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1931 Piece of silver backed cloth, handstamped "Guaranteed, Relic of the R100, Francis J. Field Ltd, Sutton Coldfield, England", signed by Field, approx 115x80mm. £80-100
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Canada. 1932 (July 13) Cover from London to Ottawa, flown to Cherbourg, carried on S.S "Empress of Britain" to Bradore Bay then flown to Ottawa, the special flight for mail to the Ottawa Imperial Economic Conference, signed by the four pilots. Fine, few covers signed. £100-120
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Gambia / Germany. 1934 (Dec 7) Commercial cover from London to Bathurst "via Germany", carried on the Lufthansa Christmas flight (LH L43, which connected with the Graf Zeppelin pendulum flight at Bathurst) with the large green pictorial cachet "DEUTSCHE LUFTPOST / EUROPA-SUDAMERIKA / a / WEIHNACHTEN 1934". Backstamped at Berlin (Dec. 14) and Bathurst (Dec. 17), vertical fold, otherwise fine and scarce. £120-150
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Provincial Airways - West Country Air Services. 1933 Proofs of the 3d air stamp (6), mint sheets of four (6, shades, all four printings) and stamps on first flight covers (3). Also various letters concerning the forthcoming service, sale of stamps or covers carried (13), postcards of aircraft (4, one signed by the pilot S.W.A Scott), letters from Scott (2), flight ticket, advertising brochures or timetables (7), luggage label, and four letters from the G.P.O to George King concerning detained flight covers which contravened Poste Restante regulations. (47). £250-300
| Christmas - Advance Posting Cancels | The fine collection of 1902-09 Posted in Advance for Christmas Day cancels, with some rare or unique cancels and uses.
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1906 Proof impressions of "X/MAS" handstamps for Liverpool, St. Helens and Newton-le-Willows on pieces, the last two with partially printed details of the handstamp manufacturer on the reverse, apparently reading "George Lucy, Sole Engravers & Stamp Cutters to His Majestys Post Office". Probably unique. (3). Photo on Page 6. £350-400
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Birkenhead. 1906 Cover to Liverpool with KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, unusually with a Christmas day Old Swan, Liverpool arrival datestamp alongside. Fine, about 28,000 items posted in 1906, the first year the advance posting scheme was extended to Merseyside. Photo on Page 16. £120-150
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Birkenhead. 1907-09 Picture postcards franked KEVII ½d, with "X / MAS" cancels for all three years, all fine. (3). £180-220
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Birkenhead. 1908 Picture postcard (headed "Xmas. 08") with KEVII ½d tied by "X / MAS" cancel, the year date at right clearly omitted in error. Also KEVII 1½d on piece with the cancel dated 1908. Similar year omitted errors are recorded from Eccles, Stalybridge and Stockport. Tiny tear at upper edge, otherwise fine and unusual. (2). Photo on Page 16. £120-150
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Bolton. 1903 Picture postcard with KEVII ½d tied by the oval Advance Posting cancel, code "B.L", small ink stain on message half, otherwise fine, about 25,000 items posted in Bolton in 1903. Photo on Page 16. £150-180
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Bradford. 1904 Picture postcard to Thornton with KEVII ½d cancelled by "107" numeral in red and superb oval "B.D" Advance Posting handstamp alongside. A very unusual combination of handstamps, only recorded from Bradford in 1904 (with some mail receiving the "107" in black, others cancelled by the oval B.D handstamp without the 107 numeral applied). Superb quality and very scarce, just 3,914 items posted in 1904. Photo on Page 16. £450-550
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Bury. 1903 Cover posted within Bury franked KEVII ½d, tied by the oval Advance Posting cancel, code "B.C", in red. Very fine, the only year this scheme operated in Bury, about 10,000 items posted. Photo on Page 16. £180-220
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Douglas. 1906 Cover posted locally in Douglas, franked KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel. Fine and scarce, 10,200 items posted in 1906, the first year of the posting scheme in Douglas. Photo on Page 16. £500-600
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Douglas. 1908 Cover to London franked KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, also a ½d on piece with part strike of the 1907 cancel. Fine and scarce, 12,600 items posted in 1907, about 25,000 items in 1908. (2). Photo on Page 16. £500-600
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Douglas. 1909 Stampless cover to Ireland with red "DOUGLAS / PAID / ½" c.d.s dated "DE 09" with the day removed, overstruck by the "X / MAS" handstamp dated 1909 in black. Very rare and unusual, one similar "X / MAS" cancel used with a red Paid c.d.s is recorded from Douglas in 1906. Photo on Page 18. £1,000-1,200
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Glasgow. 1904 Picture postcard posted within Glasgow, a KEVII ½d tied by superb oval Advance Posting cancel code "G.W". 21,423 Items posted in 1904, the only year the scheme operated in Glasgow. Photo on Page 18. £250-300
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Hull. 1903 Cover to the Hull Museum with KEVII ½d tied by the oval Advance Posting cancel code "H.U" in red, very fine. 15,635 Items posted, the only year the scheme operated in Hull, scarce. Photo on Page 18. £250-300
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Leicester. 1903 QV 1½d Postcard with superb oval Advance Posting cancel, code "L.E" in red, very unusual on a QV card, 15,222 items posted. Photo on Page 18. £300-350
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Leicester. 1904 Picture postcard sent within Leicester, a KEVII ½d tied by the oval Advance Posting cancel code "L.E" in red, very fine. 14,605 Items posted in 1904, the cancel used in both red and black ink. Photo on Page 18. £200-250
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Leicester. 1908 Picture postcard to Stamford franked KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, very fine, 50,998 items posted £100-120
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Liverpool. 1906-09 Covers with "X / MAS" cancels for the four years, the 1907 cover to Lancaster franked KEVII ½d, the others locally addressed franked KEVII 1d. All very fine, these cancels much scarcer on covers than picture postcards. (4). £200-250
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Liverpool. 1906 Cover locally addressed franked KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, with "6" reversed in the year "06", a very unusual error. Photo on Page 18. £150-180
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Liverpool. 1908 Printed bundle label on red paper "CHRISTMAS / Advance Posted Letters / FOR / (Batley)" with a fine Liverpool "X / MAS" handstamp, unusual and scarce. Photo on Page 18. £400-500
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Manchester. 1905 (Dec. 18) Cover posted from Manchester to Leeds with QV 6d envelope stamp cut-out tied by Manchester c.d.s, arrival backstamp, the stamp then tied by a superb strike of the violet oval "MANCHESTER / ADVANCE POSTED / CHRISTMAS 1905", presumably cancelled to order, nevertheless a scarce cancel and very unusual. Photo on Page 18. £200-250
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Norwich. 1903 Picture postcard with Christmas greetings posted within Norwich, a KEVII ½d tied by Norwich 575 duplex in red, simply containing a "5" and the year date "03" with the "3" inverted, very fine and rare. Norwich and Cheltenham used their ordinary datestamps in red with the date omitted on mail posted in advance for Christmas delivery in 1903. Just 1,414 items posted in Norwich in 1903, this card being the finest of three recorded examples of this red duplex. Photo on Page 20. £500-600
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Norwich. 1907 Picture postcard posted within Norwich, a KEVII ½d tied by superb "X / MAS" cancel. 6,650 Items posted in 1907. Photo on Page 20. £180-220
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Norwich. 1908 Cover to Bournemouth franked KEVII 1d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, very fine and unusual on a cover, 14,905 items posted. Photo on Page 20. £160-200
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Ormskirk. 1909 Cover to London franked KEVII ½d with "X / MAS cancel, also a piece bearing two KEVII ½d stamps with the 1906 cancel (illustrated on the front of Cyril Kidd's 1974 pamphlet), both fine and very scarce. 1,500 Items posted in 1906, 3,900 in 1909. (2). Photo on Page 20. £350-400
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Prescot. 1906 Cover to Chester franked KEVII ½d, tied by a very fine "X / MAS" cancel. Very scarce, just 3,200 items posted in 1906. Photo on Page 20. £350-400
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Prescot. 1908 Picture postcard to Rockferry, a KEVII ½d tied by "X / MAS" cancel, corner crease, otherwise fine and scarce, also KEVII 1d on piece with 1907 cancel. Just 3,200 items posted in 1906, 1,500 in 1907, the postcard with R.P.S Certificate (1986). (2). Photo on Page 20. £250-300
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Reading. 1908 Picture postcard to Sussex franked KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, unusually in red. This "X / MAS" cancel is only known in red ink from Altrincham and Reading in 1908, although black ink was also used for many of the 1908 Reading cancels, 17,035 items posted in total. Fine and scarce. Photo on Page 20. £300-350
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Rochdale. 1902 Unaddressed cover franked KEVII 1d with trial strike of oval "POSTED IN ADVANCE / FOR DELIVERY / ON / CHRISTMAS DAY / 1902" cancel, vertical fold and a couple of ink spots well away from the stamp, otherwise fine and rare From the papers of John Philips, Postmaster of Manchester, who was responsible for the Advance Posting scheme being trialled in Rochdale in 1902 and subsequent operations largely in the Manchester area and north west in subsequent years. Philips produced trials of the Rochdale cancel in red and black, on both unstamped and stamped covers; other examples are illustrated in "Posted in Advance for Christmas" by Patrick Campbell. Photo on Page 20. £750-850
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Rochdale. 1902 Large cover (flap missing) sent within Rochdale franked KEVII ½d (small fault) cancelled by red oval "POSTED IN ADVANCE / FOR DELIVERY / ON / CHRISTMAS DAY / 1902". Also pieces with KEVII ½d cancelled in red or 1d cancelled in black. The scheme was trialled at Rochdale in 1902, this oval cancel only used during this 1902 trial, in red ink on ½d stamps and black ink on 1d stamps, 18,910 items posted in total. (3). £280-320
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Rochdale. 1904 Picture postcard posted within Rochdale, a KEVII ½d tied by the oval Advance Posting cancel code "R.O." in red, 21,275 items posted in 1904. Photo on Page 22. £120-150
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Runcorn. 1908 Picture postcard sent within Runcorn, with KEVII ½d tied by a fine "X / MAS" cancel. Also 1d on piece, missing year of use. The card fine and scarce, just 3,900 items posted. (2). Photo on Page 22. £350-400
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St. Helens. 1908 Picture postcard with printed Christmas greetings posted to Southport, a KEVII ½d tied by a fine "X / MAS" cancel, the "08" year set sloping downwards. Also KEVII ½d on piece with 1906 cancel. Fine and scarce, 9,600 items posted in 1906, 11,300 in 1908. (2). Photo on Page 22. £300-350
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Shrewsbury. 1903 Picture postcard posted within Shrewsbury franked KEVII ½d tied by superb oval Advance Posting cancel, code "S.Y", in red. The only year the scheme operated in Shrewsbury, just 884 items posted, the only recorded example. Photo on Inside Front Cover. £1,200-1,500
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Southport. 1904 Christmas greetings picture postcard posted within Southport with KEVII ½d tied by red "594" numeral. Southport operated the Advance Posting scheme in 1903 and 1904 but no special cancels are recorded; however ordinary cancels in red were used for mail posted in advance for Christmas at Norwich and Cheltenham (see lot 124) in 1903, and it seems this also occurred at Southport, no special datestamps being issued to these towns, presumably in error. This card bears the ½d yellowish green (issued 1904) so must date from Christmas 1904, when just 2,353 items were posted in advance for Christmas delivery. The only recorded example of this cancel. Photo on Page 22. £400-500
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Wakefield. 1903 Picture postcard addressed locally to the telephone call office franked KEVII ½d, tied by the oval Advance Posting cancel, code "W.F", in red. Also two pieces both franked 1d, red cancels. Scarce, 7,053 items posted, the only year the scheme operated at Wakefield. (3). Photo on Page 22. £180-200
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Walsall. 1903 Picture postcard sent locally with KEVII ½d tied by oval Advance Posting cancel code "W.L" in red, superb quality. The only year this scheme operated at Walsall, 11,618 items posted. Photo on Page 22. £240-280
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Widnes. 1906 Picture postcard to Salford with a KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, a couple of letters at the base off the card and repair to lower edge, otherwise fine and very scarce, just 2,200 items posted at Widnes in 1906. Photo on Page 22. £250-300
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Wigan. 1903 (Dec 21) Picture postcard sending Christmas greetings from Hindley Green to Wigan, the KEVII ½d tied by a "HINDLEY GREEN" c.d.s, with oval "POSTED IN ADVANCE / W.I. / 1903 / FOR DELIVERY ON XMAS DAY" alongside. The only item we have seen posted at an ordinary office not operating the Christmas posting scheme but then transferred to the Christmas delivery scheme by the office of delivery. A remarkable card, exceptionally fine, 9,020 items posted in advance for Christmas day delivery in Wigan in 1903. Photo on Page 22. £600-700
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Wigan. 1904 Picture postcard addressed locally, franked KEVII ½d tied by the oval Advance Posting cancel, code "W.I", superb. 17,171 Items posted in 1904. Photo on Page 24. £200-240
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Wigan. 1905 Picture postcard with printed Christmas greetings posted within Wigan, the KEVII ½d tied by oval Advance Posting cancel code "W.I", very fine. 25,522 Items posted in 1905. Photo on Page 24. £160-180
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Wigan. 1906 Picture postcard, locally addressed, franked KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel, very fine, 23,400 items posted in 1906. Photo on Page 24. £150-180
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Wigan. 1909 Cover sent within Wigan, a KEVII ½d tied by the "X / MAS" cancel. 23,800 Items posted in Wigan in 1909. Photo on Page 24. £120-150
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Wigan. KEVII ½d and 1d Blocks of four, the 1d block with oval Advance Posting cancel of 1903, ½d block with "X / MAS" cancel for 1906, both superb. Both blocks were illustrated on the front of Cyril Kidd's 1974 pamphlet. Very unusual and scarce. (2). Photo on Page 6. £200-250
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Reproductions & Forgeries. 1940 Postcard and cover from Col. Guy Grouch to George Brumell in Aylesbury both with an Aylesbury "X / MAS" handstamp produced by Crouch for use on his 1940 Christmas cards, used as a cancel on a 1d stamp on the postcard and on the reverse of the cover (the card probably sent within the cover). Also recent covers with rather crude forgeries of Advance Posting cancels (3), and 1980-81 Isle of Man Post Office Christmas cards with "A MERRY / X / MAS" handstamps. (7). £70-80
| Exhibitions & Special Events (Also see lots 908, 1284) | |
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1897-1939 Stamp Exhibitions, covers (25) including 1897 label on cover from W.T Wilson, 1937 cover from the second annual London Stamp Exhibition to the Isle of Man flown by West Coast Air Services, various exhibition cancels. Also 1912 1d Ideal Stamp labels (77, perf or imperf, various colours), and two tickets. (104). £100-150
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1905-69 Covers and cards with exhibition or special event datestamps including 1905 Trades Exhibition Plymouth, skeleton datestamps (36), Mobile Post Offices (25, with scarce 1958 Mobile Post Office No 114 c.d.s), etc. (212). £400-500
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1924-48 Covers and picture postcards from 1924-25 British Empire Exhibitions (16, including 1924 stampless cover with red "Paid 1½d" exhibition datestamp), 1938 Glasgow Empire Exhibition (128, mainly picture postcards) or 1948 Olympics (13, also two covers with Olympics stamps posted from Tristan da Cunha and three related Austria covers). (162). £140-160
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