Great BritainPostal History |
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1670 (29 Nov.) entire letter to Sir Gilbert Ireland of Hale Hall, Childwell, endorsed p. harrington pacquett, sent during the Liverpool Parliamentary Elections of 1670, with, on reverse and opening well for display, a fine strike of a previously unrecorded "1/Off" in a 16mm. circle (all of the very rare "1/Off" markings previously recorded are in a 19mm. circle); fine and unique. Photo £1,800-2,000
Note: Sir Gilbert Ireland (1624-75) had served as Member of Parliament for Lancashire, during the Interregnum (being one of those M.P.'s who voted for the Crown to be given to Cromwell), and Governor of Liverpool. He was knighted and elected M.P. for Liverpool in 1660, a post he held until his death.
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1687 (13 Oct.), a delightful miniature love letter, in the form of a folded entire, addressed, in the reign of James II, "To Ye Honoured Mdam Elizabeth Nelson", from her suitor and future husband Phillip Williams; without postal markings; some small faults as might be expected with an item of this age, but beautifully written, highly appealing and with poignant and intimate contents from the writer to "My adored Eliza". One of the earliest recorded love letters remaining in private hands. Photo £600-800
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1739-1940 collection of eighty-six entires/entire letters or post cards, housed in a black album, including 1739 with unclear Dockwra handstamp on reverse, 1792 from Uxbridge to Belfast, 1812 from Belfast to London, re-addressed to Uxbridge, 1815 to London with "kilrea" mileage, a variety of other mileage markings, 1839 with Misdirected to with Stockton c.d.s. alongside, 1843 1d. pink postal stationery envelope with black Maltese Cross cancellation, 1845 printed O.H.M.S. letter to New York, 1853 envelope franked 1d. with (on reverse) framed "hanover/street" and yellow "motherwell" c.d.s., 1872 stampless entire to Norwich with red "london official/paid" c.d.s. and signed W. Gladstone, etc., a few non-Great Britain, strikes and condition mixed £300-400
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1795-1819, three entire letters ex the same correspondence, comprising 1795 (3 Oct.) with red "belfast" (45mm.), 1816 (6 April) with red "belfast/80" mileage and boxed "Addl./ 1/2", 1819 (26 Jan.) with black circular Belfast mileage with ornaments, red not in "axbridge" in black, red Missent to and "wells/120" in black; fine and an attractive trio £100-120
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1797 (24 March) entire letter to Cavendish Square, redirected to Brighthelmstone and then to Uxbridge, with straight line "ballymoney", on reverse curved "brighton" (Willcocks & Jay type 9), a range of datestamps and manuscript rate marks; also 1812 entire letter ex the same correspondence, addressed to London and redirected to Uxbridge with red "belfast" and black "returned-from/brighton" (Willcocks & Jay type 70), filing folds but a fine pair of covers £120-150
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1799-1830 five entire letters ex the same correspondence to Uxbridge, or to London and redirected to Uxbridge, a variety of red belfast markings with c.d.s., mileage, straight line with various sizes of Belfast, etc., good to fine £70-80
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1804-1815 Peninsular War, selection of sixteen items, including 1804 call up notice and production of Militia substitute notice, entires with 1806 Elbe Campaign, 1807 Copenhagen Expedition, 1810 Siege of Cadiz (2 one with a lovely hand-drawn and coloured map), 1811 Retreat to Portugal, 1812 Siege of Cuidad Rodrigo, 1813 Battle of the Pyrenees, etc., chiefly fine. Photo £500-600
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1805 (20 Feb.) entire letter from Clifton to Colnbrook with "bristol/122" mileage on the front, on reverse large Bristol mileage d.s. and very scarce "8/pp/p" (Willcocks & Jay 132); filing folds through the markings, fine £60-80
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1805-25, four entire letters, comprising 1805 with "newbury/58", 1806 with "maidenhead/29", 1809 with "wallingford/49" and 1825 with "wantage/73" mileage marks, all superb strikes. A fine group of Berkshire mileages £50-70
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1809 (5 Feb.) "royal mail coach office/12, dawson-street" ticket for the Cork mail coach (133mm x 162mm), 1836 (20 Jan.) "royal mail coach office/pembroke street." ticket for the Dublin mail coach (111mm x 190mm), both mounted on card and framed; also two prints depicting "Bordoyle Bridge/Dublin & Drogheda Railway" and "The Louth Mail Snowed Up, 1836", both mounted and framed. An interesting group housed in a carton £150-200
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1810 (5 March) entire letter to London, redirected to Uxbridge, with fine large type red "ireland", rated "8", dated markings on the reverse, also 1830 (5 Aug.) entire letter ex the same correspondence to Dublin, redirected to Belfast, with red scalloped oval "postage to dublin/6 au 6/1830/not paid" struck over red Belfast d.s. (5.8), a little creased at top, fine. A rare and exceptional pair of entires. Photo £250-300
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1810 (15 dec.) entire letter to Buckingham with red Free datestamp and Dublin Mermaid Free (a poor impression as usual), endorsed "Mifsent to Stone" in red and with "windsor/26" mileage, also 1812 (4 Nov.) entire letter to London, redirected to Uxbridge with small red "belfast" and on reverse a good impresion of the red Dublin Mermaid Free datestamp; both with filing folds but a fine pair of entires £120-150
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1817-28 three entire letters ex the same correspondence to Uxbridge or redirected to Uxbridge, displaying different Belfast/80 mileage markings (one in red), comprising 1817 with additional "post paid" in scroll, 1818 with decorated c.d.s. (light filing fold well clear of the marking) and 1828 large dated; fine strikes. A scarce group £120-150
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1818 (7 Oct.) entire letter to Hungerford with fine "newbury/penny post", manuscript 4 deleted and replaced by 5, light vertical filing fold clear of the markings; fine £40-50
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1826-48 collection of nineteen Irish entires or entire letters and some pieces, including 1834-37 (3) with red framed "paid at/dundalk", 1834 and 1835 with "edgeworthstown/penny post", 1835 and 1840 with "burrosakane/penny post", 1838 and 1843 with "Thurles/Penny Post", 1838 and 1839 with red framed "paid/at/cork", 1842 (2) with "craughwell/penny post", 1843 with red framed "paid at/sligo", 1845 with green "p.d./coleraine" (across edge), etc., strikes and condition mixed £250-300
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1831-34 three entire letters with undated circular Town markings on reverse, comprising 1831 "abingdon", 1832 "hungerford" (across flap and with Deceased on the address panel) and 1834 "farringdon". Superb strikes, a fine trio of Berkshire undated circles £50-70
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1833 (28 Oct.) entire letter to Guernsey with fine undated "COWES/I of Wt" (Willcocks & Jay 37) on reverse; also 1840 (3 Jan.) entire letter to Sligo with fine handstruck Glasgow "4"; the second with vertical filing fold at left, clear of the handstamp £120-150
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1835 (7 March) entire letter from London to Dunsany Castle, redirected to Dublin with Redirected at "dunshaughlin" on the front, on reverse red Charing Cross Maltese Cross and arrival markings of 9.3 and 11.3; also 1835 (11 March) printed "Uniformity of Weights and Measures" entire with similar Redirected at "dunshaughlin", both fine and uncreased £100-120
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1837 (23 July), mourning entire letter to Dublin, on reverse fine "florencecourt" undated circular marking and "eniskillen" c.d.s (across flap), on front an extremely fine strike of the circular "dublin/1d/penny post"; light filing fold at foot, fine. Photo £120-150
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x 1839 (4 Dec.) entire letter from Southampton to Andover, endorsed "P.Pd" and with red "P7", fair Southampton double ring d.s. (4.12) on reverse; fine and a rare example of the last day of the old mileage based post rates and therefore would have been subject to the 4d. Uniforn Postage rate if sent the next day. Photo £400-500
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1839 (31 Dec.) entire letter to Montrose with a superb strike of the Edinburgh "4", dated marking on reverse, some splitting along the edges, light filing folds and some minor stain spotting; fine £60-80
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x 1839-40, five entire letters with manuscript "4" Uniform 4d. Postage markings, including 1839 (2 Oct. and 14 Dec.) local entires, 1839 (6 Dec.) second day, etc., also 1939 Uniform Penny Postage souvenir envelope; good to fine £250-300
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1840 (10 Jan.), entire letter to Belgium, on reverse fine double ring "london/10/jan/1840" (first day of Uniform Penny Post) datestamp, red Ostende and blue Bruselles transit and arrival datestamps; fine. An interesting entire with contents including ... "this is the first of the Penny Post". B.P.A. Certificate (2003). Photo £500-600
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x 1840 (5 May) entire letter to Sittingborne with superb double ring "windsor/my 5/1840" d.s., rated "2"; fine and scarce. Photo £150-200
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1840 (Oct. 20), printed account for "the brecknock and abergavenny canal navigation" addressed to Cardiff and endorsed Pre-Paid, with red Abergavenny "P1" and black d.s., filing folds clear of the markings, part flap removed; fine £60-70
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x 1840-1901 an Exhibition collection of over 280 covers and cards well written up on pages, contained in a carton, including 1840 Mulready 1d. envelope, 1d. letter sheet (with Atlas Assurance Co. advertisement, MA103b), 1840 1d. (7 on six entires, genarally good), 2d. (two on entires, both with close to good margins all round), 1841-53 1d. with numbers "7" and "8" in Maltese Cross cancellations, Greenock distinctive Maltese Cross, 1854-47 1d. with "659" Rugby "Boot", another with double ring "447" Leeds experimental duplex, 1847-54 embossed 1/- (cut-to-shape) on entire to Bengal, others to Baltimore, New York and (with 1d.) to Alabama, 1/- cut square to Kentucky, 1/- cut square pair to South Carolina, 1855-57 6d. vertical pair on entire to Cadiz, 1/- to Greece, 1/- to Canada West, 1862-64 1/- to New York, 1873-80 4d. sage-green on envelope to Brazil, cancellation types with Spoons, Sideways duplex, Late Fee, Perfins, Railway markings, advertising envelopes, registered, printed to private order postal stationery, Exhibitions, Machine cancellations with 1857-58 Pearson Hill experimental (10/2), Charles Rideout codes HS and CR, Azemar (Town die level 10/10), Steamer datestamps, Scottish and Irish types, etc., condition mostly good to fine. An interesting lot worthy of careful examination. Photo £7,000-7,500
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1843 (27 Oct.) entire letter from Khandis (India) to Edinburgh with red oval "india" handstamp, on arrival re-addressed to Dunfermline and thence to Fordal and franked by 1841 1d. with black Maltese Cross cancellation, a variety of datestamps on reverse; some cover faults though a colourful and unusual entire. Photo £100-150
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1856 (28 June), miniature envelope, addressed to Lady Seymour at Great Berkhempstead, franked 1d. with London Inland section cancellation, red "m/n.r." North Western T.P.O. and "B" inspectors markings alongside; the adhesive with small faults but a most attractive envelope. Photo £80-100
Note: Lady Seymour was married to Canon Sir John Hubert Culme Seymour. A copy of a miniature of Lady Seymour, by William Ross R.A. is included with the lot.
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1867 (13 Feb.) embossed paper lace Valentine, franked 1858-79 1d. Plate 75, addressed to Nottingham with with "583" duplex cancellation, decorated on both sides, exceptionally fine and most attractive. Photo £150-200
| Ship Letters | |
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1778-1891 collection of Ship Letter handstamp markings, fifty items including 1778 from Madras to Selkirk with "london/ship-lre" (S4) and Bishop mark, 1799 from Madeira to London with red oval "Ship Letter/(Crown)/london" (S7, unrecorded in red), 1800 from Madeira to London with oval "Post Paid Ship Lre/(Crown)/
london" (S.41), 1803 from Madeira to London with "post-paid-ship-letter/
london/(Crown)" (S.42), 1804 from Madeira to London with "post-paid-ship letter-london/(Crown)" (S.43), another (1806) though in red, 1814 from Bombay via London to Madeira with step type "london/ship letter" in red (S.32), 1815 to Exeter with the same handstamp in black (unrecorded in Robertson), 1845 from Le Havre to London with red "(Crown)/exempt ship lr" (Ex. 2) and "M.B.", 1846 to London with black "(Crown)/exempt ship lr" (Ex. 1) and "m.b.", etc., strikes and condition mixed though an interesting and useful lot £500-600
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1793 (10 July) entire letter, with additional enclosures, headed Camp before Valenciennes, to Hartwell, Bucks, rated "9" and with red "london/ship lre" on the front; small tear on the front, just into the London marking. A scarce letter from the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. Photo £130-150
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1798 (12 Oct.) entire, endorsed Pr. Hull Packet/Capt. Hickney/Q.D.C., with contents, from Porto to Derby, with a very fine semi-circular "hull/ship/lre" (Robertson type S2) on the front, rated 1/3 (including 1d. gratuity to Capt. Hickney); fine and very rare. Photo £400-500
Provenance: Alan Robertson collection and illustrated on page E126 of the handbook
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1802 (28 June) entire (with contents) addressed to Hull, endorsed P. Brig/Wemyss with a very fine oval "Ship Letter/(Crown)/hull" (Robertson S.3); some filing creases but very fine and a rare entire. Photo £1,000-1,200
Provenance: H.R. Harmer sale, February 1968
Alan Robertson collection
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1817-86 collection of twenty-three entires/entire letters and two postal stationery cards, including 1835 from Zlabings (Austria) to London with step type "ship letter/hull" (Robertson S.5), 1835 from Hamburg to Edinburgh with step type "ship letter/hull" (Robertson S.6), 1835 from Bremen to London with step type "ship letter/hull" (Robertson S.7), another with the same but in red, 1837 from Breslau to London with blue step type "hull/ship letter" (Robertson S.8), 1844 from Hamburg to London with framed "hull/ship letter/d.5.jy 1844" in green, 1845 from Hull to Hamburg with framed "hull/ship-letter/c.12.jy.1845" in blue, 1853 from Helsingor to Aberdeen with framed "hull/ship-letter/au25 1853" (Robertson S.12) in red, 1882 and 1886 Norwegian postal stationery cards with "hull ship letter" c.d.s. (Robertson S.14 and S.15), etc., chiefly fine. Also 1817 and 1843 internal letters. £1,000-1,200
Provenance: Alan Robertson collection (except the last two items)
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1845 (13 Sept.) entire from Warsaw to London, via Berlin and Hamburg, fine blue "hull/ship letter/a.22.sp.1845" (Robertson S.11) on reverse and "via hull" on the front; filing creases clear of the markings, fine and scarce. Signed Bojanowicz. Photo £100-150
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1845 (5 Nov.) entire letter from Miedzyrzec (Poland) to London, via Hamburg, with fine blue "hull/ship-letter/d.16.no.1845" (Robertson S.11) on reverse, "via hull" on the front; filing fold not affecting the markings, fine. Photo £100-150
Provenance: Alan Robertson collection
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1846 (6 May) entire from Koenigsberg to London, via Hamburg, with fine blue "hull/ship-letter/a.12.my.1846" (Robertson S11) on reverse, "via hull" on the front; filing folds not affecting the markings; fine. Photo £100-150
Provenance: Alan Robertson collection
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1846 (3 Aug.) entire with contents, from St. Petersburg to London, via Hamburg, endorsed Via Lubeck, framed St. Petersburg and blue "hull/ship-letter/d.22.au.1846" on reverse (the latter across seal), "via hull" on the front; filing folds and other small imperfections £80-100
Provenance: Alan Robertson collection
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1894 (4 Aug.) Norwegian 10ö postal stationery card, from Stavanger to Cardiff, with very rare undated circular "norway/by steamer" (Robertson M.1), and with "paquebot" alongside, cancelled on arrival at Hull (6.8); filing punch holes but exceptionally rare. Photo £150-200
Provenance: Alan Robertson collection
| Historical Letters | |
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1828 (8 Feb.) single page letter sheet (contents only) to Francis Freeling, signed "Wellington" during his first term as prime minister; also two Wellington signatures on fronts £100-130
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1840 (1 Jan.) printed sheet headed "James Chalmers Printer, Bookseller, and Stationer, Dundee", being a receipt for 13/- to a Library, endorsed "1840 Jany 1 Settled Ja(mes) Chalmers"; some creases but historically important and extremely rare. Photo £1,500-2,000
Note: James Chalmers, is said by many to be the true inventor and pioneer of postal reform, rather than the more commonly held view that Rowland Hill was the Father of Postal Reform. He was a public spirited Dundee bookseller,who was very keen on postal reform and its associated problems. Chalmers was an unsuccessful contestant in the Treasury Competition of 1839. There was much communication between Rowland Hill and James Chalmers, and books have been written on the subject, with bias on both sides. Chalmers is certainly a very important personage in the history of postal reform.
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1842 (9 May) letter from Rowland Hill, at Downing Street, to William Bokenham (Superintending President of the Inland Office, and a key figure from the inception of Penny Postage), complete with the original envelope, signed R.Hill at lower left; fine.
A rare and important letter. Photo £1,500-2,000
Note: William Bokenham was responsible to Col. Maberly and was, therefore, not surprisingly initially hostile to Hill and his reforms; he later seems to have become co-operative, if not enthusiastic, in their implementation. Bokenham helped to receive letters at St. Martins-le-Grand on 19th. January 1840, during the rush on the inaugural day of Penny Postage.
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1845 (c.) undated personal letter from Rowland Hill to his brother "Dear Matthew I shall have great pleasure in dining with you on Saturday at six - I will endeavour to call upon you this evening - Yours affectionately" and signed Rowland Hill; also 1853 (20 June) two page letter from William Mulready to John Lewis, the orientalist painter, regarding drawings to be shown to art students, with fine signature W. Mulready. A rare pair of letters. Photo £2,000-2,500
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1853 (16 June), letter signed by Frederick Hill (1803-96, brother of Rowland Hill), concerning "the sorting of despatch of the evening mails", endorsed Entered in the Visitor's Book at left; folded, fine and an extremely rare signature. Photo £800-1,000
Note: Frederick Hill joined the Post Office in 1851 to become Assistant Secretary, where he was able to take a great deal of the load off his brother and superior officer, making particularly important changes in the Money Order Office. His unswerving loyalty and confidence in his brother is evinced by the considerable cut in salary he accepted by moving to the Post Office.
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1853 (27 July), letter signed by Rowland Hill, concerning the admission of Albert Hill (the son of Edwin Hill, Rowland's brother, Superintendent of the Stamping Department) "To be present at the duty in the inland Office". The letter endorsed Entered in the Visitors Book; folds, fine. Photo £500-600
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1866 (26 March), autographed letter, signed by Rowland Hill, with "hampstead. n.w." letterhead, embossed in blue, addressed to D. Dickson, Esq. requesting that he expresses the congratulations of "Lady Hill and myself" on his marriage, "& our earnest hopes that he may meet with every success in his arduous enterprise"; fine and scarce. Photo £500-600
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1870 (6 May) stampless mourning envelope, addressed to "The Lord Bishop of Colombo, Ceylon", endorsed at lower left W. Gladstone, red "london official paid" c.d.s., on reverse fine black wax seal and red Colombo Paid arrival d.s., included is a three page autographed letter, with embossed "11 Carlton House Terrace" letterhead, in which Gladstone discusses Religion and the Church, etc.; fine. £150-200
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1895 autograph letter from Prince George as the Duke of York, on mourning letterhead and envelope from York House, St. James's Palace to his uncle, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar at Portland Place. "Saturday, Dear Uncle Edward, It would give both Mary and I great pleasure if you and Princess Edward would dine with us at 8.15 tomorrow evening to meet Papa, quite a small party. Believe me yr affecte cousin, George" the envelope is stampless and marked "Express Delivery" with faint "express" cachet in large oval and with St. James St. (12.1) datestamp on the reverse. Letters between members of the Royal family are scarce. Photo £220-280
Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar (1823-1902) was a senior Army Officer and nephew of Queen Adelaide.
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1905 Birmingham novelty silver money box in the form of a post box, hinged lid above a cylindrical body, with moulded girdles and engraving with a pair of interlaced initials ("C.W"), 12cm. (4") high; attractive and scarce. Photo £400-500
| 1840 Parliamentary Envelopes | |
"Houses of Parliament" | |
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One Penny envelope, printed in black, addressed to Pontypool and with the original contents, dated 23 Jan. 1840, part of seal removed from the reverse, small strengthened tear at top; fine for this and rare. S.G. PE1, £22,000. Photo £2,000-2,500
| "House of Lords" | |
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