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Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bridge Rly. 1904-05 Covers to Ewen or E.C Shearman in London with KEVII 1d cancelled at Rugby Station or London, and 2d letter stamps cancelled by violet "O.A & G.B.R / PARK BRIDGE" or oval dated "OLDHAM C. ST." (2). £180-220
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1904-05 Covers to Ewen (2) or E.C Sherman (2) in London franked KEVII 1d and bearing 2d railway letter stamps, including Sheffield & Midland Railways Committee 2d tied violet oval "ROMNEY", Garstang & Knot End Railway 2d tied violet oval dated "GARSTANG" cachet (with Garstang R.S.O c.d.s), also Midland and Highland stamps pen cancelled. (4). £220-260
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Cambrian Rly. 1907 (May 24) 2d Registration envelope franked 1d strip of five, addressed to "Colonel Sandbach, passenger per mail S.S India, c/o Commander S.S India, Aden" bearing a Cambrian Railways 2d letter stamp cancelled violet "LLANYMYNECH", the envelope and stamps all cancelled "EUSTON SQ STN N.W / 2" datestamps with a London N.W 2 registration label applied, oval registration handstamp (applied on the Sea Post Office or at Aden) ties the railway stamp, with an Aden arrival backstamp. A remarkable registered railway letter to Aden, with a scarce station c.d.s. Photo on Page 106. £350-400
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1920-28 Wilson covers to Manchester, franked 1½d and bearing railway letter stamps with 3d surcharges, comprising 1920 Manchester, South Junc. & Altrincham Ry 2d stamp with violet "THREE / PENCE" handstruck surcharge cancelled by violet "STRETFORD", and 1928 manuscript "3" surcharge on Cheshire Lines Committee 4d letter stamp cancelled violet "CHESHIRE LINES RLY. / BAGULEY, PHONE: 459 SALE" and date. Two scarce stamps on cover. (2). £180-220
| Registered Mail
(Also see lots 182, 770, 795, 1580) | |
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Westmorland. 1843 Registered letter receipt for a letter sent to the Bank of Westmorland at Kendal, with a "FLOOKBORO" undated circle. A very scarce use of an undated circle, very few registered letters sent from offices only possessing undated circle handstamps. £80-100
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1840-43 Entires from the Danish Ministry of Finance to Rothschild & Son in London both endorsed "Recommandirt" on reverse, with Altona Danish P.O and London backstamps and (crown) / REGISTERED" applied in the London Foreign Branch. The 1840 letter with the handstamp in black, charged 2/6 registration + 3/4 postage; the 1843 letter with the handstamp in red, charged 1/- registration + 3/4 postage. A rare and superb pair, the black Registered handstamp very unusual, the 1840 letter received prior to the introduction of inland registration. (2). Photo on Page 106. £600-700
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1848-81 Covers comprising 1848 1d pink envelope from Thetford with 6d registration fee paid in cash; 1853 cover from Nottingham franked 1d pair + 2d strip of three (file fold through stamps); 1854 1d pink envelope from Chester franked 2d vertical strip of three; 1853 part entire franked 1d with 6d registration paid in cash (minor staining, a late use of cash payment for registration); 1857 entire letter from Cullompton franked 1d pair + 6d; 1874 cover from Manchester franked 1d strip of five, endorsed "Registered at Stretford Rd"; 1881 2d registration envelope franked 1d from Guernsey. (7). £200-240
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1851 1d Pink stationery envelopes sent by registered mail, the first from Stafford to Macclesfield with a 2d blue strip of three (PJ-PL, PJ folded over left edge, PL three margins) paying the 6d registration fee; the second from London to Hastings inscribed "Registered letter 6d" with the 6d registration fee paid in cash, a red Paid datestamp (July 3) applied. An unusual pair; from June 1850 registered letters were supposed to have stamps affixed to show the registration fee. (2). Photo on Page 106. £180-220
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1906 Registration labels, perforated essay sheet by Perkins Bacon, eight labels in blue on gummed paper, five inscribed "Specimen, W.E 64" and numbered, three without inscription or number. Small part margin torn away at upper right corner, the essay labels all fine, a very unusual essay sheet, possibly unique. Photo on Page 164. £280-300
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1907-60 Blank type registration labels, mainly 1907-16 period, bearing office handstamps or datestamps, including circular rubber handstamps with date (8) or with date removed (21), circular handstamps in black with date (37) or with date removed (168), parcel handstamps (2), straight line handstamps (33, some fancy types), manuscript (7) and WW1 A.P.O or F.P.O cancels (14), including R.S.Os (4), stations (4, with boxed "PAR STATION"), London & Crewe S.C Down Day Mail c.d.s, undated "AUGRES / JERSEY", very late uses of single or double arc handstamps (3), etc. (290). Photo on Page 74. £200-250
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1912-38 Inland registered covers all with KGV stamps, including blank type registration labels with straight line "ROYTON" or circular undated "PRESTEIGN", A.R form franked 2d with Kirkbridge skeleton datestamps applied upon delivery, 1933 cover with Monetary & Economic Conference c.d.s and registration label, Weekend Telegram envelope franked 3d, posted out of course mail charged 2d or 3d, A.R cover, Letter telegram envelope, 2d + 2d, 3d + 1d and scarce 2d + 3d registration envelopes, etc., all written up on pages. (58). £160-180
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World War One - Australian Forces. 1917 (Apr 26) Envelope folded several times and made into a tie-on parcel tag (72x46mm), endorsed from Lt R.E Smith (26th Bn, A.I.F), addressed to his wife in Tasmania franked 4d, cancelled "PARK HOUSE CAMP B.O SALISBURY / 1" c.d.s, a further strike on reverse. £80-100
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Cash on Delivery. 1928-36 Covers (10) and a parcel piece all sent by inland C.O.D service, two printed C.O.D envelopes, the others all bearing C.O.D labels, ten registered, two with postage paid handstamps, the others bearing KGV stamps. Also 1928 Post Office leaflet on the C.O.D service, and an unused address label and receipt for a C.O.D parcel sent by rail. An unusual group. (13). £160-180
| Returned Letter Office | |
References to envelope and lettersheet types are taken from "The Returned Letter Offices of G.B" by J. Snelson and R.B Galland, published by The Royal Philatelic Society, 2017. | |
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1816-26 Lettersheets with "Returned Letter" headings and "Returned Letter Office" in lower corner, the inside with Francis Freeling shown as the Secretary (10), three with letters enclosed, one of these addressed to the Jamaica Coffee House. Type 6b, various variants, some scarce. (13). £220-260
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1813-29 Lettersheets with "Returned Letter" headings and "Returned Letter Office" in lower corner, the inside with Francis Freeling shown as the Secretary (11), three with letters enclosed. Types 6b/c, various variants, some scarce. (14). £220-260
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1834-35 Lettersheets with "Returned Letter" headings and "Dead Letter Office" in the lower corner, the inside with Francis Freeling shown as the Secretary (4), one with enclosed letter. Types 6cb/d/e, scarce. (5). £150-180
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1830-32 Lettersheets with "Returned paid Letter" headings and "Returned Letter Office" in the lower corner, the inside with Francis Freeling shown as Secretary, type 7b and an unrecorded variant of type 7 (one flap removed). Also an 1821 lettersheet with "On His Majesty's Service" heading and "Free / F. Freeling / Returned Letter Office" in the lower corner (type 8, for returning letters addressed abroad) used with a Free c.d.s, the internal text unfortunately removed, three very scarce wrappers. (3). £140-160
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1839-47 Lettersheets with "Returned Letter" (5) or "Returned paid Letter" headings (5) and "Dead Letter Office" in the lower corner, the inside with W.L Maberley shown as Secretary. Types 9a/b, 10, various variants, some scarce. (10). £240-280
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1849-52 Lettersheets with "Returned paid Letter" headings and "Dead Letter Office" in lower corner, the inside with W.L Maberley shown as Secretary and an additional "Caution to the Public, as to sending Property by the Post". Types 10f/g, differing variants, scarce. (5). £150-180
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1855 (Feb 11) Cover from Whitby to Indiana bearing embossed 1/- (cut to shape at left corners) cancelled "875", with red "21 / CENTS" and New York 24 c.d.s, returned handstamped red "RETURNED-TO-ENGLAND / WITHOUT-A-REASON / FOR-NON-DELIVERY", sent back to the sender enclosed within a "Dead Letter Branch Circulation Department" Returned Paid Letter envelope (type 1), very unusual. (2). £240-280
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1852-59 Blue envelopes with "Returned Paid Letter" headings, lower left corners with "Dead Letter Office" (4), "Dead Letter Branch / Circulation Department" (3, one with enclosed letter), "Returned Letter Branch / Circulation Department" (2) or "General Post Office", all with an explanation and caution printed under the flap, the Secretary shown as Rowland Hill (8, one with Rowland Hill on piece applied over the printed name of Maberley), or W.L Maberley (2), various types. (10). £150-180
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1861-95 Covers with "On Her Majesty's Service / Returned Paid Letter" headings, "Returned Letter Branch / General Post Office" in the lower corner with "(No. 5)" (8) or "(No. 7)" (10), twelve with an explanation and caution printed under the flap, the Secretary shown as Rowland Hill (8) or John Tilley (4). Various types, a few faults. (18). £140-160
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1879-95 "Returned Paid Letter" envelopes from London (3), Manchester or Bristol (4), and a "Returned Postal Packet" envelope from Bristol, also two London R.L.O wrappers (contents missing), 1893 cover posted in Brighton franked I.R Official ½d with Brighton Station R.L c.d.s, and 1904 returned registered cover. (13). £80-100
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1826 and 1841 O.H.M.S lettersheets requesting postage on letters detained at the G.P.O, the 1826 letter with Francis Freeling imprint sent to Madeira with Free datestamp requesting 2/11 postage on a ship letter payable at the Foreign Post Office in Lombard Street; the 1841 lettersheet sent to Tasmania requesting 8d postage payable at the Foreign Post Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand, with red Paid and "PAID SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamps, Free and Ship Letter datestamps applied upon arrival. The 1826 lettersheet apparently disinfected, the 1841 lettersheet with the two halves separated and rejoined, otherwise fine and unusual. (2). £150-180
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London Two-Penny Post. 1826 "Returned Letter" wrappers containing regulations of the 2d Post, the Comptroller shown as T.M Musgrave, posted within London, fine and scarce. (2). £180-220
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1855-80 1d Reds (4, one with trimmed perfs) and a 1d venetian red cancelled "RLB" oval obliterator (3) or "R.L.O" vertical obliterator. Scarce cancels, used on stamps applied in the Returned Letter Branch to letters which had been detained awaiting deficient postage. (5). Photo on Page 74. £100-120
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1848 Entire letter from Bedale to East Witton, "not known" endorsements for both East and West Witton so returned to the sender, undated circles of "THORNTON-WATLASS" and "WEST-WITTON" in blue, with red crowned "The Party to whom this letter / is Addressed cannot be FOUND / 8 FE 1848". Also an 1850 stampless cover from London to Paris endorsed "Refuse", returned with similar red crowned "This letter has been REFUSED / 8 JU 1850", the strike a little doubled. These explanatory handstamps introduced in 1847 when the law changed as a result of the activities of fraudster Joseph Ady, compelling senders of unpaid returned letters to pay the postage. (2). £160-180
| Edinburgh | |
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1812 (July 16) Lettersheet with "Returned Letter / On His Majesty's Service" heading and "Dead Letter Office / Edinburgh" in the lower corner, William Kerr shown inside as the Secretary. Type 14, only two lettersheets recorded with this type of heading from Edinburgh, file folds, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 106. £150-180
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1814-21 Lettersheets with "Returned Letter" heading and "Retd Letter Office / Edinburgh" in the lower corner, William Kerr shown inside as the Secretary, three differing versions of the text, very scarce, fewer than five examples recorded of each. Type 15/a. (3). £150-180
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1824-30 Lettersheets with "Returned Letter" heading and "Retd Letter Office / Edinburgh" in the lower corner, Aug. Godby shown inside as the Secretary (5), one with two enclosed letters marked "Refused", another with an enclosed letter marked "not to be found". Type 16a. (8). £180-200
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1831-39 Lettersheets with "Returned Letter" heading and "Retd Letter Office / Edinburgh" (4) or "Dead Letter Office, Edinburgh" (4) in the lower corner, Edwd. S. Lees shown inside as the Secretary. Type 16b/c/f, various variants, all scarce. (8). £220-260
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1857-74 "Returned Paid Letter" envelopes (7) and a "Returned Unpaid Letter" envelope, various types, four on blue paper with an explanation and caution printed under the flap showing Francis Abbot as Secretary. (8). £100-120
| GREAT BRITAIN COUNTY POSTAL HISTORY | |
Channel Islands - 1940-45 German Occupation | |
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Ten "Deutsche Rotes Kreuz" cloth armbands, apparently acquired in the Channel Islands at the end of the war. Also a handmade cloth Swastika. (11). £200-250
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Ten "Deutsche Rotes Kreuz" cloth armbands, apparently acquired in the Channel Islands at the end of the war. Also a 1944 German "Ausweis" card issued in Guernsey to M. Miller authorising the wearing of a Red Cross armband, signed with official cachet of "Feldldlr 515". (11). £200-250
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Two large albums containing original photos of the occupation (18, three depicting damage caused by the first air raid on Guernsey on 29th June 1940), numerous cuttings from "The Guernsey Evening Press" between June 1940 and June 1941, and a Red Cross envelope with Guernsey c.d.s to G. Richards, the compiler of these albums. Also a photo album kept by a German soldier containing 37 photos, a portrait inscribed "in memory of my service on the channel coast 1.4.41" with several photos apparently taken in the Channel Islands, others from Paris and eastern Europe; and a tin of grenade pulls picked up on beaches in the islands. (3 albums +). £150-200
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1941-45 "Channel Islands Monthly Review", Journal of Channel Islands Refugees in Great Britain, a complete run of all fifty journals published between May 1941 and August 1945. Also "The Origin of the Contents of our Canadian Red Cross Parcels", published by the States Intermediate School and sold in aid of Red Cross funds, 2nd edition, July 1945, etc. (51+). £100-150
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Various letters and ephemera (88+) concerning the islands during the war, many from the British Red Cross or Channel Islands Refugee Committee, some 1945 letters sent between Miss Trouteaud at the R.C.M.B in Guernsey and the British Red Cross concerning forwarding further Red Cross messages, etc., also Red Cross & St. John War Organisation letters with copies of telegram messages from Guernsey received via the I.C.R.C in Geneva (5), Christmas Greetings cards from the British Red Cross packing centres (2), a few Red Cross message forms, card and lettersheet from internees at Biberach, etc. Also two rare cloth patches with a crown, one above "H.30 / H.65 / H.91" (B Class destroyers H.M.S Beagle, Bulldog, Boadicea) apparently acquired at the time of the island's liberation. An interesting group. (90+). £200-300
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1940 (Aug 4) Cover with enclosed letter from Francis Margot in Guernsey, franked 3d to F. Kreter in Montreux, Switzerland, but endorsed "cannot be forwarded to destination" and handstamped "UNDELIVERED FOR REASON STATED / RETURN TO SENDER". The enclosed letter asks her father F. Kreter to send a letter to George Vandin in Wales telling him the family are well, and for Vandin to reply to F. Kreter in Switzerland, who will in turn write to Miss E. Vandin in Guernsey. An unusual and scarce attempt to get mail to Britain shortly after the start of the occupation. Photo on Page 106. £100-120
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Marie Langin/P.O Box 506. 1940-43 Covers (2) and message forms (2) to or from former Jersey resident Marie Langin at Gargilesse in France, comprising 1940 cover (opening tears) posted from Lisbon to Marie Langin with enclosed letter from Mary Williams dated August 22 in which she states "Please address your reply - Mrs Mary Williams, c/o Post Box 506, Lisbon, Portugal" (Thomas Cook undercover address for writing to G.B); 1943 cover from T. Lee in Jersey to Marie Langin franked Germany 25m tied by "FELDPOST / g" c.d.s, Wehrmacht censor label and cachet code "X" applied in Paris; and two 1943 French Red Cross message forms sent by Marie Langin from Gargilesse to England, one stampless form to Mary Williams in Somerset, another form to London franked 1f.50 cancelled at Lyon, the message mentioning receiving regular news from the Jersey garage. A scarce and unusual group. (4). Photo on Page 106. £200-250
| The Red Cross Message Scheme |
The exceptional collection comprising nearly 7,000 message forms, with rare or previously unrecorded cachets, forms to or from Sark and Alderney, forms flown from the islands during the fortress period, and over 300 forms sent to or from an astonishing 23 countries other than G.B, many of these extremely scarce.
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1941 (Apr 26) - 1942 (Apr. 13) "Controlling Committee of the States of Guernsey" letters from Elizabeth College or Hirzel House advising R.C messages await collection, but giving the messages with regret that they contain bad news (4); 1942 (Sep 21) letter from the R.C Bureau signed by L. Trouteaud requesting the return of two Red Cross forms; Jersey Enquiry and News Service slips "This a reply to your enquiry and you may keep the form" (13, two types); and "Instructions for Replying" with the office address shown as "Morning News" or "over Burtons". (20). £150-200
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Unused British message forms (5, three types); Instructions for sending messages (5, four types, one issued by the British Legion Office in Aberdeen); and "Instructions for Reply" (32, eight types), very unusual. (42). £200-250
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Censorship and other forms enclosed with Red Cross messages, comprising British Red Cross form FR/CL/95 suggesting delaying replying pending further developments in the war situation (7); British Postal Censorship forms P.C. 176 with eight reasons for a form being returned (3), "P.C. 149 (3rd revision)" or "P.C. 149 (3rd revision) French" forms concerning communicating with enemy occupied territory directly. Also Red Cross letters forwarding messages received from the I.C.R.C (4), and a letter acknowledging receipt of a message but advising the sender to post future messages at a Citizens Advice Bureau. (17). £120-140
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1940-44 Forms, various types written up on pages including Swiss Red Cross forms numbered "61" (7, two without messages enquiring after individuals), one German form with the British delivery envelope and reply instructions, one form to Jersey with delivery envelope, one form signed in manuscript by George Bradshaw, cachets include boxed "Deutsches Rotes Kreuz / Eing.: 21 AOUT 1941 / Ausg.: 21 AOUT 1941". (18+). £100-120
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1941-43 Forms, various types, all selected items including possible secret messages (2), forms from the Isle of Man with cachets of the Red Cross Message Bureau at Douglas (2), attached label or slip stating "Red Cross Messages may now be 25 words" (2), "FURTHER MESSAGES FOR THE ADDRESSEE / SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO / RED CROSS BUREAU 210 / WARWICK HOUSE, ST JAMES'S / LONDON, S.W.1. ENGLAND" cachet, forms with R.C Message Bureau slips attached (6), form repaired prior to reply being typed, form with senders and addressees name transposed, alteration in cachet of Redditch R.C.M.B, etc. (19). £240-280
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German Red Cross Form Errors. 1942-44 Forms from Guernsey all with errors, with the address details printed on both sides (the answer details therefore omitted), red printing omitted (3) and red printing misplaced (7, five miscut as a result), a very unusual group. (11). £200-250
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Envelopes. 1941-45 Window envelopes for use in the islands (11, two with forms, one with tiny boxed "1127" censor cachet); British delivery envelopes (26, twelve with forms, six with large circular B.R.C cachets); also Swiss Red Cross envelopes from Geneva to G.B (2) and German "Inliegend Telegramm" envelope. (40 + 14 forms). £120-150
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1941 British forms to Guernsey (2) or Jersey all with "TIMBRE-REPONSE" cachets, very scarce. (3). £120-140
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1941-42 British forms to Jersey (8) or Guernsey (28) all with "COUPON-REPONSE" cachets, one cachet deleted, nearly all from 1941, one late use on a form of 11 August 1942. (36). £180-220
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1941-44 British forms to Jersey all with large circular "BRITISH RED CROSS AND ST. JOHN WAR ORGANISATION" cachets with a central Red Cross, various cachet types, all fine strikes (22). £120-150
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1941-44 British or German forms to or from Guernsey, all with large circular "BRITISH RED CROSS AND ST. JOHN WAR ORGANISATION" cachets with a central Red Cross, various cachet types, all fine strikes. (53). £250-300
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