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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 7
301
x 1900 (12 Oct.) soldiers envelope (faults) to Devon and 1901 (8 Mar.) envelope "no stamps available" to Great Yarmouth, both with fine "christiana." double-ring datestamp in violet, and 1902 (13 May) OHMS envelope from Capt. Smith to Col. Landon in Brentwood showing similar datestamp and triangular-framed "passed/censor/censor" datestamp, both superb and struck in red. An attractive group of this unique-styled datestamp £80-100

V.R. Special Post Overprints
302
x 1/2d. green with handstamp reading downwards, tied on piece by 16 May c.d.s. and manuscript mark at top; corner crease at lower left. Rare with only six reading downwards examples recorded. B.P.A. Certificate (1993). S.G. 1, £3,000. Photo £500-600
Provenance: Stephenson Stobbs
Bill Hart, June 1993
303
x 1/2d. green with handstamp reading upwards, tied on piece by 16 May c.d.s., fine and rare. Signed Bloch. S.G. 1, £3,000. Photo £800-1,000
Provenance: Rich
304
x 1d. rose-red and green with overprint reading downwards, tied by two 16 May c.d.s. on piece; the stamp a trifle soiled, otherwise sound. Rare. S.G. 12, £5,500. Photo £1,200-1,500
Provenance: Rosenburg
305
x 1d. rose-red and green with overprint reading upwards and misplaced to right resulting in "post" being almost entirely omitted, tied by neat 16 May c.d.s. on piece, Fine and rare. S.G. 12, £5,500. Photo £1,200-1,500
Provenance: St. Quentin heritage
306
x 1d. rose-red and green with overprint reading upwards, neatly tied by 16 May c.d.s. on piece. Fine and rare. P.F.S.A. Certificate (1989). S.G. 12, £5,500. Photo £1,200-1,500

The St. Quintin Manuscript Provisionals
307
x 1/2d. green Hope seated (2, one with colour changeling to blue-green) and 1d. carmine, all on pieces with the two 1/2d. values partially cut-to-shape. Photo £100-120
308
x 1/2d. green Hope standing, on small piece. A rare stamp with the St. Quintin initials. Photo £100-120
309
x 1/2d. green Hope seated, neatly cancelled and tied on envelope to "Mrs. Benson, Vryburg"; rare with few addressed covers recorded. Photo £400-500
310
x 1/2d. green Hope seated and 1d. carmine, both on unaddressed envelopes; the 1d. envelope with some creasing in lower left corner £200-300
311
x 1d. carmine on envelope to "J Johnston, Mowbray, Cape"; fine and rare with few addressed envelopes recorded. Brandon Certificate (1989). Photo £400-500
312
x 1d. carmine with initials inverted tied on unaddressed envelope. A scarce variety. Photo £200-250
313
x 1d. carmine with initials inverted tied on unaddressed envelope. A scarce variety. Photo £200-250
314
x 1d. carmine (3) on unaddressed envelopes; creases in places £200-300

Wepener

The town was under siege by the Boers from 9 to 24 April 1900
315
x 1900 (6 Mar.) unstamped envelopes (2) addressed to Smithfield Lager, Stormberg Junction, the first from Jammersberg Drift with squared-circle datestamp, the second from Dewetsdorp with c.d.s., no backstamps. A most interesting pair £150-200
Note: Stormberg Junction was vacated by the Boers on 7 March. These commandos now under General de Wet besieged Wepener one month later
316
x 1900 (Apr.) envelope from Teyateyaneng to a P.O.W. at Simons Town, bearing Cape 1d. cancelled by barred oval "688" with despatch and Maseru (6.4) c.d.s. on face, 1900
(5 July) front to a P.O.W. at Green Point, Cape Town, bearing O.F.S. 1d. with Wepener c.d.s., both showing light circular-framed "censor/prisoners of war" handstamp, and 1900 (27 Oct.) envelope registered from Wepener to a P.O.W. in Ceylon, franked at 9d. and with manuscript "Censored" followed by Wepener Resident magistrate cachet, various backstamps £80-100
317
x 1900 (18 Apr.) Transvaal 1d. "battlefield" card, uprated with O.F.S. 1d. purple, originally written in pencil some ten days earlier, then copied in ink, headed "Lager by Wepener" and entering the postal system at Winburg, Leiden arrival c.d.s. (21.5). A fascinating card and the only recorded Boer correspondence from the siege. Photo £300-400
Note: The writer reveals that he is using his knee as a desk and stating that the enemy had already been surrounded for 10 days
318
x 1900 (27 Apr.) unstamped envelope from Trooper Cairns "On Active Service G Squadron Brabants Horse" to England, showing Mafeteng (3.5) and London Paid c.d.s. (25.5) at right, Aliwal North (5.5) and Alnwich (26.5) c.d.s. on reverse. Photo £120-150
Note: Brabant's Horse were positioned to the north of the town on and around Observation Hill
319
x 1900 (28 Apr.) unstamped envelope (complete with letter) "On Active Service" from a soldier to his daughters at Mount Frere, Griqualand East, showing Mafeteng c.d.s. on face, arrival c.d.s. on reverse, the letter and envelope on C.M.R. crested paper with the letter dated one day after relief and carried on the one safe route via Basutoland to North-East Transkei. Photo £200-250
Note: General de Wet continued attacking the colonial troops until 25 April when Gen. Louis Botha ordered him to retire due the overwhelming numbers of British troops that were approaching
320
x 1900 (3 May) soldier's envelope (traces of creasing and soiled on reverse) to London, marked "Stamps not procurable" and showing fine Mafeteng c.d.s. alongside London Paid c.d.s. (25.5) with further London c.d.s. on reverse. Photo £80-100
321
x 1900 (3 and 10 May) unstamped "On Active Service" envelopes to East London and Queenstown respectively, both with Mafeteng c.d.s., the first with "T" handstamp, the second with "1d" tax handstamp, arrival c.d.s. on reverse. A scarce pair £150-200
Note: British casualties were moved to Mafeteng immediately after the siege for treatment there. Losses were: British 28 killed and 141 wounded: Boer killed 5 and wounded 13
Provenance:
Bill Hart, June 1993
322
x 1900 (25 June and 30 July) soldier's envelopes to England from members of the 1st. Worcester and 1st. Stafford Regiments respectively, each bearing 1d. lilac with the first cancelled at Thaba'Nchu c.d.s., the second (faults) cancelled by Ficksburg squared-circle datestamp. An interesting pair sent during General de Wet's retreat period £100-120

Wolmaransstad

The town was occupied by the British from 15 June until 27 July, 1900,
when the British Forces departed and the Boers re-occupied the town

Postal History

Prior to the First British Occupation, 15 June 1900
323
x 1900 (5 Jan.) envelope (complete with letter) ex the Leask correspondence from
Mrs. Leask to her daughters at school in Stromness, Orkney, bearing Transvaal 1/2d. and 1d. (2) with double-ring datestamps and with both Boer and British censor tape,
the former tied by Pretoria c.d.s. (30.1), "returned letter office/natal" c.d.s. (2.3) and boxed "stopped by censor/return to sender" cachet in violet; the letter subsequently returned to Mrs. Leask in a green "in dienst." envelope with Pretoria c.d.s. (5.3) and showing cachet in violet of Isaac van Alphen, the Postmaster-General of the Z.A.R.. A fascinating item of censored mail, fully described and written-up in the Birkhead and Groenewald handbook. Photo £200-250
324
x 1900 (27 Jan.) envelope (complete with letter) ex the Leask correspondence from
Mrs. Leask to her daughters at school in Stromness, Orkney, bearing Transvaal 1/2d. and 1d. (2) with double-ring datestamps and with both Boer and British censor tape, the former tied by Pretoria c.d.s. (30.1), "returned letter office/natal" c.d.s. (20.2) and boxed "stopped by censor/return to sender" cachet in violet; the letter subsequently returned to Mrs. Leask in a green "in dienst." envelope (faults) with Pretoria c.d.s. (6.3) and showing cachet in violet of Isaac van Alphen, the Postmaster-General of the Z.A.R. Photo £200-250
325
x 1900 (13 Mar.) unstamped envelope from a P.O.W. at Cape Town to Wolmaransstad, the face panel with despatch c.d.s., taxed "2" in red crayon and then "T5d" in blue crayon with octagonal-framed "T/25c.", the reverse with boxed "censor, prisoners of war/L Heyman/Lt Col" handstamp, Lourenco Marques (18.3), Pretoria (26.3), Klerksdorp (27.3) and arrival (29.3) c.d.s.; a most unusual item of mail carried via the northern route. Photo £100-120
326
x 1900 (19 Mar.) envelope from John Clouston, Leask's Manager, "via Schweitzer Reneke" to Vryburg, bearing 1/2d., 1d. and 2d. cancelled by double-ring datestamps and showing, on reverse, sender's cachet, Bloemhof (19.3), Schweizer Reneke (21.3) and arrival (21.3) c.d.s.; 1d. and 2d. with defects though an attractive franking at unusual rate and sent by the southern route from Kimberley by rail to Warrenton and then by mail coach to Bloemhof. Photo £80-100
327
x 1900 (22-23 May) "last day" envelopes (9) prepared by Leask, bearing a variety of Transvaal values all cancelled by double-ring datestamps; a colourful group £200-250
328
x 1900 (3 June) 1/2d. green card and large part Parcel Post slip bearing 1d. rose-red and green (3), both from Klerksdorp to Leask cancelled by double-ring datestamps and marked "Last post from Klerksdorp" in Leask's handwriting £80-100

British Occupation, 18 June to 28 July 1900
329
x 1900 (30 May) envelope (small corner fault) from St. Helena "Van Delogooby" to
Mrs. Volschenk, bearing 2 1/2d. cancelled with circle of blocks and with despatch c.d.s. alongside, circular-framed "censor/prisoners of war" cachet initialled "JHMB", the reverse with Cape Town (21.6) c.d.s. and manuscript "Recd 9/7/00/first colonial post under British Marshall law" £100-120
330
x 1900 (24 June) unstamped envelope to a Boer P.O.W. at Simons Town, marked "Censored C.G. Huddleston" (Assistant Commandant during the occupation) and showing despatch c.d.s. in violet and circular-framed "censor/prisoners of war" cachet in blue. Rare with few covers from Wolmaransstad during the six weeks of British Occupation, this being one of only three to P.O.W.'s. Photo £300-400
331
x 1900 (25 June) Leask, Klerksdorp embossed envelope to Leask at Wolmaransstad, unstamped and showing, on reverse, arrival c.d.s. in violet with "z.a.r." partially excised and manuscript "2nd. down post or first stamped off here with date stamps 25/6/00", the first recorded incoming strike on 2nd. mail downwards, and a similar envelope bearing 1d. rose-red and green with "klerksdorp/transvaal" datestamp (date not clear), this datestamp being used for only a few days before being replaced by F.P.O. datestamps and, on reverse "Censored H.L." in red crayon. A most unusual pair £80-100
332
x 1900 (27 June) envelope to "Bomvama Land Trans Kie", most unusually bearing Cape 1d. carmine cancelled by double-ring datestamp in violet, marked "Censored C.G. Huddlestone" and with Kimberley squared-circle transit d.s. (2.7), the reverse with Kei Road (5.7), Mtentu (6.7) and Elliotdale (7.7) c.d.s. A unique usage of a Cape stamp used in the town during the occupation, and the last day that the cancellation in violet was used. Photo £300-400
Provenance: Kenneth Griffith, March 2003
333
x 1900 (July) trio of items marked by Leask as received during July, comprising envelope bearing Transvaal 1/2d. pair, crossed through in pencil as unacceptable, cancelled by first Klerksdorp Transvaal datestamp without date slugs, 1900 (Feb.) envelope from Stromness franked at 2 1/2d., both sent via the northern route, and 1900 (30 June) southern route envelope from Kimberley "via Warrenton", marked at left "Mail service suspended" and partially covered by provisional censor tape with manuscript "Opened under Martial Law", signed on reverse "Censored M" in mauve. A most unusual trio crayon £120-150
334
x 1900 (22 July) mourning envelope to a P.O.W. on board S.S. Manila at Simon's Town with the ship's name crossed out and "Simonstad" underlined, censored by Lt. Huddleston at top and showing Wolmaransstad c.d.s., sent via Kimberley (22.7) where it was again censored with circular-framed "censor/prisoners of war." handstamp and Cape Town "censor/belle view/prisoners of war." in blue; one of few covers sent out during the short-lived first British Occupation. Photo £80-100

Boer Re-Occupation, 14 August 1900 to 12 February 1901
335
x 1900 (Aug.) Telegram envelope from Magistrate De Waal at Schweizer Reneke to
Dr. Leask, the message, written in pencil, advising him that he would be seeking medical supplies the next day at Bloemhof £50-60
336
x 1900 (Oct. and Nov.) envelopes from L. Bülbring & Co. at Port Elizabeth to Leask & Co., both franked at 1/2d., the first sent by the southern route, overland by horse and apparently taken by the Boers while they were raiding the railway line between Kimberley and Vryburg, Fourteen Streams c.d.s. (19.10) and manuscript "Recd from Johan van Vuuren 18/11/00", the second sent by the northern route with Johannesburg censor cachet and showing Johannesburg c.d.s. (22.11), held for 11 months there and again for 26 September 1901 when sent on to Leask at Klerksdorp with manuscript "Rece in K'dorp 1/10/01". An interesting pair £70-80
Note: L. Bülbring was the father of Gustav Bülbring, the noted philatelist who became an RDPSA and Life President of PFSA
Wolmaransstad commandos joined local commandos at Schweizer Reneke to lay siege to the town on 18 August. Telephone lines were cut and tapped. Lord Methuen evacuated the entire garrison at Schweizer Reneke on 9 January 1901, seven months after the British occupation. Soon afterwards the Boers restored administration to the area and communication between Wolmaransstad and other western Transvaal towns

Second British Occupation, 12 February to 23 July 1901 and subsequent removal of residents to Klerksdorp Concentration Camp, 25 July 1901 until the end of the war
337
x 1900-01 envelopes (3) sent from overseas to Wolmaransstad, comprising 1900 (Mar.) from Germany bearing 20pf. cancelled by Seepost c.d.s. with Aden and other transit c.d.s., censored in Johannesburg and held for more than a year, marked "Recd Klerksdorp 1/10/01", 1900 (Aug.) from a P.O.W. on St. Helena, franked at 2 1/2d. and with P.O.W. censor cachet initialled "FWA", Johannesburg censor cachet where held for a year and with Warrenton c.d.s. (24.9.01), and 1901 (Oct.) from Scotland franked at 1d. and with Klerksdorp censor cachet dated 28 October £100-120
338
x 1900 (May and Sept.) cards from Stromness to Mrs. Leask franked at 1d., the first sent via Delagoa Bay with Machadadorp and Lourenco Marques c.d.s., both censored at Johannesburg, and 1900 (Aug.) envelope from Stromness to Mr. Clouston franked at 2 1/2d. and sent via the southern route with Warrenton censor label and cachet; all three held for one year with the two cards redirected to Klerksdorp and the envelope redirected to Kimberley. Photo £100-120
339
x 1901-02 trio of envelopes sent within South Africa, comprising 1901 (Nov.) from Breede River Station, Cape bearing 1d. cancelled "741", showing Johannesburg and Klerksdorp censor cachets with Warrenton and Army Post Office Klerksdorp c.d.s. on reverse, 1902 (Apr.) from Jabobs Burgher Camp near Durban, bearing 1d. with "P.O.A./117" obliterator, Johannesburg censor mark and, on reverse, F.P.O. 100 c.d.s. of Klerksdorp, and 1902 (20 May) unstamped envelope from Germiston with Germiston and Johannesburg censor cachets, "T/2d" handstamp and Germiston Provost Marshall datestamp on reverse £80-100
340
x 1901 (Sept.) OHMS envelope from G.P.O. Cape Town, in reply to Dr. Leask's letter to them requesting mail to him be redirected to Klerksdorp, the letter advising Leask to write direct to the Postmaster-General at Johannesburg on such matters, the envelope (small faults) with Johannesburg censor handstamp, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom c.d.s., 1901 (Oct.) envelope to Scotland bearing 1d. with F.P.O. 16 c.d.s. and 1902 (May) envelope to Natal bearing 1d. with A.P.O. Klerksdorp c.d.s., both showing "passed press censor/klerksdorp" datestamp, the latter in violet with Dutch spelling of "mei" for May £80-100

Residents return to Wolmaransstad, 11 June. First civil posts, August 1902
341
x 1901 (Sept.) from Port Elizabeth with "no postal communications" handstamp in violet, boxed "inconnu/not known" handstamp, Johannesburg censor mark, Johannesburg (30.6) and Cape Town (10.7) Returned Letter Office c.d.s., and 1902
(22 June) envelope from Port Elizabeth to Leask Bros. via Bloemhof, arrived Kimberley and forwarded in error to Vryburg with Press Censor datestamp in violet, transit c.d.s. on reverse including F.P.O. 48 and Army Post Office Bloemfontein. An interesting pair of misdirected items £80-100
342
x 1902 selection of four envelopes, all received by the first postal deliveries in late July, comprising 25 April from Port Elizabeth, censored at Johannesburg and most unusually with Army Telegraph code "wd" c.d.s. on reverse, 28 May from Port Elizabeth showing first day use of the new Wolmaransstad c.d.s. as an arrival datestamp (27 July), 27 June from England on the northern route travelling by horse from Klerksdorp, and 22 July from Cape Town showing first day of use of the new Wolmaransstad c.d.s. as an arrival c.d.s. An interesting quartet £80-100
343
x 1902 items relating to P.O.W.'s, comprising reply portion of 1900 St. Helena postcard (small faults) showing circular-framed "censor/prisoners of war" cachet initialled "FWA", Kimberley c.d.s. (12.9), then held for almost two years before being forwarded to Wolmaransstad with eventual arrival c.d.s. (1.8.02), and 1902 (Aug.) envelope from Klerksdorp to a P.O.W. at Dagshai in India, bearing G.B. 1d. with Klerksdorp c.d.s. and sent via Lourenco Marques, undelivered and redirected back to Wolmaransstad arriving on 28 September. A most unusual pair £80-100
344
x 1902 (1 Aug.) Army Telegraph envelope and message from Klerksdorp to Dr. Leask, both showing arrival "army/telegraphs" c.d.s. with code "wd", the day that the first inland telegraph started, 1902 (7 Aug.) similar envelope with a superb strike of the "wd" Army Telegraphs c.d.s., and 1902 (16 Aug.) Telegram envelope to Dr. Leask showing, on reverse, arrival c.d.s. and with manuscript "1st. Wire received by Civil Service" £100-120

The Japan and China Correspondence from Miss B.J. Garriock

From Japan
345
x 1900 (29 Oct.) envelope (complete with letter) from Kobe to Dr. Leask, bearing 5s. yellow pair with c.d.s. and with Opened Under Martial Law label tied by Johannesburg censor cachet at foot, Hong Kong (7.11) and Johannesburg (6.1) c.d.s. on reverse then held for some ten months with manuscript "Recd in K'dorp 1/10/01"; the letter gives fascinating details of her travels and exploits including comment on the Boxer movement, looting and death of civilians in Moukden, etc. Also 1917 1s. card, uprated with 1/2s. and 2s., from Moukden "via Dalny thence per Japanese Steamer to Durban" with light censor datestamp and commenting on mail from Port Arthur going astray. A fascinating pair with the first item fully written-up in the Birkhead and Groenewald handbook. Photo £150-200
Note: Katie Leask's sister went out from the Orkneys to Manchuria to carry out missionary work. A relative at Stromess also corresponded with Katie to keep her informed about the missionary in Manchuria

From China
346
x 1902 (2 Jan.) envelope from Liaoyang, bearing 5c. flesh pair with boxed datestamp in combination with Hong Kong 10c. blue with c.d.s. (10.1), Johannesburg censor cachet at left, despatch, Shanghai (9.1), Colombo and Johannesburg (1.3) c.d.s. on reverse. Rare and most attractive. Photo £400-600
347
x 1902 (Aug.) envelope (minor stains) from Shengking, bearing 1c. (5) and 5c. with Imperial State P.O. handstamps, the reverse with despatch (19.8), Shanghai (25.8),
Hong Kong (1.9), Durban (1.11) and arrival (4.11) c.d.s.; also two further envelopes, each with a couple of stamps cut away, and a piece bearing 1c. (10) with the address cut away, all from the same office. Photo £200-300
348
x 1902 (Jan. and Nov.) envelopes, the first from Liaoyang bearing 5c. flesh pair tied by boxed datestamp with Johannesburg censor cachet and Shanghai French P.O. c.d.s. (3.2), despatch, Shanghai and Colombo c.d.s. on reverse, the second from Shenkiang bearing 1c., 4c. and 5c. with Imperial State P.O. handstamps and with Shanghai French P.O. c.d.s. on face, arrival c.d.s. (24.12) on reverse, and 1904 (7 Feb.) envelope from Shenkiang, showing "via siberia" handstamp and bearing 1/2c. (2), 1c. (4) and 5c. with Imperial State P.O. boxed handstamps, the reverse with despatch and arrival (25.3) c.d.s. A most attractive trio. Photo £600-800
349
x 1906 (May) illustrated envelope from Moukden bearing 2c. (5) with double-ring lunar datestamps and showing various transit c.d.s. on reverse including Beira, 1906 (15 June) 1c. card, uprated with 1c. and 2c., from Newchang, cancelled with c.d.s. and showing various transit and arrival (4.8) c.d.s., 1906 (Sept.) picture postcard from an unknown office, franked at 4c. with Shanghai, Aden, Beira and arrival datestamps, and 1916 (May) envelope bearing 10c., censored and with Chinese T.P.O. and arrival (11.7) c.d.s.;
an attractive group. Photo £200-250

From Klerksdorp
350
x 1902 envelopes (3) to Moukden, comprising 4 April bearing G.B. 1d. lilac (3) cancelled by Klerksdorp Army Post Office c.d.s., 30 April bearing G.B. 1/2d. and 1d. (2) with Army Post Office 100 c.d.s., and 18 July bearing Transvaal 1d. with Klerksdorp c.d.s., all with a variety of transit datestamps on reverse; small faults on reverse though a fascinating trio £100-120

The DEFINITIVE Stamps

Lieut. C.G. Huddleston was responsible for the preparation of the issue. The overprinting was carried out by John L. Clouston an employee of Thomas Leask & Co.
Some items listed by Harry Birkhead and Joh Groenewald as trials have been listed under the unused stamps as they are in the issued type and are listed by Stanley Gibbons

Essays and Trials
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