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1902 1½d Envelope stamp, negative embossed punch proof in black on white glazed card with 32mm surround, reduced to 33x33mm, applied to a piece cut from the De La Rue striking book dated and inscribed "Nov. 22, Punch 20, 4 leads", fine, a unique archival proof. Photo on Page 106. £150-200
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1902 1½d Envelope stamp, coloured die proofs, in yellow on thin card, in yellow or purple on white or buff paper both with type S2 "SPECIMEN" handstamp, in purple or blue on card with printed type SU7 "Specimen" overprints and underprints. The 1½d yellow proof with Specimen overprint a little creased, otherwise fine. (5). Photo on Page 106. £160-200
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c.1903 Page with a printed black border and proofs of the ten ½d - 1/- P.T.P.O envelope stamps in the issued colours, each proof handstamped "SPECIMEN" (type S1), the page 336x202mm. An unusual and attractive page in fine condition, probably produced as samples. £200-250
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1902 Page from the Madagascar Post Office ledger of U.P.U Specimen stamps and stationery, bearing G.B KEVII ½d postcards in two sizes, ½d reply card, 1d postcard, 1d lettercard, ½d envelope, 1d envelopes in three differing sizes, 6d telegraph forms (2) and a 10d telegraph form, all attached to each other and applied to the page, the three telegraph forms handstamped "SPECIMEN", all handstamped red circular "POSTES ET TELEGRAPHES / COLLECTION / DE / BERNE / MADAGASCAR". A little staining and one 1d envelope torn, a unique archival page. £250-300
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c.1904 KEVII ½d Yellow-green and 1d P.T.P.O envelope stamps, sheets of paper (each 454x303mm) with 48 embossed stamps arranged in four panes of twelve, the two upper and two lower panes tete-beche, one page of 1d stamps on white wove paper, two pages of ½d or 1d stamps on laid paper with "JOHN DICKINSON & Co" watermark. Also a further plain sheet of the Dickinson watermark laid paper, these four pages contained within a fifth sheet of Dickinson watermark laid paper which is embossed with a single KGV 3d P.T.P.O envelope stamp and is inscribed "folder D" and "Unused sheet of Edward VII ½d green embossed (48 stamps), unique, only sheet extant". The sheets folded vertically between panes not affecting any of the embossed stamps, the 1d wove paper sheet with a few very minor creases, otherwise fine and rare, the ½d sheet possibly unique. (5 pages). £500-600
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1902 KEVII 1d Lettercard colour trial, the stamp, Letter Card heading and royal arms printed in deep carmine on thin glazed white card, with "SPECIMEN" overprint (type SU4) alongside the stamp, numbered "3". Fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 106. £150-180
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1902 KEVII 1d Lettercard colour trial, the stamp, Letter Card heading and royal arms printed in scarlet on thin glazed white card, with "SPECIMEN" overprint (type SU4) alongside the stamp, numbered "4" and endorsed "Sample D". Fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 106. £150-180
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1921 KGV 1½d Postcard handstamped "SPECIMEN" (Samuel type BEC 2), applied by the Bechuanaland Post Office to Specimens received from the U.P.U, probably unique. £100-120
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Telegraph Forms. 1902 KEVII 6d Telegraph forms (Huggins 17a), two forms partly stuck together, each handstamped "SPECIMEN" (type P5), sent by the U.P.U to Madagascar with two circular "POSTES ET TELEGRAPHES / COLLECTION / DE / BERNE / MADAGASCAR" cachets applied upon receipt, one form with a few faults at base, a unique item. Also a 10d KEVII telegraph form (Huggins TP59a) with the type P5 "SPECIMEN" handstamp. (3). £120-150
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Admiralty Official. 1903 KEVII 3d registration envelope with Admiralty Official overprint, used from Chatham Dockyard to Cowes, a little staining (mainly on reverse) and other minor faults, very scarce. £140-160
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Officials - Patents. 1901 KEVII 7½d Patents stamp, photographic essay applied to thick card, dated "June 20th, 01", 89x114mm. A rare essay from the De La Rue archives. Photo on Page 108. £150-180
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Officials - Patents. 1902 KEVII 7½d Patents stamp, embossed die proof in black with uncleared surround, on laid card dated "23 DEC 02" and stamped "AFTER / HARDENING", diagonal crease clear of the embossed proof, otherwise fine. Also 1903 ½d blue-green card with the Patents stamp on reverse, both stamps handstamped "SPECIMEN" (S.G. type 15), and unused 1911 card with KGV ½d stamp, reverse with the KEVII Patents stamp, the first card a little toned. A rare die proof. (3). Photo on Page 108. £200-250
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Officials - Patents. 1903 KEVII 7½d Patents stamp, negative embossed punch proof in black on white glazed card, with black surround, reduced to 29x29mm, applied to a piece cut from the De La Rue striking book, dated and inscribed "Jan 7. 03, 4 leads, Punch 28", an unusual and unique archival proof. Photo on Page 106. £160-200
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Postal Orders. 1881 QV 1/- - 20/- First Issue postal orders overprinted "SPECIMEN", the set of ten denominations, all superb. (10). £250-300
| Railways
(Also See Lot 686) | |
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1897-1911 Covers, cards and ephemera including Tourist Guides to the North Eastern, Midland and London & North Western Railways; c.1905 piece bearing KEVII 1d strip of four, 6d irregular strip of three and 2/6 strip of four perfined "G.W.R" all cancelled violet "GUARANTEE"; 1908 advertising cover for "G.W.R to the Cornish Riviera" with "G.W.R Permanent Way Assistant Engineers Office" imprint posted from Reading to the Taff Vale Railway; 1904 Canadian Pacific Railway advert cover with KEVII 1d, 2d and 4d perfined "CPR"; 1903 Midland Railway notepaper headed with a coloured train and "In Midland Express Train"; Official postcards (6) with coloured "England and Scotland East Coast Express Route" card and "L&S.W.R Services to the Continent" steamship card; 1904 Bangor & Crewe T.P.O cover franked KEVII ½d (both colours) + 1d pair, and other T.P.O covers (10), etc. (26). £220-260
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Railway Stamps. 1891-1925 Stamps comprising Hull & Barnsley 2d booklet of twenty (five stamps & cover creased); Great Northern Railway ½d newspaper stamp on W.H Smith wrapper from London to Royston; L.&S.W.R 2d newspaper stamp on an unused red "News Intelligence" envelope to the Athletic News Agency; N.E.R 2d sheet of thirty; Midland 2d, L&S.W.R 2d and L.B&S.C.R "4" on 3d sheets of twelve, etc. Also a British Rail 15p sheet. (127 stamps). £250-300
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T.P.Os. 1884-1910 Covers and cards including Caledonian T.P.O Day Up c.d.s on Balmoral Castle envelopes (2, one with enclosed letter), 1897 1d postcard to France bearing four 1d lilacs with Continental Night Mail C.X datestamps, 1901 South Wales S.C Night Up, and various Midland T.P.O datestamps. (13). £100-120
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1884 Cover to India franked 2½d blue plate 23 and 3d on 3d each cancelled "LIVERPOOL & LONDON T.P.O" c.d.s, Sea Post Office and Bhuj backstamps. Flap missing, otherwise fine, a very scarce T.P.O cancel on cover and an unusual 3d late fee rate. Photo on Page 110. £380-420
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1891 Cover to Paris, 2½d postage + 4d late fee paid by ½d + 1d + 2½d (2) cancelled by "CONTINENTAL NIGHT MAIL / CS / 2" duplexs, used on mail posted into the late fee box at Cannon Street, sorted and cancelled on the Continental Night Mail Sorting Carriage from London to Dover. A fine and attractive late fee cover. Photo on Page 110. £200-250
| Registered & Express Mail
(Also See Lot 737) | |
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Express. 1892 (Mar 23) Cover sent within Edinburgh, endorsed "E No. 74" with red oval "POST OFFICE / EXPRESS / PAID" cachet. A scarce early express letter, sent just eight months after the start of the express service outside London. £80-100
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1902 Registered cover to Switzerland franked KEVII ½d + 9d, and 1906 2d registration envelope to Germany insured for £47, bearing KEVII 2½d + 1/-, two fine and unusual frankings. (2). £100-120
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1918-37 Registered inland mail, covers written up on pages including scarce 4d + 1d postal stationery registration envelope used from Harrogate, etc. (40). £100-120
| Royalty | |
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c.1818-1908 Ephemera and notepaper including 1818 cards with engraved portraits of The Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Gloucester, Duchess of York or Princess Augusta; Carte de Visite photos (15); unused Prince of Wales notepaper; 1882 and 1890 Buckingham Palace music programmes; 1906 G.E.R time-table for the Queens journey from St. Pancras to Wolferton; 1908 Windsor Castle theatrical programme, etc. (30). £200-240
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1821 George IV Coronation admission ticket to Westminster Abbey numbered 4422, plain portion below inscribed "North Door Upper Boxes" with printed "Howard of Effingham" signature, this portion separated from the printed ticket; also Pass Tickets for Westminster Abbey and Westminster Hall, all three superbly printed by Whiting in three colours using the Congreve method, embossed borders by Dobbs with the embossed seal of the Earl Marshall below. Scarce early examples of Congreve printing by Whiting, similar examples illustrated in the recent book on Postal Reforms by J. Grimwood-Taylor. (3). £400-500
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King Edward VII. 1842-1910 Ephemera and postcards including 1842 ticket to the dinner at Tonbridge to celebrate the christening of the Prince of Wales; 1872 St. Pauls Cathedral ticket to the thanksgiving service for the Prince's recovery from typhoid; 1902 St. Pauls Cathedral order of service for the King during his illness; 1902 Westminster Abbey Coronation proceedings (2); booklet with a coloured pull-out picture of the Coronation procession; 1902 Naval Review ticket to S.S "Carisbrooke"; private tickets to view the Coronation (3), 1902 St Pauls Cathedral thanksgiving service for the King's recovery ticket; notice of a Privy Council meeting on the royal yacht at Cowes; piece signed "Appd, Edward R&I"; 1910 Christmas card with mourning border signed by his sister Princess Beatrice; photos, postcards, etc. (36). £200-240
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King Edward VII. 1887 (Oct 25) Cover with "Marlborough House" flap initialled by the Prince of Wales, addressed in his handwriting to "Major H.G Miles, D.A.Q.M.G, South Camp, Aldershot", a 1d lilac tied by "LONDON / A / VR" hooded circle datestamp; and a photo of the Prince of Wales with a piece cut from a letter attached below, "Yrs v. sincerely, A.E". Also 1897 Diamond Jubilee procession H.M Office of Works ticket to the War Office stands. (3). £120-140
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King Edward VII. 1893 (May 9) Cover with the Prince of Wales crest on the flap, addressed in his handwriting to "Mrs A. Smith, 53 Egerton Gardens, S.W", franked by a 1d lilac tied by London S.W duplex. The enclosed letter on "Marlborough Club, Pall Mall S.W" notepaper, written and signed by the Prince of Wales, "Saturday Morning, Dear Mrs Smith. Many thanks for your kind letter of congratulation on my winning the "Grand National" yesterday. It was a very fine race and "Kinsman" ran remarkably well, believe me. Sincerely yours, Albert Edward". A few cover faults, the letter fine. £150-180
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1897-1911 Covers all with a royal origin, all addressed to the sculptor Emil Fuchs, who sculpted the head of King Edward VII used for the postage stamps. Comprising covers franked 1d lilac posted at London S.W (2, one with crown on flap, the other initialled "AE", by the future Edward VII?), Windsor (initialled, "Windsor Castle" flap), Cowes or Kings Lynn (2, both with "York Cottage, Sandringham" flaps), a cover franked KEVII 1d ("Buckingham Palace" flap) and stampless Official Paid covers with E.R Cypher ("Sandringham" flap), Privy Purse Buckingham Palace cachets (2) or Lord Chamberlain St. James's Palace cachet. (11). £200-240
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King Edward VII. A large fine real photograph of the Prince of Wales, mounted on card, signed "Albert Edward, 1899", 242x288mm. £300-400
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Queen Alexandra. A large fine real photograph of the Queen in her Coronation robes and crown, mounted on W. & D. Downey card, signed "Alexandra, Coronation Day August 9 1902", 184x298mm. £300-400
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1904 (May 31) Registered cover (with a crown on the flap) to the USA, franked KEVII 2d + 5d each tied by "BUCKINGHAM PALACE" c.d.s, a third strike alongside, backstamped in London and USA. A scarce registered cover. Photo on Page 112. £380-420
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King Edward VII. 1904 (Sept. 12) Three page letter to Lady Savile, written by the King on notepaper headed with a superb engraving of the "Monarch of the Glen" Stag picture by Landseer, with "BALMORAL" below, signed "Edward R", the envelope addressed in the King's handwriting to Lady Savile at Rufford Abbey, Notts, with Royal Cypher handstamp, scarce red "OFFICIAL-PAID / (crown)" c.d.s and an Aberdeen c.d.s alongside, backstamped at Newark. The King thanks Lord & Lady Savile for their kindness and hospitality. The envelope with a few opening tears, otherwise fine, the Official Paid c.d.s used when the King was travelling and away from any of the royal residences. A fine letter on superb notepaper, the first example we have seen (cover + letter). Photo on Page 110. £650-750
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King Edward VII. A fine large real photo of the King on W. & D. Downey card, signed "Edward R&I, 1907", 190x328mm. £300-350
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King Edward VII/Queen Alexandra. 1907-08 Registered covers to Copenhagen with KEVII stamps tied by "BUCKINGHAM PALACE" datestamps, the 1907 cover addressed in the King's handwriting to His Majesty The King of Denmark franked 3d + 4d; the 1908 cover addressed in the handwriting of Queen Alexandra to His Royal Highness Prince John of Glocksberg, royal seals on reverse. Both covers evidently retained by an autograph collector at the Danish Court, red labels applied to show the sender and neat notes indicating the senders and recipients on the reverse. A unique pair of registered covers from the King and Queen posted at Buckingham Palace, minor stains, otherwise fine. (2). Photo on Page 112. £650-750
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King Edward VII. 1909 (Aug 28) Three page letter to Lady Savile, written by the King on notepaper headed with a superb coloured picture of Marienbad, where the King was then holidaying, evidently sent back to London by royal courier and posted registered from Buckingham Palace, the registered cover addressed in the King's hand to Lady Savile at Rufford Abbey, Notts, with Royal Cypher cachet, "BUCKINGHAM PALACE" c.d.s and red London Official Paid c.d.s, backstamped at Derby and Newark. The King apologises for being unable to visit this year, recommends Sidney Greville for their Doncaster Party and has received a letter from Lady Hesketh about her eldest son's intended marriage - a bad business which he must be mad to contemplate. A fine letter on superb notepaper, originating in Austria (now the Czech Republic) but posted from London. (Cover + letter). Photo on Page 110. £700-800
| Telegraphs | |
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1859-76 Telegraph forms and envelopes, the collection comprising Electric & International Telegraph Co. message forms (20) and receipts (3); Electric Telegraph Co. message forms (3), receipt and delivery envelope; United Kingdom Electric Telegraph Co. Ltd form; scarce Midland Railway Telegraphic Despatch message forms (2), one with the envelope bearing a Midland Railway label sent as a prepaid parcel from Clapham Station to Bentham (torn upon opening); and Post Office Telegraphs forms (9), also an 1862 Post Office receipt for the rent of a private letter bag. (42). £200-250
| Uniform Penny Post | |
First Day Uses & Charge Marks from the Peter Chadwick Gold Medal Collection | |
Most of these items are illustrated in the book "Unpaid Charge Marks of the UPP of G.B 1840-1853" by Peter Chadwick, privately published in 2021. This excellent book may be purchased from Argyll Etkin at £20, inclusive of UK inland postage (postage extra on overseas orders - please enquire).Also see lots 635 and 637. |
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First Day of Uniform Penny Postage. 1840 (Jan 10) Entire letter from the Excise Office in Glasgow to Edinburgh, the 1d postage prepaid with red manuscript "1". Paid datestamps of Glasgow and Edinburgh (Jan 11), vertical file fold, otherwise fine and scarce. Photo on Page 112. £550-650
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First Day of Uniform Penny Postage - York. 1840 (Jan 10) Entire letter from York to Exeter with clear blue York datestamp and handstruck "Pd1" in red, London Paid (Jan 11) transit datestamp. A fine first day Uniform Penny Post letter with the only recorded use of this York handstamp on this day. James Grimwood-Taylor in "International Postal Reforms" records first day 1d handstamps from London and Liverpool, and other possible first day uses from Carlisle and Chester; these others are all plain "1d" or "1" handstamps with the exception of Carlisle (which may not exist on this day). Uniform Penny Postage was announced in the London Gazette of 28 December 1839, so Postmasters had twelve full days in which to have "1" and "2" handstamps made, but clearly very few acted with sufficient speed to have handstamps ready by January 10th. Probably the finest known U.P.P first day Paid handstamp cover known, with R.P.S Certificate (2016). Photo on Page 112. £1,000-1,200
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First Day of Uniform Penny Postage. 1840 (Jan 10) Insurance questionnaire posted within London prepaid 1d, with red "Chief Office / 1d PAID" and a fine JA 10 backstamp, the questionnaire completed, turned and posted back the following day, posted unpaid with "Tower St" handstamp and "2" charge mark. An exceptional item showing prepaid and unpaid charges on the first and second days of Uniform Penny Postage, folded to display both address panels and the JA 10 datestamp. Photo on Page 112. £600-700
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First Day of Uniform Penny Postage. 1840 (Jan 10) Entire letter from Hereford to London, posted unpaid with manuscript "2" charge, backstamped at Hereford and London (Jan 11). The letter comprises an insurance questionnaire, completed on Jan. 9th. A good unpaid UPP first day 2d charge. Photo on Page 112. £650-700
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First Day of Uniform Penny Postage - Catterick. 1840 (Jan 10) Front sent by the Duke of Leeds to London, headed as a free frank "Catterick January ten 1840" and signed, but correctly treated as an unpaid letter as the MP's free franking privilege ceased on January 9th, with a blue "2" charge mark. Despite Postmasters having a good twelve days warning of Uniform Penny Postage, and the double rate charge on nearly all unpaid or underpaid mail being 2d, Catterick remains the only provincial office known to have used a "2" charge mark on the first day (with a few London "2" marks also known on this day, using the existing Local Post charge marks). James Grimwood-Taylor records one cover and two fronts with this first day "2" of Catterick (all failed free franks from the Duke of Leeds) in his book "International Postal Reforms", and illustrates one of these on page 619. A very rare first day "2" charge mark. Photo on Page 114. £1,000-1,200
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London. 1840 (Feb 3) Entire letter from London to Edinburgh prepaid 1d, found to be over ½oz so handstamped circular double ring "MORE / TO / PAY" unusually struck in red (Jay 253), only charged the single 1d deficiency. An unusual error, the new UPP rules misunderstood by some Postmasters; later in February 1840 Rowland Hill sent a notice to Postmasters reminding them that all underpaid mail must be charged with twice the deficiency. Photo on Page 114. £150-180
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London - 4d Charge. 1840 (Apr 25) Large part entire (missing the right and lower flaps) posted unpaid to "The Paymaster General of Her Majestys Out Pensioners, Chelsea", over ½oz so charged 4d, with a large "4" charge mark composed of three separate strikes of the large "1" handstamp (Jay 574, only recorded by Jay in red on prepaid mail). A remarkable item, just one other composite "4" charge mark of London recorded. Photo on Page 114. £1,400-1,600
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London - 4d Charge. 1840 Unpaid entires posted within London, over ½oz so charged 4d with a "4" charge mark (Jay 626), one showing an apparent break at the upper part of the handstamp, this letter originally handstamped with a "2" charge, deleted with an erasure mark and replaced by the "4". This "4" charge mark was used from 1835 by the London 2d Post (on redirected letters) but continued in use in 1840 as a charge mark on unpaid double weight letters. (2). £200-240
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London - 4d Charge. 1840-43 Unpaid entires posted within London, over ½oz so charged 4d with differing "4" charge marks (Jay 626 and 629), the first originally charged 8d in error and altered to 4d. A good pair, Jay 626 left over from the London Local Post continuing in use in 1840, Jay 629 scarce. (2). £200-240
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London - 4d Charge. 1841 (Apr 14) Entire from Simla, India, to London privately carried and posted unpaid within London, a "2" charge mark applied but then deleted with an erasure handstamp as the letter was over ½oz, replaced with the "4" charge mark (Jay 626). Subsequently readdressed and reposted to Mannheim prepaid 3/4 (the "4" charge mark unusually not deleted), redirected to Rotterdam, with handstamps of London, Calais, Mannheim and Rotterdam. Very unusual. Photo on Page 114. £150-180
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London - 1d Redirection Charges. 1840-41 Entire from Beverley to London bearing a 1d black (three margins, creased) and a cover bearing a 1d red, both redirected in London with large "1" charge marks (similar to Jay 590), the 1840 entire redirected a second time from Elstree back to London, apparently without charge. (2). £270-300
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London - 1d Redirection Charge. 1841 (Jan 13) Entire posted within London bearing a 1d black (cut into) tied by a Maltese Cross in experimental black ink, redirected within London with a large "1" charge mark (similar to Jay 590). Reverse with lower flap cut away and glued to the upper flap to display the complete backstamps, otherwise fine. With B.P.A Certificate (2015). Photo on Page 114. £150-180
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London - 1d Redirection Charge. 1841 (Nov 15) O.H.M.S Entire letter posted within London, the postage prepaid, redirected with an unusual small "1" charge mark in black, not recorded by Jay. £100-120
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London - 1d Redirection Charge. 1845 (Oct 13) Entire letter posted from Charing Cross to Haverstock Hill prepaid 1d, redirected to Camden Passage (at no apparent charge), again redirected to Haymarket with a black "1" charge mark applied (not recorded by Jay), the charge presumably paid and the letter again redirected (on the reverse) prepaid 1d from Princes St, Leicester Square to Bryanston Square. Unusual. £150-180
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