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1830 Entire letter to London backstamped with circular framed "ARRAH / PT PD" in purple ink, Calcutta Ship Letter and India Letter Deal, the Arrah handstamp a little overinked but quite readable and very scarce. £100-150
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1830 (Dec 1) Entire letter to Scotland, backstamped double oval "SHEERGHOTTY / POST OFFICE" with manuscript date and rate, boxed India Letter Liverpool alongside, a fine and scarce Post Office handstamp. £150-200
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1843-63 Stampless entire letters and entires all to France, two from Pondicherry, four with "GB/1F62<+H>4<$>/<-H>10<$>c" Anglo-French accountancy marks, boxed or arc type "INDIA UNPAID", boxed "INSUFFICIENT" (5), two with "CALCUTTA / INDIA UNPAID / 1" duplex datestamps. (11). £250-300
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1846-56 Native covers with boxed Paid datestamp in red (14) or Bearing datestamps in black (3), Paid datestamps include Dharwar, Madura, Mysore, Alleppy, Belgaum, Chingleput, Coimbature, Negapatum, Hydrabad, Bugwah, etc., a few faults though most are fine. (17). £400-500
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Mauritius. 1851-54 Entire letters from India to Mauritius, one with scarce red boxed "PAID" of Calcutta (Hammond Giles SD24), oval Packet Letter Mauritius datestamp in black. Also two 1851-56 entires from Mauritius to France with the oval Packet Letter Mauritius datestamps in red; and a 1796 entire letter from Mauritius to Newburyport in the USA endorsed "Capt. Hoyt, Sch. Unity", privately carried. (5). £100-150
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1852-1980s Covers (8), stamps (66), etc., including 1930 (Aug 28) Jacobabad to Reti flight cover, 1937 Boy Scout Jamboree rocket post cover, 1944 P.O leaflet with imitation printed stamps, imperf Azad Hind set of six in blocks of six, 1951 unissued Healthy India set of three in blocks of four, also Specimen travellers cheques (24), etc. (100). £100-150
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1854-1951 Mint and used selection, in lot folders bought from an Indian auction in the 1960s, including 1854 issues (9), 1866 8a purple fiscal stamp with "SERVICE POSTAGE" overprint and inscriptions removed used (S.G. O18, small surface faults, very possibly a forgery and offered "as-is"), 1866 6a8p (2) and 1868 8a (8) mint, 1882-90 set mint, 1926-33 3p - 25r set mint, etc., some toning or faults. (145). £400-500
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1879 McCorquodale & Co imperforate dummy stamps inscribed "West India / Four Annas", based upon the 1866 De la Rue 4a stamp, a complete sheet of 120 in dull carmine on unwatermarked wove paper, vertical folds through central margin and three other vertical columns with minor creasing, tear at left edge affecting two stamps. These dummy stamps were used in McCorquodale's tender for the 1879 G.B 1d stamp. An uncommon sheet, 250x247mm. £500-800
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1879 McCorquodale & Co imperforate dummy stamps inscribed "West India / Four Annas", based upon the 1866 De la Rue 4a stamp, a complete sheet of 120 in dull carmine on Crown watermarked paper, vertical folds through central margin, minor creasing. Ten sheets of Crown watermarked paper were supplied to McCorquodale for their entries in the 1879 tender for the G.B 1d stamp; two sheets of these West India dummy stamps were submitted on this watermarked paper. A unique sheet on watermarked paper, 247x240mm. £1,000-1,200
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Lady Minto's Fete. 1907 (Jan 29) Picture postcard sent within Calcutta franked KEVII 3p cancelled by the very rare squared unframed "MINTO FETE / (Red Cross) / CALCUTTA" datestamp in red, Wellesley Street arrival c.d.s. Just four examples of this unlisted square type postmark are recorded. Photo on Page 134. £1,600-2,000
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Lady Minto's Fete. 1906-07 Covers and labels comprising an unusual folded up newspaper tied with string and franked KEVII ½a, 9p soldiers envelope and a picture postcard franked QV ¼a surcharge, all cancelled by the red circular "MINTO FETE / (Red Cross) / CALCUTTA" datestamp; the three labels mint; the scarce Minto Fancy Fete medal in bronze with a silver centre; and a picture postcard of the Fete at night lit by electric light; also the story of the labels in comic form cut from an unknown publication. (9). £350-400
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1948 (Aug 15) Independence Anniversary First Day Cover depicting Gandhi, registered to England, bearing Gandhi 1½a, 3½a and 12a tied by the Madras G.P.O First Day cancels. Photo on Page 134. £200-240
| Telegraph Stamps | |
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1869 1r Die Proof in black on white glazed card, 40x75mm, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 120. £1,000-1,200
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1869-70 2r-50r Part set of ten (no 1a, 10r) with seriffed "SPECIMEN" overprint type 10 (Samuel D1a) reading upwards, the 1r die II, 2r.8a, 25r and 50r die I, also additional die I 50r with overprint reading downwards. Faults to the 14r.4a, 28r.8a and additional 50r, 25r on piece, otherwise fine mint, very scarce. (10). Photo on Page 140. £1,000-1,200
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1869 25r Reddish lilac, die I superb unmounted mint. S.G. T16, £1,400. Photo on Page 140. £500-600
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1878 25r Reddish lilac, die II mint, minor crease, otherwise fine. S.G. T17, £650. Photo on Page 140. £240-280
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1869 50r Rose, die I fine mint, reverse pencil signed by Oliva and one other, very scarce in this quality. S.G. T19, £1,500. Photo on Page 140. £600-700
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c.1882 1a-50r Set of twelve comprising 1870 first watermark 14r.4a and 28r.8a, and the 1882 1a-50r second watermark set of ten, all with local "SPECIMEN" overprint type 15 applied twice to each stamp, fine mint and very scarce. (12). Photo on Page 140. £500-700
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1882 1a - 50r Set of ten used with straight line cancels, seven also with Check Office punch holes, a few minor faults but an uncommon set, well above average quality. S.G. T32/41, £1,410. (10). £700-800
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1891 50r Carmine mint, small tone spot on reverse, otherwise fine. S.G. T51, £350. Photo on Page 140. £120-140
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1900 2r Yellow with horizontal red bar at foot, hand-ruled (probably at Bombay), fine mint, believed to be the only recorded example of this stamp mint, an important telegraph rarity. S.G. T55b, £1,500+. Photo on Page 140. £1,000-1,200
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1900 2r Yellow with horizontal red bar at foot, hand-ruled at Madras, whole stamp fine used with complete "MADRAS" cancel. The finer of just two recorded used examples. S.G. T55b, £1,000+. Photo on Page 140. £500-600
| Campaign Mail | |
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Third Maratha War. 1818 (Jan 12) Entire letter from C. McLachlan, a surgeon serving with the army under the Marquis of Hastings, written from "Field Hospital, Sumpta", sent to London and redirected to Scotland with "SHIP LETTER / PORTSMOUTH". £150-200
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Afghanistan. 1839 (Sep 17) Entire letter from Richard Jeffery in "Camp near Cabool" to his sister in London, the address panel endorsed "via Red Sea" and "Cabool 17 Sept. 1839" with red oval "INDIA", received in London during the 4d Post Period with 10 DEC backstamp and boxed "BRITISH / FOREIGN", charged 2/10. Excellent content includes "we are going to take possession of a fort down in Seestan belonging to a rebellious chief. You will see it on the map, Kilat. I. Nasser. The blackguard played us double all the way up. It was his people that annoyed us on the line of march & by his orders cut up our convoys, murdered all the stragglers, attacked our rear guard and on occasion blockaded our advance and made skirmishing attacks on both flanks and rear at the same time during a night march. We had to punish the fellow then, but the Gov. Gen. has decreed that the house of Kilat has ceased to reign. We do not expect that he will stand a siege but will probably bolt to the recesses of the mountains or the deserts of Mekran ..... we can judge of the feeling of the country towards us by the continued murders of our people, officers, men & followers, every night, almost within the camp limits. They look upon us as intruders, aggressors, though not conquerors, yet masters for the time. And what else are we but unjust aggressors? The whole thing has always appeared to me a piece of iniquity". Cut at upper left corner of the address panel (into the "India" handstamp), otherwise fine and a scarce early First Afghan War cover sent by the Red Sea route and overland across Egypt. Photo on Page 142. £1,000-1,500
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Persia. 1857 (Dec 31) Stampless native cover to Bombay with "FIELD FORCE / BG / PERSIA" Datestamp, a manuscript 2 Anna charge alongside, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 142. £600-700
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World War One. 1915-22 Covers and cards, mainly with Indian F.P.O datestamps, from Turkey in 1915 (2, also two picture postcards) or 1919-22 (4), Persia (1919 F.P.O 88 on a Baku postcard, probably returning from Russia), or Iraq (3, one with India ½a), also a piece from an O.A.S cover with three 1a stamps tied "AMARA" datestamps, 1917 cover (letter enclosed) with "ACTIVE SERVICE / HOSPITAL SHIP "VASNA"" and M.E.F Base Office c.d.s, cover with enclosed letter from Hospital Ship "Rewa" at Salonica, cover with I.E.F ½a pair cancelled in London and tiny "CENSORED" from H.M.S "Ark Royal", and 1918 India ¼a postcard to an Indian P.O.W at Konia, Turkey. An interesting collection. (17). £350-400
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World War One P.O.W Mail - Bellary. Unused P.O.W envelopes (2, faults) and a piece of paper all with proof strikes of violet circular "PRISONERS OF WAR CAMP, BELLARY / CENSORED / INDIA", three strikes on the piece. (3). £60-80
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World War Two Censorship. 1939-45 Covers and cards in two albums showing civil censor cachets and labels from various censorship stations including September 1939 censorship, internal mail, cachets requesting senders name and address to be written on the envelope, also forces mail with scarce triangular "PASSED / CENSOR / 13 INDIAN" used in Cyprus, etc. (57). £200-250
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World War Two P.O.W & Internee Mail. 1939-45 Covers and cards from internees or P.O.Ws including items to camps 4 (2), 5, 15, 24 (3), 26 (3), 27 (4), 28 (2), General Officers P.O.W Camp, internment camps at Dehra Dun (3), Purandhar (2, one with triangular camp censor), Satara, etc., also two cards from Italy to Camp 26, and a Vatican message form sent from Italy to India in 1941 and returned in 1945. (30). £300-400
| India Used Abroad | |
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French India - Pondicherry. 1933-39 Air Mail covers from Pondicherry to France all bearing India stamps, mainly KGV issues, one with 1929 Air 3a + 4a (2), two registered, one underpaid and charged 50c postage due, various rates. (9). £200-250
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Muscat/Basrah. 1906 Picture postcard of an Abyssinian soldier, written on S.S "Turkistan", Arabian Sea, with KEVII 1a cancelled by Muscat c.d.s. Also 1901-06 postcards from the same sender with QV 1a, KEVII ½a (2) or 1a cancelled by Busrah squared circles. (4). £100-150
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Persia - Ahwaz. 1916-21 Covers and cards (3) and pieces (3) including 1916 cover to England franked 2a6p with violet "PASSED CENSOR" and 1917 stampless O.A.S postcard to India both with first type double ring c.d.s, 1921 postcard to G.B franked 1a with second "bridge" type double ring c.d.s, etc. (6). £200-250
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Persia - Bundar Abbas. c.1872-1918 Covers (5), pieces and stamps (6) including c.1872 covers to India with ½a cancelled type C9 duplex with "I / K-5" in bars, or stampless with single ring datestamp and boxed "POSTAGE DUE / 4as", etc. (11). £150-180
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Persia - Bushire. 1866 1a Envelope registered to Karachi "per Euphrates", franked 1a + 4a, each cancelled by "308" in a diamond of bars, boxed "REGD No", minor edge faults at base, early and scarce. Photo on Page 142. £250-300
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Persia - Henjam. 1912-22 Pieces (3, two with two KGV ½a stamps, the other with KEVII ½a + two KGV 1a stamps) and a single KEVII 2a, Henjam double ring datestamps, two pieces cancelled in blue, the 1912 date very early. (4). £100-150
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Persia - Jask. c.1880-1912 Covers and cards (3), stamps (3) and a piece, including c.1880 ½a envelope cancelled "B" in bars with Jask backstamp, 1893 stampless telegram envelope to Muscat with Jask and Muscat backstamps, 1906 postcard with single ring and squared circle datestamps, etc. (6). £200-250
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Persia - Linga. c.1880-1923 Covers (10), pieces and stamps (31) including c.1880 cover to India endorsed "from H.M.S Dryad" with ½a cancelled "B" in bars and Linga backstamp, c.1880 stampless cover to India with Linga c.d.s and boxed "POSTAGE DUE / 1a", 1893 registered cover with ½a + 1a pair cancelled Linga squared circles and boxed "LINGA" registration handstamp, 1893 cover to Muscat with ½a tied by Linga squared circle and Muscat arrival c.d.s alongside, etc. (41). £400-500
| Royal Tours | |
1905-06 Tour of the Prince & Princess of Wales | |
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1906 Picture postcard from London to "Miss Flynn, Prince of Wales Camp, India" with fine "PRINCESS OF WALES' CAMP P.O / DELY" arrival c.d.s (Feb 25), very scarce. Photo on Page 142. £150-200
| 1921 (Jan. 10 - Feb. 28) Tour by H.R.H The Duke of Connaught |
Originally intended to be undertaken by the Prince of Wales, in order to open the Legislative Assembly, Council of State and Chamber of Princes. When the Prince was unable to undertake the tour he was replaced by The Duke of Connaught, third son of Queen Victoria.
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1920-21 Letters and documents sent to the Maharaja of Gondal comprising a printed letter from the Maharaja of Bikaner regarding a proposed banquet for the Prince of Wales, with copy of the reply; letter stating the Duke of Connaught is to stand in for the Prince, inviting the Maharaja to the inauguration of the Chamber of Princes; printed letter from the Maharaja of Bikaner proposing a garden party for the Duke; printed map of the royal visit area in Delhi with Post Offices shown; printed programme of arrival of the Duke; printed programme for the opening of the Chamber of Princes; list of Princes and Chiefs attending; speeches by the Duke and the Viceroy; and the royal proclamation, all with file holes, otherwise fine. Also 1920 (Apr. 25) printed letter from H.R.H the Prince of Wales Reception Committee in Madras. (12). £500-600
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Twenty page booklet printed in gold "H.R.H The Duke of Connaught's Camp Post Office" giving details of despatch and delivery times at each place visited, the reverse bearing six stamps each cancelled to order by the "H.R.H THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT'S CAMP P.O" datestamp for 10 JAN 21, the first day of the Post Office, located at Madras. A few small edge faults and a couple of tape marks on the front cover but a rare booklet and datestamp. £250-300
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"Visit of H.R.H The Duke of Connaught to India 1921, Military Scheme", 66 page handbook with full details of the tour, a map of Delhi showing the camps and Post Offices. Signed by Capt D.R Smith with cachet of Regimental Office XX Deccan Horse on the cover. £100-150
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Printed invitations to dinner (2), a ball or a garden party to meet the Duke, or the laying of the foundation stones of the All-India War Memorial or Legislative Assembly, all named to the Maharaja of Gondal or His Highness the Thakur Sahib of Gondal, file holes, otherwise fine and scarce. (6). £300-400
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1921 (Mar 15) Letter on royal notepaper written by Rowland Thomas Baring (2nd Earl Cromer, Chief-of-Staff in India to the Duke of Connaught in 1920-21 and Prince of Wales in 1921-22) from H.M.S "Malaya", the envelope posted at Villefranche to The Lady Eva Dugdale, Royal Lodge, Windsor Great Park. The letter gives an update on Dugdale's son, a crew member on "Malaya", and comments on the Duke and the tour. Also a postcard of the Duke arriving on the "Malaya" at Marseille in December 1920. (2). £120-150
| 1921-22 Prince of Wales Tour | The eight month tour in H.M.S "Repulse" included four months in India, Nepal and Burma, before sailing to Ceylon, Malaya, Hong Kong and Japan. The tour was intended to maintain good relations with India at a time of protests and calls for self rule led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress Party, who called for supporters to boycott the Prince's visit and carry out a general strike. In some towns there were no crowds to greet the Prince, and riots occurred in Bombay. Gandhi was arrested in March 1922 and sentenced to six year imprisonment for sedition, but was released in 1924.
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Picture postcards of the Prince and his staff at Calcutta or the Prince at Peshawar (2), two other fine real photo cards of the Prince greeting a Maharaja or inspecting the Green Howards at Hyderabad, and an interesting letter from Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey (Controller and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales) at the Prince of Wales Camp (Mar. 15, Prince of Wales notepaper) to Frank Rich in England regarding five ponies and a charger which the Prince is sending back to England on the "Elisia". (6). £100-120
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Letters and ephemera sent to H.H The Thakur Sahib of Gondal regarding the Prince of Wales arrival and stay in Bombay, comprising a finely typed letter of invitation to the Prince's arrival on a large sheet with fancy printed border in gold, and copy of acceptance to Sir George Ambrose Lloyd; printed invitation card to the Prince's disembarkation and reception with covering letter; printed letter advising that no presents be given to the Prince with a covering memo; 41 page booklet "Visit of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Bombay Nov. 17th to 22nd 1921" giving great detail on his six days in the city; printed welcome from the Municipal Corporation of the City of Bombay with fancy gold border; invitation to the Military Display at Esplanade Maidan, file holes, otherwise fine and rare. (9). £450-600
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1922 (Feb 27) Three page Programme of a Concert given by the Lahore District Concert Party before H.R.H the Prince of Wales, printed in gold, boldly signed "Edward P" on the front, with an accompanying letter forwarding the signed programme to Cpl. Saxby R.A, a member of the concert party. (2). £250-300
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1921 (Dec 30) Telegram from the Prince of Wales in Calcutta, to George Drummond in Brixworth, England. £100-120
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1922 (Jan 1) Sheet of paper bearing KGV 3p - 1r, the thirteen stamps each cancelled to order by the "H.R.H THE PRINCE OF WALES' CAMP P.O" c.d.s usually used on registered mail, inscribed with new year greetings and signed by Vas Dev, the Postmaster of the Prince of Wales Camp Post Office. Folds clear of all stamps, otherwise fine and scarce. £200-250
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1921-22 Covers to B. Somake, stamp dealer in Bombay, the standard cancel on a cover of 20 Nov. 21 (then at Poona); 15 Mar. 22 registered cover (then travelling from Dehra Dun to Karachi) with the c.d.s without time and side bars (only for use on registered mail) and registration label bearing the scarce boxed registration handstamp; and 18 Mar. 22 official cover with Service 8a unusually cancelled by the c.d.s intended for registered mail, sent on the final day of use of the datestamp, the day after the Prince had left India en route to Japan. (3). £160-200
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1922 Commercial covers with the Prince of Wales Camp datestamp, two official covers with cachet of the Military Secretary to H.R.H the Prince of Wales sent to London with Service 2a (26 Jan, at Nagpur) or Service 2a pair (2 Mar, at Jammu, stained), the other cover sent within Delhi franked 1a (21 Feb., crown on flap). (3). £150-200
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