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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - ARGENTINA & EL SALVADOR: The collection of early to middle period, mint & used issues on Hagner sheets, old album pages etc. (Few 100s) £120
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - FOUR STOCKBOOKS with the mainly foreign accumulation of mint & used, some early though strength in 1950-80s, inc. useful France & colonies. (Qty.) £75
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - THE NEW IDEAL ALBUM FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES A-J - to 1936 (no China or Finland) mint or used inc. useful Argentina, Austria, Baden inc. used 1851 1k black on buff, Bavaria, Brazil inc. used 1843 60r & 90r black, Bremen inc. used 1856 7g black on yellow (just shaved on two sides), Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Dutch Indies inc. used 1864 (3 margins) & 1868 (trimmed perfs) 10c carmine, France inc. used 1869 5f lilac (thinned), Germany, Hamburg, Hungary, etc. Generally good to fine. (Qty.) Cross Reference: FRANCE, BRAZIL, GERMANYFALSE £500
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - THE NEW IDEAL ALBUM FOR FOREIGN COUNTRIES K-Z - to 1936 mint or used inc. useful Mexico inc. used 1856 8r green on brown, Norway, Oldenburg inc. used 1859 2g red, Papal States, Portugal inc. mint 1855 50r green (extremely close margins), Romagna inc. used 1859 5b black on lilac, Russia inc. used 1863 5k black & blue, Saar inc. used 1920 80pf black & red, Sardinia inc. used 1855 10c brown, Saxony, Sweden, Tahiti inc. mint 1884 5c on 20c (surch vertical) & 10c on 20c red on green and 1893 75c carmine on rose with ovpt inverted (stained), Thurn & Taxis, USA, Wurttemberg inc. used 1859 6k green, etc. Generally good to fine. (Qty.) Cross Reference: RUSSIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA £500
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - LARGE DAVO ALBUM OF SCANDINAVIA: Good early range through to modern of Denmark inc. 1854 8sk used (4 margin) SG 12 £100, 1875 5o used SG 56 £85, etc., Iceland inc. 1944 10k used SG 270 £95, 1876 Officials mint 3a & 5a-50a £200+, etc. Norway inc. 1872 used 6s & 7s SG 44/5 £150, etc. Plus Greenland, Danish West Indies, Finland & Sweden. A good range deserving of inspection (Qty) Cross Reference: ICELAND, NORWAY, PITCAIRN ISLANDS, DENMARK £300
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - ASIA: Stock book with the mainly early to middle period, mint & used collection of Japan, Thailand, early North Korea, Malay States incl. Japanese Occupation, China & Mongolia. Better items noticed throughout. Lot inc. a few covers. (Few 100s) £300
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - AUSTRIA & LUXEMBOURG: Carton with 4 albums/stock books of mint & used Austria plus a stock book of Luxembourg - in the latter, we note 1951 'United Europe' sets mint & used and 1956 'Europa' set mint. (Many 100s) Cross Reference: AUSTRIA, LUXEMBOURG £200
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - BELGIUM & NETHERLANDS: Four stock books with the slightly duplicated, mint & used accumulation to around 2008 (Qty.) Cross Reference: BELGIUM £90
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - EARLY FINLAND, SWEDEN & NETHERLANDS: Mainly used range of 19th. Century 'classic' issues. In Sweden we note several locals incl. ochre & black "lokalbrev" issues (faults), Finland incl. 'Serpentine' roulettes & 1889 set to 10mk used, Netherlands with small range of Willem III values incl. 2g.50 rose & blue. (Approx. 290) Cross Reference: FINLAND, NETHERLANDS, SWEDENFALSE £180
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - GERMANY & SWEDEN: Two stock books, one with the mainly 1945-57 mint & used collection of Germany noting Berlin 1949 Goethe set mint, 1951 Marienkirche pair used, etc. Some 1872 'Eagle' types mint. Also, a stock book of Sweden mint & used issues with better items noted incl. 1903 5k 'Post Office' mint, 1924 UPU set to 1k mint & complete used set to 5k, etc. Cross Reference: GERMANY, SWEDEN £200
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FOREIGN COLLECTIONS - USA & ISRAEL: Shoe box with the early to modern accumulation of c.250 mainly commercial US covers inc. "Return to Sender", missent, Postage Dues, etc. and binder with the collection of c.40 Israeli "Return to Sender" type covers mostly 1960s-80s. (Approx. 290 covers) Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL £100
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OMNIBUS COLLECTIONS - 1935 KGV SILVER JUBILEE - the complete series, unmounted or mounted mint, inc. the scarce Egypt value (unmounted, perfs lightly trimmed at right). Generally fine. (c240) Cross Reference: OMNIBUS COLLECTIONS £900
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OMNIBUS COLLECTIONS - 1935 KGV SILVER JUBILEE - the complete series used, inc. the scarce Egypt value. Generally good to fine. (c240) Cross Reference: OMNIBUS COLLECTIONS £500
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PROOFS & ESSAYS - COLONIAL HEAD (TYPE B) DIE PROOF IN GREEN; 1862 Colonial Head B, cleared background in grey-green on stout glazed paper (90x60mm) with no annotations, slightly under-inked at the foot of the impression. Some discolouration on reverse but rare and attractive. £200
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THEMATICS - OLYMPIC GAMES: Illustrated folder containing 6 mint sets of the 1948 Olympics omnibus issue (G.B. & the 5 overprinted sets of same from Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco Agencies, etc.) The folder is numbered 103 of a Limited Edition of 110. Uncertain status but must be scarce. £75
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THEMATICS - RAILWAYS: Carton housing the extensive world-wide collection of stamps, covers, PPCs, etc. relating to the railways. Chiefly written-up on album leaves with some more unusual items to be found throughout. (Qty.) £150
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ALBUMS, PHILATELIC ACCOUTREMENTS, ETC. - PAIR OF FRANK GODDEN 'SUPERIOR' ALBUMS in dark blue with gilt edging. No leaves. Top quality & scarce. (2) £50
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - FOUR CARTONS - with the mixture of titles, emphasis on Mexico inc. Cancellations of Mexico by Schatzkes 1964, Revenue Stamps of Mexico by Stephens 1968, etc.; Australia inc. Qld Cancellations by Campbell 1977, Slogan Cancellations by Tapp 1981, The Chapman Collection 1999, etc.; range of aerophilately titles, mainly society journals. Also some general titles and a number non-philatelic titles though with Australia/Mexico connection. (Qty.) Cross Reference: LITERATURE - NON PHILATELIC, AUSTRALIA, MEXICO, AIR MAIL COVERS £120
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - 1880s 'PHILATELIC RECORD' + COMPLETE 1972-80 'P.H. INTERNATIONAL' (PART BOUND); Incomplete but rare run of 78 issues of the early 'Philatelic Record' magazine (some stains and wear) between Feb. 1884 and Dec. 1890 (Nos. 61-65, 67-72, 75-77, 79-86, 97-133 & 135-144). Plus complete run (the first two volumes, 1972/3, nicely hard bound) of Proud Bailey's "Postal History International" from issue No.1 (Jan. 1972) to vol.9, no.4 (1980); an excellent and informative, well-illustrated PH magazine which sadly ended in 1980. (Heavy lot; in 1 carton.) £40
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - THE PHILATELIST - RARE NEAR-COMPLETE 50+ YEAR RUN FROM 1937 TO 1995; Fine unbound run of this important Robson Lowe publication, often profusely illustrated, mainly in very fine condition including most of the rare World War II period issues; complete from Dec. 1941 to Dec. 1995 (incl. PJGB from Jan. 1981 onwards), plus a few other 1937-41 issues, and a pcopy of the Nov. 1934 Raconteur fore-runner (Vol. 1, No.2). Such a long run is very seldom seen, as the WWII years saw very small print-runs. (heavy lot; in 4 cartons) £300
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - GB & AUSTRALIAN STATES MISCELLANY: Range of titles incl. 'The Plating of the Penny, 1840-64' (G.B.P.S.) in 5 spiral-bound volumes, 'The Plating of Alphabet III, AA-TL' in 5 spiral-bound volumes, various monographs on Victoria by Purves incl. '2nd Type Obliteration', 'The Butterfly Postmarks', 'The 5/-, 1867-1901, 'The V over Crown Watermarks', 'The 1901-12 Issue' etc. Also 'Instructional Markings of Victoria, 1852-1913' (Rigo de Righi), 'Queensland Postal Stationery' (Collas), 'Queensland Postal Rates & Charges' & 'Queensland Cancellations and other Postal Markings' (Campbell), etc. Lot also incl 1903, 1919 & 1930 World Stamp Catalogues. (c.30 items) Cross Reference: QUEENSLAND, VICTORIA, LINE-ENGRAVED ISSUESFALSE £100
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - OLD PHILATELIC JOURNALS: Accumulation of 1930s-50s journals incl. 'Philatelic Magazine', 'Stamp Review', 'Stamp Mirror', 'Gibbons Stamp Monthly', etc. No significant consecutive runs. (c.100) £30
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - 20th./21st. CENTURY NEWSPAPERS/NEWSPAPER RELATED LITERATURE; Collection of mainly Scottish editions of National newspapers, reporting on, or commemorating, events of National or International interest incl. King Edward VIII abdication, QEII Coronation, Kennedy Assasination, Death of Churchill, First Moon Landing, D-Day Anniversary, etc. Post 1964 newspapers are original, others are reprints. Also a three books about the history of 'Times', 'Telegraph', etc. (c.40 papers plus 3 books) £50
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - NEWSPAPER TAX STAMPS: Group of titles incl. 'Morley's Catalogue of the Newspaper Tax Stamps of GB, 'Red & Black -The Duty & Postage Stamps Impressed on Newspapers 1712-1870, etc.' (2 examples, one a limited edition), 'Newspaper Postage Stamps - the De La Rue Dies 1860-70', 'The Story of the Stamford Mercury' (2), 'Newspaper Branch Cancellations (Stitt Dibden), 'The Newspaper ¦& Almanac Stamps of GB & Ireland' (Chandler & Dagnall), 'Catalogue of Railway & Parcel Stamps Issued by Railway Companies' (L'Estrange Ewan) plus various other monographs. (c.19 items) Cross Reference: NEWSPAPER MAIL £40
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - THE POSTAGE STAMPS OF NEW ZEALAND volumes 2, 5 and 7. Damage to dust jackets on vols. 2 and 5, and vol. 2 paper between cover and front piece split (but cover not loose). (3) £60
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - NEW ZEALAND: Two boxes of books and catalogues forming quite a useful reference library, inc. "The Postage Stamps of New Zealand 1855 to 1873 - The Chalon Head Issues" by Odenweller, "New Zealand Chalon Head 1855 to 1873" (CD & colour print out) by Lee & Watts, "The History of NZ Stamps"1913, "The Encyclopaedia of British Empire Stamps: Australasia" by Lowe, Pim's Catalogues 1945/6//7/9, and a number of auction catalogues inc. named sales such as Baillie, Hackmey, Dumas, Yeroc, and "Midas". Good to fine condition, some minor cover or dust jacket damage. (31) £75
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - NEW ZEALAND: Carton containing books on postal history inc. "Australia NZ UK Mails to 1880" by Tabeart, "History of the NZ Military Postal Services 1845-1991" by Startup & Proud, "NZ Overseas Airmail Postage Rates 1930-2011" by Startup, plus others on cancellations, events, auction catalogues, and a 2012 Gibbons Commonwealth catalogue. All in excellent condition. (30) £60
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - POSTMARKS: Carton housing collection of titles mainly relating to Postmarks incl. 'English & Welsh Postmarks since 1840 (Mackay), 'For the Post & Carriage of Letters' (Robinson), 'Scottish Postmarks' (Mackay), 'Postal Cancellations of London, 1840-90' (Westley), 'Postal History of Harrogate, Knaresborough & Ripon' (Ward & Sedgwick), 'British Postmarks' (Alcock & Holland), R-L Encyclopedia Vol I, 'British Post Office Numbers , 1844-1906' (Brumell), SG GB Specialised catalogues vols. 1-3 plus various monographs, etc. (c.18 titles) £40
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - RAILWAYS: Carton with the collection of titles covering Scottish Railways. (c.20 items) Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, RAILWAYS £40
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LITERATURE - PHILATELIC - SPAIN: 'Guia Del Coleccionista de Sellos de Correos de Espana (The Classic Stamps of Spain) 1850-1900'. (1970s reprint) 3 vols. in slipcase, cloth bound with multi color printing, in Spanish. In excellent condition. (3) £30
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - LARGE CARTON with the accumulation of earlier Worldwide covers & cards. Some strength in early Burma. Much 19th Century material. (Few 100s) Cross Reference: BURMA £300
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - CARTON with the accumulation of post-1945 mainly GB Postal History covers inc. scarcer items 1950 "SERVICE SUSPENDED" cover to China, several other similar post WWII covers to Japan, Cambodia, Jugoslavia, etc. also 1953 FPO 965 cover with scarce purple cachet"MISLAID MAIL/DELAY REGRETTED". Also a collection of c.80 Forces covers & c.60 civil covers of "RETURN TO SENDER" type, c.100 slogan covers plus c. 50 NZ covers. (Approx. 350) Cross Reference: NEW ZEALAND £150
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - BOXFILE with the early to modern accumulation of covers/cards showing a strong Antipodean & Pacific flavour. We note 1935-38 trio of Tin Can Mail items, three envelopes ex Waitangi (Chatham Islands) inc. 1943 censored to New South Wales (light foxing), N.Z. Airmails inc. charred env. ex 1954 Singapore aircraft crash with red boxed Salvaged handstamp, et. (Approx 75) Cross Reference: NEW ZEALAND, AIR MAIL COVERS £150
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - BOXFILE with the early to modern miscellany of covers & cards. Particular emphasis on G.B. and India. We note a July 1942 P.O.W. "Kriegsgefangenenpost" letter card ex Stalag VIIIB to New Zealand, 1947 env. bearing Numerals 24pf ex Munich to the Hoosburg (sub-camp of Dachau) internment camp, sundry Airmails inc. Balloon posts, London to Bellary FFC (7th Oct. 1932), etc. Worthy of close inspection. (Qty.) £120
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - SMALL GROUP OF C19 MAIL, MOSTLY STATIONERY - all used, with US 1965 3c pink env. with 'Truman & Co Express' advert, Guatemala 1896/9 1c brown PC uprated with 1c (2) or 1c + 5c adhesives to Germany or Austria; Honduras 199 2c orange PC uprated with 1c brown to New York. Also US 1851-7 3c brown, virtually 4 margins, tied by blue PORT DEPOSIT cds to advert. env. with 'Phila. Wilm. & Balt. R. R. Co.' at left. (5) Cross Reference: ADVERTISING ENVELOPES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, HONDURAS, GUATEMALA £120
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - BERMUDA INTEREST: Miscellany inc. 18 early 20th Century PPCs to the same addressee at the Royal Barracks, St George's from a variety of overseas locations inc. France, Japan & Romania, a group of 17 Christmas/New Year Greetings cards from various ships (mostly inter-war period ex vessels in the Caribbean & Bermuda theatres) inc. H.M.S. "Bermuda", "Berwick", "Dorsetshire" "Malabar", "Nelson" & "Rodney". Fascinating group. (Approx 40) Cross Reference: BERMUDA £90
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - FORWARDING AGENTS - CUBA (TO MALTA & FRANCE VIA N.Y.) + SWITZERLAND (GENEVA FAC); 1844 EL from "Walkringen" to Nice posted in Geneva with v. fine red boxed "JOLY-CROTTET/JOLIMAY ET CE/COMMISSIONAIRES/A GENEVE" (only recorded for 1842 by Rowe; filing crease) on the flap; plus 1862/66 ELs pair both ex "Matanzas" (Cuba) to Malta or Paris with the same manuscript-dated 4-line unframed FACs (in blue or black) of "CHAS. LULING NEW-YORK" on their flaps (former with seal cuts). Rare trio. (3 covers) Cross Reference: FORWARDING AGENTS, SWITZERLAND, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, CUBA £150
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - N. CALEDONIA OVERPRINT ISSUES + WALLIS ISLAND - WWII U.S.A FORCES' NAVAL MAIL (ONE POSTED IN FIJI); 1920(?) env. to Sydney with W&F o.p. NC 1920 2f (SG16) single-franking tied by watery but genuine 2-ring "PP FRANCAIS/WALLIS" cds (with 2016 J-F Brun certificate; genuine though a philatelic cover); plus off-cover 5f, 1f, 75c, 30c &5c (Block of 4) all with the same WALLIS cancels; plus 1943/45 covers from US forces on Wallis Island addressed to USA with varied Naval cancels and censors (one - 19 Dec. 1945 - from Navy PO 207 but posted in Fiji with Fiji KGVI 1s-5d pair tied b Suva cds) sent from FPOs 207(4), Marines Unit 380(2), USNC 1200(2) or 8th Defence Brigade(2). (16 items) Cross Reference: FRENCH COLONIES, MILITARY - WWII, FIJI, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA £140
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - PAPUA (INC. AUSTRALIAN WWII APOs), ADEN, BOER WAR, EGYPT, ETC.; 1874-1972 covers inc. 1874 Bavaria 3k on printed death circular, 1900 'Long Tom' Boer War PC (crease), WWI PCs/envs. (inc. 3 honour envs. letter describing death in the trenches, etc.), WWII group (mainly ex Papua inc. Australian APO cds's 197 - Hollandia on 7d Air-Letter - 376 Cape Hoskins, Adv 7 Lae, 3 Base & 74 Naval) with Aden stamped honour env. and several Airgraphs, and 1947/53 PNG group all ex ANGORAM (3 with Australian frankings, the others PNG inc. pair of 30 Oct. 1952 FDCs regd. to Wales with full set of 15 to £1). Good mix. (39 covers/cards + 2 mini sheets) Cross Reference: PAPUA NEW GUINEA, MILITARY - WWI, MILITARY - WWII, AUSTRALIA £150
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WORLDWIDE POSTAL HISTORY - WEST AFRICA, TRISTAN INDIA & ST. HELENA - AIRMAIL, INGOING P. DUE MAIL + TELEGRAM COVERS; 1911-60 covers inc. 1911 part OHMS env. to GB with 1d(2)+2d on 6d Yellow, 1935 Bombay/Calcutta demonstration flight env., 1923/42 trio of rare official "TELEGRAM" envs.stamped ex Nigeria (2) or Sierra Leone (latter regd.), and group of unusual Tristan covers inc. 1959/60 ingoing pair ex GB with 4d or 1d+3d Tristan P. Dues, 1963 Resettlement o.p. env., and 1954/60 ingoing trio (ex S Africa/R & Nyasaland or local) with Tristan P. Dues. Scarce group. (12 covers) Cross Reference: TRISTAN DA CUNHA, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, ST. HELENA, SIERRA LEONE £200
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WORLDWIDE MARITIME POSTAL HISTORY - UNIQUE(?) TRANSATLANTIC COVER WITH RARE LONDON "HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT/S.W." C.D.S.; 5 Aug. 1859 unpaid EL (slight toning) from Birmingham (GB) to Baltimore but posted in London "Per Steamer from Liverpool 6 Aug." with a fine to very fine rare "HOUSES-OF-PARLIAMENT" cds back and front, along with black "19/cents" Accountancy Mark and a mainly fine "N. YORK BR. PACKET/24" transit cds (18 Aug.). This is the only strike of this rare cds that we can recall having seen on a Transatlantic cover. [Ex Cavendish auction, Dec. 1995; lot 613, realised £276.] Cross Reference: TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, PARLIAMENTARY MAIL £150
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WORLDWIDE MARITIME POSTAL HISTORY - LIVERPOOL PAQUEBOT MARKS on covers/cards with British (1), Canadian (1), Spanish (2) or U.S. (4) frankings spanning the period 1904-50 (the 1904 bears G.B. ½d & is addressed to Aigburth, with d/r "PAQUEBOT/LIVERPOOL" clear of adhesive), plus a page from a stockbook with a number of pieces, etc. bearing a variety of adhesives with Liverpool Paquebot cancels (G.B., Gold Coast, Newfoundland, Spain, U.S.A., etc.) Good little lot. (Small qty) Cross Reference: LANCASHIRE £90
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - HORATIO NELSON - PART NAVAL DOCUMENT SIGNED BY NELSON "ON BOARD H.M.S. BOREAS IN ENGLISH HARBOUR, ANTIGUA"; 25 April 1787 portion from the foot of a naval document (195 x 43mm; laid down on modern paper) boldly signed by Nelson; "Horatio Nelson" and annotated (in an early 19th century hand) "Nelson before he lost his right arm". A rare early Nelson autograph dating from only a few weeks after he had married Francis Nisbet on Nevis (on 11 March 1787). [Details from D.N.B. included.] In June 1787 Nelson and the 'Boreas' were homeward bound to England after 3 years patrolling the Leeward Islands in order to disrupt the American trade. Nelson autographs from his time in the West Indies - and especially from Antigua - are rare. Cross Reference: AUTOGRAPHS, ANTIGUA £500
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - HORATIO NELSON - IMPORTANT LONG AUTOGRAPH CAMPAIGN LETTER EX CORSICA WITH MENTION OF HIS RECENTLY BLINDED EYE, ETC.; Fine 7 Feb. 1795 EL (2 sheets incorporating the address; a few tiny closed tears) written and signed by "Horatio Nelson" on board H.M.S. "Agamemnon, Sa Fiorenza" (on the northern tip of Corsica; since 1848 known as Saint Florent) to Nelson's maternal (and favourite) uncle, "William Suckling Esq., Custom House, London" carried privately (by naval ship) to London and posted locally there with a very fine black London P.O. "W" in circle on the front, indicating that it had been posted in the General Post Window (hence the "W") in error when meant for a local address, with manuscript "2[d]" charge and two London datestamps (28/30 March). The long and fascinating contents (published in the 1845 "Dispatches & Letters" by N.H. Nicolas) give great details of Nelson's frame of mind after his involvement in the Corsica Campaign, with a remarkable reference to his loss of an eye (which happened on 12 July 1794 during the Siege of Calvi in Corsica): My dear Sir, This day twelvemonth saw the British troops land at this place, for the purpose of turning the French out of the Island, and the more I see of its produce, and convenient Ports for our Fleets, the more I am satisfied of Lord Hood's great wisdom in getting possession of it; for had his Lordship not come forward with a bold plan, all our trade and political consequence would have been lost in Italy; for, after the evacuation of Toulon, to what place were we to look for shelter for our Fleet, and the numerous attendants of Victuallers, Store-ships, and Transports? Genoa was inimical to us, and, by treaty, only five Sail of the Line could enter their Ports at the same time. If we look at Tuscany, she was little better than forced to declare for us, and ever since wishing to get her Neutrality again. Even the French Consul, though not officially received, has not left Leghorn. All our trade, and of our Allies, to Italy, must all pass close to Corsica: the Enemy would have had the Ports of the Island full of Row-galleys; and, from the great calms near the island, our Ships of War could not have protected the trade - they can always be taken under your eye: therefore, on this account only, every man of common sense must see the necessity of possessing this Island. The Spanish Ports and Neapolitan are so improper, and (except Minorca, which is only a fishing Town, with only a few slips for Ship-building, everything being destroyed) the distance from the scene of war, so distant that they could not have been used, even would the Dons have made us welcome, which I doubt. The loss to the French has been great indeed: all the Ships built at Toulon have their sides, beams, decks and straight timbers from this Island. The pine of this Island is of the finest texture I ever saw; the tar, pitch and hemp, although I believe not equal to Norway, yet were very much used in the yard at Toulon. So much for the benefit of it to us during the war; and, in peace, I see no reason but it may be as beneficial to England as any other part of the King's Dominions. Every article of this Island was suppressed, as it interfered with the produce of the South of France. The large woods of olives must produce great quantities of fine oil, and the wines are much preferable to the wines of Italy. Our Naval yards will be supplied with excellent wood; and, I dare say, the expense of keeping then Island will be very trifling, and its importance to us very great. Other Powers will certainly envy us; and the inhabitants will grow rich, and, I hope, happy, under our mild Government. The difference is already visible; before, every Corsican carried hid gum, for every district was at enmity with the other; many parts at war with the French, and none friendly with them; no single Frenchman could travel in this Island - his death was certain. Now, not one man in fifty carries arms; their swords are really turned into ploughshares; and we travel everywhere with only a stick. This day I have walked over 300 acres of line wheat, which last year only served to feed a few goats; and if these great alterations are to be seen in the least fertile part of the Island, what must be the change in the more fruitful? And when I reflect that I was the cause of re-attacking Bastia, after our wise Generals gave it over, from not knowing the force, fancying it 2,000 men; that it was I, who, landing, joined the Corsicans, and with only my Ship's party of Marines, drove the French under the walls of Bastia ; that it was I, who, knowing the force in Bastia to be upwards of 4,000 men, as I have now only ventured to tell Lord Hood, landed only 1,200 men, and kept the secret till within this past; - what I must have felt during the whole Siege may be easily conceived. Yet I am scarcely mentioned. I freely forgive, but cannot forget. This and much more ought to have been mentioned. It is known that, for two months, I blockaded Bastia with a Squadron: only fifty sacks of flour got into the Town. At St. Fiorenzo and Calvi, for two months before, nothing got in, and four French frigates could not get out, and are now ours. Yet my diligence is not mentioned; and others, for keeping succours out of Calvi for a few summer months, are handsomely mentioned. Such things are. I have got upon a subject near my heart, which is full when I think of the treatment I have received: every man who had any considerable share in the reduction, has got some place or other - I, only I, am without reward. The taking of Corsica, like the taking of St. Juan's*, has cost me money. St. Juan's cost near £300; Corsica has cost me £300, an eye, and a cut across my buck; and my money, I find, cannot be repaid me. Nothing but my anxious endeavour to serve my Country makes me bear up against it; but 1 sometimes am ready to give all up. We are just going to sea, and I hope to God we shall meet the French Fleet, which may give us all gold Chains [medals with gold Chains were given to the Admirals present at Lord Howe's victory, of the 1st of June, 1794; and some of the Captains received a Medal, suspended from a riband, white, with blue edges, which was worn at the button-hole of their uniform coats] - who knows? Remember me most kindly to Mrs. Suckling, and Miss Suckling; and, believe me, in every situation, I feel myself Your much obliged and affectionate Horatio Nelson. Best respects to Mr. Rumsey and family, and to Mr. Mentz. Forgive this letter: I have said a great deal too much of myself; but indeed it is all too true. Highly Important and historical Nelson letter which has not been available on the market for many years. Cross Reference: AUTOGRAPHS, NAVAL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR £10,000
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - NELSON & BRONTE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO THE ADMIRALTY ABOUT HIS PAY AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF; Fine 6 Jan. 1802 Autograph Entire Letter signed "Nelson & Bronte" sent from Merton to a Junior Clerk ("William Pearce") at the Admiralty in London with an autograph address-sheet initialled "N&B" at lower left, having a London handstruck "2[d]" charge and mainly fine "Lowr. Tooting/Unpaid/Penny P[oft]" on the front, plus a very fine red oval "7 o'Clock.JA.6/1802 NT." datestamp (closed tear) on the reverse. A significant letter to the authorities complaining that he had not been given the "Table Money" due to him:- "Merton [Surrey], Jany. 6th 1801 [error for 1802]. My Dear Sir, Many thanks for your kind letter; I dare say you are right, but you have forgot to say that Table Money is ordered me for my present Command. My Commission as Commander in Chief [Nelson's underlining] is still in force and is dated July 24th 1801. Pray, was not Sir Hyde Parker paid till he struck his flag at Yarmouth. If there is any mistake, I trust to your goodness to rectify it, and humbly[?] Dear Sir, your much obliged, Nelson & Bronte." An intriguing letter from Nelson, with the Nelson & Bronte signature that he adopted from late 1800, showing that in 1802 he was still unhappy with the Navy's allowances due to him as Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet from August to December 1799; it was written in the brief period of uneasy peace between England and France, while he was enjoying a relatively normal domestic on-shore life in Merton with Emma Hamilton and their young daughter Horatia (born in January 1801). Fine and rare Autograph letter with postal markings. Cross Reference: NAVAL, AUTOGRAPHS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORYFALSE £3,000
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - NELSON & BRONTE - SIGNED SURGEON's APPOINTMENT GIVEN ON BOARD H.M.S. VICTORY IN 1805; 17 Jan. 1805 document (minor toning and slight faults but complete; old narrow paper binding strip along one edge) signed by Nelson as "Nelson & Bronte" and given "on Board H.M.S. Victory at the Madalina Islands" (off Sardinia) ordering a ship's Surgeon, "William Carey" to transfer from "H.M. Bomb Vessel Etna" to "H.M.S. Belleisle", reciting Nelson's full titles at the start: "By the Right Honble Lord Viscount Nelson K.B., Duke of Bronte in Sicily, Knight of the Great Cross of St. Ferdinand and of Merit, Knight of the Order of the Crescent and of the Illustrious Order of St. Joachim, Vice-Admiral of the White and Commander in Chief of H.M. Ships and Vessels Employed and to be Employed on the Mediterranean Station." Fine document written on this famous ship just 10 months before the Battle of Trafalgar. Cross Reference: AUTOGRAPHS, NAVAL, MEDICALFALSE £2,000
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - NELSON & BRONTE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM H.M.S. 'VICTORY' TO EMMA HAMILTON IN ENGLAND (UNPUBLISHED?); Fine single-sheet 10 May 1805 letter (integral blank) written and signed by Lord Nelson while victualing at Gibraltar (or on the southern coast of Portugal?) the day before he left in command of the fleet in pursuit of the French fleet across the Atlantic to the West Indies. It seems that Nelson was in a reflective mood and conscious of the risks of life at sea, as he writes fondly to the love of his life back in Merton in England:- "May 10th 1805 [on board H.M.S. 'Victory'.] My Dearest Emma, In case any thing should happen to the 'Wasp' who [sic] is going to England with my dispatches and your letters, I send a duplicate of the draft upon March & Creed, and I beg you to send Mrs. Proctor's [letter] to her; I have wrote her a line by the 'Wasp'. We are hard at work victualling the fleet for five months, and hope to start tomorrow. May God be propitious for my wishes and send me a Victor to my dear, dear, dear Emma; then, and not till then can I be happy. May God bless you; pray frequently. Ever your own faithful, Nelson & Bronte. [P.S.] Kiss my Dear Horatia for me." Sent by an unidentified British Naval vessel, in case of the loss of the 'Wasp' (that safely reached Limerick on 30th May as it turned out), to a British port and forwarded (probably by mail) from there. A most attractive and appealing Nelson letter with mention of his and Emma's only child, Horatia, and showing that the British Fleet were prepared for a lengthy West Indies expedition of up to 5 months. It appears to be previously unpublished. In the event, Nelson and his fleet were back at Gibraltar in less than 2 months (on 20th July), as Villeneuve had not lingered in the West Indies. [The comparable 1801 letter from Nelson to Emma in Cavendish's Nov. 2010 auction, lot 308, realised £12,000 inc. premium.] Marvellous item, written on board Nelson's flagship, which this describer can vividly recall having seen (suitably framed and normally beneath a light-exclusion curtain) on the wall of Tony Eastgate's dining room in his home in Wimbledon - a suitably stimulating conversation piece! Cross Reference: AUTOGRAPHS, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, PORTUGAL, GIBRALTAR £10,000
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - EARLY NELSON COPY LETTERS (TWO WMK. "1838") EX H.M.S. VICTORY, PALERMO OR H.M.S. ST GEORGE (IN THE BALTIC); c.1838 "Copy" manuscripts of Nelson letters of 24 Nov. 1799 ("Palermo"; to "My Dear Ball"), 4 June 1801 ("St. George, Kioge Bay" - in the Baltic - to "Dear Ball", inc. "Hardy is as good as ever..."), 19 Apr. 1805 ("Victory from Toro"; "My Dear Ball"), and 15 Oct. 1805 ("Victory"; "My d Ball"). All to Sie Alexander Ball Bart., and possibly copied for a prospective book? Further research required. (4 copy letters) Cross Reference: NAVAL MAIL, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR £200
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - RARE 1st EDITION "AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE OF THE DEATH OF LORD NELSON", LEATHER BOUND; 1807 1st Edition (rare) of this small 99-page book with additional later illustrations tipped in, and "George Daniel, Canonbury,1858" inscription with poems at start, referring to two original manuscript Nelson letters which are no longer present; some browning of title page and following few pages, but a fine full leather gold tooled (anchors etc.) original binding with plate of the bullet and locket, and a portrait opposite the title. Rare book. Cross Reference: LITERATURE - NON PHILATELIC £300
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WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY - 2nd AFGHAN WAR CONCESSION RATE COVER + STAMPLESS BOER WAR LADYSMITH COVER; Sept. 28 1880 env. (small closed tears at top clear of stamp & marks) to Perth (Scotland) headed & countersigned for the 2a Concession Rate for a Royal Artillery Bombardier with India 2a Orange tied by a very fine Military mute barred diamond cancel, having a fine "QUETTA" cds (Afghanistan not Pakistan) on the reverse - sent soon after the final decisive Battle of Kandahar that ended the 2nd Afghan War. Plus 3 Mar. 1900 stampless env. (closed tear at top & some edge wear) also to Perth headed "Field service. Stamps not obtainable" at top with fine 2-ring "LADYSMITH/NATAL" cds and cancelled (by London "FB" marks) matching "T" and "10c" in circle marks. Unusual pair. (2 covers) [Both Ex Dr. J. Grant.] Cross Reference: MILITARY - BOER WAR, MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, INDIA, PERTHSHIRE £200
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