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1882 1/2d Postcard stamp Die Proof on white glazed card, 92x60mm, stamped "AFTER HARDENING" and dated "4 MAY 82". Fine and scarce. Photo on Page 44. £250-300
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1898 Page from the Madagascar Post Office specimen stamp ledger bearing 1/2d newspaper wrapper and two examples of size F 2d registration envelopes, each handstamped by red circular "POSTES ET TELEGRAPHES / COLLECTION / DE / BERNE / MADAGASCAR", some staining but a unique archival page. £150-200
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1957 2c Newspaper wrapper from the printers archives perfined "SPECIMEN", endorsed "114,226" and dated "21/11/57", heavy vertical and horizontal folds but probably a unique Specimen perfin on this wrapper. £200-250
| BASUTOLAND | |
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1891 (Feb 26) Cover to France bearing Cape 1d and 2d tied by "277" numerals with a fine "MORIJA" c.d.s on the front, backstamped at Aliwal North, Cape Town, London and Nancy. A fine early cover. £120-150
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1896 (Nov 19) Cape 1 1/2d postal stationery postcard to Germany cancelled by "LERIBE / C.G.H" c.d.s, a second strike and datestamps of Maseru, Cape Town and Mulhausen on the front, very fine. £100-120
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Postal Stationery. KGV-QEII Postal stationery with specimen, unused or used postcards (18) and registration envelopes with KGVI 4d size H2 unused, QEII 6d size H2 used (2), 5c on 6d size G unused (4) or used (3), 5c size G used (2), H unused and used (3), H2 used (3), and later Lesotho registration envelopes. Also first QEII G size envelope proof with the embossed stamp perfined "SPECIMEN". (49). £200-250
| BECHUANALAND | |
(Also see lots 909, 910) | |
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Griqualand West. 1885 Cover with enclosed letter written from Mafeking (Oct 19) by Sergeant Stephens, D Troop, British Bechuanaland Police, bearing a Cape 1d tied by BARKLY / G.W." c.d.s. (Oct 24), backstamped at Cape Town (Oct 28). In 1885-86 Bechuanaland mails were carried to and from Barkly by the British Bechuanaland Police. £180-220
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1888 Protectorate 2d with virtually complete "SHOSHONG / BECHUANALAND" c.d.s dated "AU 21 88", the first recorded date of use. Datestamps were supplied to five Bechuanaland Post Offices on this date, all on the route of the runner post service established by John Moffat, between Mafeking and Bulawayo. Photo on Page 56. £120-150
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1913-24 KGV Bechuanaland Protectorate overprints in unmounted mint control blocks comprising 1/2d (6, controls C13, J17, O20, R21, S22), 1d (4, I16, J17, S22, M19), 1 1/2d control O19, 2d die I control R21 and 2d die II control V23, all superb. (13 blocks). £150-200
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1916 De La Rue 2/6 pale brown with the listed major re-entry, clearly visible as doubling in the shield and frame, fine mint. S.G. 85a, £1,200. Photo on Page 56. £400-500
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Postal Stationery. QV-QEII Postcards (22), newspaper wrappers (10), registration envelopes (15, with QV K size "Four" on 2d unused and 4d specimen) and air letters (3), most unused. (50). £200-250
| BERMUDA | |
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c.1846 Stampless cover with a New Orleans c.d.s and "PAID" handstamp, prepaid 10c to "Bermuda, care of Messrs Middleton & Co. New York" with manuscript 4d ship letter charge and red oval "FORWARDED / BY / MIDDLETON & CO / NEW YORK" on the reverse. £120-150
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1875 Cover to Scotland franked 1d rose and 6d mauve (perfs trimmed at right), Hamilton and red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / U.S PACKET" datestamps on the front. Closed opening tear at upper left corner, otherwise a fine and attractive cover, carried on the "City of Houston" to New York and then by Cunard "Russia" to Liverpool. Photo on Page 37. £250-300
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1884 Cover to London with 1d rose strip of four tied by St. Georges 2 duplex cancels with red "LIVERPOOL / SHIP" c.d.s below, backstamped with blue Hamilton c.d.s and in London. A fine and attractive cover, unusually carried by private ship to Liverpool. Photo on Page 37. £350-450
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1918-22 Multiple Crown CA 2/- - £1 set of six mint, the 2/6 with break in right scroll, the 4/- with some perf staining, otherwise fine. S.G. 51b/55, £600. (6). Photo on Page 64. £140-160
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1922-34 Multiple Script CA 1/4d - 12/6 set of 16 fine mint. S.G. 77/93, £515. (16). Photo on Page 64. £130-150
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Wreck Mail - S.S "Fort Victoria". 1929 (Dec 14) Cover from Washington DC to Hamilton, Bermuda, the stamp washed off, the reverse bearing the explanatory label "Post Office, New York, N.Y. / This article (damaged by water) is part of / the contents of the mail sacks for Bermuda on / board the S.S. Fort Victoria, which vessel, in a / dense fog, was rammed by the S.S Algonquin / and sank in New York Harbor December 18, 1929. / J.J. KIELY, Postmaster. / N.Y.P.O. - 12-27-29-3000". The "Fort Victoria" stopped off Sandy Hook to land a pilot in thick fog and was rammed by the "Algonquin", sinking later that day. All passengers and crew landed safely, some of the mails being recovered over the following week. Photo on Page 41 £200-250
| BRAZIL | |
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1836 Entire letters written on H.M.S "Dublin" at Bahia or Rio de Janeiro, interesting contents describe the voyage, imprisonment of 16 crew at Rio, slave ships in harbour, sending home a present of humming birds, etc., one privately carried, the other with red "FALMOUTH / SHIP LETTER". (2). £80-100
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c.1851 Entire from Rio to Santos bearing 1850 30r black block of four with good margins, cancelled by pen and tied by a Rio c.d.s, small tear at upper edge, otherwise largely fine. £140-160
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1879 Cover from Uba to Italy, the reverse bearing 10r, 20r, 50r and 300r stamps each with a cork obliteration, tied by Rio de Janeiro and Italian transit or arrival datestamps, the top three values however clearly used previously. Flap missing and a little staining to the address panel, an attractive and interesting postal fraud, probably done with the co-operation of the Postmaster. Photo on Page 41. £140-160
| BRITISH GUIANA | |
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1903-04 Parcel Post Customs Declaration labels, both for natural history specimens sent to London, with datestamps of Belfield or Suddie, one endorsed "Too late". Both have "Demerara" labels applied in London, one with a stamp soaked off, a few minor faults but very scarce. (2). £200-240
| BRITISH HONDURAS | |
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1860 Stampless cover endorsed from the "U.S. Commercial Agency at Belize" with their seal embossed into the front left corner and the flap, addressed to the U.S. Minister Resident at Guatemala City. Handstamped "21" (probably separate "2" and "1" charge marks) applied at Guatemala. Very unusual. Photo on Page 41. £600-700
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1921-22 Peace Commemoration 2c and 4c in strips of three each overprinted Specimen, affixed to a piece cut from the Madagascar Post Office Specimen stamp ledger, each stamp tied by the red double ring handstamp "POSTES ET TELEGRAPHES / MADAGASCAR / COLLECTION / DE / BERNE". A unique archival piece. Photo on Page 42. £400-500
| BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS | |
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1906 Unadopted photographic essays of a 1/2d design featuring a native with a bow and two 1d designs featuring native canoes, all on white gummed paper (originally a single piece, now divided into three separate pieces). The BSIP commissioner C.M. Woodford proposed a stamp issue for the Protectorate in 1906, and had these photographic essays produced by the Sydney firm of W.E Smith & Co whilst in the city on BSIP business; however he rejected these designs and drew the Large Canoe design himself, used for the first stamps issued in 1907 and printed by W.E Smith in Sydney. These three essays were supposedly obtained from Woodford by a member of his staff. The first examples of these essays we have seen, illustrated on page 29 of "British Solomon Islands" by H. Gisburn. Photo on Page 42. £1,800-2,200
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1907 Large Canoe issue, 1/2d - 1/- set of seven mint (with additional 1/2d, the 2 1/2d, 5d and 1/- a little stained) and fine used (with additional 2d), and forgeries of all seven values with additional forgeries of the 1/2d (2) and 2d (with "Deutsche Post" c.d.s). S.G. 1/7, £616 (+ forgeries). (26). £150-180
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1908 Small Canoe issue, 1/2d - 5/- set of eleven overprinted "SPECIMEN", mint and used, all superb, the specimen and mint sets very lightly mounted. Also two additional used 2d stamps, one with Tulagi c.d.s of Nov 2 1908, the second day of issue (and the earliest recorded use). S.G. 8/17, £752. (35). Photo on Page 56. £230-260
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1913-14 KGV Multiple Crown CA 1/2d, 1d, 3d and 11d "Postage Postage" set of four and 1/2d - £1 "Postage Revenue" set of fourteen all overprinted "SPECIMEN", superb mint, most lightly mounted or unmounted. S.G. 18/38s, £505. (18). Photo on Page 56. £150-170
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1913-23 KGV Multiple Crown CA definitives mint comprising the four "Postage Postage" values (2 sets), and "Postage Revenue" 1/2d - £1 set of fourteen with additional 1/2d - 10/-, also further examples of the 1/2d, 2 1/2d, 3d and 1/- blue-green on olive back (2), both 5/- shades present, all fine and lightly mounted. S.G. 18/38, £680. (41). Photo on Page 56. £150-180
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1913-23 KGV Multiple Crown CA "Postage Postage" set of four and "Postage Revenue" 1/2d - £1 set of fourteen fine used, with both 1d, 1/- and 5/- shades and additional 1/- and 2/6. S.G. 18/38, £584. (23). Photo on Page 56. £130-150
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1930 4 1/2d Value and duty plate Die Proof in black on white glazed card (92x60mm), stamped "BEFORE / STRIKING" and dated "12/8/30" in pencil. The 4 1/2d value was not issued until 1931. A fine De La Rue Die Proof. Photo on Page 44. £200-250
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A similar 4 1/2d value and duty plate Die Proof, stamped "AFTER / STRIKING" and dated "14/8/30" in pencil, very fine. Photo on Page 44. £200-250
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1922-31 KGV Multiple Script CA 1/2d - 10/- set of fifteen overprinted "SPECIMEN" (the 4 1/2d perfined), all fine, most very lightly mounted. S.G. 39/52s, £425. (15). Photo on Page 56. £130-150
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1922-31 KGV Multiple Script CA 1/2d - 10/- set of fifteen mint (with additional 1/2d - 5/-) and used, all fine. S.G. 39/52, £635. (45). Photo on Page 56. £130-150
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1935-42 Issues perfined "SPECIMEN", comprising 1935 Silver Jubilee set of four, 1937 Coronation set of three, 1946 Victory pair and 1938-42 KGVI 1/2d - 2/6 set of thirteen, the Coronation set and KGVI definitive set very lightly mounted, the others all unmounted. Also the issued Coronation and Victory stamps, and Waterlow sample stamps with punch holes comprising KGVI 1d and 2 1/2d, 1956 QEII issue 1 1/2d pairs (2, with imprint or plate number in margin) and 3d pair. A superb lot. S.G. £860+. (35). Photo on Page 64. £250-300
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1956-63 QEII 1/2d - £1 Set of seventeen with additional 1 1/2d shade mint and used; and the 1959-60 4/-, 5/-, 11/- and £1 booklets, two examples of each booklet showing the staples at the left or right sides, all very fine. S.G. 82/96, SB1/4, £560. (44). £110-130
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1976 De La Rue artwork comprising two stamp size designs in se-tenant pairs mounted on thin brown card, prepared for a New Currency set in 1976. These designs were adopted, with changes to the wording and denominations, for the first Currency set which was printed by Harrison and issued in 1977. Unique. Photo on Page 62. £350-450
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Postage Due Stamps. 1940 1d - 1/6 Set of eight perfined "SPECIMEN", mint (all marginal) and used, the specimen and mint sets all unmounted, very fine. S.G. D1/8, £475. (24). Photo on Page 56. £120-140
| Postal History
Many of the following items are listed in "The Stamps and Postal History of the Solomon Islands - Illustrated Check List of the Pre-Protectorate and the Woodford Eras" by Don Franks, published by The Pacific Islands Study Circle, 2001. | |
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1907 (July) Piece bearing Large Canoe 2d tied by a Tulagi c.d.s, in combination with New South Wales 2d tied by a Sydney c.d.s. From February until September 1907 New South Wales stamps were added in Sydney to Solomon Islands covers addressed abroad bearing the first Large Canoe issue. A good combination piece. Franks 87. Photo on Page 64. £150-180
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1907 (Nov 18) Piece cut from a registered O.H.B.M.S cover bearing Large Canoe 1/2d, 2d pair, 2 1/2d and 1/- each tied by a Tulagi c.d.s, a further complete c.d.s alongside the stamps, the reverse with a red wax seal impressed "BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS / (crown) / POST / OFFICE". An unusual 1/7 franking paying the 4oz rate (2d per 1/2oz) + 3d registration. S.G. £213 as stamps. With R.P.S Certificate (2012). Frank 114. Photo on Page 220. £150-180
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1908 (May 12) Piece cut from a registered O.H.B.M.S cover bearing Large Canoe 1d, 2d and 6d each tied by a Tulagi c.d.s. (S.G. £127 as stamps). Very unusual. Franks 155. £80-100
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1908 (Aug 25) On His Britannic Majesty's Service cover to London initialled by Frederick Barnett, Chief Postmaster and Assistant to the Resident Commissioner, bearing Large Canoe 1d pair tied by Tulagi c.d.s, London arrival backstamp (Oct 12). The addressees name unfortunately cut from the cover, still a very scarce use of the Large Canoe issue. Franks 164. Photo on Page 41. £200-250
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1908 (Aug 25) Philatelic registered cover to Paris bearing the Large Canoe set of seven (S.G. £300 as stamps) each tied by Tulagi c.d.s, a printed Tulagi registered label also tied to the cover, backstamped at Sydney (Sep. 5) and Paris (Oct. 11). The earliest recorded use of this registered label, which replaced the oval framed "R" handstamp. A scarce early registered cover. Franks 167. Photo on Page 41. £250-350
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1908 Small Canoe 1/2d rejoined pair, 1d (3) and 2d cancelled by violet handstamps of "S.S KULAMBANGRA" (2 types, one virtually complete) or "S.S UPOLU", very scarce. (6). Photo on Page 56. £240-300
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1908 (Dec 8) Registered O.H.M.S cover to England signed by the Chief Postmaster Frederick Barnett franked by Small Canoe 2d and 5d tied by a Tulagi c.d.s, bearing a Tulagi registration label, backstamped at Sydney (Dec 21) and Ipswich. A fine early registered cover, franked at the 1oz letter rate of 4d + 3d registration. Franks 229. Photo on Page 41. £250-300
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1910 (Oct 5) Meade correspondence cover bearing Small Canoe 2d (a few stained perfs) tied by Aola c.d.s (Proud D1), backstamped at Sydney (Oct. 13) and Bungay. The Postal Agency at Aola on Guadalcanal was open from 1908-12 and again in 1916-20. An early use of this very scarce first c.d.s of Aola. Franks 292. Photo on Page 41. £400-500
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1910 (Nov 16) Meade correspondence cover bearing Small Canoe 1/2d block of four (a few stained perfs) with central Tulagi c.d.s, backstamped at Sydney (Nov. 24). Franks 297. £120-140
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1911 (Mar 21) O.H.B.M.S Cover to Sydney signed by the Chief Postmaster, franked Small Canoe 2d tied by Tulagi c.d.s with an arrival backstamp (Mar 31). Franks 308. £140-160
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1911 (Sep 27) Cover to England with Small Canoe 1d and 2d tied by Tulagi c.d.s, backstamped at Sydney (Oct. 11). A strange franking, the letter rate then 2d per 1/2oz. Franks 324. £100-120
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1912 (Jan 2) Real photo picture postcard entitled "Native Marovo Lagoon" written by W.T Cratchley, Burns Philips branch manager at Faisi, sent to London with Small Canoe 1d tied by Shortlands c.d.s (unusually with month above day), a scarce early use of this Shortlands c.d.s. Also another real photo card from the same series showing a topless lady, entitled "Malaita Girl", also written by Cratchley, the stamp unfortunately removed. (2). Franks 329. Photo on Page 46. £180-220
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c.1912 Cover to Scotland with "N. Wheatley, Roviana" printed on the flap, bearing Small Canoe 1d cancelled by straight line "S.S KULAMBANGRA" (45x4mm) in violet, very small piece torn from upper left corner upon opening, otherwise fine and attractive. Norman Wheatley was a trader at Roviana from 1892 until his death in 1930. The S.S "Kulambangra" was owned by Levers Pacific Plantation Ltd, and traded in the Western Solomons - Bougainville area. Franks records just one other Small Canoe issue cover and one piece with this ship cancellation. A rare ship cancel. With R.P.S. Certificate (2011). Franks 419. Photo on Page 46. £1,000-1,200
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