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Ambulance Barges. 1914-17 Covers and cards with two fine real photo cards of nurses on barges, both with circular "UNION DES FEMMES DE FRANCE / PENICHES / AMBULANCES / CROIX ROUGE FRANCAISE", sent under cover; cards of ambulance barges (5) or wounded soldiers awaiting evacuation on ambulance steamboats (4); cards with circular cachets "SERVICE des EVACUATIONS FLUVIALES / H.O.E 10 / Le Median-Chef", "GROUPEMENT DES PENICHES SANITAIRES" or "HOPITAL AUX re No 114 PENICHES AMBULANCES / UNION DES FEMMES DE FRANCE / SECRETARIAT", etc. (16). £180-220
| Japan | |
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"Hakuai Maru". 1914-19 Stampless picture postcards of the hospital ship sent by medical staff, with red "Military Post" cachets and datestamps of Juina, Hiroshima. Also two unused cards of the ship, one also depicting the Japanese Empress and relatives on nursing service, a commemorative cachet on reverse. (4). £180-220
| Russia | |
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1914 Stampless postcard from Pankovka, addressed to the hospital ship "Imperator" at Sevastopol; and an undated stampless cover bearing five cachets of the "Floating Hospital / Kuban District" with a Red Cross in the centre, also picture postcards of the hospital ships "Portugal" and "Oxus". (4). £100-120
| USA | |
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1917-19 Covers and cards comprising U.S.S "Comfort" stampless covers (2, one with letter) both with "PASSED / CENSOR", and a photo of the ship; U.S.S "General R.M O'Reilly" printed Red Cross envelopes from New York (2, one with letter); U.S.S "Madawaska" stampless 1919 cover with violet "CANCELLED / OVERSEAS MAIL / U.S NAVY", postcard of the ship and letter describing the sick and wounded on board; U.S.S "Mercy", stampless postcard and registered cover franked 13c with "U.S.S MERCY / PASSED CENSOR" and U.S.S Vestal datestamps, also a card of the ship; U.S.S "Siboney" Y.M.C.A Ocean Transport Service postcard, also a letter from the ship; U.S.S "Solace" covers (2) and a card franked 1c, 2c or 3c all with "U.S.S / SOLACE" datestamps and dated "PASSED BY CENSOR", stampless cover and two cards of the ship, also a card of an unnamed ship. (19). £300-350
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S.S "Red Cross". 1914 (Sep/Oct) Picture postcards of the U.S Hospital Ship "Red Cross" (two taken at Falmouth, Cornwall), two cards posted by crew from Falmouth (Sep 28/29) to the USA franked 1d, the third card sent by "Yates, Boat Dealer, Falmouth" (publisher of the card?) from Falmouth (Oct 5) to "Emil Kovarik, Chief Master at Arms, U.S.S Red Cross, c/o 4 Trafalgar Square, London". Also a postcard showing the ship and patients being brought on board, and various reproduction photos and research notes. In August 1914 the American Red Cross decided that the neutral USA would send a hospital ship to Europe to offer medical assistance, without favouritism to each of the belligerent countries, and the interned German HAPAG liner "Hamburg" was chartered and renamed the S.S "Red Cross". The ship made one voyage to Falmouth and Pauillac in France; during the voyage three German and Austrian stowaways were found and arrested, and several fights and mutinies occurred amongst the crew which were quelled, largely with the help of the Scandinavian Emil Kovarik. After this one eventful voyage the ship was returned to HAPAG and interned at New York until seized in 1917. An interesting and scarce group. (4+). £160-180
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U.S.S "Comfort". 1918 1c Postal stationery postcard, the reverse with "I am quite well" followed by the usual five message lines, franked 1c, with "PASSED / CENSOR". Also 1919 stampless Y.M.C.A Ocean Transport Service card reporting the ships imminent arrival at New York, differing U.S Navy datestamps. The first Field Service card unrecorded by Burrows, very unusual printed on a postal stationery card. (2). £100-120
| Austria-Hungary | |
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Hospital Ships I - IV. 1916-18 Covers and cards comprising "Elektra" (H.S No. 1) stampless card with red circular "SEESPITALSCHIFF / I" and S.M.S Monarch c.d.s, field service cards from Trieste to the ship (2) or written from the ship and posted at Fiume (2), and a card of the ship; "Metkovich" (H.S No. 2) field service card with red circular "SEESPITALSCHIFF / II" and F.P.O 267 c.d.s of Cattaro, Hungarian Money Order receipt with Fiume c.d.s and boxed "Schiffsverwaltung / des / Seespitalschiffes II"; "Tirol" (H.S No 3) field service postcards with F.P.O 406 and red circular "SEESPITALSCHIFF / III" or F.P.O 267 of Cattaro and violet "Kommando des Seespitalschiffes III", Austrian Money Order receipt with F.P.O 267 and red "VERWALTUNG / DES SEESPITALSCHIFFES III"; "Electra" (H.S No 4) stampless cards with red "Kommando des Seespitalsschiffes IV" (2, one F.P.O 267), official registered cover with F.P.O 267 c.d.s and red circular "KOMMANDO DES SEESPITALSSCHIFFES IV". A good lot. (14). £400-500
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"Africa" / "Miramar". 1914-17 Stampless cards, two from the "Africa" (H.S No 10) with "Spitalschiff der / Dampfer X" and F.P.O 267 of Cattaro, or violet "K.u.K SPITALSCHIFF No. X" and F.P.O 347 located in Romania, card from the Ministry of War in Vienna to the H.S "Africa" at Pola, and field service card with violet circular "K.u.K Kriegsmarine / S.M.S "Miramar" and Pola F.P.O c.d.s. (4). £120-150
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"Kulpa" / "Franz Ferdinand". 1916-17 Stampless cards, three from the "Kulpa" with violet "S.M Spitalschiff "Kulpa"" or circular "S.M Spitalshiff "Kulpa" / K.u.K Kriegsmarine" (2, one written from Russia with Orsova c.d.s); and two cards with F.P.O 299 c.d.s and "S.M Spitalschiff "Erzh. Franz Ferdinand"". Both hospital ships operated on the River Danube, the "Franz Ferdinand" replacing the "Kulpa" in 1917. (5). £160-180
| Germany | |
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"Adler". 1915-18 Covers and cards with 1915 postcard of crew in front of the hospital ship posted from Wilhelmshaven with violet circular "Kaiserliche Marine / Briefstempel / Hilfslazarettschiff "Adler"", cover franked 25pf and stampless covers (2) and a card all with the K.D.M.S No. 191 c.d.s (one cover with ""hilfslazarettschiff "adler" / B.No "), and an official cover from Wilhelmshaven to the ship. (6). £180-200
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"Scharnhorst". c.1915 Stampless cover and card, and a card franked 10pf to Spain, probably from one of the neutral (Spanish) observers on the ship, all with violet circular "Kaiserliche Marine / Briefstempel / Marine Lazarettschiff "Scharnhorst"", the cover with additional "Lazarettschiff A" cachet. Also a postcard of the hospital ship. "Scharnhorst only served as a hospital ship from August 1914 until February 1915. (4). Photo on Page 32. £160-180
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"Schleswig". 1914-15 Stampless postcards (2) and a cover (letter enclosed) all with violet circular "Kaiserliche Marine / BRIEFSTEMPEL / Lazarettschiff "F" / Dampfer Schleswig", one card from Libau with F.P.O 168 c.d.s, also two postcards of the ship. (5). £160-180
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"Sierra Ventana". 1914-16 Stampless covers and cards, two with circular violet "Kaiserliche Marine / BRIEFSTEMPEL / Lazarettschiff "E"" (one also with two line "Lazarettschiff "E" / B. Nr" on a turned cover originally from S.M.S "Wurttemberg" to the ship), four others from the ship with K.D.M.S No 187 or No 188 (3) c.d.s, and a card from Niefern to the ship. Also four cards depicting the ship, officers ward room or the transfer of walking wounded to the shore. (11). £250-300
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"Stuttgart". 1915-18 Stampless postcard with violet oval "Lazarett-Schiff Stuttgart / I.X.A. - K. LUBECK", and a card of the ship franked 7½pf with two line "Lazarettschiff "Stuttgart" / Lubeck IX. A.-K", both posted at Lubeck. Also two photographic cards of the ship, a former Elbe steamer which was moored on the River Trave at Lubeck. (4). £100-120
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1914-15 Stampless postcards all with named hospital ship cachets, comprising oval "Kaiserliche Marine / Briefstempel / Lazarettschiff C" used on the "Cassell", violet circular "Kaiserliche Marine / Briefstempel / "Chemnitz" / Lazarett Schiff B", "Kaiserliche Marine / Briefstempel / Hilfslazarettschiff D "Imperator"", "Kaiserliche Marine / Briefstempel / Hilfslazarettschiff "Lensahn"" or "An Bord des Lazarettschiffes / Solve et Salva". Also postcards of the "Imperator" and "Solve et Salva". A good lot, the "Chemnitz" and "Solve et Salva" cachets very scarce. (7). £200-240
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1914-18 Covers and cards including K.D.M.S datestamps No. 190 (2, "Hansa"), 192 ("Lensahn"), 119 (2, "Portia", one a front), and 120 (2, "Viola"), stampless card from "Imperator" posted at Helsingor in Sweden, stampless cards to or from the "Kehrwieder" or to the "Titania" (2), cards depicting the "Aeolus" (4) or "Titania" (2), photos of the wreck of the "Tabora" in East Africa (2), etc. (26). £300-350
| Turkey | |
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"Rechid Pasha". 1915 Stampless picture postcards to Germany, both from German forces with K.D.M.S No. 14 c.d.s applied on the German depot ship "General" at Constantinople, purple bilingual single oval "BRIEFSTEMPEL / LAZARETT-SCHIFF RECHID-PASHA" or bilingual double oval "LAZARETT-SCHIFF / RECHID-PASHA" both with matching intaglio Islamic Star cachet. The second with heavy vertical fold, otherwise fine and attractive; mail from Red Crescent ships is very scarce. The ship operated in 1915 during the Gallipoli campaign. (2). Photo on Page 32. £280-320
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c.1916 Turkish Red Crescent postcards depicting hospital ships (4), one sent by a British P.O.W from Kastamuni (faults), another from a German on the hospital ship "Ak Deniz" with K.D.M.S No. 14 c.d.s, the card a little reduced at sides. Also a photo of a hospital ship at Constantinople. (5). £80-100
| Netherlands | |
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1918 Picture postcards of the private hospital ships "Koningin Regentes" (4), "Zeeland" (3) or "Sindoro" (5) all used for exchanging sick and wounded P.O.Ws. Five cards sent by British P.O.Ws posted from Holland (4, all stampless) or England, one card from an Australian P.O.W posted in England, six cards posted by German P.O.Ws in Holland (two stampless), three with Dutch P.O.W or Red Cross cachets, three with circular "P.C". Also postcards of the "Sindoro" and "Zeeland". An interesting group, most posted in February-May 1918. (14). £320-380
| Sweden | |
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1916 Picture postcard of Haparanda posted from Tornea to France by a wounded Russian P.O.W exchanged by the Swedish via Haparanda; a postcard of wounded Russian soldiers at Tornea posted from Haparanda to Holland, probably from an injured P.O.W or member of the Red Cross; and two real photo postcards of Swedish hospital barges crossing from Haparanda to Tornea. Also a card of the Commander and Physician on the "Birger Jarl", which was used to exchange wounded P.O.Ws. (5). £120-140@Side Head underline 14pt with space:<\i>Inter-War Period
| France | |
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Morocco - Rif Insurrection. 1925-26 Stampless postcards with Casablanca or Marseille Paquebot datestamps and violet "Navire Hopital "CIRCASSIE"", or with Algiers c.d.s and violet circular "NAVIRE-HOPITAL / Medecin-Chef / "CAROLINE"", all with "MARINE FRANCAISE / SERVICE A LA MER". Also stampless military lettercard from Casablanca notifying a soldiers evacuation from hospital in Casablanca to Toulon with violet "Evacue sur le Navire / Hopital "Circassie"", and five cards of the "Circassie". Address erased on the Marseille Paquebot card, otherwise fine and scarce. (9). £120-140
| Japan | |
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Sino-Japanese War - "Asahi Mari". 1937-39 Stampless covers and cards from the hospital ship, all with Military Mail and censor handstamps, five with datestamps of Sasebo (2) or Japanese Naval Postal Agency No. 1 at Shanghai (3), all fine. Also a 1938 press photo of the ship. (7). £280-320
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Sino-Japanese War. 1937-40 Covers, cards and a telegram, comprising cover posted at Ujina franked 4sn with enclosed letter from the "Baikaru Maru" and a telegram sent from the "Baikaru Maru" at Shanghai to Tokyo; stampless military lettercard from a soldier on the "Taizan Maru""; and stampless military postcards from nurses on the "Seattle Maru" or "Mizuho Maru", the stampless items with Military Mail and censor cachets. Also a Japanese Red Cross Society card of the "Baikal Maru". (6). £220-260
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Sino-Japanese War. c.1937-40 Stampless covers (3, letters enclosed) and postcards (4) written by nurses on unnamed hospital ships, all with Military Mail and censor cachets, two written from China with scarce Nakahara Unit censor cachets, one letter written from the Yangtze River, one card sent shortly after departing Dairen. Also Japanese Red Cross Society postcards depicting unnamed hospital ships and officials of the society (2), and a postcard of the civilian hospital ship "Jiai Maru". (10). £300-350@Side Head underline 14pt:USA
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U.S.S "Mercy" / "Relief". 1922-41 Covers and cards, with U.S.S "Mercy" cancels (9, various types, some duplex cancels with port name within the bars), 1931 cover to the ship but returned with "Ship Decommissioned" cachet, and cards of the ship (4); and U.S.S "Relief" cancels (32, five types, duplexs with various port names or "HOSPITAL SHIP" within the bars), 1932 Christmas card and dance invitation, and cards of the ship (2). Also a 1938 cover from U.S.S "Hope". (51). £300-350
| World War Two | |
Great Britain | |
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1940-43 Covers, cards and an airgraph from or to former cross channel steamers all requisitioned as hospital ships during the war, comprising c.1940 cover from the H.C "Prague" to R.A.F Detachment, A.P.O S102, West Africa Forces with "RECEIVED FROM / H.M SHIPS" handstamp and 1½d tied by similar machine cancel with port name removed; 1943 Christmas Greetings airgraph from H.M.H.S "St David"; 1940 Christmas card from H.C "Dinard"; three real photo postcards of staff on H.M.H.S "Worthing" with oval or boxed "HOSPITAL CARRIER / WORTHING" cachets on reverse, not posted; c.1940 stampless O.A.S cover from H.M.H.C "St Julien"; 1940 postcard to H.C "Isle of Guernsey" at Newhaven and a postcard of the ship; 1940 4½d registration envelope with Edinburgh R.L.O registration label and "PASSED BY CENSOR", and c.1943 stampless cover and card all from H.M.H.C "Isle of Jersey". The "Isle of Guernsey", "Isle of Jersey", "Dinard" and "Worthing" were all owned by the Southern Railway, "Prague" by L.N.E.R and "St. Julien" by G.W.R; "Isle of Guernsey", "Isle of Jersey" and "St Julien" previously operated on routes to the Channel Islands. (12). £250-300
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1940-45 Covers, cards and airgraphs with 1940 cover posted at Ismailia franked 6m with oval "O.C HOSPITAL SHIP" cachet; redirected covers with Hospital Ship endorsements (4); Christmas card and real photo postcards (3) from the H.C "Duke of Argyll"; 1945 cover to H.S "El-Nil" reposted from Canada with an address label; 1945 stampless air letter from a former P.O.W of the Japanese written on S.S "Empress of Australia", posted at Aden with "No. 11 R.A.F / POSTAL H.Q" c.d.s; 1940 stampless cover, 1941 Christmas Greetings airgraph and two Christmas cards from H.M.H.S "Maine"; 1942 Christmas card and 1943 air mail letter franked 6d posted at F.P.O 475 (Gibraltar) both from H.M.H.S "St. Andrew", and a 1939 cover to a soldier with the B.E.F endorsed "Transferred to U.K via Hospital Carrier St. Andrew"; 1944 South Africa 3d air letter with mute Paquebot c.d.s of Durban, from H.M.H.S "Tairea", and a card of the ship; 1944 Red Cross summary of a message to the Channel Islands held in suspense at Lisbon, carried to Guernsey on the Red Cross ship "Vega". The L.M.S.R Steamer "Duke of Argyll" and G.W.R Steamer "St. Andrew" previously operated ferry routes to Ireland. A good group, some very scarce. (21). Photo on Page 32. £400-500
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"Aba". 1940-46 Covers, cards and airgraphs, comprising 1940 covers with Edinburgh Received From H.M Ships machine and boxed "PASSED BY / CENSOR" (2), 1944 Canadian Tobacco card from the ship, 1942 South Africa cover to the ship, 1943 airgraphs from G.B to Sister Brownbill on the ship or from Sister Brownbill on the "Aba" at Durban to G.B, 1946 covers from G.B or South Africa to the ship, also four postcards of the ship. (12). £200-250
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"Amarapoora". 1940-46 Covers, cards and an airgraph, comprising 1943 stampless cover with London Received From H.M Ships machine, "PASSED BY CENSOR" and separate "SURGEON LIEUT. COMMANDER (D)"; c.1943 stampless cover from the ship to South Africa with violet "DAMAGED BY / SEA WATER" cachet on reverse below the senders address; 1943 airgraph from the ship with F.P.O 601 c.d.s; c.1945 cover posted within Australia with Navy P.O c.d.s, to the ship in Sydney; and 1946 G.B postcard to the ship, also an undated Christmas card. (6). £180-200
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"Atlantis". 1940 Stampless O.A.S cover to the "Atlantis", forwarded to Stirling with violet oval "H/P SHIP "ATLANTIS" / No. / DATE 16 MAR 1940 / R.A.M.C", backstamped at Falmouth and Truro with London Received From H.M Ship machine. Also 1941 airgraph with naval censor from the ship, the envelope with a red Paid machine. The only recorded use of this hospital ship cachet on mail. (2). Photo on Page 40. £120-150
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"Dorsetshire". 1943-44 Covers and an airgraph, with G.B 2½d stationery envelope from the ship cancelled by red Post Office Maritime Mail machine; 1943 pictorial "Greetings from the Mediterranean" airgraph and two 1944 air letters franked 3d from F.P.O 300 or 531 all from sister D.L Webb; and a 1944 stampless O.A.S cover from South African F.P.O 14 at Tripoli to Sister Webb on the ship. Also a small photo of the ship. (6). £120-140
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"Karapara". 1946 Covers from the ship comprising a forces air letter from Kilindini franked 135c in KUT stamps with scarce violet oval "No ... / Date ... / KARAPARA" on the reverse; and stampless covers with red Post Office Maritime Mail machine or Indian F.P.O 595 machine applied in Rangoon. (3). £100-120
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"Leinster". 1940 Tobacco card from "H.M.H.C Leinster, at sea" with F.P.O 292 c.d.s; three fine real photo postcards of the ship anchored at Akureyri, Iceland; and a very unusual 1944 Christmas Greetings airgraph depicting the H.S "Leinster" posted to London. (5). £150-180
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"Llandovery Castle". 1941 Air mail cover from G.B to the ship with an Egyptian censor, 1943 stampless postcard of the ship with "Egypt 34 Postage Prepaid" c.d.s, and 1943 airgraph from the ship to USA. Also two 1941 printed luncheon menus from the ship. (5). £100-120
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"Newfoundland". 1939-44 Correspondence from David Freeman, Chief Officer with the Furness Line, to Georgina Little, his fiancé who he married in 1943. The remarkable correspondence records his service on four ships including the Hospital Ship "Newfoundland", three of these ships being sunk by enemy action; Freeman was rescued unhurt from the sinkings of the "Nerissa" and "Pacific Pioneer" but spent three months in hospital in North Africa after being rescued from the hospital ship "Newfoundland", sunk by a German Dornier off Salerno. The correspondence comprises a 1939 letter written upon graduating from the L.M.S School as a Lieutenant, his prewar Sea Scout card, and a 1940 photograph in uniform; 1941 letters written from the "Nerissa" (2) and "Lancastrian Prince"; 1941-42 letters (2) and airgraphs (2) from the "Pacific Pioneer"; 1943 letters (3), airgraphs posted at F.P.O 590 (3, North Africa) and an airgraph with envelope all from the "Newfoundland"; 1943 (Sep 22) letter on American Red Cross notepaper sent within a U.S 6c stationery envelope cancelled at U.S A.P.O 330, air letters franked 3d (3) and an airgraph all sent from 96th General Hospital in North Africa; 1944 letter from Bristol Royal Infirmary, and an airletter from his wife in England to the 96 General Hospital, B.N.A.F, returned to England. Also a 1943 (Nov 15) letter from Johnston Warren Lines Ltd forwarding news of Freeman, postcard of the "Lancastrian Prince" and a 1943 press photo showing wounded Italian P.O.Ws being repatriated on the "Newfoundland". An interesting correspondence with seven letters from the "Newfoundland" (four postally used including an airgraph) and eight other postally used covers or airgraphs, well written up with a comprehensive article by Peter High. (27). £300-350
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"Oxfordshire". 1940-45 Covers comprising 1940 stampless cover with London Received From H.M Ship machine and distinctive "Passed By Censor"; 1943-45 USA "V-Mail" forms from the USA to the ship, or from the "Oxfordshire" with U.S 5c cancelled by British Fleet Mail 12 c.d.s of Sydney; 1943-45 U.S 6c stationery envelopes cancelled at British F.P.O 656 (Tripoli), British Fleet Mail 12 (Sydney) or San Francisco; and a 1945 stampless cover from a former internee sent from the ship at Colombo, endorsed "Internees Mail" with red "Post Office Maritime Mail" machine. Also a 1943 Christmas day menu. The "Oxfordshire" was seconded to the U.S 7th Fleet in 1942. (8). £220-260
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"Vasna". 1940-44 Covers (7) and an airgraph with 1941 O.A.S cover from F.P.O 306 at Reykjavik and a 1944 airgraph both to the ship; 1940 stampless cover with enclosed letter on headed notepaper; c.1941 air mail cover with 1/3 in British stamps tied by dumb cancels, boxed naval censor (of Aden?); 1941 registered cover from Simons Town to Australia, 6d in G.B stamps cancelled in Melbourne; 1940 stampless O.A.S cover with red "OFFICIAL PAID" skeleton c.d.s and 1944 cover with Indian F.P.O 307 c.d.s; 1943 air letter franked 3d from F.P.O 292 at Sicily. (8). £250-300
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"Vita". c.1941-45 Covers including air letters franked 3d cancelled red "Post Office Maritime Mail" machine (3) or violet oval "FLEET MAIL OFFICE" and a telegram all from Chaplain T. Meredith, mostly from Durban; other covers from Ceylon franked 1r to Australia, or stampless to G.B; a stampless cover from India to the ship; and an unusual Christmas Greetings air letter with the crest of H.M.H.S "Vita". Also four postcards and a photo of the ship. (14). £250-300
| Australia | |
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"Centaur". 1943 Stampless covers with violet "H.M.A / HOSPITAL SHIP" and boxed A.I.F censor cachets, one with "Passed Free Surface Postage" machine of Fremantle, the other with enclosed letter headed from the ship. The "Centaur" was sunk by a Japanese submarine just four days into her second voyage with the loss of 268 personnel, including Pte N. McLean, the writer of this letter. A few opening faults but rare, believed to be the only covers recorded from this hospital ship. (2). Photo on Page 40. £150-200
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"Manunda" / "Wanganella". 1941-45 Covers from the "Manunda", a stampless cover with two army censors and a cover with Australia 2d cancelled "PAQUEBOT" of Fremantle, both with violet boxed "H.M.A / HOSPITAL / SHIP", and another cover from Colombo franked Ceylon 1r, all with boxed A.I.F censor cachet No. 263; 1945 censored cover franked 3d from Aust. Army P.O 197 at Morotai with enclosed greetings card depicting the ship; and 1945 cover from Australia to the ship, with a postcard of the ship. Also a 1945 stampless cover from Tighes Hill, NSW, to a liberated Australian P.O.W, c/o 1st P.O.W & 1. Reception Group, endorsed "Wanganella"; and a printed menu from the ship. A fine and scarce group. (9). Photo on Page 40. £320-360
| Canada | |
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1944 Tie-on "Embarkation Classification Card (Canadian Invalids)" with "No. 1 CANADIAN HOSPITAL SHIP" cachet applied on H.M.C.S "Lady Nelson", and a card of the ship; 1945 menu printed on T.S.S "Letitia" with a Red Cross and picture of the ship on the cover; and 1945 cover from Montreal with circular violet "VILLE De STRASBOURG / MESSAGERIES MARITIMES", the vessel temporarily employed for the repatriation of Canadian forces. (4). £70-80
| France | |
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"Canada". 1940-42 Covers from the "Canada", one stampless cover with red boxed "F.M" and "Docteur F. M MOREAU / MEDECIN de la MARINE / NAVIRE HOPITAL "CANADA" / POSTE NAVALE", other stamped covers posted from Toulon, Abidjan in Ivory Coast, Cotonou in Dahomey, Mazagan or Casablanca in Morocco, four with violet circular "NAVIRE-HOPITAL CANADA / VAGUEMESTRE", one also with L'AUMONIER / DE NAVIRE HOPITAL "CANADA""; 1942 stampless soldiers cover from Auch, France to the "Canada" at Marseille but returned with "RELATIONS / SUSPENDES" cachet, and two postcards of the ship. A scarce group. (9). £220-260
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"Sphinx" / "Cap St Jacques". 1940-41 Covers and cards from or to the "Sphinx", with stampless covers with violet "TRANSPORT-HOPITAL "SPHINX"" or "Le Medicin en Chef de 2me Classe MAUDET / Medecin-Chef du Navire-Hopital "SPHINX"" and naval cachets, the second posted at Oran; 1941 French stationery card for the use of repatriated P.OWs, sent by a nurse on the "Sphinx" who has arrived at Marseille (with her cat!) on the "Canada"; 1941 card from a French P.O.W in Oflag V1D to his wife serving on the "Sphinx" at Toulon, forwarded to Marseille with German "Unoccupied Area" cachet; and a letter written on a printed card of the "Sphinx", not posted. Also 1946 stampless cover with Naval P.O c.d.s of Toulon and boxed "HOPITAL / CAP St. JACQUES". (6). £160-180
| India | |
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1942 Greetings Air letter from the H.S "Wu Sueh" with G.B stamps cancelled "B-1" at Bombay; and 1945 stampless air letter with Indian F.P.O S-6 c.d.s of Imphal, written from "H.Q Hospital River Steamers", both very scarce. Also an Indian Red Cross postcard depicting a hospital ship, sent by air mail to the USA via Lagos franked 1r. (3). £100-120
| Netherlands | |
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"Oranje". 1942-45 Covers (9) and ephemera, covers from the ship comprising stampless with violet "H.M.A HOSPITAL SHIP" (2, both with A.I.F 31 censor, one with circular "POSTAGE / CORRECT", another with an illustration of an Australian soldier), "H.M HOSPITAL SHIP" with circular "PASSED BY CENSOR / 47" and "CHIEF POST OFFICE / 2. N.Z.E.F" c.d.s (piece cut from cover), "H.M.A / HOSPITAL SHIP" (Sydney machine and A.I.F 600 censor), or "1st Netherlands Military Hospital Ship / ORANJE" (with "NAVAL / SERVICE" and "PASSED FREE / OF POSTAGE"); covers franked Australia 3d tied by dumb oval of bars or "Egypt 53 Postage Prepaid" c.d.s with "H.M.A HOSPITAL SHIP" or "H.M HOSPITAL SHIP", and air letters with G.B 3d tied by N.Z Army Base P.O-U.K 4 or M.P.O K.W 7 datestamps, these four all with circular "PASSED BY CENSOR / 47". Also a personnel card, leave passes (3), identity certificate and wharf passes (2), five with named ship cachets; postcard of the plaque presented for the first Suez to Durban voyage and cards of the ship (3); and two printed menus, one signed on the reverse by 28 Australian or N.Z soldiers. A good lot. (22). Photo on Page 40. £500-600
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"Oranje". 1945 (July-Sep.) Stampless air letters from a Dutch Lieutenant, R.N.I.A, all written on the ship on a voyage from London to the Far East, to a lady in England with red "POST / OFFICE / MARITIME / MAIL" machine and violet "GECENSUREERD / 9", good content on the voyage. (5). £120-150
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1943-45 Covers and airgraphs comprising 1944 pictorial Christmas Greetings airgraph from H.M.H.S "Ophir"; 1945 air letter from the Dutch vessel "Johan de Witt" with G.B 3d cancelled by British Fleet Mail 31 c.d.s of Bombay, to the Hospital Ship "Tasman" at A.P.O 75 San Francisco, forwarded to K.P.M Lines in Sydney with forwarding and arrival cachets; 1943 covers from H.S "Tjitjalengka" posted from Kilindini with 160c in KUT stamps, from Durban with G.B 3d cancelled violet circular "MARITIME / MAIL", or from East Africa with G.B 3d + 1/- tied by dumb c.d.s. Also a 1944 postcard from G.B to the "Tjitjalengka" sent just after D-Day with security cancel and censor, and a 1944 Christmas card from the ship. (7). £200-240
| New Zealand | |
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"Maunganui". c.1941-46 Covers, five from the ship comprising stampless covers with "RECEIVED FROM / H.M SHIPS" machine or "Egypt 25 Postage Prepaid" c.d.s and "N.Z.E.F / FIELD / POST OFFICE", cover with N.Z 9d cancelled "Egypt 22 Postage Prepaid" c.d.s and air letters franked G.B 3d or USA 6c both cancelled "N.Z.E.F / FIELD / POST OFFICE", four with violet boxed "CENSORED / Signature". Also 1945 air letter from New Zealand and cover from Bourail, New Caledonia, both to the ship. (7). £260-300
| South Africa | |
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"Amra". 1941-45 Covers from the ship comprising stampless covers with Indian F.P.O 12 or E.A A.P.O 66 c.d.s or red mute "PAQUEBOT" machine of Durban, cover from Aden with six Aden stamps, cover with 10d in G.B stamps tied by mute c.d.s of East Africa, air letters with G.B or South Africa 3d tied by Egypt Postage Prepaid c.d.s or G.B 3d tied by mute "PAQUEBOT" c.d.s of Durban, all with violet boxed "S.A HOSPITAL SHIP / S.A HOSPITAL-SKIP / No. 1 / C/O S.A ARMY POST OFFICE / P/A S.A MILITERE POSKANTOOR", five also handstamped "CENSORED". Also a leave pass with ship's cachet, the reverse addressed to a nurse on the ship at Aden with four Aden stamps tied by Aden c.d.s. (9). £300-350
| USA | |
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1941-46 Covers, cards and ephemera, with covers from the "Aleda E. Lutz" (2), "Benevolence", "Bountiful", "Comfort" (7, also an airgraph), "Consolation" (2), "Haven" (3), "Hope" (8, also an airgraph), "Mercy" (6), "Pinkney" (2), "Refuge" (6, also an airgraph), "Relief" (11), "Repose" (6), "Rescue" (5), "Rixey" (3), "Samaritan" (4), "Sanctuary" (2), "Solace" (10, also an airgraph) and "Tryon" (3), including service in the Pacific, Japan and China in 1945-46, etc. Also 1945 (Aug 15) newspaper printed on the "Hope" announcing the Japanese surrender, official radio messages announcing the German and Japanese surrenders (4), photos and postcards, etc. (c.100). £600-700
| Germany | |
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