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1931-39 Covers flown by Imperial Airways from G.B to Australia (5) or Australia to G.B (2) or USA, all delayed en route, including 1935 (Jan 16) IE303 which made a forced landing at Point Stuart, 1938 Australia to USA cover carried on flight BH11 from Bangkok to Hong Kong which was shot at by a Japanese fighter (Feb 28) which apparently mistook it for a Chinese aircraft, etc. (8). £200-300
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Netherlands Indies. 1933-40 Covers and cards comprising 1933 "Postjager" flight (2), 1934 "Uiver" flight (3) and 1940 (Jan 19) Batavia to Sydney cover handstamped "RECOVERED FROM / LOST FLYING BOAT", from the K.N.I.L.M crash near Bali Airport which killed eight people (N.400122a). (6). £100-120
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Australia - "Loina". 1935 (Oct 1) O.H.M.S Money Order Advices cover from Shepparton to Hobart franked Australia Air 3d, minor soiling, with typed inscription "This envelope contains a money order advice was included in the mail which was recovered in a saturated condition from the air-liner "Loina." and initialled, above the oval cachet "SUPERINTENDENT OF MAILS / 6 OCT 1935 / GENERAL POST OFFICE HOBART", arrival backstamp. Very scarce, this typed explanation apparently unrecorded. E.535, $400+. Photo on Page 52. £200-250
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"City of Khartoum". 1935 (Dec 23/24) Covers from London recovered from the Imperial Airways flying boat "City of Khartoum" which crashed into the sea near Alexandria on Dec. 31st, a long water stained cover to Melbourne with 6d block of four, other stamps washed off, handstamped "RECEIVED AT G.P.O MELBOURNE / DAMAGED BY WATER" with an Officially Sealed label on reverse; the other cover to New Zealand with the stamps washed off, dealt with at Sydney with an explanatory slip enclosed. (2). £150-180
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"Scipio". 1936 (Aug.) Covers from Australia (2) or India (3) to G.B (4) or USA, all recovered from the Imperial Airways flying boat "Scipio" which crashed into Mirabella Bay on August 22nd, one Australia cover with stamps washed off, the other a little fire and water damaged, all with differing "Damaged by Sea Water" or "Damaged by Water" cachets. (5). £150-180
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"Athena". 1936 (Sep 19-22) Covers from England (3) or Belgium to Australia (3) or New Zealand, all recovered from the Imperial Airways plane "Athena" which caught fire when taking off from Delhi on Sept. 29th, all fire damaged, one cover to Sydney largely destroyed, the remaining portion enclosed within an ambulance envelope with explanatory slip enclosed (date corrected to "29 SEP 1936" with a red handstamp). The cover to Brisbane handstamped "DAMAGED IN TRANSIT" with "DEAD LETTER OFFICE / BRISBANE" c.d.s (Oct 9), cover to Auckland with manuscript explanation and "Recovered in damaged / condition at Auckland", Belgium cover to Darling Point with "Salvaged from Air Liner / ATHENA", this cover sadly with the stamps torn out and reapplied using Sellotape, the New Zealand cover roughly torn open. (4). £120-150
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"Cygnus". 1937 (Oct./Nov.) Commercial covers from Australia (3, one registered) or India, and a registered F.D.C of the Cook Islands Coronation stamps, all to England, recovered from the "Cygnus" which overturned and sank when taking off from Brindisi on Dec. 5th. Three with one or more stamps washed off, various Damaged by Sea Water handstamps. (5). £120-150
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Chile/Argentina. 1938 (June 18) Cover from Buenos Ayres to Lima, from the Santiago to Antofagasta flight which crashed in the Andes, the plane and mail not found until February 1941, some 32 months later, with violet explanatory cachet applied at Santiago, Lima backstamp (12 Apr. 1941), very scarce. N.380619. £100-120
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"Calpurnia". 1938 (Nov 22/24) Covers (5) and a postcard from England to Australia (3) or New Zealand (3) all recovered from the Imperial Airways flying boat "Calpurnia" which crashed when landing on Lake Ramadi in Iraq on Nov. 27th, four with one or more stamps washed off. Covers and a card to Wellington or Auckland handstamped "RECEIVED IN DAMAGED CONDITION / EX FLYING BOAT CALPURNIA" (2) or "RECEIVED IN / DAMAGED CONDITION / ex CALPURNIA", cover to Hobart handstamped "SALVAGED / EX "CALPURNIA""; cover to Brisbane with red boxed "DAMAGED BY WATER / THROUGH ACCIDENT / TO FLYING BOAT" sealed with brown tape "This Cover was torn in transit / The Accident is Regretted / Repaired by --- / G.P.O Brisbane", the cover to South Australia with an Adelaide G.P.O explanatory slip enclosed. (6). £300-400
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Australia - "Koranga". 1939 (Jan 6) Covers from England to Australia all recovered from Guinea Airways Ltd "Koranga" which crashed at Katherine River, Northern Territory, on January 18th. Covers to Melbourne or Fremantle with differing explanatory slips enclosed or applied to the cover, a window envelope (to Tasmania) with red handstamp "Damaged in airliner which / crashed at Katherine River, / North Australia". E.843, $1,200. (3). £250-300
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"Centurion". 1939 (June) Covers from Australia (3) or Burma, all to G.B, recovered from the Imperial Airways flying boat "Centurion" which crashed when landing on the Hoogly River near Calcutta on June 12th, two stamps washed off, handstamped red "SALVAGED MAIL / EX CENTURIA" or "SALVAGED MAIL / EX. CENTURION", the Burma cover additionally handstamped boxed "DAMAGED BY SEA / WATER". (4). £120-150
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1940 (Jan 20) Cover from Batavia to Sydney franked by three 35c stamps, recovered from the K.N.I.L.M plane which crashed near Bali airport on January 22nd, handstamped "RECOVERED FROM / LOST FLYING BOAT" applied in Sydney. £80-100
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Belgium/Netherlands/G.B. 1948 (Mar 2) Cover from Brussels to London, burnt at left edge, endorsed "Damaged by Fire", from the Sabena flight to London which crashed in fog when landing at Heathrow killing 19 occupants; and 1950 (Feb 1) cover from Amsterdam to London handstamped violet boxed "DAMAGED BY SEA / WATER", recovered from the KLM flight to London which caught fire and crashed into the sea. N.480302b, 500203a. (2). £120-150
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USA/Italy/Germany. 1951-54 Covers flown between Europe and the USA, comprising 1951 (Dec 19) 10c air letter from Philadelphia to Italy backstamped violet "Contiene corrispondenza danneggiala / ricuperata nell' incidente / all'aereo New York - Milano / del 23 dicembre 1951", from the L.A.I flight from New York via Shannon which crashed upon landing at Milan (N.511223b); 1954 (July 31) cover from Germany to New Orleans backstamped violet "Delay caused by / Air Mail Interruption / Near Norwich Conn. / Date AUG 3 1954", from the Air France Paris to New York flight which made a crash landing after running out of fuel (N.540803b); and three 1954 (Dec. 15) covers from Italy to USA handstamped "DAMAGE DUE TO AIRMAIL INTERRUPTION / NEAR N.Y INT'L AIRPORT DEC 15, 1954", from the L.A.I Rome to New York flight which crashed into Jamaica Bay killing all 34 on board (N.541218a/aa/h). A good group, all with some water or fire damage. (5). £150-200
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Cayman Islands/Jamaica. 1953 (Apr 5) Cover from New York to Grand Cayman, via Kingston, Jamaica, water staining and the stamp washed off, the reverse bearing a label "Found Open (or damaged) and officially repaired at General Post Office, Kingston, Jamaica" tied by a Kingston c.d.s (Apr 12). Recovered from the Caribbean International Airways flight from Kingston to Montego Bay and the Cayman Islands which crashed into the sea shortly after take off killing 13 passengers and crew. Recovered mail was dried at Kingston then forwarded without any cachet being applied. Very scarce, not recorded by Nierinck. £150-180
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Colombia/Germany. 1954 (Aug 7) Cover from Germany to Colombia franked 1.40m, a little waterstained, handstamped violet "Demorada su entrega por fuer- / za major ocurrida en las Islas / Azores el 9 de agosto de 1954". The Avianca Paris to Bogota flight crashed in the Azores killing 30 passengers and crew. Scarce, little mail recovered. N.540809a. £100-120
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Japan/Philippines/Hong Kong. 1954 (Jan) Covers from Japan (3), Hong Kong or Manila to England, Japan or Pakistan to Germany, all recovered from the Philippine Airlines flight to London which caught fire and crashed near Rome, most soiled or fire damaged, various cachets including red "DAMAGED IN AIRCRAFT / CRASH" (not recorded by Nierinck), two line Italian cachet (2 covers), "DAMAGED IN / P.A.L AIRCRAFT CRASH" (3 covers, one from Hong Kong with two versions of this cachet in both violet and black and the Italian cachet, forwarded in a London ambulance envelope), "AIRCRAFT CRASH / DAMAGED IN PAL" (2 covers, one also with the previous cachet), and a German explanatory label applied at Frankfurt. A good group, some scarce cachets and cachet combinations, three registered. N.540114a/dd/f/h/i. (7). £400-500
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Ireland/Holland. 1954 (Sep 4) Cover and postcard from Holland to USA, some staining, handstamped "SALVAGED FROM K.L.M CRASH AT SHANNON" in black or violet. From the KLM Amsterdam to New York flight which crashed into the mud when taking off from Shannon killing 25 crew and passengers. N.540905a/b. (2). £120-150
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G.B/Bermuda/USA. 1954 (Dec 22/23) Covers from London franked 1/3 to Bermuda or USA, both recovered from the B.O.A.C Stratocruiser "Cathay" which crashed at Prestwick on Christmas day killing 23 people. The cover to Bermuda with violet loose type "SALVAGED MAIL / PRESTWICK - 25-12, 54", the larger cover to New York with larger violet "SALVAGED MAIL / PRESTWICK / 25/12/54", two scarce cachets, the Bermuda destination unusual. N.541225b, d. (2). £100-120
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Canada/G.B. 1954 (Dec 22) Covers franked 1/3 (2) and a 6d air letter all from England to Canada, all recovered from the Prestwick crash, the 6d air letter with violet loose type "SALVAGED MAIL / PRESTWICK 25-12-54" (unrecorded by Nierinck, similar to his cachet type "b" but with smaller letter "S" and number "2", no hyphen before "25", hyphen between "12" and "54"), fire damaged so forwarded in an ambulance envelope bearing the violet boxed cachet. The other covers with larger violet "SALVAGED MAIL / PRESTWICK / 25/12/54" on reverse; or with the violet boxed cachet on the front, the reverse endorsed "Recu en damage 18/1/55" and handstamped "RECEIVED DAMAGED AT / Recu avarie a / MONTREAL". A scarce trio. N.541225a, d. (3). £150-180
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Venezuela/G.B. 1954 (Dec 23) Cover from London to Cardon, Venezuela, from the Christmas day crash at Prestwick, some scorching and staining, the boxed "Salvaged Mail" cachet on the front, backstamped "INGRESO EN MAL ESTADO" with a Caracas c.d.s. Part flap missing and piece torn from upper right corner but a scarce destination and cachet, not recorded by Nierinck. N.541225. £80-100
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Italy/Belgium. 1955 (Feb 10) Cover from France to Brussels and redirected to Rome with violet "Corrispondenza recuperata in seguito / incidente aereo del 13 FEB 1955", and a cover from Belgium to Belgian Congo, water damaged and the stamp washed off, handstamped violet "POSTES ROME GARE AVION / Correspondance recouvree / dans le desastre du 13 FEB 1955", backstamped at Boende (Mar. 16). From the Sabena Brussels-Rome-Leopoldville flight which crashed in mountains 70km north of Rome killing all 29 on board, the plane being found eight days later. The Italian language cachet not recorded by Nierinck. N.550213. (2). £140-160
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G.B/New Zealand. 1968 (Apr 6/7) 9d Air Letter and covers (2) from G.B to New Zealand, both covers with their stamps washed off, all with a little fire damage, recovered from April 8th B.O.A.C London-Zurich-Australia flight which attempted a forced landing at Heathrow when an engine became detached after take off, and crashed killing five people. One cover to Auckland handstamped green "SALVAGED FROM AIRCRAFT / ACCIDENT LONDON 8-4-68", a cover to Wanganui enclosed within a transparent ambulance envelope with printed heading "NEW ZEALAND POST OFFICE / THE ENCLOSED ARTICLE WAS DAMAGED IN THE POST", the air letter to Lower Hutt with an explanatory letter from the Wellington Post Office (not recorded by Nierinck but similar to the illustrated Christchurch Post Office letter). N.680408,b,x. (3). £280-320
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G.B/Australia. 1968 Cover franked 9d (a further stamp missing) and 9d air letters (2) all from G.B to Australia, all with a little fire damage, all recovered from the April 8th B.O.A.C crash at Heathrow. The cover to Melbourne with an explanatory letter from the Melbourne Post Office, the air letters both to Adelaide, one forwarded in an ambulance envelope with an explanatory letter from the Adelaide Post Office. N.680408d,f. (3). £200-240
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Kenya/Holland/Germany. 1974 (Nov.) Covers from Germany to South Africa (2), and a cover posted within Holland but missorted and sent on the Lufthansa Frankfurt to Johannesburg flight, all water or fire damaged, handstamped red bilingual "RETRIEVED FROM AIR CRASH ON 20 / NOVEMBER 1974 AT NAIROBI", the Dutch cover returned to Holland handstamped "BESCHADIGD ONTVANGEN / BESTELKANTOOR Ev. MEYSTERLAAN / DISTRICTPOSTKANTOOR UTRECHT". The Lufthansa plane crashed when taking off at Nairobi due to mechanical trouble, killing 59 people, the Dutch cachet not recorded by Nierinck. N.741120a. (3). £120-150
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G.B. 1984 (Nov 19) Covers from Scotland to Peterborough franked 17p, both soiled at the edges, both with an Inverness Post Office letter (originally stapled to the covers) explaining the covers were on the Inverness to Edinburgh mail plane which crashed on the night of November 19th; the mail lay on an exposed hillside for up to 48 hours in atrocious weather. N.841119. (2). £80-100
| WRECK MAIL
(Also see lot 1293) | |
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"The Liberty"/Antigua. 1793 (Oct 11) Entire letter from Antigua to London "p. the Liberty Capn Forster" with scarce red "SHIP-LRE" (S34, applied in London to mails landed at out ports without their own handstamps), and Dec 17 backstamp, with a copy of a notice of the wreck of "The Liberty" taken from Lloyds List of 17 December 1793 - "The Liberty, Forster, from Antigua to London, went ashore on the Middle Ground, near Ramsgate, but is got off with the assistance of boats with considerable damage", and a copy of the 1793 Survey of the Varne & Ridge which shows the wreck site of the Liberty. This letter was landed at Ramsgate and taken in a sealed bag to London; the ship was pulled off the Goodwin Sands and stripped down for salvage. A unique early and well documented wreck cover, not recorded by Gwynn & Hoggarth who only record one earlier wreck cover. Photo on Page 52. £1,500-1,800
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S.S "Kingstonian". 1918 (Mar.) Covers from Cairo or Alexandria to G.B (2) or Italy (2) all with the stamps washed off, one registered cover with two 10m stamps reaffixed handstamped "Salved from / submerged mail", the other cover to G.B with violet boxed "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION / IN WATER", the two covers to Italy both handstamped "NAUFRAGIO". (4). £150-180
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S.S "Kingstonian". 1918 (Mar.) Stampless forces mail from Egypt or Palestine (6), one with an Officially Sealed label with Peterborough c.d.s (10 MY), the others handstamped "SALVED LETTER", "DAMAGED BY SEA WATER", boxed "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION / IN SEA WATER" (2) or "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION / IN WATER", also a cover to a soldier in the B.E.F, water stained and the stamp washed off, with violet "R.E Postal Section L'don N.W1 / Damaged by immersion / in sea water". (7). £180-220
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S.S "Comorin". 1930 Covers from Australia to England, from Sydney (Feb 18) or Perth (Mar 3) both with the stamps soaked off, handstamped black boxed "DAMAGED BY FIRE / ON / S.S COMORIN" (on O.H.M.S sealing label) or "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION / IN SEA WATER I.S", or franked 1d from Melbourne (Feb 22) with unusual violet "Damaged by SEA WATER". A fire was discovered on the "Comorin" in No. 3 hold and extinguished by flooding the hold with seawater. Three fine covers, Hoggarth/Gwynn cachet types 7, 9, 12. (3). £100-120
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Argentina/Uruguay. 1941 (Nov. 22/24) Covers from Argentina to G.B both with violet boxed "DAMAGED BY / SEA WATER" (cut down "Airplane Accident" type); and 1943 (June) covers from Argentina (3) or Uruguay to G.B with violet "DAMAGED BY / SEA WATER", some water damage and signs of scorching. (6). £120-150
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S.S "Vidar"/ S.S. "Groningen IV". 1940 (Jan. 23) Cover from London to Copenhagen, water damaged and the stamp soaked off (a G.B. stamp from another cover reaffixed) handstamped violet "Beskadiget of Sovand", from S.S "Vidar" which was torpedoed in the North Sea on January 31st, three mailbags being washed up in Denmark; and 1945 (Jan 2) water damaged cover posted within Holland franked 7½c, delivered in December 1946, reverse with Dutch Post Office label explaining it was recovered from the S.S. "Groningen IV" which collided with the "Jan Nieveen" on the Ijsselmeer on 8th January 1945 (the label incorrectly stating 1944). (2). £100-120
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1940-42 WW2 Covers comprising 1940 (Dec 28) cover from London to Yugoslavia but returned with "NO SERVICE / RETURN TO SENDER" cachet, and 1942 (Oct 27) O.A.S Honour Envelope from Valletta to G.B, both with boxed "DAMAGED BY SEAWATER" (S.S Comorin type, with lower lines cut away); 1941 (Aug 21) O.A.S Honour Envelope from Iceland to London with F.P.O 308 c.d.s and "SALVED FROM THE SEA"; and 1942 (Jan 1) cover sent within London and readdressed to Baghdad with boxed "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION / IN SEA WATER", arrival backstamp (June 18). All with some water damage, the first probably from the "Alhena". (4). £100-120
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South Africa. 1942-43 Covers to South Africa comprising 1942 (Oct 2) O.A.S cover from Cairo (Egypt Postage Prepaid 71 c.d.s) with violet bilingual "CORRESPONDENCE DAMAGED BY SEAWATER" (the 1939 Challenger crash cachet with "Flying Boat" removed); 1942 (Nov 9) cover from G.B with violet "DAMAGED / BY SEA WATER"; and two 1943 (Mar 10) covers with stamps washed off, both handstamped bilingual "DAMAGED BY SEAWATER" in black or violet, from the S.S "City of Baroda" torpedoed off Luderitz on April 2nd. (4). £100-120
| SPECIMEN STAMPS | @Side Head underline 14pt: - THE RHODESIA POST OFFICE SPECIMEN ARCHIVE
The following Specimen stamps were received by the Rhodesian Post Office from the U.P.U in Berne (or the G.P.O in London) in 1902-13, and applied with their own gum to pages from a commercially bought stamp album. Some occur in singles, others in strips of three, the receipt date and despatch number written alongside many stamps. Virtually all stamps without a printed "Specimen" overprint were handstamped upon arrival with the Specimen handstamps listed by Marcus Samuel and James Bendon as types R3 (only used until 1903) or the fancy type R4 (both of which are also found used on Rhodesia stamps for presentation to other postal authorities). Although the occasional stamp has faults the majority are fine (though stuck down); all pages are unique, as are the majority of the stamps with these local overprints. For Malaya specimens see lots 1213/18.
France & Colonies / P.O Abroad | |
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France. Two pages bearing virtually all 1900-10 issues including 1900 2f vermilion postage due, 1900 2f, 1909 50c red postage due, twenty single stamps and fourteen strips of three, all with "Specimen" handstamps R3 or R4, receipt dates from Berne or London written alongside the stamps. (62). £200-250
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Dahomey. Two pages bearing 1899-1905 2c - 5f (ten values issued in 1905), 1906 postage set of fifteen and postage due set of eight all in strips of three, 1912 surcharge set of nine in singles, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4, receipt dates from Berne written alongside. (108). £200-250
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French Congo. Page bearing scarce 1903 5c and 10c surcharge strips of three, also 1907 Middle Congo set of sixteen (no 15c issued in 1917), all with "Specimen" handstamp type R4. (22). £150-200
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French Guinea. Two pages bearing all 1904-13 postage and postage due sets, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (76). £150-200
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French Guiana. Page bearing 1900-04 5c and 2f, 1904-07 set all in strips of three (1907 45c a single), also 1912 surcharge set in singles, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (62). £120-150
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French Oceanic Settlements. Page bearing 1900-07 35c and 45c, 1903 surcharge set of three, 1913 set of sixteen (no 15c issued in 1915) all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (21). £100-120
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French Somali Coast. Three pages bearing 1902 and 1903 sets in strips of three, 1909 set in singles, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (106). £250-300
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Gabon. Two pages bearing 1904-07 set in strips of three (45c a single), 1910 "Congo Francais" set, 1910 "Afrique Equatoriale" set (no 15c issued in 1918) and 1912 surcharge set in singles, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (94). £250-300
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Guadeloupe. Three pages bearing 1904 1f on 75c strip of three, 1905-06 postage due set in strips of three, 1905-07 set in strips of three (45c a single) and 1912 surcharge set, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (74). £200-300
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Indo China. Two pages bearing 1905 surcharge pair, 1904-06 set of seventeen, 1905 postage due surcharge set of four and 1907 75c - 10f all in strips of three, the 1907 1c - 50c, 1908 postage due set of thirteen and 1912 surcharge set in singles, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (116). £300-350
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Indo China Post Offices in China. Eleven pages with 1903-04 overprint sets for Canton, Mongtze and Yunnansen in strips of three, Hoi Hao, Tchongking and Packhoi in singles (all 14 values), 1906 issue to 1f for Kouang Tcheou-Wan (12 values), Mong-Tseu (13 values), Pak-Hoi (13 values), Yunnan-Fu (13 values), Canton (13 values) in strips of three, Pak-Hoi, Hoi-Hao and Tchong King (all 12 values) in singles, 1908 sets for Hoi-Hao, Canton, Kouang-Tcheou, Mongtseu, Pakhoi (2 sets), Yunnanfou and Tchongking. A fine and scarce lot, all handstamped "Specimen" R3 or R4. (502). £1,400-1,800
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Ivory Coast. Two pages bearing 1906 set (no 1c, 5c, 10c) and 1906 postage due set of eight in strips of three, 1912 surcharge set, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (65). £150-200
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Madagascar/Comoros. Three pages bearing 1900-07 35c strips of three for Madagascar, Anjouan, Grande Comoro and Mayotte and 45c for Anjouan, Grande Comoro, Mayotte and Moheli, 1906-07 set of fifteen for Moheli in strips of three, 1912 surcharge sets for Anjouan, Grande Comoro, Mayotte, Moheli and Madagascar, Madagascar 1903 set in strips three, 1908 set, 1908 postage due set, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (178). £500-600
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Martinique. Page bearing 1899-1906 35c, 2f and 5f in strips of three, 1908 set and 1912 surcharges all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (29). £100-120
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Mauritania. Page bearing 1906-07 35c and 45c strips of three, 1906 postage due set of eight in strips of three, 1913 set of sixteen, all handstamps "Specimen" type R4. (46). £140-180
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New Caledonia. Page bearing 1905-07 set in strips of three (45c a single), 1906 postage due 20c strip of three, 1912 surcharge set, all handstamped "Specimen" type R4. (57). £150-180
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