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 14
653
Central America/Mexico. 1911-77 Covers and cards with Paquebots of Acapulco, Ancon (2527 on 1911 cover), Balboa (13), Belize, British Guiana (2, also a cover to Demerara with ships cachets), Cristobal (17, one a 1919 stampless O.A.S cover), Vera Cruz (2627 on 1931 card franked G.B 1½d). Also covers and cards with G.B stamps cancelled at Acapulco, Carthagena, Cristobal, Colon (4, 1911-15 cards), La Guaira (2), Puerto Cabello or Puerto San Jose without any Paquebot marks applied. (47). £180-200
654
Brazil/Uruguay/Falklands. 1905-95 Covers and cards, virtually all with G.B stamps, with Paquebot postmarks of Bahia (4), Pernambuco (14, three others cancelled by three parallel bars), Rio de Janeiro (14) or scarce violet "Servico Maritima" type 2616 of Santos; also items without any Paquebot mark cancelled at Bahia (3), Pernambuco (3), Rio de Janeiro (3), Santos, Montevideo (15) or Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (1938 cover with cachet of M.V "Reina del Pacifico"), various ship cachets. (62). £180-200

Africa

655
Algeria/Morocco/Tunisia. 1904-73 Covers and cards with Paquebot marks of Algiers (15), Casablanca (10), Oran, Tangiers (5, including scarce "PAQ" type 2896, two from the British Post Office with Ship Letter type 2897), La Goulette; "B.M" handstamps used in lieu of a Paquebot at Philippeville and Tunis; air letter landed at Ceuta with the stamp cancelled by London Paquebot; and items without Paquebot marks landed at Algiers (3), Casablanca, Oran, Sfax and Tangiers. (42). £140-160
656
Egypt & Sudan. 1902-63 Covers and cards with Paquebot handstamps of Alexandria (6) or Alexandria French P.O (5), Port Said (52, three without Paquebot marks) or Port Said French P.O (4), Port Sudan (3), Port Taufiq (30), Suez (5), many ship postcards, stamps include Australian States, New Zealand, India, Japan, Ceylon, etc. (105). £180-220
657
East Africa. 1899-1968 Covers and cards with Paquebot marks of Dar-es-Salaam (4), Kigoma (1934 cover with type 2785 used on Lake Tanganyika, faults to Ruanda Urundi stamps), Djibouti (4, one 1934 cover with Ethiopia stamps), Lourenco Marques, Beira (3), Mombasa (6, also 1907 card franked Zanzibar 1a without any Paquebot mark), Tanga (2), Zanzibar (3), also 1920-33 cover and card franked KUT stamps with Bombay Paquebots, stamps include KUT, Zanzibar, India, etc. (27). £160-180
658
Madagascar/Comoros. 1937-68 Covers with scarce 1937 Paquebot handstamps of Diego Suarez, Majunga and Moroni (all type 410), also later marks of Nossi-Be, Tamatave (2) and Dzaoudzi (Comoros, handstamp type 2766 of Diego Suarez, unlisted for this port). (7). £100-120
659
South Africa - Durban. 1900-09 Covers and cards comprising 1900 cover with Lourenco Marques 25r strip of four cancelled at Durban and rare Paquebot type 2772, 1909 postcard unusually franked Hong Kong 4c and 1905 postcard of Ascension Island franked G.B 1d both with type 2774, a good trio. (3). £120-150
660
South Africa - Cape Town. 1902 (Mar. 14) White Star Line picture postcard written on S.S "Suevic", a G.B ½d cancelled at Cape Town, with violet misspelt "PAUQUETBOt" type 2736, the discovery copy and the basis of the listing in the Paquebot book, believed to be the only recorded example. Photo on Page 86. £120-150
661
South Africa/S.W.A. 1904-71 Covers and cards, various Paquebot marks from Cape Town (40), Durban (12), East London, Point (2), Port Elizabeth, Simonstown (2), Luderitz and Walvis Bay (3), also items without Paquebot marks landed at Cape Town (5), Durban, Point and Port Elizabeth, many ship postcards, stamps include German South West Africa, Japan, Norway, etc. (70). £200-250
662
West Africa. 1906-91 Covers and cards including 1933 cover with Ivory Coast 30c cancelled by rare Paquebot type 6641 of Tabou, 1928 postcard with type 2812 of Loanda, 1930 postcard with France 50c cancelled at Port Gentil and boxed Paquebot type 2713, 1944 U.S V-Mail form with South Africa stamps tied by violet Paquebot type 2789 of Lagos, other Paquebot handstamps of Abidjan (2), Conakry, Dakar (10), Clive Town, Douala, Freetown (3), Matadi, Takoradi, St. Helena (2), also 1906 card with Brazil 100r cancelled at Dakar, 1916 card with G.B 1d cancelled at Freetown and cover with St. Helena stamp cancelled at Cape Town without Paquebot marks. (29). £150-180

Asia

663
Middle East & Aden. 1901-76 Covers and cards with Paquebot marks of Aden (34), Bahrain, Beyrouth (2, type 2945), Basrah type 2941, Haifa (4, types 2977 (2), 2978, 2979), Kuwait, also 1948 cover with G.B 2½d cancelled at Dubai then additionally cancelled by London Paquebot c.d.s. (44). £150-180
664
India/Burma. 1902-64 Covers and cards with Paquebot handstamps of Bombay (25), Calcutta (2), Cochin type 2963, Karachi (2), Madras type 2998, Rangoon (2, types 3012, 3018), five cards with G.B or Ceylon stamps tied by Sea Post Office Bombay-Aden datestamps. (33). £160-180
665
Ceylon/Mauritius. 1906-62 Covers and cards with Paquebot handstamps of Colombo or with foreign stamps cancelled at Colombo but without any Paquebot mark, also Post Louis, Mauritius Paquebot mail (5), ship postcards, stamps include Australia and States. (41). £100-120
666
Far East. 1905-90 Covers and cards with Paquebot handstamps from Indo-China (4, type 3437 on three 1905-06 postcards with Indo-China stamps cancelled at Hanoi, Tourane or Viettri, also 3097 of Hai-Phong); Netherlands Indies (6, with 3345 of Semarang, 3416 (2) and 3417 of Tandjong Priok, 3401 of Soerabaja); Philippines (18, fifteen pre-war, from Cebu (5), Davao, Manila (11), Zamboanga); Bangkok. (29). £200-240
667
China & Hong Kong. 1907-79 Covers and cards with Paquebot handstamps of Shanghai (7, all 1936 or earlier with types 3362, 3365 on Hong Kong 4c, 3366, 3372, 3374, two other apparently unlisted), Shanghai British P.O (2, types 3357, 3358), Hong Kong (9 including type 3107, stamps include Macau 4a on 1914 card), also 1904 card with G.B 1d cancelled by Victoria Hong Kong c.d.s without a Paquebot mark. (19). £200-250
668
China - Shanghai. 1904 Cover to U.S.A, reverse with China 1c block of ten tied by bar cancels and Shanghai c.d.s, the front with straight line "FROM STEAMER'S LETTER BOX" type 3356. Photo on Page 86. £100-120
669
Malaya/Sarawak. 1897-1973 Covers and cards with Paquebot handstamps of Singapore (7, including early 1897 use of type 3393 on Netherlands Indies 5c postcard franked 2½c), Penang (14), Port Swettenham (scarce type 3310 on 1936 cover with Selangor + G.B stamps), Kota Kinabalu, and the Sarawak ports of Sibu (type 3389 on 1934 cover with Sarawak stamps) or Kuching (4, types 3190, 3193, 3195, three with Malaya stamps). Also 1936 cover with Straits Settlements stamps cancelled by Paquebot of Port Taufiq. (29). £250-300
670
Japan. 1901-76 Covers and cards (25) and a front with Paquebot marks from Kobe (9, types 3161/2, 3166-3171), Yokohama (8, including types 3464 3468/9, 3470 (2)), Nagasaki (3, including 3253, 3259), Nagoya (2), Shimonoseki type 3384, Dairen Japanese P.O (2, types 3068, 3072 on a front). A fine and scarce group with sixteen pre-war, one with Hong Kong 10c, two with German stamps tied by Seepost datestamps, the scarce type 3170 all in Japanese. (26). £320-360

Australasia, Pacific Islands

671
Hawaii-Honolulu. 1906-69 Covers and cards, "Packet Boat" handstamps type 1678 (2), 1679, 1681 (2, Hong Kong or Australia stamps), and Paquebot types 1682/3, 1685/9, a good lot, 14 pre-war. (19). £150-180
672
Australia <\a> Loose Ship Letters. 1902-33 Picture postcards (6) and covers (2) comprising oval "LOOSE / SHIP / LETTER" of Brisbane (1358) on 1904 card with Queensland stamps and 1908 card with Java stamps, double oval "LOOSE SHIP / LETTER" of Sydney (1501) on 1905 card with N.Z stamps and 1927 cover with G.B 1½d; 1906 card with double oval "SHIP LETTER / 1d /LATE FEE" (1502) and N.S.W 1d cancelled at Sydney; 1902-05 cards with G.B ½d or Victoria 1d and 1933 cover with Australia 3d all cancelled boxed "LOOSE SHIP LETTER" (1935) of Melbourne, all fine, a good lot. (8). Photo on Page 86. £300-350
673
Australia. 1901-c.1990 Covers and cards, various Paquebot marks of Adelaide (5), Albany (2, type 1348), Brisbane (6), Cairns (2), Darwin (type 1384 on stampless O.A.S cover), Fremantle (17, also five items with G.B stamps all without Paquebot marks), Hobart (G.B stamps, no Paquebot mark), Largs Bay, Melbourne (8), Outer Harbour (4), Perth (3), Sydney (11), Thursday Island (5), Townsville. A good lot, 43 pre-war, stamps include Papua, New Guinea, British Solomon Is., Philippines, New Hebrides, etc. (72). £300-400
674
New Zealand. 1901-70 Covers and cards with Packet Boat or Loose Letter handstamps of Auckland (17, including type 1543 cancelling 1901 N.S.W 1d postcard franked ½d, type 1545 on 1903 Tonga 1d postcard), Dunedin, Napier, New Plymouth, Port Chalmers (type 1589 on 1908 postcard, very rare), Timaru, Wellington (12), stamps include Fiji, Niue, Spain, two 1914 covers with postage due charges, a good lot. (34). Photo on Page 86. £250-300
675
Pacific Islands. 1935-90 Covers and cards, various Paquebot handstamps from Fiji (11), Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, New Caledonia, Tahiti (10), Cook Islands (2) or Papua New Guinea (2), including unlisted types for Labasa (Fiji) and Samarai, 1944 cover with Norway stamps cancelled by Norwegian naval ship datestamps with Suva Paquebot, etc. (29). £150-180

MILITARY MAIL
(Also see lots 315-343, 690-834, 1078/81, 1232/5, 1363-1500, 1755-1784, 1820/31)

676
1925-91 Covers and cards, mainly World War Two including naval and R.A.F, redirected and returned mail, 1945 (Sep 29) stampless Czech cover with British army censor, 1944 A.E.A.F / C.P H.Q" c.d.s, "114 Mount St. London" undercover address, etc. (129). £150-200
677
P.O.W Mail. 1914-67 Covers and cards from World War One (7) or World War Two (25), also a 1967 Red Cross form from an Arab P.O.W in Israel, including 1915 Rubleben picture postcard, WW2 G.B 2½d P.O.W air letters (4, one to Ilag VII), Isle of Man (2), India (2), cards from Biberach or Vittel internment camps, 1946 card from a German P.O.W in Russia sending Christmas greetings with a photo of the sender attached, Y.M.C.A Christmas postcard from a civilian internee on Ellis Island, etc. (33). £160-200
678
c.1939-99 Covers and cards, ephemera, etc., including unused V-Mail forms (4, two illustrated), group of five British WW2 and postwar miniature medals, Red Cross message forms, a few patriotic labels, various postwar forces mail, censors, sheet of 100 WW2 military labels believed to be from Thailand, 1982 (Mar 8) British Antarctic Territory F.D.C with Islas Malvinas datestamp applied at Port Stanley on April 6 (date inverted), etc. (c.200). £200-250
679
c.1947-2005 British forces covers including mail from Korea, Falkland Islands, Aden, Malaya, Bahrain, Libya, Jordan, Singapore, Malta, Hong Kong, Kenya, Thailand, Cyprus, Australia, Europe, etc., also some philatelic covers with special cancels. (c.340). £120-150

World War One

680
1914-22 Covers and cards including Indian F.P.O 151 and 156 used in the North West Frontier during the Third Afghan War, 1918 A.P.O S.X.14 used at Corfu, Portuguese forces mail with "C.E.P / S.P.C" datestamps (7), 1919 card from the French hospital ship "Flandre" at Constantinople, 1918 cover to a U.S soldier redirected to the hospital ship "Ascanius", Austrian Feldpost card from S.M Dampfer VII with a superb handpainted illustration of the sailing ship "Roschen" and a Turkish flag, etc. (109). £200-250
681
1916-19 Covers and cards (5) and letters (36) from Pte P.J Peters, 1/5th Queens (West Surrey) Regt, also a card of Peters and four picture postcards sent home from India, the letters mainly from Mesopotamia or India, datestamps include Indian F.P.O 104 (2) and 312 from Mesopotamia. (46). £50-80
682
Hospitals & Medical Services. 1914-20 Covers and cards from Austrian, British, German or French forces with hospital or ambulance cachets, Red Cross, etc., also a few earlier and later covers including 1898 cover with Yen-Bai, Tonkin c.d.s and circular "INFIRMERIE - AMBULANCE / LE MEDICIN CHEF / YEN-BAI", etc. (100s). £200-250
683
Russia. 1919 Stampless cover and card, the May 12th postcard of H.M.T "Czar" headed from "Pte J.F Ford, R.A.M.C, 155 Field Ambulance, 238 Special Brigade, North Russian Relief Force"; the cover to the U.S.A from an American soldier with "ARMY POST OFFICE / PB.." c.d.s (Feb 4, the number unfortunately off the cover) and circular "HOSPITAL SHIP / P.C / 25 / R.A.M.C" (possibly used on the "Braemar Castle"). (2). £150-180

World War Two

684
1939-45 Forces mail from allied forces including U.S, French, Canadian, Indian, Australian and Czech, covers from G.B, Europe, West Indies, Iraq (one with small "POSTAGE prepaid" cachet), Iran, Bermuda, etc. (140). £150-180
685
c.1944 Cover with War Office crest addressed in the handwriting of Field-Marshal Montgomery, "TOP SECRET & Personal. To be opened only by Lt. Gen. C. Foulkes C.G.S, Montgomery of Alamein Field Marshal, Lt. Gen Charles Foulkes C.B, C.G.S Canada, Defence H.Q, Ottawa, Canada", presumably delivered by diplomatic bag, enclosed piece with signature of Montgomery of Alamein. £100-120
686
1940-45 Covers (with enclosed letters), air letters, cards, telegrams and airgraphs to or from Pte A.W.S Hill, R.A.S.C, in G.B or the Middle East, a very extensive correspondence, many to or from Egypt, mixed condition. (100s). £300-350
687
U.S Forces - India/China/Burma. 1942-46 Covers from U.S forces in Burma (3), China (14) or India (21), various U.S A.P.O cancels, stampless or franked 6c. (38). £100-120
688
U.S Forces - Pacific. 1942-59 Covers (mainly WW2 period) from U.S forces in the Pacific including British Solomon Islands (22), also Australia, Hawaii, Japan, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Hebrides, New Zealand, Philippines, Ryukyu Islands, etc., various U.S A.P.O cancels, a few with U.S Navy cancels. (c.270). £200-250
689
U.S Forces. 1942-59 Covers (mainly WW2 period) from U.S forces within the U.S.A (c.1,100, many camp or fort cancels) or forces overseas including Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, West Indies, South and Central America, Newfoundland, also forces in Alaska, various U.S A.P.O cancels, some U.S Navy cancels (mainly from Alaska). (c.1,700). £200-300

WORLD WAR ONE GERMAN & BRITISH NAVAL MAIL
The Ships of Vice Admiral Graf von Spee's China Squadron

At the start of World War One the China Squadron under Vice Admiral Graf von Spee consisted of five cruisers, the "Scharnhorst", "Gnieisenau", "Dresden" "Leipzig" and "Nurnberg", as well as light cruisers, armed merchantmen, gun boats and supply boats. The main fleet was sent south, rendezvouzing at Easter Island in October 1914 and engaging the British at the Battles of Coronel and the Falklands. Other ships acted as independent raiders throughout the Pacific, notably the "Konigsberg" finally sunk in East Africa and the "Emden" sunk off Cocos Island, also the "Karlsruhe", "Kronprinz Wilhelm", "Prince Eitel Friedrich" and "Cormoran". The Germans also had gunboats on Lake Tanganyika, the British organising their own naval expedition to send boats overland to the lake.The British South Atlantic Squadron under Admiral Cradock included H.M.S "Good Hope", "Monmouth", "Glasgow", "Otranto", "Canopus", "Kent", Macedonia", "Carnarvon", "Bristol" and "Goliath"; after the Battle of Coronel the Battle cruisers "Invincible" and "Inflexible" under Vice Admiral Sturdee were despatched to the South Atlantic.
This fine collection includes the postal history of all the German ships and those British ships who fought against them, also letters, postcards, ephemera, medals, prewar mail and later mail from crew members after capture or internment.
690
1914-18 Naval related propaganda postcards, various ships including "Ayesha landing troops at Hodeida", also the "Emden", "Nurnberg", "Scharnhorst", Officers from "Mowe", etc., some used. (58). £100-150
691
Literature. Books and catalogues on the history or postal history of the German naval ships under Graf von Spee, including "Admiral von Spee and his Ships" by Frank Laycock (2008) comprising a copy of the Camellia collection, superbly bound in leather, also "German Prisoners in Great Britain" with many photos (c.1920), etc. (30+). £100-120

S.M.S "Scharnhorst" and Vice Admiral Graf von Spee

The "Scharnhorst", flag ship of the China Squadron, sailed from Ponape in the Caroline Islands (where letters were buried awaiting a friendly ship but were not recovered until 1923) on 4th August 1914, rendezvouzing with the fleet at Easter Island in October. The ship participated in the Battle of Coronel on November 1st and was sunk at the Battle of the Falklands on December 8th.
692
1899 (Aug 3) Registered cover from Vladivostock franked 10k pair, to a sailor on "Scharnhorst" at Hakodate, redirected to Tsingtau, backstamped at Tsuruga, Hakodate, Shanghai I.J.P.O and Tsingtau, boxed "REGISTERED" handstamp on the front. Also a 1913 cover from "Scharnhorst" at Tsingtau with 10pf tied by K.D.M.S No 16 c.d.s. (2). £120-140
693
c.1905-16 Picture postcards depicting the "Scharnhorst", Admiral "Graf von Spee, Cruisers of the South Sea Squadron, Tsingtau, etc. (43, one from Tsingtau with K.D.M.S No. 16 c.d.s, also a cover with this datestamp), fund raising labels (6) and a music programme, also a 1917 stampless postcard from a Japanese Naval Officer at the captured German naval base of Tsingtau with Japanese Tsingtau c.d.s. (52). £300-400
694
1914 (Aug 1) Official stampless cover to the German Admiralty, handstamped "Kommando / S.M.S "Scharnhorst" / B. no (1625)" and "Marinesache" with two strikes of the K.D.M.S No 16 datestamp applied whilst at Ponape, circular "Kaiserliche Marine / Brief-Stempel / Kommando / S.M.S "Scharnhorst"" on reverse. From the mail handed to the Father Superior of the Capuchins who buried it under the Catholic church, finally dug up and delivered in 1923, the cover with some understandable wear and soiling, very scarce. Private letters from this mail delivered in 1923 had explanatory mails applied by the German Post Office, but these were not applied to official letters. Photo on Page 86. £250-300
695
1914 (July 11) Postcard from Alfred Brettschneider, signaller on the "Scharnhorst", to Germany franked Caroline Islands 5pf tied by "TRUK" c.d.s, from the mails posted under the Catholic church at Ponape at the start of the war in 1914, dug up and delivered in 1923 with German P.O explanatory label applied, the picture side detached and lost due to the years of burial with a further shorter explanatory label on this side. The earliest recorded posting date for this mail buried in August 1914. Very scarce, with Roland Steuer Certificate (2017). Photo on Page 92. £900-1,200
696
1914 (Oct 15) Stampless cover to Berlin endorsed "Feldpostbrief" and signed by Lt. Claussen von Finck with two strikes of the K.D.M.S No. 16 c.d.s, applied and posted whilst at Easter Island, the mail taken to Valparaiso on S.S "Yorck", mail from Easter Island very scarce. Photo on Page 92. £350-400
697
1914 (Nov 25) Stampless cover from Vice Admiral Graf von Spee to his wife in Germany, endorsed "Feldpostbrief" and signed on the reverse, with two strikes of the K.D.M.S No.16 c.d.s, sent from St Quentin Bay in Chile and carried to Argentina by the N.D.L S.S "Seydlitz" (acting hospital ship). By the time this cover reached Argentina, and long before it reached Germany, von Spee and his two sons had been killed in the Battle of the Falklands on December 8th. Photo on Page 92. £400-500
698
Medallions produced to commemorate Vice Admiral Graf von Spee, two impressive large medals each 100mm diameter depicting von Spee (one also showing his two sons) with four smaller medals, three probably in silver (one duplicated), also an Iron Cross dated 1914, all in a fitted case. (7). £500-600

S.M.S "Dresden"

The "Dresden" under Capt. Ludecke was off Brazil at the start of the war. After capturing or sinking several ships in the Pacific it joined von Spee's Squadron at Easter Island, damaging H.M.S "Glasgow" at the Battle of Coronel and was the only cruiser to escape the British at the Battle of the Falklands. She remained off South America, finally being cornered by the British and forced to scuttle at Mas a Tierra on March 15th 1915, the crew being interned in Islas Quiriquina in Chile.
699
1914-15 Picture postcards of the "Dresden" (23), hat bands (2), and two 1914 cards sent prior to the war with K.D.M.S No. 66 datestamps from Mexico, one a locally produced leather card unusually bearing a Mexico stamp. (30). £150-200
700
1914 Stampless covers from Machinist Ahrhus to Danzig with two strikes of the K.D.M.S No. 66 c.d.s, the first with violet "Feldpostbrief" dated August 9th when the ship was at Jericoa Bay, Brazil, taken by the collier "Corrientes" to Pernambuco; the second cover dated October 1st unusually with number and year omitted from the datestamp, carried by a coal supply ship off Mas a Fuera, Chile. (2). £120-140
701
1914 (Oct 14) Cover from Oblt. Canarias to his father in Germany, signed on the reverse, with two strikes of K.D.M.S No. 66 c.d.s whilst at Easter Island. Canarias later rose to Admiral of the Third Reich and head of the Abwehr from 1935 until 1944; he was executed in 1945 for his part in the plot to assassinate Hitler. A rare cover from Easter Island. Photo on Page 92. £400-500
702
1914 (July-Oct) Postcards (4) and letters (2, no covers) from Berlin to Friedrich Lauer on the "Dresden" sent via the Marine Postbureau in Berlin, one a stampless Feldpost card, three franked 5pf, two of these posted prior to the war, a private cachet showing all were received on 6 May 1915 when Lauer was interned at Isla Quiriquina, Chile. (6). £200-250
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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