 1/2d. thinned and the 3d. creased though of good to fine appearance. S.G. 1, 2, 4, 5, £1,175 £200-250
261
x 1d. rose-red and green block of four, large part original gum; a little toned, a few split and reinforced perfs. and one with rounded corner, nevertheless a scarce multiple. S.G. 2, £600+. Photo £150-200
262
x 2d. brown and green, large part original gum; fine and scarce. S.G. 3, £425. Photo £150-200
263
x 6d. lilac and green, part original gum; faint fox mark on gum and a couple of short perfs. at left. Scarce. B.P.A. Certificate (1976). S.G. 6, £1,500. Photo £250-300
264
x 1/- ochre and green, part original gum; a little toned and with imperfections in upper corners though a presentable example of this rare stamp. S.G. 7, £2,250. Photo £300-350
265
x 2/6d. dull violet and green, part original gum; thinned around hinge area though of good strong colour and a most attractive example of this very rare stamp. Brandon Certificate (1997). S.G.8, £9,000. Photo £1,500-1,800
266
x 2/6d. dull violet and green, part original gum; badly thinned at top around hinge area though of good colour and appearance for this very rare stamp. Brandon Certificate (1998). S.G. 8, £9,000. Photo £600-700

Used
267
x 1/2d. green, 1d. rose-red and green, 2d. brown and green, 2 1/2d. blue and green and 3d. purple and green, all cancelled by squared-circle datestamps, the 1d. and 3d. on small pieces; 2d. with a horizontal crease at foot, otherwise fine. S.G. 1-5, £790. Photo £200-250
268
x 1/2d. green, 1d. rose-red and green, 2d. brown and green, 2 1/2d. blue and green and 3d. purple and green, affixed to piece and cancelled by one complete and two part strikes of P.W.K. Rustenburg double-ring datestamp of 25 July; all with faults/defects though a colourful philatelic franking. R.P.S. Certificate (1977). S.G. 1-5, £790. Photo £120-150
269
x 1d. rose-red and green (3), the first cancelled by large part Field Post Office 34 c.d.s. (17.10) of Rhenoster Kop, the second with V.R.I. 1/2d. green and 1d. rose-red and green, all cancelled by Field Post Office 34 c.d.s. (10.10) on piece with small part of address written from Capt. Llewellyn to Mrs. Hoare and showing part Basingstoke arrival c.d.s., the third on small piece and cancelled by part of Rhenoster Kop c.d.s. (8.10); fine.
An unusual trio. S.G. 2, £330. Photo £100-120
270
x 2d. brown and green, neatly cancelled and tied on piece by squared-circle datestamp (22.6, the first day of issue) in violet; fine. S.G. 3, £180. Photo £70-80
271
x 2 1/2d. blue and green, neatly cancelled and tied on piece by complete P.W.K. Rustenburg c.d.s. (26.7); fine. S.G. 4, £150. Photo £70-80
272
x 2 1/2d. blue and green, neatly cancelled and tied on piece by part Zeerust c.d.s.; rare, being one of only three examples of this usage. See also lots 288 and 289. S.G. 4, £150. Photo £70-80
273
x 3d. purple and green marginal block of four from the top of the sheet, neatly cancelled by centrally applied F.P.O. 19 c.d.s. (15.8) of Commando Nek; the left-hand vertical pair with trace of a vertical "line" on reverse, otherwise fine and a very scarce multiple.
S.G. 5, £800+. Photo £250-300
274
x 3d. purple and green, neatly cancelled and tied on piece by Rhenoster Kop c.d.s. (8.10); fine and scarce. P.F.S.A. Certificate (1967). S.G. 5, £200. Photo £100-120
275
x 6d. lilac and green, neatly cancelled by part squared-circle datestamp; fine and scarce.
S.G. 6, £550. Photo £200-250
276
x 1/- ochre and green, neatly cancelled by squared-circle datestamp (23.6, one day after issue); fine and rare. S.G. 7, 1,200. Photo £500-600
277
x 1/- ochre and green, neatly cancelled by large part Army Post Office 50 c.d.s. (20.8) of Pretoria and affixed to piece; fine and rare. Signed Bloch on reverse. S.G. 7, £1,200. Photo £500-600
278
x 2/6d. dull violet and green, neatly cancelled by part squared-circle datestamp (23.6, one day after issue); small thin at top though of fine appearance for this very rare stamp. Brandon Certificate (1998). S.G. 8, £4,500. Photo £800-1,000
279
x 2/6d. dull violet and green, cancelled by virtually complete squared-circle datestamp (27.6); light crease at foot, otherwise sound. P.F.S.A. Certificate (1998). S.G. 8, £4,500. Photo £800-1,000
280
x 2/6d. dull violet and green, cancelled by virtually complete squared-circle datestamp (June, day unclear); two areas of thinning though of fine appearance. Signed Holcombe. R.P.S. Certificate (1968). S.G. 8, £4,500. Photo £400-500
281
x 2/6d. dull violet and green with handstamp in black, cancelled by virtually complete squared-circle datestamp (22.6, first day of issue); upper left corner missing and other faults/defects though a useful reference example of this excessively rare stamp with only three examples recorded. R.P.S. Certificate (2008). S.G. 8a, £8,000. Photo £600-800
Provenance: The Royal Philatelic Collection, 2009

Covers

The following section offers the finest group of covers from this Siege issue ever formed,
representing over a quarter of all the covers recorded to date
282
x 1900 (23 June) unaddressed "in dienst." envelope with embossed Coat of Arms seal in green on flap, bearing 1/2d. to 6d. all neatly cancelled by squared-circle datestamps and with a further strike applied at centre; the envelope with three vertical creases (one splitting the cover at centre), none affecting the adhesives. The earliest recorded cover with stamps from this issue. S.G. 1-6, £1,340+. Photo £400-500
283
x 1900 (24 June) envelope to Sir John Swinburne, Newcastle-on-Tyne, marked
"H. Swinburne, Lieut., Pioneer Regt. FF" and lower left corner and bearing 1/2d. green and 1d. rose-red and green pair, [37-38] in the "control sheet", cancelled by squared-circle datestamps, arrival c.d.s. (22.7) on reverse, upon arrival redirected to Ode, Norway
and with three notations regarding receipt, two in red ink with one initialled "J.S."
(John Swinburne); one 1d. defective though a remarkable franking. Photo £1,000-1,200
284
x 1900 (24 June) envelope to Pretoria, bearing 1d. rose-red and green neatly cancelled by squared-circle datestamp, black on pink censor label at top and over to the flap, initialled "O.H.M.S." and showing arrival c.d.s. (25.7) on reverse; one of five such labels recorded from Pretoria. Fine and scarce. Photo £600-800
285
x 1900 (25 June) unaddressed "in dienst." envelope with embossed Coat of Arms seal in green on flap, bearing 1/2d. to 6d. all neatly cancelled by squared-circle datestamps and with a further strike applied at upper right-hand corner; the envelope cut-into at top, not affecting the adhesives. S.G. 1-6, £1,340+. Photo £400-500
286
x 1900 (26 June) envelope from Eland's River to England, dated "June 26/00" at foot and with "passed/censor" handstamp signed "C.O. Hore Lt. Col.", bearing 2 1/2d. blue and green cancelled with pen stroke and fine squared-circle datestamp for 29 June, the reverse with Pretoria (2.7) and Sheffield (27.7) c.d.s.; the envelope with some faults though a presentable and unusually routed overseas rate cover. Photo £400-500
Note: This cover is noted by the owner as having been sent from Eland's River and carried by Snyman's first cart delivery. The cover is censored the day after Baden-Powell issued a notice that mail would be accepted by the post and telegraph office, that it would be censored and that all mail had to be open
287
x 1900 (27 June) envelope to "J James Esq., c/o Dalls Store Mafeking", bearing 1d. rose-red and green at lower left corner and cancelled with by squared-circle datestamp applied inverted, marked at right "Passed Censor C.O. Hore Lt. Col." and with small part of squared-circle datestamp and traces of where a censor label was affixed, Mafeking arrival c.d.s. (3.7) on reverse; the adhesive with a corner crease and the envelope with small faults as to be expected on an item of this nature. Photo £500-600
288
x 1900 (27 June) envelope from Zeerust to Capt. Lawley (Administrator of Matabeleland during this period) at Government House, Bulawayo, signed "J.S. Nicholson. Col." (Rustenburg's Town Commandant) at lower left corner and bearing 2 1/2d. blue and green with large part double-ring datestamp with "z.a." removed, Mafeking (28.6) and Bulawayo (30.6) datestamps on reverse. Fine and the earliest recorded use of Rustenburg "vr" stamps at Zeerust. Photo £800-1,000
289
x 1900 (27 June) envelope (B.S.A.P. crest on flap) to England, marked "On Active Service" and signed "Hoel Llewellyn, Capt., B.S.A.P. Rustenburg 27.6.1900", bearing 1d. rose-red and green, 2d. brown and green and 2 1/2d. blue and green with another stamp to left of 1d. value excised, all cancelled by Zeerust double-ring datestamps (29.6) with "z.a." removed, Bristol arrival c.d.s. (27.7) on reverse. Photo £300-400
Provenance: Kenneth Griffith, November 2004
290
x 1900 (1 July) "in dienst." envelope from Major-General Baden-Powell to his mother in London, printed headings crossed through and bearing 1d. rose-red and green pair,
[33-34] in the "control" sheet, and a single with squared-circle datestamps, "passed/censor" handstamp alongside, arrival c.d.s. (11.8) on reverse; the envelope with some creasing and a little foxing, nevertheless a remarkable cover illustrated on the front cover of the Birkhead and Groenewald handbook. Photo £800-1,000
291
x 1900 (14 July) envelope (opened-out) "On Active Service" from "G.B. Hook, Rhodesia Regt. Rustenburg" to his wife in Bulawayo, bearing 2d. brown and green (2) sharing Zeerust double with datestamp with "z.a." removed, showing "passed/censor" handstamp with the signature of Col. J.S. Nicholson below, part arrival c.d.s. on reverse; the right-hand stamp with rounded corner and the envelope with some creases, etc. and foxing. Photo £500-600
Note: Col. Nicholson was the Officer Commanding Rustenburg after Lt. Col. Hoare was
sent to Eland's River Depot on 4 July and could not return as he had malaria fever.
The Rustenburg squared-circle canceller disappeared after the temporary evacuation of the town on 4 July. This is the last recorded date of use of the Passed Censor cachet
292
x 1900 (12 Aug.) envelope (B.S.A.P. crest on flap) to Wales, marked "On Active Service" and signed "Hoel Llewellyn, Capt., Comdg Art: B.S.A. Police, Oliphants Nek Rustenburg 27.6.1900", bearing 1d. rose-red and green and 2 1/2d. blue and green twice cancelled by Army P.O. 55 single-ring datestamp on arrival at Pretoria, upon arrival redirected to Basingstoke with Cardiff "162" duplex (8.9) below the adhesives and with Cardiff (8.9) and Basingstoke (9.9) c.d.s. on reverse; the adhesives with a couple of minor imperfections, nevertheless a rare franking and cancellation on this issue. Photo £1,000-1,200
Note: The contents, not now present, conveyed the news that he thought her husband had been captured
293
x 1900 (13 Aug.) "On (Active Service)" from "G.B. Hook, Rhodesian Regt., Plumer's Brigade 13/8/00" to Bulawayo, bearing 1/2d. green, 1d. rose-red and green, 2d. brown and green, 2 1/2d. blue and green and 3d. purple and green all cancelled in transit at Pretoria by double-ring datestamps (15.8), Bulawayo c.d.s. (25.8) on reverse; the envelope with some faults and the adhesives all with creases, nevertheless a rare and important franking. R.P.S. Certificate (1949) states "some stamp, or stamps, removed from cover" though no signs of cancellations are present, so any that were present originally must have remained uncancelled. Photo £400-500
Provenance: Senator Rossouw, October 1959
294
x 1901 (27 Nov.) envelope (lower right corner fault) to Switzerland, bearing 1d. rose-red and green in combination with G.B. 1d. (2) cancelled by fine Army P.O. 50 single-ring datestamps, Opened Under Martial Law censor label at top which is tied by "P.B.C. Rustenburg" triangular censor cachet, Berne arrival c.d.s. (28.12) on reverse. Photo £200-300

Postal Stationery
295
x A selection comprising 1/2d. (2) and 1d. cards, 1d. reply card, and 1/2d., 2d. and 3d. (2) wrappers, fresh "unused". See page 73 of the Birkhead and Groenewald handbook £200-300

VolkSrust

See also lot 95
296
x Undated soldier's front "From 256/2 Sergeant J. Hughes, Commander in Chiefs Body Guard, Field Force South Africa" to New South Wales, countersigned by the Commanding Officer of E Squadron and bearing E.R.I. 1d. cancelled by Natal Field Force Volksrust octagonal-framed datestamp, 1900 (Aug.) captured Railway Dept. envelope to Ladysmith and redirected to Volksrust, bearing 1d. with Army P.O. and Ladysmith c.d.s., Army Post Office Volksrust rubber datestamp on reverse, 1901 envelope from Pietermaritzburg to Wakkerstroom bearing Natal 1d. with indistinct seal cancellation, marked "Returned from Wakkerstroom Unclaimed" and with Opened Under Martial Law label tied by Volksrust c.d.s., and 1901 (Dec.) to Durban bearing 1d. lilac with an early strike of the Army Post Office Volksrust c.d.s.; the first three with faults in places though an interesting group £80-100
297
x 1899-1900 "In Veldienst" envelopes (3), one "via Machadodorp" to Pretoria with despatch c.d.s. on face, two different Machadodorp c.d.s. (June and July), Lourenco Marques (23.9) and Durban (28.9) c.d.s., one "via Hoofd lager Natal Grens" to Krugersdorp with manuscript censor, arrival c.d.s. (23.11) on reverse, the third (faults) to Johannesburg with despatch c.d.s. (12.11) on face; also a Commando Brief label most unusually cancelled with fine Volksrust c.d.s. (9.2.00) £100-120
298
x 1900 (July-Sept.) envelopes (8), two unstamped and four registered, and two pieces,
all cancelled by good to fine strikes of the "army post office/volksrust" double-ring rubber datestamp in violet; also a piece bearing 1d. lilac with a strike of the "volksrust" between handstamp with "15 jun. 1900" below £120-150
299
x 1902 Transvaal V.R.I. overprinted Revenue stamps used at Volksrust due to a shortage of postage stamps, comprising 1d., 6d., 1/- and 1/6d. values each with double-ring datestamps, 1d. and 6d. with small thins though a scarce quartet. Also further 1d. values used at Klerksdorp, Newcastle, Ngomo and Standerton and a further example cancelled by F.P.O. 4 c.d.s. on 1902 (June) envelope to England £100-120

Vryburg

After the British re-occupation on 8 May 1900 Transvaal stamps were then overprinted "V.R./SPECIAL POST" and were used in the town from 16 May. After the V.R. Special Post issue cancelled by the Vryburg BB datestamp, Intelligence Officer Clifford St. Quintin found the original pre-occupation Vryburg C.G.H. datestamp though the day slugs were missing, so he meticulously signed each stamp in the date position

Postal History
300
x 1900 (2 May) envelope from Lord Methuen to his wife in England, sent en route from Boshof to relieve Vryburg, bearing 1d. lilac cancelled by F.P.O. 4 c.d.s. (3.5), 1900
(16 June) homemade blue envelope to Salisbury and redirected to Southsea, marked "South Africa Field Force" and "Stamps unobtainable" with Vryburg, London Paid (7.7) and Salisbury (8.7) c.d.s. all on face, 1900 (Mar.) envelope to Klerksdorp bearing 1d. with c.d.s. and showing triangular-framed "passed by/censor/vryburg" cachet in violet with date applied at centre, and 1901 (Mar.) envelope from Kroonstad to Vryburg, bearing O.F.S. 1d. and with Opened Under Martial Law label tied by "passed ceb censor" and "military intelligence office/vryburg" oval datestamp £100-120
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