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INDIA <\i>Featuring district posts, postage due mail and P.O.W mail, from the Cliff Gregory Collection, and fine Royal Tour postal history and Air Mails.
(Also see lots 26/8, 89, 90, 420, 472/9, 485, 558, 569, 596, 846, 926/30, 1275/7, 1293, 1680/3, 1699, 1889)
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1824-47 Entire letters (4), part entire and a front from India to G.B, one with double ring Benares Post Paid datestamp, and an 1831 entire letter from Dublin to Nagpoor redirected to Pondicherry with oval "BOMBAY / G.P.O / POSTAGE NOT PAID". (7). £200-250
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1854-1949 Mint and used issues in a stockbook including 1854 issues (most with faults), 1949-52 1r - 15r unmounted, 1883-99 ½a - 1r set of seven and 1900 set of three with type O9 On H.M.S overprints all handstamped "SPECIMEN" (4a, 8a) or "CANCELLED", used abroad with QV 2a yellow cancelled "F.F", KEVII ½a and 1a on pieces cancelled "LAHSSA" c.d.s, also Indian States and a few Zanzibar. (100s). £250-300
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1874-76 9p, 6a, 12a and 1r Blocks of four all overprinted "CANCELLED" type D7, superb unmounted mint. Also 1883 9p rose (toned) with Specimen overprint type D9, and five revenue stamps with "CANCELLED" overprints. (22). £100-150
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Registered Mail. c.1880-98 Registered covers with boxed registration handstamps including Bombay S.E, S.W and W.C suburban offices, also a registered letter receipt. (16). £200-250
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1908 (Jan 28) Stampless cover (flap with embossed Crown over "MM") addressed to "Miss Lees, Central Telegraph Office, Calcutta" with hooded circle "VICEROY'S CAMP P.O / POSTAGE / PREPAID" datestamp in purple, the cover with a little foxing but very rare and unusual, believed to be the only recorded example of this hooded circle datestamp. £120-150
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Hill Stations. c.1931-64 Air Mail covers and cards from or to Indian hill stations, many in Sikkim, cancels include Coonoor, Dalhousie, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Gangtok, New Forest, Siliguri, Dehra Dun, Kasauli, Kohima, Landour, Murree, Mussoree, Naini-Tal, Ootacamund, Poona, Shillong, Simla, Srinagar, etc., many unusual frankings, a few ingoing covers including 1935 cover from G.B to Simla with red "Received missent and too / late for I.T.C Service", etc. (105). £600-800
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Simla. 1933-38 Air Mail covers with Army Headquarters Simla (8) or Secretariat Simla (2) cancels, eight bearing KGV official stamps (two 1937 covers with 1909 KEVII 6a), one cover to South Africa underpaid and charged 2d, some unusual rates and frankings. (10). £150-180
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Edwina Mountbatten. 1947 (June 27) Typed letter on "The Viceroys House, New Delhi" notepaper with "EMofB" crest, to Mrs Wallace congratulating her on the award of an M.B.E, signed "Yours Sincerely, Edwina Mountbatten of Burma", enclosed within an envelope (crown on flap) to "Mrs D. Wallace M.B.E, c/o Malayan Union Police Force H.Q, Kuala Lumpur, Malaya" franked 3½a tied by Viceroy's Camp P.O cancel. £200-250
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1948 (Aug 15) Indian Independence First Anniversary, illustrated First Day Cover depicting Gandhi, registered to Wales bearing Gandhi 1½a, 3½a and 12a tied by Experimental S·O MS·45 datestamps of Veranbur, Madras, minor creasing to 1½a and 12a stamps. £120-150
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1948 (Aug 15) Indian Independence First Anniversary, black mourning F.D.C with imitation Gandhi signature in silver, bearing the Gandhi set of four, registered air mail to London, tied by the special Bombay G.P.O First Day cancels, very fine. Photo on Page 132. £1,000-1,200
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1948 Commercial air mail covers bearing 1948 Gandhi stamps in combination with KGVI definitives, comprising 4½a registration envelope to USA franked KGVI 1½a, 6a pair, 8a pair, 1r and two Gandhi 12a pairs, registered cover to Argentina franked 1r + Gandhi 12a pair, and cover to USA bearing KGVI ½a (9) + 1a block of eleven + 4a strip of four + three Gandhi 1½a stamps, a few minor faults, three unusual frankings. (3). £280-320
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1948-52 Commercial air mail covers all bearing 1948 Gandhi stamps, comprising 1948 covers to USA, G.B, Switzerland (2) or Sweden with Gandhi 3½a strip of three or 12a (4 covers) in combination with KGVI definitives, and 1952 cover to USA with ten Gandhi 1a stamps in combination with 1949-52 3p pair and 6p, all fine. (6). £250-300
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1953 (Nov 2) Conquest of Mount Everest illustrated First Day Cover, the two Everest stamps tied by special Bombay G.P.O first day cancels, sent registered air mail book post to New Zealand, signed by Edmund Hillary. Photo on Page 132. £150-180
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Antarctica. 1985-2006 Covers from Indian Antarctic Expeditions, several covers signed, unusual. (30). £150-180
| Telegraph Stamps | |
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1869-78 10r Die II unmounted mint, upper sheet margin, gum toned, very fine appearance. S.G. T14, £1,200. Photo on Page 110. £250-300
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1869-78 50r Rose, die I unmounted mint, three pulled perfs at base, otherwise fine. S.G. T19, £1,500. Photo on Page 110. £240-280
| The Sir William Henry "Thuggee" Sleeman Letters | The following letters are all from Sir William Sleeman to his friend Sir Thomas Madock, a Member of the Council in Calcutta, sent in 1843-48 when Sleeman was Political Resident at Jhansi in Gwalior. Sleeman was known as "Thuggee" Sleeman due to his suppression of thuggi gangs, followers of the Hindu Goddess Kali who regarded robbery and murder as a trade. He also fought against dacoity and other forms of oppression against the Indian people, whilst pursuing diplomacy in central India, in Gwalior and then as Resident in Lucknow from 1849 until 1854. All letters have transcriptions, many with exceptional content on thuggis and the situation in India.
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1843 (May 23) Entire letter to Calcutta, endorsed "On Service" and signed, reverse with fine red oval "JANSI / FREE" (Hammond Giles 1, recorded for 1842 only in his 1983 Supplement, manuscript date). A long detailed letter full of news of Indian politics and intrigue, rajahs, villains and campaigns, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 132. £500-600
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1843 (June 11) Entire letter to Calcutta endorsed "Service" and signed, reverse with red oval "JANSI / FREE" (manuscript date). The letter concerns the Khasjee and praetorian bands who have gained complete victory, politics and intrigues amongst various states and rajahs. Photo on Page 132. £400-500
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1843 (Dec 18) Entire letter from Sonaree to Calcutta endorsed "On Service" and signed, reverse with red oval "JANSI / FREE" (manuscript date). Sleeman has orders to go to Gwalior and accompany the Maharajah to the Governor General's Camp. Sleeman was trying to prevent war in Gwalior; however the Gwalior army was destroyed just ten days later at the battles of Punniar and Maharajpoor. £300-400
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1845 (May 26) Cover to Calcutta with red oval "JANSI / FREE" (manuscript date) on reverse. Sleeman is furious about an anonymous petition to the Government accusing him of taking money and favours from the Jhansi Rajah; he suspects the author to be Gungadhar Molee, pretender to the Jhansi throne. £300-350
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1845 (July 6) Cover to Calcutta, endorsed "post paid", reverse with red boxed "JANSI / Paid" (manuscript date, not recorded by Hammond Giles). Sleeman discusses Indian politics, the Mahratta question and British conduct in Gwalior. £200-250
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1845 (Sept 5) Entire letter to Calcutta, signed, backstamped red oval "JANSI / FREE" (manuscript date). Sleeman writes about his report on Badak dacoits, officers of the Legion, and the work of Timans in putting down dacoits. £300-400
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1843-48 Letters from Sleeman in Jhansi (12), four postally used with red oval "JANSI / FREE" handstamps (manuscript dates, one a part entire only); also an application from one of Sleeman's assistants, Lt Oakes, requesting temporary command of the Brundelcund Legion, and a long 1844 (Mar 14) eye witness account of the mutiny of the 34th and 64th Native Infantry at Ferozapore by Lt. O. Farringdon (4th N.I), sent to Sleeman's nephew James at Bareilly. Some historically interesting and important letters with much on the affairs at Gwalior which culminated in the battles of Punniar and Maharajpoor, the Native Infantry mutinies of 1844, surrender of the ex-Rajah of Jypore and other insurgent leaders, recall of Lord Ellenborough, and political problems in Scinde, Oude, and the Sangor territories. (14 letters + 4 wrappers). £1,200-1,500
| District Posts | |
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1855 (Nov 22) Entire franked 1854 ½a (badly torn before use) tied by a circle of bars (2 strikes), reverse with red oval "TANJORE / TALOOK TAPPAL / PUTTOOCOTTAH" ("Paid" and date in manuscript). Also an 1855 (Sep 19) entire letter with similar red oval handstamp of "TRIVADY", the stamps unfortunately removed. (2). Photo on Page 132. £200-300
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1856 (Sep 5) Entire letter, reverse with ½a pair each cancelled by a circle of bars and red chamfered corner handstamp "N.A.T.T / WALLAJAPETT / Paid", dated in manuscript, address panel a little reduced at upper edge and light crease passing through the stamps, otherwise fine and scarce. Photo on Page 132. £500-600
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1856 (Nov 23) Entire letter franked ½a (small corner fault) tied by a circle of bars, reverse with red chamfered corner handstamp "N.A.T.T / SHOLINGHUR / Paid", dated in manuscript, horizontal and vertical folds, otherwise fine. A scarce handstamp that displays well. Photo on Page 134. £500-600
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1856-59 Entire letters franked ½a, both cancelled by a circle of bars, with red chamfered corner "N.A.T.T / CHITTOOR / Paid" handstamps, dated in manuscript, the first lightly but clearly struck alongside the stamp, the second on reverse a little overinked but readable, scarce. (2). Photo on Page 134. £500-600
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1856-65 8p, ½a (32), 1a (7), 2a (2) and 4a stamps with triangular District Post cancels (39, Cooper type 29) or cross-hatched diamond cancels (4, Cooper type 31), a few official stamps, mixed quality but clear strikes include numbers 1, 37, 67, 142, 185, 220, 246, 281, 318, 351, 426, 450, 461, type 31 150, etc., some faults. Also a very defective cover with boxed Punjamal Post Paid handstamp. (44). £100-120
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1870 (Nov 9) Cover franked ½a cancelled by "U/22" within a diamond (Cooper 8f), backstamps of Tandi, Hooshyarpore and Taipore, faults at left edge, otherwise fine. Also a piece with ½a pair each cancelled similar "U/26", a scarce cancel, probably used on District Post mail. (2). Photo on Page 134. £200-250
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1871 (May 29) Registered entire letter to Tanjore bearing nine ½a stamps (three with faults, others creased) each cancelled by triangular "D/385" (Cooper type 29), two strikes of the red semi-circular framed "TANJORE / T.T / KOVILADI" alongside both dated in manuscript, with framed manuscript and handstruck "TOO LATE", Tanjore and Trivady datestamps and boxed registered handstamp of Tanjore. Some stamp faults, light folds, reverse with a hole where a wax seal has been removed (affecting one stamp) and tear near the other seal (also affecting one stamp and one of the Koviladi handstamps), nevertheless an exceptionally scarce registered District Post cover. Photo on Page 134. £1,000-1,500
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1873 (Apr 2) ½a Envelope to Madras with faint triangular cancel, backstamped red semi-circular "CUDDAPAH / T.T" handstamp, the long place name in the third line unreadable but believed to be Jammalamadoogoo, another larger semi-circular handstamp alongside unfortunately unreadable (dated in manuscript), datestamps of Cuddapah, Egmore and Madras. £150-200
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1873 (May 7) Cover to Madras franked ½a tied by Cuddapah 33 duplex, backstamped red semi-circular "CUDDAPAH / T.T" handstamp, the long place in the third line unreadable but believed to be Jammalamadoogoo, Egmore and Madras datestamps. £100-150
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c.1874 Cover to Bombay, reverse with ½a cancelled by "50 / D.P" within a diamond (Cooper type 8h), Chingwarra, 3 Set 1 Up N.E Line and Bombay datestamps, a scarce cancel. £150-200
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District Dawk - North Western Provinces. c.1881 Soldiers rate cover to England franked 9p + ½a (2), official cover from Rampur to Bareilly bearing two ½a official stamps, and a ¼ postcard (folds) all cancelled by a diamond of bars (Cooper type 2b) with "D.D" datestamps, codes 25A3, 25A13 or 35A5, some faults. (3). £150-200
| Postage Due Mail | |
Mail from G.B to India | |
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1863-66 Covers sent via Marseille at the 10d rate, charged the deficiency + 6d, one franked 6d with boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE (4) / BRITISH SHARE OF FINE (3)" and circular "ST BG / As 6" charge, the others franked 9d including a double rate cover with similar boxed handstamp (Deficient Postage 10d, British Share of Fine 3d) and "ST BG / 10-8 / As" charge, the other two with unframed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE 1d / HALF FINE 3d } 4d" charged 4A8P (one with circular "ST / BG / A-P / 4-8"). Minor faults, the first with flap missing. (4). £200-250
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1868-75 Covers to army officers only franked 1d, the first with boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE (9) / BRITISH SHARE OF FINE (3)" and circular "ST BG / As 10" charge, the second with boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE (8) / FINE 9d" and circular "OVERLAND POSTAGE / DUE / A-P / 11-4", both returned to G.B with differing "REFUSED" handstamps, the first with minor staining and small tear at left, two unusual covers. (2). £100-150
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1869-76 Covers sent via Southampton, charged the deficiency + 9d, five covers franked 6d all with boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE 3d / FINE 9d } 1/-" and circular "ST BG / As 8" charge, two other double rate covers franked 9d with circular "OVERLAND POSTAGE / DUE / AS / 12" or franked 1/- with circular "ST BG / As 10" charge, both with boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE / FINE 9d", also a piece, some faults. (8). £200-250
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1868 Covers sent via Marseille at the 1/1 rate, charged the deficiency + 9d, a totally unpaid cover from Edinburgh with circular "ST BG / A-P / 14-8" charge, and a cover franked 1/- (10d + two 1d reds) with boxed handstamp (Deficiency 1d, British Share of Fine 4½d) and charge mark, paid prior to redirection with a 2a stamp added at Madras. (2). £150-200
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1881-88 Covers (6) and a postcard sent via Brindisi, five with boxed "VALUE OF STAMPS / DEFICIENCY" handstamps, all with circular Overland Postage Due charge marks, an unpaid cover charged 9a, 1d postcard with "1d / 1d" handstamp charged 2a, and covers handstamped "1d / 4d" charged 7a, "1d / 9d" charged 15a, "2½d / 2½d" charged 4a6p or "5d / 5d" charged 8a6p, one cover redirected with a 1a stamp. (6). £240-300
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1880-1912 Covers (8) and picture postcards (2) all with circular Overland Postage Due charge marks, four 1880-86 covers with boxed "VALUE OF STAMPS 5d / DEFICIENCY 5d" and an 8a6p charge, other charges at 1a, 2a, 4a, 5a or 7a, also a postcard with boxed 3a charge. (11). £150-180
| Other Countries to India | |
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Egypt. 1856-79 Stampless covers to Bombay, posted at the British P.O at Cairo (7) or Suez (7) or the Egyptian P.O in Suez, four 1856-57 covers with manuscript 1/- or 2/- charges, the other 1857-71 covers with circular "ST BG" charge marks for 4a8p, 5a4p (2), 8a (3), 1r (3) or 2r, the 1879 cover from the Egyptian P.O with 6a Overland Postage Due charge marks applied in the Sea Post Office. An interesting group. (15). £600-800
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Hong Kong. 1869 (July 16) Stampless cover to Bombay, backstamps of Hong Kong, Bombay and Colaba, circular "ST BG / As 4" charge mark, opened out, fine and unusual from Hong Kong. £120-150
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Italy. 1875 (June 18) Double weight cover from Naples to Bellary franked 10c + 60c, circular Overland Postage Due 15a charge mark, fine and unusual from Italy. £120-150
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Persian Gulf. 1858-68 Stampless covers to Bombay, believed to originate in the Persian Gulf, with circular "ST BG" charge marks for 2a, 8a or 12a, boxed "BOMBAY /Bg" handstamps for 2a, 4a or 6a, or boxed "BOMBAY / Bearing __ Annas" handstamps for 1a (2), 2a (2), 4a (2) or 6a (2), two with edge faults, otherwise fine. (14). £400-500
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Persian Gulf. 1877 Stampless covers to Bombay, believed to originate in the Persian Gulf, with superb boxed "BOMBAY / SHIP LETTER / POSTAGE DUE 1A", a further ½a inland postage shown in manuscript, Bombay backstamps, superb and unusual. (2). Photo on Page 138. £150-200
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Tasmania. 1891 (Aug 28) Cover from Hobart to Calcutta franked 1d + 2d, handstamped "Deficient Postage (3½) / Fine (3½) } 7d to pay", an unusual destination from Tasmania. £80-100
| India to G.B & Other Countries | |
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1865-1903 Covers (4) and postcards (3) to various foreign countries including 1865 unpaid entire letter to France with "MADRAS / INDIA UNPAID" datestamp and "G.B / 1F62<+>4<$>/<->10<$>c" Anglo-French accountancy mark, 1901 stampless cover to Singapore and 1903 ¼a postcard to Belgium charged 15c both with scarce horseshoe type "MADRAS / 1 / ANNA / DUE" or "MADRAS / ANNAS / DUE" (intended for use on inland mail only), etc. (7). £140-160
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1860-66 Covers to G.B sent via Marseille with boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE / FINE" handstamps in red, all franked 2a + 4a, two charged 9d (3d deficiency + 6d fine), one charged 7d (1d deficiency + 6d fine). (3). £150-200
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1869-74 Covers all with black "DEFICIENT POSTAGE / FINE 9d" handstamps applied in England, one sent via Marseille franked 8½a with a 10d charge, the others sent via Southampton charged 11d (franked 4a 8p), 1/- (3, franked 4a, one with ½a block of eight) or 1/2 (franked 5a), one cover tatty, the others largely fine. (6). £300-350
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1877-78 Covers sent via Brindisi, two to G.B franked 4a with a 5d charge or a double weight cover franked 6a and charged 1/3, also a double weight cover to Canada via G.B franked 6a with a 1/3 charge, converted to 32 Canadian cents. All fine, the Canada destination very unusual. (3). £150-200
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