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1857 Entire from Sydney to Scotland franked NSW 1/- pair (cut to shape) with bars obliterators, endorsed "p. Great Britain", superb red octagonal "PAID 22 AU 57 / LIVERPOOL / SHIP" (Rob. S17) applied upon arrival on the front. A rare ship letter, only recorded used on this one day on part of the mail landed by the S.S "Great Britain". Photo on Page 24. £1,500-1,800
| Holyhead & Kingstown Packet | |
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1859-1906 Covers and cards with "H&K PACT" transit datestamps including first single arc type without letter (night boat) or letter A (2, day boat); single arc datestamps with codes 1 (5), 2 (2), 3, 4, 5 (2), 6 (2), 8, 9 (5), 10, 11, 12 (2); double ring "French" type codes 1, 8, 9 (2), 13, etc. One card from Skibbereen to Dublin missent to the packet, and an 1895 circular from Grantham to Dublin charged 1d with "Closed contrary / to regulations / 75" and H&K Pact single ring code 5 and double ring code 8 backstamps both applied on the same day. (41). £300-400
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1861 1d Pink postal stationery envelope with black mourning border posted from Trim to H.M.S "Edgar" at Greenwich, the c.d.s applied away from the embossed stamp which was cancelled by the "H&K PACT / 186" duplex with six thin bars above and below the 186 number, and five side bars. Photo on Page 24. £160-180
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1862 Cover franked 1d from Liverpool to Cork, redirected to Dublin and then apparently returned to Liverpool, backstamped with an "H&K PACT / A" datestamp and boxed "MISSENT / to / HD&KN PACKET", opened out to display both sides, otherwise fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 24. £650-750
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1863 Mourning envelope to Edinburgh, posted at Monkstown with c.d.s on reverse, the 1d red (placed in the upper left corner) cancelled by partial "H&K PACT / 186" duplex with seven bars below and six bars above 186 and four side bars, a second complete strike in the upper right corner, attractive and unusual. Photo on Page 24. £180-200
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1863 Mourning cover to England, posted on the steamer, the 1d red cancelled by "H&K PACT / 186" duplex with four thick bars above, below and at the sides of 186. Photo on Page 24. £180-200
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1864 Covers both posted at Monkstown with 1d reds cancelled on the Packet by "186" obliterators, reverse with Monkstown c.d.s and "H&K PACT / 2" single arc datestamp used on the day boat. Scarce, Lovelock only recorded two examples of this code 2 datestamp. (2). £120-150
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1883-1923 Cards (11), cover and pieces (3) posted and cancelled on the H&K Packet with 1883 ½d postcard uprated ½d both cancelled by small double ring c.d.s code 9, 1904-12 picture postcards with c.d.s codes C1 of "Connaught", L1 or L2 of "Leinster", M1, M2 or M3 (2) of "Munster", U1 or U2 of "Ulster", and 1923 cover with Ireland ½d + 2d tied by the final type double ring c.d.s. One card from the "Munster" only franked ½d, with an unusually fine strike of boxed "POSTED WITHOUT LATE FEE" and "1d" (some creasing), also four postcards of ships. (19). £380-450
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1903 Cover from Paris to Dublin franked 1f, edge faults repaired by three Officially Sealed labels (one initialled and dated in pencil), the reverse endorsed "Received frayed from H&K Packet bag in Postmans Office, G.P.O 13/7/03" with an H&K Packet c.d.s "U3" applied on S.S "Ulster", very unusual. £150-180
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Wreck of S.S "Leinster". 1918 (Oct 10) Cover from Dublin to London bearing three ½d stamps, handstamped violet boxed "SALVED FROM / S.S "LEINSTER". The H&K Packet "Leinster" was torpedoed by a German submarine on October 10th and sank with the loss of 450 lives. Very little mail was recovered, with only part of the salvaged mail receiving this cachet. Very scarce. Photo on Page 24. £700-800
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Picture Postcards. 1904-14 Picture postcards including coloured company cards with undivided backs (4), vertical poster types (2), divided back cards with white borders (3) or without borders (2), "On board R.M.S Munster" cards with a black vignette of the ship (2), and other cards of ships, Holyhead or Kingstown, also a small 1914 City of Dublin Steam Packet Co. advertising booklet. (28). £100-130
| Mobile Boxes & Cross Channel Mail |
The Mobile Box (or Boite Mobile) service was established in 1843, and operated between certain English and Channel Island ports and ports in France. British M.B handstamps were used from 1844 until 1940; French B.M datestamps were first issued in 1857 although some ports incorrectly used entry datestamps or Paquebot marks on Boite Mobile mail at certain times. The following fine collection also includes some Channel Islands mail sent directly to France by steamer and not by the Boite Mobile service.
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1844 Stampless cover to Brighton backstamped "SHIP LETTER / DOVER" with datestamps of Dover, London and Brighton, the front with black boxed "MB", charged the ship letter rate of 8d. Very rare, just two examples of this Dover MB recorded, both used in 1844 in conjunction with the Ship Letter handstamp. Photo on Page 24. £350-450
| Folkestone | |
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1847 Entire letter from Boulogne to Brighton with the distinctive small boxed "M-B" in black, backstamped at Folkestone, London and Brighton, charged 10d, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 26. £200-250
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1847 Cover with enclosed letter to Portsmouth, a superb boxed "M-B" in black on the front, backstamped at Folkestone, London and Portsmouth, charged 10d. A fine and scarce cover. Photo on Page 26. £200-250
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1848 Entire to London handstamped "M-B" in black, backstamped at Folkestone and London, charged 1/3, fine and scarce. £180-220
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1852 Small cover to Exeter with superb boxed "M-B" and a Folkestone datestamp both in blue on the front, backstamped at London and Exeter, charged 10d. The only example of this Folkestone M-B handstamp we have seen in blue ink, not recorded in that colour by Robertson or Tabeart, very attractive and rare. Photo on Page 26. £300-400
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1862 Cover from Boulogne (pencil recipients endorsement on reverse) to Yorkshire bearing France imperf 20c pair (four margins) cancelled by Folkestone 303 duplexs with red boxed "FOLKSTONE / FRANCE / M.B / JU 27 / 1862" alongside. Light crease through the M.B datestamp and small tear at upper edge, otherwise superb, the earliest recorded example of this very scarce M.B datestamp. Photo on Page 26. £600-800
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1873 Cover to London with France 30c tied by Folkestone 303 duplex and red boxed "FOLKSTONE / FRANCE / M.B / DE 19 / 1873", small tear at upper edge, otherwise fine and possibly the latest recorded example of this rare M.B datestamp. Photo on Page 26. £600-700
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1888 Cover to Brentford with France 25c tied by Folkestone squared circle (Aug 1) with the distinctive boxed "M-B" alongside. A remarkable late use of this handstamp which is recorded on stampless covers of 1845-53 and was then replaced by the boxed datestamp (recorded 1862-73), the original 1845 handstamp presumably being found and used on this one occasion in 1888. Ex Goodman collection. Photo on Page 26. £700-800
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1856-1906 Entire letter and postcards (2) sent between Boulogne and Folkestone, comprising 1856 letter from Boulogne to London posted in Folkestone franked 1d, handstamped oval "FAULKNERS / FOLKSTONE / CONTINENTAL PARCEL OFFICE" and tiny boxed "Too Late"; 1881 1d postcard to Paris, written at Folkestone but posted in Boulogne, marked as invalid with a "T" handstamp applied but not apparently charged (large closed tear at base); and 1906 picture postcard with France 10c cancelled at Folkestone and handstamped "PAQUEBOT". (3). £140-160
| London | |
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1843 Entire letter from Boulogne and an entire from Calais, both to London with red "SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamps, the Calais letter endorsed "paquebot par" and "Paid" without any British charge shown, possibly sent by Mobile Box; the Boulogne letter handstamped "Par paquebot particulier" charged the 10d packet rate, showing that it went via the Mobile Box. Also an 1837 entire from Le Havre with a red London Ship Letter datestamp. An unusual group, the Mobile Box service commenced in June 1843 but M.B handstamps were not introduced until 1844. (3). £120-150
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1844-48 Stampless entires from Le Havre to London both with red boxed "M.B", also handstamped "SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp (S28) or straight line "SHIP-LETTER" (S36), the first endorsed "p. James Watt" charged 10d, the other charged 1/3. A good pair, the 1844 entire the first year of use of the M.B handstamp. (2). £250-300
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1844 Entires from Calais or Le Havre to London, the Calais entire with red boxed "M.B" and "SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp (S28) in red, charged 10d; the Le Havre entire with boxed "M.B" and straight line "SHIP LETTER" (S36) in black, file folds, otherwise a fine pair from the first year of use of M.B handstamps. (2). £220-260
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1846 Entire to London endorsed "Bill of Lading, pr Courier" and "Consignees letter" therefore exempt from postage, handstamped boxed "M.B", "(crown) / EXEMPT SHIP LR" (Ex2) and "SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp all in black, very fine and unusual. Photo on Page 26. £300-350
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1846 Entire to London endorsed "Bill of Lading, pr Courier" and "Consignees letter" therefore exempt from postage, handstamped boxed "M.B", "(crown) / EXEMPT SHIP LR" (Ex2) and "SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp all in red, very fine and unusual. Photo on Page 28. £300-350
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1852 Entire to Messrs Rothschild in London, addressed as "consignee of goods per Flame Steamer" and endorsed "Bill of Lading" but still charged the full 1/3 rate, presumably in error. Handstamped red boxed "M.B" and "SHIP-LETTER / LONDON" (S29) incorrectly dated MR 3, a further strike deliberately applied to obliterate this incorrect datestamp and two further strikes dated MR 4 applied. A very unusual entire. Photo on Page 28. £250-300
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1898-99 Covers posted on the high seas with London MB datestamps applied instead of a Paquebot handstamp, the first franked 2½d with enclosed letter written on the "Arabia" off Crete, the second an India ½a stationery envelope to Germany bearing ½d + 1d pair, written on March 26th with London MB cancels applied a week later. Two unusual covers (2). Photo on Page 28. £120-140
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1901-12 Postcards with London MB datestamps, nine with French stamps apparently sent on the Dieppe to Newhaven route (one bearing 1c, 2c, 3c and 4c stamps), four others posted on the high seas with the London MB c.d.s used instead of a Paquebot handstamp. Three of these Paquebot uses with GB stamps, written from Beyrout, Suez or Las Palmas (with R.M.S.P "Segura" cachet), the other very unusually bearing a New South Wales 1d with a Gibraltar c.d.s and "PAQUEBOT" handstamp alongside and a "T" handstamp crossed out. (13). £100-120
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1935-37 Cards from Denmark with London MB datestamps incorrectly applied, one card bearing Denmark 10ore pair, the other a stampless Fishery Investigation card thrown into a bottle in the North Sea and found near Esbjerg 72 days later, 278 miles from where it was released. Very unusual, the Fishery Investigation card almost certainly unique with an M.B datestamp. (2). £100-120
| Southampton | |
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1841 Imperf 1d red, three margins, just touched at upper left, cancelled by boxed "M.B" in blue, exceptionally rare used as a cancellation. Photo on Page 136. £200-240
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1844 Entire letter from the Albion Hotel in Le Havre to the Anchor Brewery in London ordering two casks of best ale to be sent by return on the "James Watt", backstamped with boxed "M.B" and a Southampton datestamp (June 20) both in black, London arrival c.d.s, charged 10d. Piece torn away from the upper right corner of upper flap (not affecting any writing or handstamps) and filing notes on reverse but the only recorded example of this Southampton M.B in black. £200-240
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1846 Entire letter from Rouen to Cornwall charged 10d, with boxed "M.B" and a Southampton backstamp both in blue, datestamps of London and Hayle, fine and attractive. Photo on Page 28. £200-240
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1847 Entire from Le Havre to London endorsed "Per steamer via Southampton" with senders cachet, boxed "M.B" and Southampton backstamp all in blue, charged 1/3. A superb strike of the "M.B" handstamp. Photo on Page 28. £200-240
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1864 Entire from Le Havre to Liverpool with France 40c cancelled by "723" horizontal obliterator and boxed "SOUTHAMPTON / FRANCE / MB / AP 30 / 1864" below, London and Liverpool datestamps and senders cachet. Light horizontal file fold, otherwise fine and an early use of this datestamp. Photo on Page 28. £250-300
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1874 Entire letter from Le Havre to Nottingham with France 30c cancelled by "723" vertical obliterator with boxed "SOUTHAMPTON / FRANCE / MB / JA 3 / 1874" alongside, senders cachet, very fine and attractive. Photo on Page 28. £300-350
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1877 Entire letter from St. Malo to Barnstaple with France 5c and 20c each cancelled boxed "SOUTHAMPTON / FRANCE / M.B / MR 20 / 1877" with a third strike alongside the stamps, very scarce so superb. Ex Goodman collection. Photo on Page 30. £400-500
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1882 10c Postal stationery postcard to London cancelled "723" vertical obliterator with boxed "SOUTHAMPTON / FRANCE / M.B / FE 9 / 82" alongside and a red London arrival c.d.s, very fine. Photo on Page 30. £200-240
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1883 Entire from Le Havre to London with France 25c cancelled by boxed "SOUTHAMPTON / FRANCE / M.B / MR 22 / 83", vertical file folds, otherwise fine and attractive. Photo on Page 30. £160-180
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1939 (Oct 22) - 1940 (Feb 4) Covers to the same address in Bournemouth all franked 1½d in British stamps, cancelled by the final type "SOUTHAMPTON / FRANCE / M.B" c.d.s (MB3c, used 1938-40), all fine and commercial. Scarce World War Two uses, the final 1940 cover a very late use from the final year of the service. (3). Photo on Page 30. £180-200
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c.1860-1935 Covers and cards (15), pieces (11) and stamps (11) with "723" cancels on French stamps (5, two on piece) or various Southampton M.B datestamps (32), one 1914 c.d.s on a KEVII 1d reply card (original St. Malo arrival c.d.s on reverse), the others all on French stamps with boxed datestamps (6, two on piece), 1908 card from St. Malo to Jersey, 1911 card to Le Havre franked 5c and charged 10c postage due, 1934 cover unusually sent to Barbados, etc. (37). £150-180
| Channel Islands | |
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1803-77 Entire letters or covers all sent between France and the Channel islands via London including 1803 letter written from Paris to Guernsey posted in London, 1839 entire letter from New York to Guernsey sent via Le Havre containing a drawing of an eagle copied from the American coat of arms, the others all sent by packet via Calais with covers from Jersey or Guernsey franked 4d (4) or 1870 ½d strip of five, etc. (11). £180-200
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c.1870-1939 Cards (2), pieces (6) and stamps (20), cancels on French stamps comprising "409" (3, two on piece), "324" (2, one on piece), Guernsey c.d.s. (8) or Jersey M.B datestamps (13, one on a 1910 postcard to Jersey but missent to Guernsey, three on piece), also a card from Jersey to France sent via Southampton and Le Havre. (28). £120-150
| Guernsey | |
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1903 Picture postcard from St. Malo to Jersey franked France 10c cancelled by Guernsey squared circle with superb red "PAQUEBOT" handstamp (Hosking 22, first recorded year of use), a little light staining, otherwise fine and very scarce. £120-150
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1928 Picture postcard from St. Malo to Guernsey franked France 90c cancelled by Guernsey c.d.s with violet "PAQUEBOT" (Hosking 340, only recorded year of use), fine and very scarce. Also 1969-78 Guernsey Paquebots (3) on philatelic covers or cards. (4). £140-160
| Jersey | |
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1881 Cover from St. Malo to Jersey with France 25c cancelled by boxed "JERSEY / FRANCE / M.B / DE 20 / 81" second type datestamp, the date incorrect, therefore obliterated with the "409" numeral, a further M.B datestamp correctly dated DE 21 then applied alongside, fine and very unusual. Photo on Page 30. £300-350
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1895 Cover franked 25c and 1903 picture postcard franked 5c to Jersey, both cancelled by the third type Jersey M.B boxed datestamp (with curved sides) and handstamped "PAQUEBOT" (Hosking 22 in violet on the 1895 cover and Hosking 336 on the postcard), also 1973-76 Paquebots on philatelic covers (2). The 1895 cover with tape stain at upper edge and a little toning, the 1903 card very fine. (4). £130-160
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1906-38 Picture postcards to Jersey bearing French stamps (3) and a 1938 cover to France bearing G.B ½d + 2d, all cancelled by third type Jersey M.B boxed datestamps. (4). £160-180
| Binic & Carteret | |
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1906-08 Picture postcards to France (4), one 1908 card from Guernsey franked KEVII 1d (on picture side) cancelled at Binic with oval framed "BM" handstamp and manuscript "Paquebot"; the other three cards from Jersey with G.B stamps cancelled at Carteret and "PAQUEBOT" handstamps. Also 1905 postcard from Paris and a 1908 Paris pneumatic post envelope both with the oval "BM" handstamp correctly used on mail posted on trams. A fine group, the Binic card scarce. (6). £120-150
| Cherbourg | |
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c.1819 Entire to the Mayor of Valogne, reverse with cachet of the French Consulate in Guernsey, handstamped "COLONIES PAR / CHERBOURG", refolded at left, otherwise fine and an uncommon early handstamp on Channel Islands mail. £80-100
| Granville | |
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1822-45 Entire letters from Jersey to France sent via Granville with "GRANDE BRETAGNE / PAR GRANVILLE" in red or black, "COLONIES PAR / GRANVILLE" in red, boxed "PAYS D'OUTREMER" and a Granville c.d.s in black, "ILES-C / GRANVILLE" or "OUTRE-MER / GRANVILLE" datestamps in red, a good lot, one apparently disinfected. (6). £300-350
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