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Hooded Circles - London. 1884-1902 Covers and cards, and a front, with hooded circle datestamps of London, London E.C or Threadneedle St., includes 1d late fee type, Registered London datestamp, and London "V.R" type code A on Marborough House cover initialled by the Prince of Wales or code B on a front. (46). £180-200
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Hooded Circles. 1883-97 Covers and cards and a front with hooded circle datestamps including scarce "MANCHESTER STA / LATE BOX" on 1889 postcard to Germany, also Liverpool (10), Liverpool S (2) or Low Hill Liverpool (3), Cork, Londonderry or British Post Office Beyrout. (19). £140-160
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Dumb Cancels. 1878-91 Covers (4, three registered), a piece and a Book Post packet from Oldham containing a photo, all with dumb cancels composed of bars or squares. Also 1880 1/2d green cancelled by two "S" in circle inspectors marks, and 1883 5/- crimson with large star cancel. (8). £100-120
| Channel Islands Distinctive Maltese Cross
This rare Maltese Cross was probably used at the London Ship Letter Office, on mail received at the office with uncancelled stamps. Nearly all such letters would have originated in the Channel islands, mail from the Islands allowed to be sent by private ship via Southampton from 1840, prepaid at the normal inland rate. Just 16 covers are recorded with this Maltese Cross, with just four examples known on single 1841 2d blue stamps. | |
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1d Red, PI, four margins, with large part cross, very fine. S.G £10,000. Photo on Front Cover. £600-800
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1d Red, NF, two margins, touched on two sides, with a virtually complete cross. S.G. £10,000. Photo on Page 34. £300-450
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1d Red, RK, four margins, horizontal crease, with clear part cross. S.G. £10,000. Photo on Page 34. £300-450
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1d Red, ME, four margins, with large part cross, very fine. S.G. £10,000. Photo on Page 34. £600-800
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1841 2d Blue, AG, with clear part cross, touched or cut into on all sides but very rare on this 2d value, just four 2d stamps recorded by Rockoff and Jackson, one of which is considered a fake. Unpriced by S.G. but at least 20 times rarer than the 1d value which they price at £10,000. Photo on Page 34. £350-450
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1841 2d Blue, SF, with largely complete cross and small part of a second cross, three margins, cut into on the left side but very rare on this 2d value, just four 2d stamps recorded by Rockoff and Jackson, one of which is considered a fake. Unpriced by S.G. but at least 20 times rarer than the 1d value which they price at £10,000. Photo on Page 34. £600-800
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1844 (Sep 20) Cover to London bearing a 1d red, four margins, tied by a slightly doubled but clearly recognisable Maltese Cross, backstamped "SOUTHAMPTON / SHIP-LETTER" and two London datestamps, wafer seal with letter "T". Ex "Ferry" Collection (sold Robson Lowe 1953) and Leslie G. Tomlinson collection (sold Robson Lowe 1963), number 14 in the Rockoff and Jackson listing, being the latest of the fourteen 1843-44 covers. Fine and rare. S.G. £55,000. Photo on Page 36. £2,000-2,500
| Other Maltese Crosses | |
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1843 Entire letter from London to Dublin with a 1d red (2 margins) tied by number within Maltese Cross (number unclear), redirected within London with a further four margin 1d red applied and tied by very fine Dublin distinctive Maltese Cross, very unusual. £100-120
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Mullingar. 1841 1d Red-brown, four large even margins, cancelled by a large part strike of the distinctive Maltese Cross of Mullingar, fine. With David Brandon Certificate (1994). S.G. £3,500. Photo on Page 34. £300-400
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Stirling. 1843 (Aug 16) Entire letter to Falkirk with a 1d red, four large margins, tied by fine distinctive Maltese Cross of Stirling, Stirling backstamp, 15 days earlier than recorded by Jackson. S.G. £500. £100-120
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1841 1d Red-brown plate 5 OF on piece cancelled by red Maltese Cross, three margins, badly cut into at top (with 1991 R.P.S Certificate); and plate 9 IH cancelled by both red and black Maltese Crosses, just cut into at lower left, otherwise good margins. S.G. £4,800++. (2). Photo on Page 34. £250-300
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1842 Entire letter from Preston with 1d red pair and entire from Truro with a single 1d all cancelled by blue Maltese Crosses, the stamps all cut into and a few cover faults, the Maltese Crosses all fine strikes and colour. S.G. £3,000. (2). £120-150
| Exhibitions and Special Events
(Also See Lots 267/345, 1045) | |
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Picture Postcards. 1904-24 Picture postcards from various exhibitions including Franco-British, Japan-British, Coronation, Festival of Empire and British Empire exhibitions. (c.300). £160-200
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1910-98 Covers and cards, certificates of posting, etc., including Esperanto Congress datestamps from London in 1930 and Sheffield in 1953, 1951 Universal Postal Franker specimen envelope with "B.I.F / LONDON" machine (unlisted by Pearson), 1938 piece with KGV2/6 Seahorse tied by scarce "GOVERNING BODY / I.L.O / CONFERENCE" c.d.s, 1929-32 C.O.Ps with skeleton datestamps (4), various 1947-57 skeleton datestamps on covers, 1953 VIIth Plenary Assembly C.C.I.R, etc. (53). Photo on Page 16. £200-240
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1931-49 Registered covers (3) and a postcard all with skeleton datestamps comprising 1931 "CHRISTIAN ENDVR COVNTN / SW1" (registration No "1"), 1932 "SUTTON COLDFIELD / SHOW", 1938 "ROYAL CO. SHOW / BOURNEMOUTH" and 1949 "BRIT ASSN CON / NCLE O TYNE", all fine and scarce. Pearson A167, 187, 270, A325. (4). Photo on Page 36. £150-180
| Machine Cancels | |
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Azemar. 1871 (Sep 20) 1d Pink postal stationery lettersheet, the embossed stamp towards the lower right corner of the address panel, a fine Azemar machine above the stamp which has therefore been cancelled by a duplex. An exceptional combination of Azemar machine and duplex handstamp. Photo on Page 36. £180-220
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Empire Machine Trial. 1898 (Mar 17) Cover addressed within London with a 1d lilac cancelled by superb "ENGLAND" within a flag trial machine, with "2-30P" time. Trialled for just four days in March, just two other proper postal uses on cover or card (and a few stamps or pieces) are recorded; the example in the Goodman collection on a postcard with a heavy horizontal fold sold in 2013 for £3,300 + premium. An exceptional and very rare item. Photo on Page 36. £3,400-3,800
| Maritime Mail
(Also See Lots 32, 56, 405, 414/20, 466, 602/3, 1739) | |
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1842-57 Stampless entire letters all prepaid in cash from London to Newton Gordon Cossart & Co in Madeira, all endorsed with ships names, including the Brazil steamers "Avon", "Medway", "Petrel", Seagull", "Swift", "Crane", coast steamer "Ethiopia", packets "Express", "Linnet", "Penguin", etc. (29). £150-200
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Mailboat Cancels. 1864 Cover to Scotland franked at the 6d Officers rate by 1d red "stars" strip of four and a pair each cancelled by "A92" numerals, used on a Cunard Line Atlantic mailboat, redirected from Edinburgh to Stirling charged 1d, with arrival backstamps of both towns (Sep 13), minor soiling and a few stamp faults, a scarce Officers rate mailboat cover. Photo on Page 36. £300-400
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Hull. 1898 Russia 7k lettercard written from Hango to Birmingham, cancelled "HULL / 383" duplex and handstamped "PAQUEBOT" (Hosking 99), an early and attractive use of this Paquebot handstamp, unusual on Russia stationery. £80-100
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1905 Picture postcard cancelled at Inverary with violet "POSTED ON BOARD S.S "FAIRY QUEEN" / LOCH ECK / ARGYLLSHIRE", and 1909 real photo postcard of P.S "La Marguerite" cancelled at Liverpool with superb violet "POSTED ON / "LA MARGUERITE"". (2). £80-100
| Ship Letters | |
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1825-47 Entire letters or entires with Ship Letter handstamps of Falmouth (2), London (3), Gravesend (3) or Portsmouth, also hand coloured prints of "The Thames" East Indiaman (one cover endorsed by the Thames) or the Gravesend Steam Packet. (9+). £100-120
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1825-35 Entire letters from India with boxed "INDIA LETTER / PORTSMOUTH" in red (2) or black, endorsed by the "Ganges", H.M.S. "Harrier" or H.M.S. "Success", and 1837 entire letter from Mauritius to Bordeaux "Care of E. Robinson, London", endorsed "pr Lord Saumarez" with boxed "INDIA LETTER / DEAL". (4). £100-120
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Cork. 1771 Entire letter from Kingston, Jamaica (the letter mentioning the recent earthquake) to London, endorsed "P. His Majestys Ship Carysford, Wm Hay Commr, Q.D.C" landed at Cork, handstamped straight line "CORK" and "SHIP" (Rob. S1), backstamped with Bishop Marks of Dublin (Feb 14) and London, light vertical file folds, otherwise fine and scarce. Photo on Page 39. £300-400
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Dartmouth. 1787 (Sep 1) Entire letter to London, headed "off the Start Point", with a fine first type "DARTMOUTH / SHIP LRE" (Rob. S1), the writer reporting his arrival off England after a fine but long passage from George Town which he left on July 17th. A fine letter, this Ship Letter handstamp scarce so fine. Photo on Page 39. £200-250
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Dartmouth/Stokenham. 1832 (Mar 28) Entire letter from St. Vincent containing the printed monthly statistical account of Parkhill Estate completed with details of the estates slaves (116 men + 116 women including 26 children under ten) and how they are employed, animals, and the total sugar produced, addressed to Scotland. Landed at the small South Devon port of Stokenham where it was handstamped "No. 1", then taken to the head office at Dartmouth and handstamped "Dartmouth / Penny Post" and "DARTMOUTH / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S3), a scarce and unusual Ship Letter with interesting contents from St. Vincent. Photo on Page 39. £400-500
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Deal. 1838 Entire letter from St Vincent to London endorsed "Consignees Letter" and "Pr James Cruikshank" handstamped "DEAL / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S8) in black and "(crown) / EXEMPT SHIP LR" of London in red (Ex 1), an attractive exempt ship letter. Photo on Page 39. £500-550
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Dublin. 1840 (Jan 24) Entire letter from Havana to London endorsed by the Falmouth Packet Lapwing, the mails actually landed at Dublin (the ship presumably being blown off-course by contrary winds), backstamped at Dublin (Mar 10) and London, charged the 2/3 packet rate, with circular framed "L" handstamp in red, fine and unusual. £100-120
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Falmouth. 1809 Entire letter written from Duanesburgh to England, endorsed "Postage Paid to N. York 17/100, By the Packet" and "Linen 6 Decem. Paid 17" with green dated "AMERICA / F" datestamp on the front, applied in the Falmouth Packet Office, a little strengthening at some folds, otherwise fine. £120-150
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Falmouth. 1814 (May 20) Entire letter from Mawnan near Falmouth to an M.P at the House of Commons in London, handstamped in error with red oval "SHIP LETTER / (crown) / FALMOUTH" (Rob. S4), a cross drawn through the Ship Letter handstamp when the error was noticed and red "FALMOUTH" handstamp applied, the 1/- charge crossed out and delivered free due to the addressee being an M.P. An extraordinary error and a spectacular looking entire. Photo on Page 39. £700-800
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Falmouth. 1831 Entire letter from Buenos Ayres to Scotland "p. Lady Mary Pelham Pkt", backstamped green "BUENOS AYRES / O" with green boxed Scottish additional " 1/2" on the front, both applied in the Falmouth Packet Office. £100-120
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Falmouth. 1836 (July 4) Entire letter from Macao to London endorsed "P. Sarah" backstamped boxed "INDIA LETTER / FALMOUTH (Rob. In1, 50x15mm) in a light red, overstruck by a similar (but 48x14mm) India letter handstamp in a darker red with a second strike alongside, these both then overstruck with red "SHIP LETTER / FALMOUTH" (Rob. S7) with a third strike on the front, these last five ship and India letter marks all matching the dark red London c.d.s so presumably applied in the London Ship Letter office, charged 1/8. An extraordinary item with six ship or India letter handstamps, apparently from three differing handstamp devices, showing the Post Offices utter confusion over the letter's origin and therefore its postal charge. Photo on Page 39. £800-1,000
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Hastings. 1835 Entire letter from Rio de Janeiro to London per "Albion" backstamped "HASTINGS / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S3) in black, overstruck by red "INDIA LETTER / HASTINGS" (Rob. In1) applied in the London Ship Letter Office with matching red c.d.s. An unusual alteration from a ship letter to India letter, apparently done in error as the India letter rate did not apply to mail from Brazil. Photo on Page 39. £400-500
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Helston. 1780 Entire letter from Antigua "P Lt. French" to Sir William Codrington in London, handstamped "HELSTONE" with manuscript "Ship Ltr" alongside. Redirected to Tewkesbury, backstamped with "6/SE" and "7/SE" Bishop Marks, "RB" receiver, and "WOTTON / UNDER / EDGE". The unique manuscript Ship Letter of Helston (which did not have a Ship Letter handstamp until 1831, of which very few examples are recorded). An exceptional Ship Letter from this small Cornish port. Photo on Page 39. £1,000-1,200
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Hull - Ship Letters via Altona. 1837-39 Entire letters from Hull, Gateshead, or Newcastle to Copenhagen all with Hull Ship Letter handstamps (S8 in black or red, S9 in blue) and oval framed "ALTONA / SCHIFFS-BRIEF", fine and unusual (3). £180-220
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Hull. 1832-73 Entire letters or entires to or from Europe all with Hull Ship Letter handstamps comprising types S5 (4), S7 in black (scarce, only recorded 1835), S8 in red, S9 in red, blue or black, S11 in blue (2) or green (scarce, only recorded 1844), S12 in blue (2), S13 in black (scarce, only recorded 1854) or S14 (2), the final entire with the distinctive octagonal framed "PD" of Hull in red, one 1846 entire from St. Petersburg with "VIA HULL" handstamp, most unusually fine strikes, written up on pages. (17). £450-550
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Hull. 1887-88 Swedish and Norwegian 10ore postal stationery postcards to London or Ireland both cancelled by "HULL / 383" duplexs with circular undated "SWEDEN / BY · STEAMER" or "NORWAY / BY · STEAMER", the Norway card with light folds, otherwise both fine and attractive. (2). Photo on Page 39. £180-220
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Kingsbridge. 1838 Entire letter from Sydney with red oval "POST PAID SHIP LTR / SYDNEY" datestamp, endorsed "P. Spartan", backstamped red boxed "INDIA LETTER / KINGSBRIDGE" (Rob. In. 3) and matching red London c.d.s. A scarce India letter handstamp only recorded in 1838, probably applied in the London Ship Letter Office. Photo on Page 41. £240-280
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Lewes/Seaford. 1835 Entire letter from Singapore to London "P Jane Brown" landed at Seaford, backstamped "SEAFORD" undated circle and handstamped "LEWES / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S2) in black, overstruck by red "INDIA LETTER / LEWES" (Rob. In.1) in the London Ship Letter Office with a further strike on the reverse, marked "1oz" and charged 3/-. Internal tape repairs to left edge and a vertical file fold, but a scarce ship and India letter combination. £200-250
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Milford. 1814 Entire letter from Antigua to Clement Tudway in Somerset endorsed "P. H.M.S Benbow" with red oval "Ship Letter / (crown) / MILFORD" (Rob. S2), fine and exceptionally rare. Robertson only recorded one other example of this Ship Letter handstamp, used in 1860! Photo on Page 41. £800-1,000
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Penzance. 1831 Entire letter from the Cape of Good Hope to London with "POST OFFICE / (crown) / SIMONS TOWN" and a superb Cape Town datestamp on the front, backstamped "PENZANCE / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S4) overstruck by boxed "INDIA LETTER / PENZANCE" (Rob. In.1), charged 1/4. An unusual correction from a ship letter to an India letter. Photo on Page 41. £400-500
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Penzance. 1836 Entire to London "P. George & Mary" backstamped black "PENZANCE / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S4) overstruck in the London Ship Letter Office with a red crutched cross handstamp and handstamped red boxed "INDIA LETTER / PENZANCE" (Rob. In.1) and "INDIA LETTER" (Rob. In9 of London), an exceptional combination of four differing handstamps. Photo on Page 41. £600-800
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Portsmouth. 1838 Entire letter from Batavia to London "P. Royal Sovereign", the front with black "PORTSMOUTH / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S13) overstruck in the London Ship Letter Office by red boxed "INDIA LETTER / PORTSMOUTH" (Rob. In4) with a second strike alongside, reverse with matching red London Sunday c.d.s. An attractive and unusual ship and India letter combination. Photo on Page 41. £300-400
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Romney. 1816 Entire letter from Mauritius to Bordeaux endorsed "via England" and "P. Isle of Wight", Mauritius Post Office datestamps on both sides, backstamped boxed "NEW ROMNEY / INDIA LETTER" (Rob. In3), fine and scarce. Photo on Page 41. £150-180
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St. Mawes. 1831 (May 31) Entire letter from St. Vincent to London, containing the monthly return for the Cane Grove Estate giving details of the numbers of negroes employed, animals, and produce, with fine "SHIP LETTER / ST MAWES". Small tears at base and to flap both with tape staining, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 41. £250-300
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St. Mawes. 1834 (Sept 6) Entire letter from Berbice, British Honduras, containing the monthly return for the Schepmoed Plantation, detailing the costs of apprenticed labour and the total coffee produced, sent to London endorsed by the "Sir Rowland Hill", handstamped "SHIP LETTER / ST. MAWES", fine and scarce. Photo on Page 41. £300-350
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Swansea. 1844 Entire letter from Valparaiso to Bordeaux "Per Mary & Anne" backstamped "SWANSEA / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S4), front with red boxed "COLONIES / &c ART. 12". £100-120
| Mobile Box Mail | |
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