Auction Details
Auction number 59 of G.B & Worldwide Stamps and Postal History
Auctioneer: Argyll Etkin Limited Location: London
Contact: Tel: 0207 930 6100
Date: 5th November 2026 Time: 10:00AM
Details: Fine Great Britain Stamps,
G.B Postal History with First UK Aerial Post, Royalty, Cancellations,
Paquebot Mail of the World, World War One German &
British Naval Mail, Specimen Stamps from the Rhodesia Post Office,
India, St. Helena, Mozambique, Baham
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Auction Lots - Page 1

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AUTOGRAPHS
(Also see lots 408/30, 470, 685, 835, 840, 842, 849, 1678, 1814/6)

1
P.G Tait/Lord Kelvin. 1863-87 Covers, three from the Mathematician and Physicist P.G Tait all signed or initialled (one with additional note added prior to posting on a forthcoming publication) all to the equally famous Mathematician and Physicist Prof. W. Thomson (Lord Kelvin) posted in Edinburgh franked 1d; the other cover from Cambridge to Prof. Tait in Edinburgh used by Tait to write an equation. (4). £100-120
2
Prime Ministers/Politicians. 1832-82 Covers (6, two with letters) comprising 1832 free frank signed by Robert Peel; 1841 cover with red crowned Paid datestamp signed by W.E Gladstone; 1854 cover with red crowned datestamp signed "Canning" with enclosed letter from his Secretary at the G.P.O regarding a clerk's position in the Nottingham Post Office; 1857 cover with red crowned Paid datestamp signed "Palmerston"; 1880 hand delivered cover with handstamped signature of W.E Gladstone, four page enclosed letter written by Gladstone to Earl Fitzwilliam concerning the Irish Land Act; 1882 cover with Official Paid c.d.s signed by W.E Gladstone. Lord Canning was the Postmaster-General, the cover from Palmerston sent whilst Prime Minister. (8). £200-240
3
Duke of Wellington. 1830-38 Free covers from Deal, Hartford Bridge (2) or London all signed "Free Wellington" with Free datestamps, the 1834 Deal cover with enclosed letter written from Walmer Castle; also 1850 letter written by Wellington from Walmer Castle to Guy Pierrepont, and 1852 admission card to the funeral of the Duke of Wellington at St. Paul's Cathedral with impressed seal of the Earl Marshal of England. (7). £300-400
4
Winston Churchill. 1946 (Nov 25) Typed letter on "25 Hyde Park Gate, London S.W.7" notepaper to Col. G.M Gibson, 4th Bn The Essex Regt. Comrades Association, thanking him for his letter and happy to learn of the successful evening, with "My dear Colonel" and "yours very truly, W.S Churchill" handwritten in ink, the envelope with House of Commons crest on flap and typed address posted from South Kensington franked 2½d. £300-400

BANK NOTES, MEDALS & POSTCARDS
(Also see lots 698, 762/3, 742, 774/80, 791/9, 822/5, 1819)

5
1988 Bank of England £50 note, G.M. Gill issue, CO5 867930, lower left corner folded prior to printing, therefore miscut with printing omitted from the corner and three colour bars in lower margin. "1900" in red biro at left, otherwise fine, an unusual error. £80-100
6
1988 Bank of England £50 note, G.M Gill issue, D61 096190, the front upper portion with clear offset from another note, unusual and very fine. £100-120
7
1974-84 Bank of Ireland £100 note, P. Harrison issue, AO73631, superb uncirculated. £120-140
8
1974-84 Bank of Ireland £100 note, P. Harrison issue, AO73632, superb uncirculated. £120-140
9
1974-84 Bank of Ireland £100 note, P. Harrison issue, AO73633, superb uncirculated. £120-140
10
Nigeria - Biafra. 1968 Bank of Biafra 10/- banknotes, an unopened packet of 500 notes tied up with string and sealed with wax, Bank of Biafra label giving note numbers as GN0847001 to GN0847500 with signatures of individuals who examined, counted and checked the notes. (500). £300-500
11
Nigeria - Biafra. 1968 Bank of Biafra £1 banknotes, an unopened packet of 500 notes tied up with string and sealed with wax, Bank of Biafra label giving note numbers as DB0338001 to DB0338500 with signatures of individuals who examined, counted and checked the notes. (500). £300-500
12
1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, group of three with miniatures, 1914-15 Star named to LT. H.P THOMASON R.A.M.C, the B.W.M and Victory Medals named to CAPT. H.P THOMASON. Also KGV Long Service & Good Conduct Medal named to 111 AMT. S. MJR. W.W HARMAN A.O.C, and a WW2 Italy Star. (8) £100-120
13
c.1890 "The Wonderland Postage-Stamp Case" invented by Lewis Carroll, published by Emberlin & Son, Oxford, the card case with spaces for ½d to 1/- stamps within a card cover both with coloured pictures of Alice holding a baby child or pig and the Cheshire Cat in a tree, all within a printed envelope, the case containing mint 1d lilac and 1d venetian red, Jubilee issue ½d - 9d and 1900 1/-, a few stamp faults, the case fine. £100-120
14
Picture Postcards. c.1902-40 Picture postcards in two albums including royalty, animals, Christmas, cats, artist drawn, teddy bears, comic, a few real photo topographical cards with D. Resta winning the Prix de la France at Silverstone, Portland Prison workshop, etc. (c.350). £100-150
15
Picture Postcards. 1904-06 Picture postcards all postally used to the same addressee in West Hartlepool, some posted from Germany, cards include glamorous ladies, actresses, views of West Hartlepool, etc. (c.400). £120-150
16
Picture Postcards. c.1910-30 Stamp collage postcards, various pictures made from cut-up stamps from Hong Kong or China (8), France or G.B. (14). £100-120
17
De la Rue badges for 10 years service in hallmarked silver or 25 years service in hallmarked 9 karat gold, each 4 grammes weight, depicting a picture of Thomas De la Rue, also a collar study with a silhouette of De la Rue. (3). £120-140
18
Booklets Vending Machine. A stamp vending machine, originally made for 2/- booklets, a "10p Book of Stamps" plaque applied upon decimalisation, the brass surround headed "POSTAGE / STAMPS", the front 40x15cm, superb condition, apparently still in working order. Heavy item - U.K Bidders only. £350-400

VALENTINE CARDS

19
c.1790 Cards finely cut from white paper, mounted on red paper with handwritten verses below, one showing a lady at a tower window looking down at a man and cupid, the other showing a cupid below a large judges wig, two early and well cut cards, very scarce. (2). £200-250
20
1806-36 Valentine lettersheets, the first with handpainted "Forget Me Not" flowers above a handwritten message, the second with handwritten verses and a separate printed and handcoloured lettersheet depicting cupids holding up crossed hearts with the wording "Let us be United in love", both postally used. (2). £150-180
21
c.1840-50 Valentine lettersheets, printed and handcoloured pictures with verses below including lettersheets published by J. L Marks, J.T Wood, Rock & Co., R.E Sly, B.F Lloyd & Co of Edinburgh, two postally used in 1848 (stamps removed), a fine lot. (21). £300-400
22
1845 (Feb 11) Valentine lettersheet depicting a couple outside a church with cupid on a donkey, hand coloured with a printed verse below, posted from Edinburgh to London franked 1d (three margins, creased) tied "131". £120-150
23
c.1850-60 Valentine cards all with fine embossed and pierced paperlace borders, some with centrally applied flowers, birds, etc., some with handcoloured pictures or verses, one card with a strange comic photo of a man and woman, one with a central pull-out beehive design, one large card within an embossed envelope. A good lot with cards by Mossman, Dobbs Kidd & Co., Meek, Wood, Windsor, etc. (35). £400-500
24
c.1850-80 Valentine cards, various embossed or applied borders and vignettes, three cards by De la Rue, one card with finely woven silk flowers, an unusual card in the form of a legal summons (torn), etc. (41). £200-250
25
c.1860 Printed cards by Sulman with comic pictures and a verse below, unused, mounted on pages, all fine. (15). £120-150
26
1863-72 Valentine cards all with fine embossed borders and applied silk or paper flowers, with envelopes franked 1d, posted from Brighton (2) or Maidstone to East Farleigh, Kent. (3). £120-150
27
U.S.A/Canada. c.1851-53 Valentines comprising Canada 1857 embossed valentine envelope containing a handwritten poem posted from Moscow to Wellington with five datestamps, and four USA embossed envelopes franked 8c (3) or 2c, two with enclosed cards. (5). £150-200

GREAT BRITAIN

28
1840-1951 QV-KGVI Mint and used collection in a stockbook including 1d blacks (3, one superb with misplaced watermark), 1d reds, 1870 ½d plate 9 unused without gum, 1929 PUC £1 mint, etc. (100s). Photo on Page 12. £500-600
29
1840-1988 Mint and used collection including 1d blacks (39, seven fine), 1840 2d blues (4, one fine), other Line Engraved with number in Maltese Cross cancels (49, two on 2d blues), Surface Printed with 1880 2/- brown fine used with Stoney Stratford c.d.s (1989 R.P.S Certificate), 1875 3d rose plate 18 Copestake Moore Crampton underprint, 1913 £1 green used, 1929 PUC £1 used with Guernsey c.d.s, etc. An extensive lot, much duplication, condition very mixed but with some good stamps. (2 Albums). Photo on Page 16. £1,500-2,000
30
QV-QEII Mint and used in five stockbooks or albums and loose including a large quantity of used 1d reds, 1887-1900 set mint, embossed 1/- used cut square, booklet panes with KEVII ½d pane containing St. Andrews Cross, many QEII booklets with 3/- and 5/- graphite pane booklets, 1½d Multiple Crown graphite used, etc. (Many 100s). £400-600
31
1841-1910 QV and KEVII Mint or unused selection in a stockbook including 1841 1d (5, two with four margins) and 2d (cut into), 1d red stars (2) and plate numbers (46), 1870 ½d (9), Surface Printed issues (18 with gum), some faults or without gum, nevertheless a useful lot. (c.700). £400-500
32
1855-1980 Mint and used collection in eight albums, no Line Engraved but including embossed QV 1/- cut square with four good margins and 6d with three margins, Surface Printed to 5/- values, 1883-84 issue used to 9d, KEVII and KGV with much duplication, shades and some fine used with c.d.s cancels, KEVII 1d perfin HILL & SONS used on first day of issue, 1913-19 2/6 (8), 5/- (13) and 10/- (3) Seahorses used, 1939-48 KGVI high values mint, 1948 Royal Wedding £1 Cylinder block mint, booklets with 1969 Cooks £1 stapled, Channel Islands occupation including 1945 (May 20) cover sent just after the liberation with red Guernsey Paid c.d.s, many minor QEII varieties, regionals, overprinted issues for Post Offices abroad, etc. Also a stock book with 1840 2d blues (3, faults) and 1d reds. (9 Albums). £400-500
33
1840 Grey-black IC plate 1a (worn plate) used, cancelled with a Maltese Cross in red and part Penny Post handstamp in black, good to large margins, fine and scarce. With Philatelic Expertising Certificate (2000). S.G. £1,200. Photo on Page 12. £160-200
34
1840 1d Black, FG-FH plate 6 pair with good to large margins, each with a superb red Maltese Cross, an attractive pair. Photo on Page 12. £180-200
35
1840 1d Blacks, SF plate 5 and IH plate 6, good to large margins, used with red Maltese Crosses. (2). Photo on Page 12. £200-240
36
1840 1d Black EI plate 5 and 2d blue NH plate 2 fine used with four good margins, also 1841 1d red unused (three margins, cut into at right) and 1841 2d blue with large margins used. (4). £200-250
37
1840 1d Black, CG plate 6, used with black Maltese Cross, fine with four margins. Also 1841 1d reds used with Maltese Cross cancels (22, 18 with four margins), one with "7" in Maltese Cross. (23). £100-150
38
1840 1d Black, BD plate 7 used with a red Maltese Cross, large even margins, very fine. Photo on Page 12. £120-150
39
1840 1d Blacks with four good to large margins, all used with red Maltese Crosses, comprising IK and MB plate 1b, AA plate 2 on bleute paper, CB plate 3 and QE plate 5, QE with tiny thin, otherwise fine, an attractive group. (5). Photo on Page 12. £400-500
40
1840 1d Blacks, 59 unplated used examples with red Maltese Crosses, all differing corner letters, a few with faults, approximately 48 fine with four margins, a good lot. (59). Photo on Page £3,500-4,000
41
1840 1d Blacks used with Maltese Crosses in red (6) or black (6, one on piece), three with four margins (close in places), the others with three margins or other faults. (12). £200-300
42
1841 (Mar 12) Entire letter from Cheltenham to Arbroath bearing a 1d red-brown plate 10, turned and reposted from Arbroath to Edinburgh with a further letter added inside, franked by a 1d black SL plate 2 (three margins), both stamps with black Maltese Cross cancels. An unusual turned entire which could be folded to display both the 1d red and 1d black stamps. £180-220
43
1840 (Aug 31) Entire letter from Bristol to London bearing a 1d black, IH plate 4 with four good margins, tied by a red Maltese Cross, horizontal file fold, the stamp fine. £120-150
44
1841 (Sep 10) Entire letter from Hawkshead to London, the 2d double rate paid by two plate 4 1d blacks, IH (touched at left) and II (four margins) each tied by a black Maltese Cross, "Hawkshead / Penny Post" on the front, backstamped at Ambleside and London. A fine 1d black cover with a Penny Post handstamp. Photo on Page 8. £250-300
45
1840 (July 30) British Linen Co. Bank, draft for £5 issued at Irvine and redeemed at Glasgow, the reverse bearing a 1d black LE plate 5 (four margins, close at left) tied by red Maltese Cross, the other portion of the draft (with the addressees details) retained by the bank. Very unusual £120-150
46
1840 (Oct 29) Entire from Whitchurch to London franked 1d black HI plate 7 with good to large margins tied by a red Maltese Cross, charged 2d with red double ring "MORE / TO / PAY", light Penny Post handstamp, light file folds and seal removed, otherwise a fine 1d black cover over ½oz so charged 2d postage due. £150-200
47
1841 (Jan 10) Entire letter from Cheltenham to the famous cartoonist George Cruikshank, franked 1d black OD plate 7, four margins, tied by a red Maltese Cross, the amusing letter written by a publisher friend of Cruikshank's. £150-200
48
1840 (Nov 20) Entire letter from Viscount Ingestre, posted from Cahir, Ireland, to London franked by a 1d black which has been torn in half prior to use with part missing from the centre, rather extraordinarily accepted for postage despite the significant and obvious stamp faults, cancelled by a red Maltese Cross, Cahir, Dublin and London backstamps. Possibly a successful postal fraud by the sender, very unusual, ex. Klempka. Photo on Page 8. £150-200
49
1840 (Dec 4) Entire letter from London to Rugby franked by a 1d black, a tiny stamp cut into on all sides with the value and corner letters now missing, disallowed by the post office but still cancelled by a black Maltese Cross, 1d postage paid in cash with red "1" and Paid datestamp of Lombard Street. Very unusual, ex. Klempka. Photo on Page 8. £120-150
50
1840 2d Blue, DI plate 1 with four good margins, fine used with a black Maltese Cross. Photo on Page 12. £120-150
Auction Details
Auction number 59 of G.B & Worldwide Stamps and Postal History
Auctioneer: Argyll Etkin Limited Location: London
Contact: Tel: 0207 930 6100
Date: 5th November 2026 Time: 10:00AM
Details: Fine Great Britain Stamps,
G.B Postal History with First UK Aerial Post, Royalty, Cancellations,
Paquebot Mail of the World, World War One German &
British Naval Mail, Specimen Stamps from the Rhodesia Post Office,
India, St. Helena, Mozambique, Baham
Page: 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18