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Long Island. 1916 (May) “Long Island Gazette” No. 1 which includes postal and censorship regulations issued by Lt. Commander H. Pirie-Gordon with news of Post Offices at Nikola and Northend to be opened on May 7th, and a detailed description of typewritten issue stamps issued on May 6th (due to the inadequate supply of captured Turkish fiscal stamps which have been overprinted and adopted for postal use), the Gazette listing the values issued with exact numbers of sheets and stamps printed. Also a 1916 (May 7) letter written and signed by Pirie-Gordon from Government House, Long Island, to Captain Douglas sent on the day the local post offices opened, which includes “we have issued stamps for here - you will find one on your envelope”; a 1928 cover to Rear-Admiral Douglas with enclosed typed letter from Pirie-Gordon describing how the Long Island stamps were issued, the opposition to their issue by the British postal authorities, and how King George V was pleased with a set presented to him; and a 1962 letter to James Mackay recalling his wartime exploits at Mount Athos. A unique group, the contemporary Gazette showing many of the quantities of issued stamps differing from those quoted in the S.G. catalogue. (4). £400-500
| HONG KONG
(Also see lots 303, 307, 454/5, 853/5, 1046/7, 1056/7) | |
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Philatelic Literature. “The Philatelic and Postal History of Hong Kong and the Treaty Ports of China and Japan” by F.W Webb, 1991 James Bendon reprint; also 1980 Sotheby’s auction catalogue of the Ryohei Ishikawa Collection, and the introduction to the 2016 Meiso Mizuhara catalogue of the Customs Post fore-runner period. (3). £80-100
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1880 2c Rose-lake, mint block of four, light horizontal crease through lower pair, small hinge remainders, an attractive and scarce block. Ex. George Dyer. S.G. 28a, £1,200+. Photo on Page 134. £300-350
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1862-c.2000 Mint and used accumulation with KGVI set used, extensive mint QEII, a few earlier covers and cards, booklets, etc. (100s). £350-400
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1899 (Nov 6) Registered cover to Marseille bearing scarce first type black “R / HONGKONG / CHINA” registration label (recorded Nov 1899 - April 1900) and franked 1898 $1 on 96 (S.G. 52), paying the nine times rate + registration, backstamped at Paris and Marseille. Small piece cut from flap, otherwise fine. A rare single use of this $1 stamp and the earliest recorded use of a Hong Kong registration label. Photo on Page 154. £1,000-1,200
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1901 30c Brown imperf plate proof block of six (2x3) on gummed Crown CA paper, lower right stamp creased, otherwise fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 130. £1,800-2,200
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1935 (July 4) Air Mail cover from Dublin to Hong Kong, China, franked Ireland 2/6 Seahorse, flown from Croydon to Singapore on “Satyrus” I.E355, delayed by bad weather at Karachi and again at Allahabad by head winds. The 1oz air rate to Hong Kong was 2/5, an additional 1d air fee charged on letters addressed “China”. Fine and very scarce from Ireland. Photo on Page 154. £500-600
| INDIA |
(Also see lots 273/5, 299, 406, 520, 671, 678, 841, 944/54, 1733, 1917)
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Featuring Postal History and Cancellations from the Cliff Gregory Collection | |
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1807 (Apr 19) - 1808 (July 1) Log of the East India Co ship “Lady Castlereagh”, covering a five month voyage from England to Madras carrying H.E.I.C soldiers, sailing in convoy with five other East Indiamen and H.M.S “Jupiter”, further voyages from Madras to Bengal, Bengal to Pointe de Galle, Pointe de Galle to St. Helena, and the first few days of the voyage from St. Helena to England. The log, apparently completed by the ships surgeon, mostly comprises daily reports on the weather, employment of the crew, and ships sighted, but also includes details of storm damage, punishments for theft or disobedience (flogging or put into irons), the occasional reports of fish caught, meals, letters sent, etc., also a good account of the action between H.M.S “Fezenza” and a French privateer fought off Ceylon on March 6th. Enclosed is a printed list of East India ships for the season 1806-07 listing their officers, sailing dates and destinations, produced for Horatio Hardy at the Jerusalem Coffee House. £300-500
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Philatelic Literature. “India Post”, Journal of the India Study Circle, volumes 1-29 (1967-96) well bound in fifteen volumes, uniform blue bindings. (15). £60-80
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Philatelic Literature. Various books including “Postal Stationery of India” volumes 1-4, Proud books on Aden, Burma and Indian Army Postal Services (volumes 2 and 3), “Soruth” by Wood, “Express Mail, After Packets & Late Fees” by Smith & Johnson, “Fiscal & Judicial Stamps & Stamp Papers” in two volumes, “C.E.F” by Virk, “Burma Postal History” by G. Davis, “Overland Mail” by Sidebottom, “Handstruck Postage Stamps” by Hammond Giles, “Essays, Proofs & Reprints of 1854 issue” by Spence, “Jammu & Kashmir” by Staal, “Indian Telegraphs 1851-1914”, etc. (43). £100-150
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Maps/Books. “Field Notes Afghanistan, 1912” and “Field Notes Mesopotamia, Feb 1915” both published by the General Staff, India; 1857 map of India by A.K Johnston of Edinburgh, published by E. Stanford in London, hand coloured card laid on cloth (card cover missing); and WW2 R.A.F map printed on silk showing Burma and parts of India and Thailand, printed on both sides. Also a few other maps. (4+). £60-80
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1854-1984 Mint and used collection of India, Indian States, French & Portuguese India in three albums, including 1854 1a die I mint (4 margins, close but clear at base), 4a used (2, both cut to shape but clear of design), 1904 5r mint, 1948 Gandhi 10r mint, etc. (3 Albums). £500-600
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1854 ½a Indigo die I, left marginal block of six (2x3) from the rare A4 stone (positions 49/66) with part inscription, large margins, faint toning, otherwise fine unused. A rare multiple with distinctive inscription type. S.G. 5, £5,400+. Photo on Front Cover. £2,500-3,000
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1879 McCorquodale & Co imperforate dummy stamps inscribed “West India / Four Annas”, based upon the 1866 De la Rue 4a stamp, block of fifty (columns 1-4) in rose on unwatermarked wove paper, large 143mm margin at left, 27mm upper and lower margins, vertical marginal fold and marginal tears and faults, especially in the lower margins with tears affecting two stamps, 242x280mm. These dummy stamps were used in McCorquodale’s tender for the 1879 G.B 1d stamp. (50). £400-500
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1886 4a6p Perf 14 Colour trials in maroon, mauve, blue, slate, stone and orange, watermark Star, the occasional trimmed perf (as is usual for these), otherwise fine mint (maroon, blue, stone) or unused. A superb group, produced as alternatives to the yellow-green colour issued on 1st May 1886. (6). Photo on Front Cover. £3,000-3,500
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Officials. 1868 6a8p Slate with Service overprint type O7, prepared for use but never issued, mint marginal block of four, “NAS 8P” partial inscription in margin, lightly mounted on the upper pair with the lower pair unmounted, a couple of short perfs, otherwise superb. S.G. O30b, £3,000+. Photo on Page 130. £1,400-1,600
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Booklets. 1904 12¼a Booklet containing two KEVII 1a panes of six, pink covers, complete and superb, rare in this quality. S.G. SB2, £2,250. Photo on Page 152. £800-1,000
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China Expeditionary Force. 1900 3a Brown-orange block of four mint, variety C.E.F overprint double, one albino, lightly mounted on the upper pair with the lower pair unmounted. A fine and scarce block, the albino impression 1mm below and to the right of the inked overprint and very clear on the reverse. Ex Wilson Wong. S.G. C6b, £600. Photo on Page 188. £200-250
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China Expeditionary Force. 1900 Unissued 1a6p sepia with C.E.F overprint, mint with large part original gum, reverse with a small piece of paper adhering, natural gum creases, otherwise very fine. S.G. C10c, £500. Photo on Page 198. £140-180
| Telegraph Stamps & Revenues | |
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Telegraph Stamps. 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. (11). Photo on Page 188. £400-500
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Telegraph Stamps. 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 188. £300-400
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Revenue stamps, various issues for India and States, including 1872 5r Court Fee imperf proof pairs (3) and block of four in various colours overprinted “CANCELLED”, also Refugee Relief handstamped overprints, a few Telegraph stamps, Travancore and Nepal stamps, Azad Hind, etc. (100s). £150-200
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Revenue Stamps. 1863 Share Transfer stamps, imperforate 10r proof overprinted “CANCELLED”, perf 15½x15 4a (2), 1r and 5r overprinted “SPECIMEN” (three differing types); also 1869 1a revenue block of four each overprinted “CANCELLED”, all fine. (9). £100-120
| Covers, Cancellations & Postal History | |
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1830-69 Stampless entires including 1830 entire with oval “MERUT / Pt Pd” and Liverpool India Letter, four others to France, three with Anglo-French Accountancy handstamps “GB/1F66” (2) or “GB/2F”. Also two covers to Bombay endorsed via Egypt with disinfection slits and manuscript rate but no postmarks, apparently privately carried. (7). £100-120
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1844 (June 2) Entire letter to Ootacamund endorsed “Post Not Paid”, reverse with boxed “NOWGAUM / Bearing” showing a charge of 6a. Hammond Giles only records this Bearing handstamp for 1841. £100-120
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1848-56 Entire letters from G.B to India all bearing cut to shape embossed stamps, six to Captain Clarke, Deputy Commissioner 25 Regt. B.N.I, or his wife, franked 6d, 1/- (2) or 10d + 1/- (3) all cancelled at Exeter (one with sideways duplex), four with “WHITESIDE” undated circle on reverse, one letter to Jhung with very scarce undated oval “LAHOR / P.O” backstamp, also a letter from Berwick to Major De Sausmarez, 21st Madras N.I at Ootacamund with green boxed Ootacamund Bearing backstamp. (7). Photo on Page 154. £300-400
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c.1854 Entire to Rangoon bearing 1854 1a red (die I, four large margins) with an unusual central cancel comprising a circle of cross hatched lines, red octagonal backstamp apparently reading “DONABU / PAID” (or “OONABU”). Originally sold in our April 2024 auction (for £2,500) subject to a B.P.A extension, but the B.P.A have been unable to agree on a certificate for this item, therefore reoffered “as-is”. Photo on Page 154. £200-250
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1854-59 Covers or entires franked 1854-55 1a, various diamond obliterators or numeral cancels, one entire from Madras to Rangoon, one cover with oval “AHMEDNUGGUR / FREE” backstamp, a few faults with one cover missing part reverse, six stamps cut into, five others with four margins. Also a front with an unusual perforated forgery of the 1854 2a green tied by “C” in circle of bars cancel. (12). £300-400
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c.1854-1920s Cancellations on stamps, mainly QV with some 1854 issues, sorted by Jal Cooper types, also a few pieces and covers. (100s). £200-250
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c.1855-90 Covers with single obliterators or duplexs containing an office number or letter, the collection on pages and loose with many types, many on internal covers but some to G.B, mixed quality with many cover faults, many others fine with some scarce cancels. (c.300). £1,200-1,800
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1855 Registered cover from Nagpore to Jubbulpore franked 1855 1a die III tied by “75” numeral, fine, four margins. Also a front to Scotland with die III 1a (three margins) tied by diamond of dots. (2). £100-150
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1855-57 Covers or entire letters franked 1854 ½a die I, one registered cover with two ½a stamps, various diamond of dots or numeral cancels, six with boxed Paid datestamps, one with boxed “RETURNED”, six on small native envelopes, one entire from Bombay to Lahore with small “Am I Welcome?” wafer seal, a few faults with most stamps cut into. (11). £300-400
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1855-57 Covers or entire letters franked 1854-55 ½a die II (2) or die III (4), one cover with two die III stamps in the distinctive greenish-blue shade, boxed Paid datestamps of Baroda and Mahableshwar, one cover from Nirsingpore to Nyneetal with oval framed “T.R” on reverse, one fine die II stamp with diamond of bars cancel, a few faults with several stamps cut into. (6). £250-300
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Cancellations. QV-KGV Stamps, pieces, covers and cards, the extensive accumulation including various types of QV numeral and duplex cancels, squared circles and circular datestamps, Parcel datestamps, Experimental P.O, Bombay urban district duplexs with nine covers, Bombay, Bengal and Madras Circle numerals, 1884 card from Thonezeh, Burma, “All India” numerals, scarce District Post cancels (38, numbers in hatched diamonds, numbers in triangles or boxed “DT POST” and number), “F.No.....” obliterators (3, Second Afghan War) and Field P.O datestamps, Bombay-Karachi Sea Post Office, Paquebot, “G.G”, “H.Q” and “D.P” obliterators, dotted or barrel diamond obliterators, Persian Field Force “131” obliterator, also QV stamps with handstamped private or Official overprints (including “ON / D.B / S” in two types, “ON / LF / S”); cinderellas including Gandhi Boycott British Goods and India Home Rule labels, ¼a East India card with “STAMP OFFICE / CANCELLED / BOMBAY” handstamp, Ceylon numeral cancels, etc. An extensive lot that would repay careful sorting, a few 1854 imperf issues noted. Photo on Pages 152 & 198. £600-800
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QV-KGVI Covers including many native envelopes bearing QV ½a stamps, Boer War cover from Diyatalawa Camp in Ceylon and front from St. Helena both to Ahmednagar Camp, various QV cancels, etc., also some stamps and picture postcards, very mixed condition with some faults. (100s). £200-300
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1858-72 Covers and entire letters addressed abroad including 1861 entire letter to Hong Kong bearing 4a pair (faults), covers to G.B (9) with rates of 6a, 6a8p, 9a, 12a4p, 14a or 24a, cover to France franked 14a and an entire letter to Italy franked 8a8p. A few faults though most are fine, all with two or more stamps. (12). £300-400
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1859-72 Cover and entires from G.B to India franked 6d, 9d or 1/-, all redirected or returned, one with boxed “UNCLAIMED / AT BOMBAY” datestamp, two with differing “RE-POSTED”, one also with two differing “UNCLAIMED” handstamps, two with oval Dead Letter Office Bombay datestamps, two with Bombay 1a or 2a charge marks for redirection. (3). £120-150
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1859-62 Covers posted within India all redirected with unusual boxed “REMAINING” datestamp, one with boxed “A.M” and oval “T.R”, another with “P.M”, boxed “UNCLAIMED” and octagonal “DEAD LETTER OFFICE / BENGAL” datestamps, two covers to army officers redirected (one to G.B) at no additional charge. Very unusual. (3). £120-180
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1859-1904 Covers (9) and postcards (3) with various explanatory handstamps including 1891 newspaper wrapper from U.S.A to Switzerland with boxed “MISSENT IN / INDIAN MAIL” (Bombay backstamp), 1864 red boxed “MISSENT TO SIMLAH”, also “UNCLAIMED / AT BOMBAY”, oval framed “FORWARDED” (2), “REFUSED”, “NOT CALLED FOR”, circular framed “POSTED / IN WRONG / BOX”, unpaid cover with D.L.O Refused Letter label, etc., one 1859 letter from Sealcote with type 26 diamond cancel which was unusually used at experimental post offices. (11). £240-300
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1860 Cover from Bombay to Mrs Colonel Moor at “Brak Fontein, Bushmans River, Port Natal, South Africa” franked 4a black tied by “1” in diamond, red “BOMBAY / B.P.P / Paid” with Bombay and Cape Town backstamps, charged 4d from Cape Town to Port Natal. A scarce destination at this early date. Photo on Page 154. £200-250
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c.1860-84 Cancellations, the collection of covers and cards (51), stamps and pieces, various types with numerals or letters in the obliterators, including 2a cancelled by “F.F” within a diamond used in Abyssinia, etc. (300+). £100-200
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1861-69 Internal covers franked ½a or 1a, mainly a correspondence (with enclosed letters) to or from Peshawar, also an 1861 cover from Calcutta to Gya with “FAMINE RELIEF FUND” printed at the top of the address panel, one cover with unusual large triangular “S / LAHORE” backstamp in red. (32). £150-200
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1863 (Mar 19) Cover to England franked 14a (2a + 4a pair and single) each cancelled by type 8 “GG” in diamond obliterator used at the Governor General’s Camp, red “GOV GENLS CAMP / P.O” backstamp, minor edge faults, a scarce cancel. Photo on Page 154. £200-250
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c.1864-1901 Covers including diamond of bars cancels probably used at experimental post offices (18), diamond of dots (4), triangular handstamps, boxed “JAULNAH / Paid” (3) or “BROACH / Paid” marks used as arrival backstamps in 1857-59, circular datestamps, etc. (50). £200-250
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1867-73 Covers franked ½a, cancelled by diamond obliterators type 8f with a letter over number, comprising “A/57”, “B/85” or “U/9”, scarce. (3). £150-200
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1867-68 Entire letters from Bombay to Glasgow franked by a single 6a8p (5), 2a + 4a + 6p or 4a + 8p strip of three and a single, also thirteen letters from London or Liverpool to Glasgow all concerning trade with India. (7+). £120-150
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1870 (Sept 12) Cover to Wales with 23rd Pioneers crest on reverse, franked 8a + 8p cancelled by the very scarce undated type 9 duplex “WORKING PARTY / 313”, backstamped at Rawulpindee, Murree, Bombay and Cardiff. This branch office opened in 1870 for working parties of soldiers involved in road building and construction between Murree and Abbotabad; the cancel is only recorded on a few covers from this one correspondence to Lady Tyler. (Also see lot 1328). Photo on Page 162. £200-250
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1870-1902 Covers (21), cards (3) and fronts (2), mainly to G.B, also 1892 cover from Calcutta to Victoria franked 2½a pair + 4a cancelled by Howrah “LATE FEE PAID” squared circles, 1886 registered cover to Bushire, 1886 cover from Cochin to Nova Scotia, etc. (26). £200-250
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1873-1901 Covers and cards with various Peon delivery marks (27), also oval “Delivery” datestamps of Calcutta, Simlah and Jaulna, 1911 card from G.B with oval “ASST SUPDT / FOREIGN MAILS” datestamp, 1866 boxed “1st D” handstamp of Secunderabad in red, and two official postcards with details of expected arrival dates of foreign mails at Satara and Midnapore. (34). £100-120
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1881 (Dec 5) Printed cover with a bird’s head pushing through a hole in the upper right corner, a printed frame around the edges, the reverse with imitation datestamps “A Merry Xmas, Dec 25 81” and “A Happy New Year Jan 1 82”, the flaps opening out to reveal Christmas and New Year greetings and holly printed inside in colour, posted from Calcutta to England franked ½a + 4a, No. 14 Calcutta and Bombay backstamps. A delightful cover. Photo on Page 162. £200-250
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