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NAPOLEONIC P.O.W.S - LETTER REF. PRISON STAFFING/EQUPT. + DOCUMENT REF. P.O.W. ESCAPE; 11 Dec. 1812 copy letter to the Transport Office (A McLeay) ref. the problems of rewarding an informant with £21 for advising the identity of a woman who had harboured an escaped POW when it was the POW himself who had given her away (!); plus 6 July 1815 EL prepaid from "Transport Office" (London) to the Governor of "Stapleton [Prison], Bristol" with fair London "PAID" c.d.s. endorsed "H.M.S." and "P. Transport Office, A. McLeay" about proposed works at the Prison - approving 2 wheelbarrows & 6 shovels (but not new brooms). Rare pair. (2 items) PHOTO - see page 17. £140
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FRENCH NAPOLEONIC OCCUPATION OF POLAND - "No.25/GRANDE ARMEE" COVER FROM POSEN; 19 Jan. 1813 EL (part contents removed; some small pieces of sellotape inside) from "Posen" to Paris charged "8"[decimes] with a mainly very fine black "No.25/GRANDE ARMEE" mark nicely placed on the front. Rare thus and attractive. PHOTO - see page 17. £120
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CRIMEAN WAR - EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE ILL-FATED SIEGE OF SEVASTOPOL; 8 Oct. 1854 EL (some minor dusting, etc.) the Hon. Capt. J. Jocelyn Bourke at "British Camp before Sebastopol" to his mother the "Countess of Mayo" in Navan "Via Marseilles" with a partly fine blue "POST OFFICE/BRITISH ARMY" c.d.s. on the top flap with very fine blue "HAYES" straight-line Irish village-mark struck on arrival; charged "3[d]" with London & Dublin backstamps. The fascinating contents (full typed transcript) - written on a salvaged sheet of paper - include mention of the recent Battle of Alma (20 Sept.; "...you must have had a most anxious time between the telegraphic news of the battle of Alma and the receipt of the list of killed and wounded.") and a good outline of the final preparations for the Siege of Sevastopol which began on the day this letter was written; "...the troops have been employed in bringing up the siege guns from Balaclava... The Russians have been...entrenching themselves around the town. We can distinguish women walking about the town...The French are still behind hand and they have not half their guns up yet. We have 110 guns; 80 siege and 30 belonging to the Fleet. We have taken two of the big Lancaster guns from the [H.M.S.] Beagle..." There is also criticism of the British leaders; "Lord Raglan does not seem to think or care the least about the officers of the Army. We have been nearly a month now without a change of clothes and we can never take them off night and day for we are constantly under arms... Most of the officers are covered with lice. I occupy a tent with 2 officers; one of them picks a lot of them out of his shirt every morning. I have two Russian medals picked up in the Fort of Balaclava, I believe they belonged to the Commandant..." The 8-day siege failed; it was then followed by the 25 Oct. Battle of Balaklava (famous for the 'Charge of the Light Brigade') when the Russians returned the compliment and attacked the British H.Q. Rare insight into this crucial early part of the Crimean adventure. PHOTO - see page 16. £150
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WORLD WAR I - THE P.H. OF THE LITTLE-KNOWN FRENCH MILITARY MISSION IN ITALY; The definitive study of this fascinating force - designed to safeguard military supplies to the Adriatic/Bulgaria front with 1915-7 covers and cards sent by the French forces in Italy with TRESOR ET POSTES c.d.s.'s and/or authorising Unit cachets, inc. PPCs of the Troops, 1915/7 trio with v. scarce purple "AVIATION FRANCAISE D/ITALIE/LE COMMANDANT" cachets, similar red 1816 "SERVICE DE SANTE EN ITALIE" cachet, v. fine 1917 purple "Mission Militaire Francaise/Hopital d/evacuation de Livorne", 2-ring red 1918 "INFERMERIE DE GENES/MISSION/SANITAIRE/FRANCAISE" cachets, several Livorno/Rome types, 1917 Sparanise Hospital cachet, several Italian Red Cross types, etc. Plus 1918/9 Leave Visa (with photo) and Taranto pass. A large number of these items are illustrated in David Trapnell's ground-breaking "The P.H. of the French in Italy" monograph (2012; photocopy included). (59 covers/cards + 2 passes) £360
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WORLD WAR II COLLECTION - CYPRUS, K.U.T., AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL, IRELAND, ETC.; Album with c.1939-45 covers/cards inc. FPs/APOs of G.B., U.S., Italy, etc., e.g. 1944? env. with GB 5d pair tied by scarce Indian "F.P.O./No.12" c.d.s. of Cyprus, 1943 Telegram env. to RAAF "Parwick Aust[ralian]. Hospital, Derby", used/unused(2) GB 21/2d KGVI POW Air Letter, unused GB 1944/5 KGVI 3d/11/2d POW PCs, RAF/Army/civil censors (latter incl. Irish types - one ex KUT), etc. Plus 26 post-WWII FPO items & 30 pieces. Worth careful examination. (103 covers/cards + 30 pieces) £150
| THE MALCOLM MONTGOMERY EASTERN SEABOARD COLLECTION, 1741-1874. | The following 80 lots comprise a remarkable study of the Postal History of the Eastern Seaboard of North America, 1741- 1874, with special emphasis on the mails to and from the Maritime Provinces of British North America. I am not aware of any similar collection having been auctioned in recent years, and Malcolm has been a pioneer student in studying U.S. and B.N.A. mails in one combined collection. The aim has been to illustrate all the postal agreements and mail routes that connected New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to each other, to Europe, and to the United States - with the various 'feeder service' mails and some connections to the West Indies included.
This auction provides opportunities both for those who wish to tackle this fascinating area for themselves, and also for collectors of the many component countries to add unusual items to their own collections. This is a fascinating story with many little-known facts revealed on Malcolm's exceptionally clear and attractive album-pages. For example, it is really exceptional to see three G.B. 1860s "Via Galway" covers in one place.
James Grimwood-Taylor, 14th July 2014.
THE 18th CENTURY, 1741-99. | |
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VERY EARLY BOSTON MANUSCRIPT "B Sh 7dwt 16gr" RATE ON COVER EX G.B. TO PHILADELPHIA; Fine 28 Aug. 1741 E from "Danl. Flexney" (a London merchant who is known to have been in London at this date) to Philadelphia landed from a private ship at Boston and posted there and so with a fine early manuscript "B Sh 7dwt 16gr" postal rate (7d inland + 2gr incoming Ship Letter rate). Fine early Transatlantic cover with an early Boston "B" postal marking. PHOTO - see above. £150
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VERY EARLY BOSTON MANUSCRIPT "B 1/2" RATE ON COVER TO NEWPORT, R.I. + EARLY COURT MARSHALL REPORT; Fine 17 Aug. 1742 EL from "Boston" to Newport, R.I." unusually endorsed "P Post" with a fine early manuscript "B 1/2" postal rate (1s-2d inland rate; equivalent of 6d sterling for 61-100 miles); the letter asks for a Newport ship to be inspected and describes the town as "a Money'd Place"! Exhibition Quality. Plus 23 May 1748 document (some faults) reporting the decision of a Court Marshall to give a soldier 100 lashes for striking and abusing his sergeant. (2 items) PHOTO - see page 17. £120
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EARLY PORTSMOUTH (NH) MANUSCRIPT "Pisa. 8dwt 8grs" RATE ON COVER TO PHILADELPHIA; Fine 19 July 1758 E to Philadelphia with a fine early Colonial P.O. manuscript "Pis[sataqu]a 8dwt 8grs" postal rate (the old name for Portsmouth NH). At one time cat. $2,750 in the ASCC but the recently discovered Reynell correspondence included a number of these unusual Pisa. Colonial P.O. markings. PHOTO - see page 17. £150
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EARLY TRANSATLANTIC COVER EX SPAIN WITH BOSTON MANUSCRIPT "Bn Sh 2.16" RATE TO NEWPORT, R.I.; 3 Aug. 1764 EL (about salt markets) from "Cadiz" to "Newport, Rhode Island" landed from a private ship at Boston and posted there and so with a fine manuscript "Bn Sh 2.16" postal rate (2d inland + 16gr incoming Ship Letter rate). Unusual country of origin for such an early Transatlantic cover with an early Boston "B" postal marking. PHOTO - see page 17. £140
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TRANSATLANTIC MAIL EX SCOTLAND/MADEIRA VIA BOSTON WITH "NEW YORK" &/OR FRANKLIN MARK; 1 Aug. 1774 EL (few reinforced folds) from "Kilbarchan" (nr. Paisley, Scotland) to Philadelphia endorsed "P the [Ship] Margrat, Capt. Speir" with red manuscript "1.4" and "Sh 2.16" rates on the front and mainly fine "NEW YORK" on the flap beside a matching very fine "30/SE" Franklin Mark; plus 28 Aug. 1783 EL (reinforced folds) from "Madeira" to New York charged "Sh4" and "2/-" (4d silver = 2/- depreciated currency) with a fair small "BOSTON" and matching "30/OC" Franklin Mark on the front. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 17. £200
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PRIVATELY CARRIED SHIP MAIL - EX NOVA SCOTIA OR ADVISING OF 1812 TRADE EMBARGO; 26 Dec. 1788 EL (toned) from "Yarmouth, Nova Scotia" to N. Yarmouth (Mass.) endorsed "Pr favor of Captain Rufus Utley"; plus 4 Apr. 1812 EL (toned) from "New York" sent shore-to-ship to the Captain of "Ship Symmetry from Portsmouth Eng." advising that "An Embargo is certainly laid at Washington. We expect it here tomorrow..." and giving advice on how to offload a cargo and to go to "Amelia Island" (Florida) if possible for a return cargo. Two unusual covers sent by private means during different US War periods. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 17. £150
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NEW BRUNSWICK - PAIR OF EARLY COVERS TO U.S. VIA "BOSTON" OR "N. York" ROUTES; 26 June/31 July 1792 pair of fine ELs (both folds to show internal heading beside the address-panel) from "St., John, New Brunswick" to the same "Springfield, Mass." address endorsed by ships "Harmony" or "Hibernia" and charged "15" or "14" with mainly fine "N. York July 9" or v. fine "BOSTON" (with fine "9/AV" Franklin Mark) all on the front. Fine pair showing the Ship Letter fee evaded or charged respectively. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 17. £200
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NEW BRUNSWICK - INTERNAL COVER WITH RARE 1st-TYPE "ST. JOHN N:B/MAR 15 '95" MARK; 14/15 Mar. 1795 EL (very toned and many folds reinforced as usual for covers with this 1st-Type mark) from St. John to "Fredericton" charged "7[d]" (currency) with a very fine rare 1st-Type "ST. JOHN N:B/MAR 15 '95" mark (the first postmark used in N. Brunswick; 1792-95) nicely placed on the flap. Seldom seen. PHOTO - see page 17. £100
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BERMUDA - VERY EARLY SHIP LETTER TO U.S. SIGNED BY "PEROT" BROS. CARRIED BY CAPTAIN OF CAPTURED SHIP; Remarkable and fine 1 Sept.1795 EL (folds to show internal heading beside address-panel) from "Bermuda" to Philadelphia endorsed "p. Capt. Merser" (who was returning to Bordeaux from Bermuda after being captured and taken there to have his cargo confiscated) having a fine black "2/OC" Philadelphia arrival Bishop Mark on the front, but not charged. [The 4d Ship Letter charge-mark has been omitted, but the rate was certainly due; c.f. Ludington lot of the same year & correspondence with the "4" charge-mark, which sold for £1,725 in 1999.] The contents mention that the original and duplicate of an earlier letter from Philadelphia had both been lost in transit ("...must have fallen into improper hands..."!) though sent by different ships, but the triplicate had safely reached its destination (London) by a direct ship. The letter is signed by "James & Wm. Perot", the father and uncle of the future famous Bermuda Postmaster William B. Perot. Very few pre-1800 Bermuda covers are recorded. [Ex Geoff Osborn, Cavendish Jan. 2009, lot 1002; realised £690.] PHOTO - see page 1. £500
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JAMAICA - RARE NOVA SCOTIA "HALIFAX/SHIP LRE" ON COVER TO NEW BRUNSWICK; 1 Oct. 1798 EL (some reinforced folds; some light staining) from "Kingston, Jama." endorsed "via Shelburne" (Nova Scotia) charged "1/7" with a mainly very fine rare "HALIFAX/SHIP LRE" (undated; 1792/99) nicely placed on the front with matching fair boxed "HALIFAX NS" d.s. (15 Jan. 1795) on the flap. Unusual origin for early mail to New Brunswick. PHOTO - see page 17. £300
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NEW BRUNSWICK - PAIR OF EARLY LETTERS TO U.S. VIA "BOSTON" - ONE BOOT-LEG & ONE CHARGED AS SHIP LETTER; 23 Feb./23 Nov. 1799 pair of fine ELs from "St. John" (NB) to "Springfield, Mass." posted as an inland letter (m/s "10" rate) or as a Ship Letter (m/s "Sh 141/2") respectively but both with mainly very fine small "BOSTON" and matching Franklin Marks on the front. Fine pair. (21 covers) PHOTO - see page 17. £160
| NAPOLEONIC PERIOD, 1800-15. | |
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EARLY "St. John, N*B*/Sept. 8, 1800" D.S. WITH "HALIFAX/AUG301800" ON INGOING COVER EX G.B.; 24/25 July 1800 EL (very toned; some reinforced folds) from London prepaid (faint "1/8") to "Saunden, N.B." with London "PAID" c.d.s. on the front,. but unusually having very clear strikes of both the datestamps of "HALIFAX" and "St. John, N*B*" on the flaps. Rare ingoing Falmouth Packet letter. PHOTO - see page 17. £100
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NEW BRUNSWICK - RARE ST. JOHN "Ship letter" MARK WITH RED "Paid" MARK ON INTERNAL COVER; 22 Nov. 1803 E (dirty central fold clear of marks; some reinforcing) to Fredericton with rare very fine red h.s. "Paid." and rare mainly very fine black "Ship letter.", both of St. John (NB) nicely placed on the front, having a partly fine (affected by filing notes) large "St. John. N*B*" d.s. (27 Nov.) on the flap. Exceptional prepaid Ship Letter. [Ex Glassco.] PHOTO - see page 18. £200
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NEW BRUNSWICK - PAIR OF BOOTLEG COVERS TO U.S. SENT IN SPITE OF THE AMERICAN EMBARGO; 7 Mar./16 Oct. 1809 pair of fine ELs from the same correspondence from St. John (N.B.) to "Springfield, Mass." charged "121/2" or "371/2" with mainly very fine red "BOSTON-MS" transit c.d.s.'s on the front; treated as inland letters so not declared as Ship Letters. Good contents referring to the possibility that letters were being "stopped, taken from the mails". There was continuing friction between the US and the Maritime Provinces in this period, during the run up to the War of 1812. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 18. £150
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U.S. TO NEW BRUNSWICK COVER ENDORSED INSIDE "SHOULD ANY POSTMASTER...OPEN THIS LETTER..."; Remarkable and fine 16/18 Mar. 1812 EL (sent only 4 months before the outbreak of war) from "Springfield" ("Spfd./ Ms" manuscript dated mark on the front) to Fredericton with "Paid 20" on the front endorsed "To the care of John Brewer Esq., Post Master Maine, thence to the care of Robt. Pagan Esq., St. Andrews" and so charged "N7" on delivery with a "St. John 24th April 1812 forwarded by y.o.b.s. Will. Pagan" on the top flap, but also endorsed on the inner flap; "Should any Postmaster think it his duty to open this letter, he is requested to seal it again, and forward it, if not embargoed by its contents." Remarkable evidence of the looming problems for mail in the War of 1812. PHOTO - see page 18. £150
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TRANSATLANTIC COVER FROM G.B. TO CANADA CAPTURED BY AMERICAN PRIVATEER AND HELD IN NEW YORK FOR THREE YEARS; Extraordinary "May 1812" (filing note) E from "Messrs P & W Wynne" (London book publishers) to a Printer in "Quebec" endorsed "Pr [Ship] Ralph Nicholson" but further endorsed by recipient "via United States Apl. 1815", because the 'Ralph Nicholson" was captured by an American privateer off Nova Scotia in late July 1812 and this letter taken to the US P.O. in New York where a very fine red 2 Aug. [1812] c.d.s. was applied along with a matching red "SHIP" mark; however, the War of 1812 intervened (it had started on 18 June 1812) and so the letter was held for almost three years and then sent on with a mainly very fine "MONTREAL/22APR[18]15" d.s. on the lower flap. Intriguingly the pre-War rates were still charged and so there is manuscript "1 Oz", "8N2" and "82" on the front (by the time the letter was delivered the postal rates had gone up and 12s-3d would have been due if the letter had been sent in 1815! [Full research details included.] Unique(?) 'War of 1812' Service Suspended "Captured in Transit" cover. [Ex Susan McDonald & Alan Steinhart.] PHOTO - see page 1. £400
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AMERICAN ATTACKS ON FORT ERIE - EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT - PLUS INGOING G.B. COVER TO QUEBEC; 5 Jan. 1813 EL from "Fort Erie" to Scotland (7 Feb. Montreal Forwarding Agent endorsement on flap ref. sending it "by the Post for Halifax" with faint 2-line "MONTREAL" d.s. (poor matching small h.s. "PAID [2N1" on the front) and v. fine similar "HALIFAX" mark (9 Mar.) on the flap with Scottish arrival c.d.s. of 19 April. Good contents ref. the American attack in Nov. 1812; "Several landings were made by the Americans on our shores & they have been driven as yet back with disgrace. On the 28th Nov. about one o;clock in the morning, they landed opposite my buildings & a few miles below; on landing & during the day they burnt three very good houses [that] I had, my store & also a very...large barn...my loss I estimate at 2,000 guineas & upwards...[&] cattle, horses &c...I happened to be at the attack on the 28th Novr.; the engagement lasted probably an hour & a half...P.S. The ink freezing as fast as I write..." Rare eye-witness account of the War in Canada. Plus 1 Nov. 1812 EL prepaid from Edinburgh to Quebec charged "3N4" with 2-line "HALIFAX" backstamp (9 Feb. [1813]). (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 18. £300
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U.S. COVER TO HALIFAX N.S. SENT VIA YARMOUTH N.S. DUE TO COASTAL BLOCKADE BY "PRIVATEERS"; 7 Jan. 1815 EL (small part content missing; address-panel with closed tear & some overall dusting) from "Eastport" (Maine) to Halifax endorsed "by land" with a very fine tiny "YARMOUTH, N. S./JAN 18 1815." mark nicely placed on the front with "111/2[+]1[=]1/1/2" rate, having a Yarmouth Forwarding Agent endorsement on the flap; "...by post at the request of Capt. D. Harris of the [Ship] Shallop Bee". The contents explain the ongoing problems of the East Coast; "...my goods by land, as the risk from this port to Castine by sea is beyond all calculation, The Coast is invested by no less than 8 or 10 Privateers & even a Convoy will be a slight protection against such numbers..." Peace was still a long way off. PHOTO - see page 18. £140
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THE MIDDLE PERIOD, 1816-39. | |
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P.E.I. COVER TO QUEBEC + OVAL "Ship Lre/[Crown]/HALIFAX" COVER TO G.B. VIA LIVERPOOL; Fine 13 June 1816 E from "Prince Edward Island" to Quebec with unusual P.O. manuscript "Pictou/June 22nd" on the flap, charged "41/2[+]7[=]111/2[+]1N8[=]2N71/2" with very fine "HALIFAX" transit c.d.s. (9 July; file fold) on the front; plus 1 Dec. 1816 (pencil note) E from "Halifax" (pencil note) to London charged "1/7" with a mainly very fine oval-framed "Ship Lre/[Crown]/HALIFAX" (seldom seen so clear) and boxed "LIVERPOOL/SHIP LETTER" nicely placed on the front. (2 covers) PHOTO - see above. £150
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NEW BRUNSWICK, P.E.I. & NOVA SCOTIA - TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, ETC. INC. "ST. JOHN" FLEURON D.S.; 19 May/1 Dec. 1818 pair of Transatlantic ELs to/from London ex Halifax (fine c.d.s.) or to Fredericton with mainly fine scarce "ST. JOHN" Fleuron d.s. (19 Feb. 1819; early use) - rated "Packet 2N5 [+] Am. 1N3 [+] 2 [=] 4N5" - and 1820/21 pair ex "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" (fine 1 May c.d.s. on the front) to Halifax, or from "Port Independence" to Philadelphia with fine red "BOSTON" c.d.s.. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page 18. £160
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COVER FROM PARIS TO N.B. WITH RARE MANUSCRIPT "MIFSENT TO ENGLAND" & BOXED "Return'd/for Postage" MARK; Extraordinary 11 Sept. 1820 EL from "Paris" to "Fredericton" with fine red "P. PAYE PARIS" on the front and endorsed "Per Packet via Falmouth" but endorsed "Mifsent to England" (very rare at this early date - later crossed out!) above the address and charged "1/2", also having a large part framed "Return'd/for Postage" on the flap. The letter was returned to sender and sent again (under cover presumably). The contents include; "Before I left Paris [for London] I received this letter returned from the G.P.O. London...I had paid the postage to England. Mr. F. Freeling, in his printed dispatch [the returned mail wrapper!] gave me further to understand that 'letters could only ber sent to such Colonies in N. America as are in his Majesty's dominions. I... went to the P.O. on my arrival in London...a thick-headed Clerk had made this egregious blunder and I gave him a good rowing about it..."!!! The earliest known handstruck Missent to England mark is 1836 and hugely rare prior to 1840. Unique? PHOTO - see page 18. £150
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OVAL "Ship Lre/[Crown]/HALIFAX" WITH "Annapolis" D.S. ON COVER TO G.B. VIA LONDON; Fine 2 Nov. 1820 E from "Annapolis" (partial overstruck straight-line datestamp) to London with very small Annapolis "Paid [9]" on the front having a mainly very fine oval-framed "Ship Lre/[Crown]/HALIFAX" (seldom seen clear) and early "SHIP LETTER" of London nicely placed on the front. Unusual Transatlantic cover. PHOTO - see page 18. £150
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NEW BRUNSWICK /NOVA SCOTIA - TRANSATLANTIC MAIL EX G.B. + N.B. MAIL EX U.S./N. SCOTIA; 1822/24 pair of ELs from Liverpool/Birmingham to St. John (N.B.) via Boston Agent & "EASTPORT" or "NEW YORK" (black or d.s.'s), small 29 Aug. 1822 EL from "Annapolis" (dated s. line on the front) to St. John charged "41/2" (P.O.-sponsored schooner rate), and 1822 EL from "Wakefield" (NH; manuscript dated mark) to N.B. with "ST. JOHN" Fleuron d.s. on reverse, prepaid "181/2[c]" and endorsed "Nova Scotia" and then charged "7[+]2[=]9" (currency). Unusual group. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page 18. £200
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NOVA SCOTIA - TRANSATLANTIC COVERS TO G.B. WITH 2-RING ANTIGONISH OR PICTOU MARKS; 21 Apr. 1826 EL (faint address) from "Gulf Shore, Nova Scotia" to "Keerasa"(?) in Scotland with mainly very fine scarce 2-ring "POST OFFICE/PICTOU" nicely placed on the front with manuscript date in centre, plus fine "HALIFAX" c.d.s. (11 May) and matching "PAID" [7] in circle (crossed through in G.B.). Unusual combination of marks. [Ex Dorothy Sanderson.] Plus 31 Mar. 1830 E ex Guysborough to London with fair scarce 2-ring "ANTIGONISH/POST OFFICE" with v. fine "HALIFAX" transit c.d.s. Good pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 18. £140
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NEWFOUNDLAND/NEW BRUNSWICK/NOVA SCOTIA - MAILS TO/FROM Y.S./G.B., ETC.; 1828-30 covers (7) inc. unusual 1830 "St. Johns, Newfoundland" Consignees EL (folds to show internal heading beside address) to N. Brunswick charged "Ship 21/2" at Miramichi, 1828 EL from GB to St. John (NB) via "NEW YORK" (red c.d.s.), 1829 E sent "Free" from "FREDERICTON/NEW BRUNSWICK (fine c.d.s.) to USA, and 1828/30 quartet from USA to N.B. (3) or N. Scotia with varied rates and transit marks (inc. 1829 pair with mainly fine scarce "ST. ANDREWS/NEW BRUNSWICK marks). Useful lot. (7 covers) PHOTO - see page 18. £300
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JAMAICA VIA BERMUDA - RARE LONDON 'WEST INDIA ROOM' INSPECTOR's "A" IN CIRCLE; 5 Nov. 1831 EL from "London" to "Vere, Jamaica" endorsed "P. Packet" and so charged "2/2" (which became "3/9" in local currency on arrival to include inland Jamaica postage) with a "L[ombard] S[treet]" backstamp and a mostly very fine rare "A" in circle on the front; this "A" mark (Jay L1045) is only recorded on a few Transatlantic letters of 1830-33 but is recorded as having been issued to "the West India Room" of the P.O. in London on 14 Aug. 1830. It seems that it is some kind of mis-sort mark indicating that a letter was sorted in error for West Indies or North America bags, but spotted before despatch. It is particularly unusual on mail to Jamaica. [Ex Drs. Harper, Cavendish, Mar. 2009 lot 2093, realised £207.] PHOTO - see page 19. £160
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U.S.A. VIA NOVA SCOTIA - THE RARE LONDON 'WEST INDIA ROOM' INSPECTOR's "A" IN CIRCLE; 3 Aug. 1832 EL from "Sunbury" (London) to "New York, America" prepaid "2/2" (charged "201/2" in local currency on arrival via Boston) with a boxed "KNIGHTSBRIDGE" backstamp and a mostly fine rare "A" in circle on the front; this "A" mark (Jay L1045; part of frame just affected by fold) is only recorded on a few Transatlantic letters of 1830-33 but is recorded as having been issued to "the West India Room" of the P.O. in London on 14 Aug. 1830. It seems that it is some kind of mis-sort mark indicating that a letter was sorted in error for West Indies or North America bags, but spotted before despatch. It is particularly unusual on mail to the U.S. PHOTO - see page 18. £150
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NOVA SCOTIA - THE RARE LONDON 'WEST INDIA ROOM' INSPECTOR's "A" IN CIRCLE; 9 Sept. 1831 EL sent unpaid from London to "Halifax, Nova Scotia" charged "2/2" as usual, but also having a mostly fine "A" in circle mark (light crease) of London P.O.'s Foreign Branch on the front; this "A" mark (Jay L1045) is only recorded on a few Transatlantic letters of 1830-33 but is recorded as having been issued to "the West India Room" of the P.O. in London on 14 Aug. 1830. It seems that it is some kind of mis-sort mark indicating that a letter was sorted in error for West Indies or North America bags, but spotted before despatch. It is particularly unusual on mail to Canada/B.N.A. PHOTO - see page 18. £140
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NEW BRUNSWICK/NOVA SCOTIA - TRANSATLANTIC MAIL TO/FROM G.B.; 1833/35 pair of covers to London from "River John" (NS) with mainly very fine 2-ring "POST OFFICE/PICTOU" on the front with matching "PAID" in circle and "HALIFAX" d.s. [Ex D. Sanderson] or from "ANTIGONISH/N.S" (faint UDC on front); plus 1834/5 pair ex Liverpool to Halifax (NS)/St. John (NB) both via "NEW-YORK" (red c.d.s.'s) with fair 2-line or blue UDC "ST. ANDREWS" marks. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £150
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BERMUDA - INGOING MAIL FROM U.S.A. OR (BY CUNARD SHIP MARGARET) TO NOVA SCOTIA; 8 Aug. 1833 EL from "New York" to "Bermuda" endorsed "Postage paid" with "care of" address at "Baltimore" (contents include; "...as there is no opportunity for Bermuda in this neighbourhood, we now write via Baltimore...") endorsed on the flap "Balti[more]...forwarded by y.o.b.s. Wm. Dawson & Co." with NY red c.d.s. with "PAID" and charged "10d" on arrival; plus 2 Dec. 1836 EL from "HALIFAX/N.S." (fair c.d.s. on the front) to "Bermuda" endorsed "P Mail Boat" charged "4" and then "7d Stg" that was carried by the Cunard sailing vessel service, the 'Margaret'. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £150
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NEW BRUNSWICK/NOVA SCOTIA/U.S.A. - TRANSATLANTIC/COASTAL MAILS; 1835/6 Transatlantic pair ex"HALIFAX/N.S." (v. fine c.d.s.) to London or ex Liverpool to St. John (NB; via New York & "ST. ANDREWS" - blue m/s-dated UDC); plus 1833/35 trio to/from US/New Brunswick (v. fine blue m/s-dated small "ST. ANDREWS/N.B." UDC or v. fine encircled "FREDERICTON/N.B." c.d.s.) inc. 1833 Eastport to Boston with curved red "SHIP/6". (5 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £160
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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND - "EDWARDS" ERROR UDCs (ONE WITH SCARCE H.S. DATE) ON COVERS TO G.B./N.B., ETC.; 14 Dec. 1835/10 Mar. 1837 E or env. ex "Bedeque"/Charlottetown to London (v. fine "PAID" in circle) or Fredericton ("3N21/2" rate; double charge due to rare use of an envelope) with mainly very fine "PRINCE EDWARDS ISLAND" UDCs (error of spelling with S on EDWARD) having very fine tiny handstruck "JA19/1836" or manuscript date in centre. Plus 1837 double-rate env. from Quebec to Fredericton. (3 covers) £200
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"PER STEAMSHIP SIRIUS FROM NEW YORK" COVER TO G.B. THAT MISSED THE SHIP; 30 June 1838 EL from "Montreal" to London endorsed "P Steamship Sirius from New York or P first Packet for Lpool" having fair red Montreal c.d.s. on the front with two matching "PAID" marks ("183/4" & "41/2" rates) which missed the 'Sirius' by a day and was duly carried on a sailing ship that reached Liverpool (fair "SHIP LETTER" on the flap) a week after the Sirius had arrived. Understandably correspondents at this date much preferred the prospect of the mail speed of the new steamers. PHOTO - see page 19. £150
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CROSS-BORDER MONTREAL RED "STEAM.BOAT" COVER TO NEW BRUNSWICK, ETC.; 17/18 July 1838 EL (part letter) from "MONTREAL" (fine 2-ring c.d.s. on the front with very fine scarce matching "STEAM.BOAT" (struck at Whitehall, NY?) and pair of Montreal "PAID" marks with "371/2" & "9" rates to St. Andrews (N.B.) "via Boston" and so charged "4[+]1[=]5" (tiny manuscript rates) on delivery; rare routing. Plus 29 Oct. 1839 EL from "BOSTON" (red c.d.s.) to "Portland, Me." endorsed "Steamboat Mail". Fine pair. (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £120
| THE FINAL STAMPLESS PERIOD, 1840-74. | |
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P.E.I./N.B./CANADA - TRANSATLANTIC MAIL TO/FROM G.B., ETC.; 1840/41 covers inc. 25 Mar. 1840 "G.P.O." OHMS E from London to Quebec with file note that the letter had concerned the way in "which letters conveyed via Pictou & the Gulf of St. Lawrence are to be taxed" which relates to the start of the S.S. Unicorn Cunard contract, July 1840 E from "ST. ANDREWS/N.B" (blue UDC) to GB by 'Margaret', 18 Nov. 1840 "PRINCE EDWARDS ISLAND" (UDC with m/s date) E to GB via Halifax (ex Griffiths), and 11 Aug. 1841 EL from US to St. John (N.B.) with blue "ST. ANDREWS/N.B" UDC. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £200
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"PER STEAM SHIP UNICORN" COVER FROM SALEM (U.S.) VIA BOSTON & NOVA SCOTIA TO G.B.; 1 June 1840 EL (minor toning) from "Salem" to G.B. boldly endorsed "Per Steam Ship Unicorn" above the address and apparently sent privately to Boston and put on the ship there, reaching "HALIFAX/NOVA SCOTIA" on 15 June (fine c.d.s. on the front) and then proceeding on the Falmouth Packet 'Peterel' to G.B. (Falmouth 2 July) with London/Lincoln backstamps of 4/5 July 1840. Fine cover carried part of the way by the S.S. 'Unicorn'. Few covers are known carried by this famous Cunard steamer. PHOTO - see page 1. £400
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U.S. COVERS TO N.B./CANADA INC. RARE OVAL-FRAMED "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/ST. JOHN N.B"; 11 Sept. 1841 EL from "Boston" to "St. John, N. Brunswick" with a large part mainly fine oval-framed "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/ST. JOHN N.B" (very seldom seen; only recorded 1840-41) charged "41/2"; plus 29/30 Nov. 1842 Cross-Border EL (stained fold at left of address) from "CASTINE/Me." (c.d.s.) to "Granby" with black "PAID" + red "FORWARDED". (2 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £150
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RARE "ST. JOHN.N.B/SHIP LETTER" ON COVER FROM U.S.A.; 8 Nov. 1842 EL (toned) from "Little Britain" (NY) to Shediac with mainly very fine "ST. JOHN.N.B/SHIP LETTER" (inverted) on the front charged "41/2[+]9[=]1/11/2[+]2[=]1N31/2" charge PHOTO - see page 19. £140
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U.S.A. MAIL TO BERMUDA WITH MANUSCRIPT OR HANDSTRUCK F. AGENT MARKINGS; Attractive 11 Aug. 1843 EL from "Newark NJ" to Hamilton endorsed "Pr Schooner United States, Capt. Moore, New York" charged "4" (Ship letter fee in Bermuda) with a very fine red oval-framed "Forwarded/by/GEO & JOHN LAURIE./NEW YORK" (filing fold) on the top flap; plus 5 Oct. 1843 EL from NY to Hamilton "p. [Ship] John H. Stephens" also charged "4" but having a manuscript "Forwarded by Y. O. S. W. M. Godet" (6 Oct.) on the flap. Rare pair. (2 covers) [Both ex Geoff Osborn.] PHOTO - see page 19. £140
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JAMAICA/NOVA SCOTIA - RARE 2-RING RED "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/HALIFAX.N.S." ON COVER TO CANADA; 25 Mar. 1844 EL from "Leogan, St. James, Jamaica" to Canada endorsed "Via New York" (changed to "Prunery to Halifax") with a mainly very fine rare red 2-ring "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/HALIFAX.N.S." nicely placed on the front (slight crease) charged "3/11/2" with Halifax/Canadian backstamps. Unusual routing from Jamaica and a rare Ship Letter mark. PHOTO - see page 19. £240
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NEW BRUNSWICK/NOVA SCOTIA - MAIL TO U.S. ETC. INC. CROSS-BORDER AMHERST CROWNED CIRCLE; 1844/5 covers with attractive 23 July 1845 EL from Amherst to Hartford (Con.) with very fine red "PAID/AT/AMHERST.N.S." Crowned Circle (light fold) nicely placed on the front (with black m/s "10[c]" arrival charge on top) beside red m/s "111/2", v. fine 1844 "WOODSTOCK/N.Bk." c.d.s. (to Quebec), 1845 v. fine red "HALIFAX/PAID/NOVA SCOTIA" d.s. (PAID crossed out) to N. Orleans endorsed "Express Mail", and 1845 toned EL to Boston with superb black "SYDNEY-C.B/PAID" UDC. Good group. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £300
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NOVA SCOTIA - LOCAL, U.S. OR TRANSATLANTIC COVERS INC. BOXED "SHIP LETTER/HALIFAX N.S." D.S.; Jan. 1846 E from "Liverpool, N.S." to GB with mainly very fine small rare boxed "SHIP LETTER/HALIFAX.N.S." d.s. (part overstruck by red London arrival c.d.s.) applied in transit; plus Jan./Nov. 1846 E/EL pair ex Halifax/Windsor to New York/Halifax with Cross Border or Way rates. (3 covers) PHOTO - see page 19. £160
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NEW BRUNSWICK - VERY FINE RARE "ST. JOHN.N.B/SHIP LETTER" ON INCOMING U.S. COVER; Attractive 14 Apr. 1846 EL from "Boston" to "Saint Johns, N.B." charged "41/2" with a very fine "ST. JOHN.N.B/SHIP LETTER" nicely placed on the front with matching partly fine backstamp (18 Apr.). Exhibition Quality. [Ex Steinhart.] PHOTO - see above. £200
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JAMAICA/P.E.I./NOVA SCOTIA/NEW BRUNSWICK - CUNARD COVERS, ETC.; 1846/48 East-coast maritime selection inc. SS Britannia EL from Halifax to NY, Jamaica EL to Canada with NY F. Agent endorsement (complaints about unfair competition from slave colonies), v. fine double-arc "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" c.d.s. (to NY), B. Guiana EL (faults) to US with "HOMES HOLE" c.d.s. and m/s "Ship", fair red "U.S. EXPRESS MAIL/BOSTON" c.d.s. (NB to NY), 1847 EL written on board SS 'Cambria' posted in Halifax to US, etc. (9 covers) PHOTO - see page 20. £300
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NEWFOUNDLAND TO CANADA COVERS INC. "UNICORN" COVER, RARE "RETALIATORY RATES" MAIL; 10 Oct. 1847 unpaid EL from St. Johns (Nf.) to Quebec "Per [Ship] Unicorn", unpaid 6 July 1848 EL from St. Johns (Nf.) to Quebec sent via Halifax (F. Agent endorsement), Unique(?) 17 July 1848 E from St. Johns (Nf.) to Quebec with "BOSTON/10[C]" transit c.d.s. and "1/11" delivery charge during the Retaliatory Rate Period (the only known Newfoundland cover of that period?), and unpaid 29 Apr. 1848 EL to Quebec charged "2/01/2" with "ST. JOHNS - NEWFOUNDLAND" c.d.s. (4 covers) PHOTO - see page 20. £300
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