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1914 (Aug 17) German East Africa 7½h postcard to Berlin, cancelled by "SOGA" c.d.s, with violet triangular "PASSED / POSTAL / CENSOR" alongside applied in Zanzibar, carried by H.M.S "Pegasus" to Zanzibar, a rare "flag of truce" mail exchange card from a small office. Photo on Page 106. £800-1,000
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1914 (Aug 14) German East Africa 7½h postcard from Sarona to Germany inscribed "via Zanzibar by English Post", cancelled at Morogoro, reverse with violet triangular "PASSED / POSTAL / CENSOR" applied in Zanzibar. Carried by H.M.S "Pegasus" to Zanzibar, a rare "flag of truce" mail exchange card, with 1999 Ronald Steuer Certificate. Photo on Page 106. £700-900
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1914 (Aug 9) Cover from the German Post Office at Smyrna franked 1pi to Dar-es-Salaam, sent to Zanzibar and then carried by H.M.S "Pegasus" as part of a "flag of truce" mail exchange. Backstamped at Port Said, Port Taufiq (both Aug. 16) and Dar-es-Salaam (Sep 17) bearing two censor seals, "Opened by Postal Censor / ZANZIBAR" and "KAISELICHES GOUVERNEMENT FUR DEUTSCH-OSTAFRIKA" with manuscript initials and date "17/9". A remarkable "flag of truce" cover to German East Africa, exceedingly rare. Photo on Inside Front Cover. £1,500-2,000
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1914 (Aug 27) Cover (letter enclosed) from Zanzibar to Tanga franked 3c + 6c pair, violet triangular "PASSED / POSTAL / CENSOR", an intriguing cover sent after the start of the war, no indication of how it was carried or if it reached its destination. It may have been carried by dhow or by H.M.S "Pegasus" mail exchange (but does not have any G.E.A Censorship or c.d.s), but was possibly detained by the censor in Zanzibar. Photo on Page 106. £150-200
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1914-15 Covers with uncancelled Zanzibar stamps and no datestamps all apparently detained by the censor in Zanzibar, the first with a letter of Sept. 17th from a sailor on H.M.S "Hyacinth" who was apparently planning to desert the ship, with cover to his father in Transvaal bearing "OPENED BY CENSOR / UNDER / MARTIAL LAW" seal (now removed from the cover); the others with enclosed letters to Holland or Denmark. (3). £150-200
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1914 (Aug 6 / Oct 21) Picture postcards from Zanzibar to Germany franked 6c, violet triangular "PASSED / POSTAL / CENSOR", with "UNDELIVERABLE / L.P.S" applied in London, unusual. (2). £100-120
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1914 (Nov) Cover with enclosed letter and accompanying Bill of Lading from Pirbhai Pardham & Co in Kilwa to another merchant at Dar-es-Salaam, carried by dhow with Kilwa Customs Office cachet, very scarce. Photo on Page 106. £250-300
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1914 Stampless cover to Dar-es-Salaam, probably carried on a coastal dhow captured by H.M.S "Pegasus", the mail taken to Zanzibar and censored with violet triangular "PASSED / POSTAL / CENSOR", circular framed "T" and a Zanzibar backstamp (Sep. 23), scarce and unusual. £300-350
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1915 (Mar 20) Censored postcard from Smyrna to Dar-es-Salaam addressed via Lisbon c/o the D.O.A.L office in Beira, with Zanzibar c.d.s (Apr. 20), an unusual card evading the British blockade of G.E.A. Photo on Page 106. £200-240
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1915 (Mar 25) German East Africa 4h postcard from Petty Officer Karl Huber on the S.M.S "Konigsberg", to another sailor on S.M.S "Blitz", cancelled by Lindi c.d.s (Apr 11), reverse with "Zensur passiert", transit datestamp of Lourenco Marques. A rare card from the "Konigsberg" whilst blockaded in the Rufiji River. Photo on Page 106. £400-500
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1915 (Feb. 25) German East Africa 4h postcard from Gustav Scheffel on the "Konigsberg", to Germany, cancelled by Lindi c.d.s (Mar. 9), circular censor cachet and manuscript "Zensur passiert". A fine and rare example of blockade mail from the "Konigsberg". Photo on Page 106. £500-600
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100 Heller and 200 Heller coins with "S.M.S / KONIGSBERG" on reverse, supposed made on the ship from spent shell cases, used to buy goods from the canteen. Also a coin with "20 / HELLER" on the front and "1916 / DOA" on reverse and a 5pf "Interims-Banknote" dated 1 Juli 1917 issued by the Deutsch Ostafrikanische Bank in Daressalam. (4). £150-200
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Germany 5pf block of eight with "BUKOBA" datestamps (12/1 16). Stamps from the "Konigsberg" were issued to eight G.E.A post offices for use on parcel cards due to a shortage of G.E.A stamps. Fine and scarce. Photo on Page 160. £500-600
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1915 (July 25) German East Africa 4h postcard from Bagamoyo to Germany, sent by Kapitan-Leutnant Koch, formerly of S.M.S "Konigsberg", now serving with the land forces, red censor cachet. Photo on Page 110. £150-200
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H.M.S "Mersey". 1915 (July/Aug) Picture postcards of Zanzibar from H.M.S "Mersey", the first sent two weeks after she forced "Konigsberg" to scuttle, both with violet oval "PASSED BY / CENSOR" and G.B ½d cancelled in London. Also a 1915 real photo postcard of the "Mersey" beached in East Africa. (3). £150-180
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Original photos of the wreck of the "Konigsberg" (6, also a postcard and reproduction photos), and an earlier photo of the ship in East Africa. (8+). £100-120
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H.M.S "Severn". 1915 (Aug 30) Stampless cover to England with enclosed letter from Captain Eric Fullerton on H.M.S "Severn", violet "PASSED BY / CENSOR" with London Received From H.M. Ship machine (Sep. 22). The letter gives a good and detailed account of the battle between the "Severn" and "Konigsberg", a unique historical item. £200-300
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1918 P.O.W lettersheets (2) and a stampless cover from Kapitan-Leutnant Georg Koch, formerly of S.M.S "Konigsberg", sent from Sidi Bishr P.O.W Camp in Egypt to his wife in Germany with black "P. of W. Camp / SIDI BISHR", triangular army censor and Base A.P.O 2 datestamps of Alexandria, Freigegeben handstamp of Coln. (3). £250-300
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Medals - H.M.S Hyacinth. 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals, Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, KGV, named to "384237 F.S HILL, O.C.C R.N" (O.C 1 on B.W.M and Victory, L.S & G.C to "O.CH. CK H.M.S ROYAL SOVEREIGN"), a good group of four. Also a related group of three to "S.S 7589 C.H Hill A.B R.N" comprising British War and Victory Medals, Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct, KGV. Officers Chief Cook F.S Hill served on H.M.S "Hyacinth" whilst it was blockading the "Konigsberg". (7). £240-280
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Medals - H.M.S Mersey. 1914-15 Star named to "LT. COMMR. W.A SELBY R.N". Selby joined the navy in 1897 and served on "Mersey" from August 1914 until Feb. 1916, being commended for services in the action against "Konigsberg" in the Rufiji River Delta on 6 July 1915 when he was in the top controlling the fire. He was invalided out of the service in November 1916 after suffering from nerve deafness due to gunfire. £200-300
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Medals - H.M.S Mersey. Victory Medal named to "215246 H.G HAINES A.B R.N", killed in action on July 6th 1915, the day the "Mersey" was in action against the "Konigsberg"; Able Seaman George Haines is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. A rare casualty from the action against "Konigsberg". £180-220
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Medals - H.M.S Severn. Victory medal named to "J.23151 W.J. HOLLERTON SIG. R.N". William Hollerton, from the Isle of Man, joined the navy as a boy in Feb. 1913, serving as a Signalman on "Severn" during the action against the "Konigsberg"; he was discharged in Sept. 1916 due to a head injury. £100-120
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1914-18 Photo album belonging to Captain Gilman G. Arnitt, mostly naval related photos from East Africa including H.M.S "Laconia" at Zanzibar, the Sultan of Zanzibar with officers on deck, testing seaplanes at Niorara Island, R.N.A.S Officers on the "Laconia", "Konigsberg" in the Rufiji River taken from the seaplane that located the ship, the aerodrome and seaplanes at Mafia Island (5), H.M Monitor "Mersey damaged by shells from the "Konigsberg" (3), "Severn" alongside "Mersey", aeroplane crash at Mafia, aerial view of the "Konigsberg" with its central funnel shot away after the action with "Mersey" and "Severn", warships at Zanzibar, guns captured at Bagamoyo, R.N.A.S plane on H.M.S "Himalaya", execution of native spies at Mafia (4), Germans executing natives, boat race with H.M.S "Talbot" at Mikandani, H.M.S "Pegasus" sinking at Zanzibar, also one of "Dresden" destroyed by H.M.S "Glasgow", a few later photos include the boxer Jack Dempsey (3, two in a boxing match on a ship). A remarkable album, the aerial photos of "Konigsberg" possibly unique and perhaps the earliest aerial photographs taken in southern Africa. (66, approx 45 of East Africa). £500-700
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An album of documentation concerning S.M.S "Konigsberg", mainly photocopies and reproduction photos, some news articles, also a series of fourteen small original hand drawn maps showing German settlements and the position of ships at various dates in 1914-15 in East Africa. £250-300
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1915-17 Manuscript diary in two volumes maintained by David Greenshield, Yeoman of Signals aboard H.M.S "Severn", the diaries numbered "2" covering the period Feb. 15 to May 26 1915 when the "Severn" and "Mersey" were en route from England to East Africa, and numbered "5" covering the period October 31st 1915 to Sept. 30th 1916 when the "Mersey" was at Mafia Island and Zanzibar before sailing to Tanga and Mombasa. Also a third volume containing copies of reports and letters sent to or from "Severn" several of which refer to the "Konigsberg". Contained within a fitted box, sold by Maggs in 2004 for £2,500. £300-500
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Four albums containing photos taken by an R.A.M.C officer, later working for the Y.M.C.A, in East Africa from 1914-18, all with captions, mainly small but well taken photos, a few larger photos including German P.O.Ws with General von Lettow and officers, etc. (645). £300-400
| The Tanganyika Flotilla | In 1914 the Germans had three gunboats on Lake Tanganyika, the "Hedwig von Wissman", "Kingani" and the "Graf von Goetzen". The Admiralty, who only knew of one of these gunboats, decided to send armed motorboats to the lake, H.M.S "Mimi" and "Toutou" commanded by Lt. Cdr. Spicer-Simson with four officers and 24 seamen, the boats sent by sea to Cape Town then carried over 3,000 miles by road, rail and river to Albertville. The "Kingani" was disabled and captured on Dec. 26th, repaired and renamed "Fifi", and sank the "Hedwig von Wissman" on 9th Feb. 1916. The "Graf von Goetzen" was scuttled after its guns were commandeered by General von Lettow. Two distinctive naval censor cachets accompanied the Naval Africa Expedition, but very few covers and cards are recorded.
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1915 (Mar 10) Stampless Feldpost card from Kigoma to Daressalam sent by Verm.-Steuermann Holzer serving on the "Hedwig von Wissman", Kigoma c.d.s, two punch holes, otherwise fine and scarce. £200-240
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1915 (Aug 11) Belgian Congo 10c postcard to South Africa, headed "On active service", the message from "In the Bush, Belgian Congo August 11 1915" with senders address given as "W. Eastwood Lieut, RNVR, c/o G.P.O, Elizabethville, Congo Belge". Cancelled "KAMBOVE" c.d.s with violet boxed "PASSED BY CENSOR / NO. 25" Initialled "H.M.H" by the censor Dr H.M Hanschell (the expedition Medical Officer), Pretoria arrival c.d.s (Aug 23), corner crease, otherwise fine and very scarce; Eastwood was the expedition Paymaster and confidential clerk to Lt. Cdr Spicer-Simson. Photo on Page 110. £1,000-1,200
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1915 (Aug 14) Folded up lettersheet to London containing a letter from M.W.W Cross, Chief Engineer on the expedition, headed from Belgian Congo with his address given as "Naval Africa Expedition, M.W.W Cross, Eng. Lieut, c/o Senior Naval Officer, Simonstown, S. Africa". The address panel headed "On active service, no stamps available" and signed "M.W.W Cross, Eng Lieut. RNR" with violet boxed "PASSED BY CENSOR / NO. 25" initialled "HMH" by the censor Dr H.M Hanschell (the expedition medical officer), with a Simonstown c.d.s (Aug 29), fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 110. £1,200-1,400
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1915 (Sep 7) Picture postcard to London written from "Kabalo, Central Africa" with interesting message "Hope and I 800 miles in advance of rest. Having a bad time. May win through" signed C.T Tyrer, Lt RNVR, a Belgian Congo 10c tied by unclear c.d.s. Sub-Lts Charles T. Tyrer (ex RNAS) and Douglas Hope surveyed the overland route in advance of the main expedition; another card is recorded from Hope posted on the same day with a Kabali c.d.s. Very scarce. Photo on Page 110. £500-600
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1915 (Oct 13) Stampless cover to London endorsed "On Active Service, No Stamps Available" and signed "H.M Hanschell, Surgeon (T) R.N" with violet boxed "PASSED BY CENSOR / NO. 25" initialled "HMH" by Hanschell and circular "PASSED BY CENSOR / NO 26" containing an anchor, reverse with "KASAMA / N. RHODESIA" c.d.s. The circular censor mark very rare, and the only recorded cover with both censor cachets, sent by the expedition medical officer and censor. An exceptional cover. Photo on Back Cover. £1,800-2,200
| ROYAL VISITS | |
1891 Visit of Prince George, Duke of York to Bermuda & West Indies
Prince George visited as Commander of H.M.S "Thrush". | |
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Jamaica. 1891 Undated two page letter on H.M.S "Thrush" notepaper, headed "Jamaica, Friday", written by Prince George to Sir Henry Blake, Governor of Jamaica, thanking him for the photo album and for his kindness to the Prince, and hoping the exhibition continues to be a success, the hand delivered envelope addressed in the Prince's handwriting to "His Excellency Sir Henry Blake K.G.M.G, King's House, Jamaica" and initialled. The Prince had opened the Jamaica International Exhibition on Friday January 27th. A unique letter. Photo on Page 110. £300-350
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Jamaica. 1891 (Apr 5) Mourning envelope with Sandringham flap to "His Excellency The Governor KCMG, Government House, Jamaica", a 2½d stamp cancelled at Kings Lynn with Sandringham backstamp, the enclosed letter on Sandringham notepaper from Sir Francis Knollys to Sir Henry Blake thanking him for his report of the opening of the Jamaica Exhibition by Prince George which he has shown to the Prince & Princess of Wales, and for various items sent to Prince George. Also two pieces with Jamaica stamps cancelled by the exhibition squared circle. (3). £150-200
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Trinidad. 1891 1d + 1d Reply card, both halves surcharged 9d. Five sets of Trinidad stamps and postal stationery were surcharged "9d" and presented to Prince George when he visited the island on 23rd February 1901. One set is in the Royal Collection with another set of stationery having the stamps cut out, just three examples of each stationery item therefore available to collectors. With R.P.S Certificate (1980). Photo on Page 112. £500-600
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Bermuda/Trinidad. 1891 (Mar 9) Cover posted at Ireland Island franked Bermuda 4d, the enclosed letter written from Barbados on H.M.S "Thrush" notepaper, addressed to "H.E.W Grant Esq., Government House, Trinidad" with arrival c.d.s (Apr 21). The two page letter, signed "George", concerns Trinidad stamps and the special 9d surcharges presented to the Prince (see previous lot), and includes "I am sorry to trouble you again about these blessed stamps, but I find now that the Post Master didn't give me any postcards, envelopes & wrappers of the present issue but only those surcharged with 9d, so I am going to ask you if you would mind getting a set of them for me & sending them up to Bermuda when you send the Tobago stamps". A unique and remarkable letter and cover, ex. John Marriott collection (sold in his 2001 auction for £1,500). Photo on Page 110. £1,000-1,200
| 1901 World Tour of the Duke & Duchess of Cornwall and York | |
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1901 H.M.S "Ophir" printed menus (2), music programme, theatre programme, and programmes for the "Ophir" Minstrel Troupe (2), fine and scarce. (6). £120-150
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1901 (Feb 3) Mourning cover with enclosed letter written by Prince George from Tasmania on H.M.S "Ophir" notepaper, the cover posted at Adelaide with O.S 4d (two other stamps sadly removed) addressed in the Prince's handwriting to "His Highness The Khedive G.C.B, G.C.M.G, G.C.V.O, Ras-El Tin Palace, Alexandria, Egypt" and initialled "G" in the corner, Suez and Alexandria backstamps. Prince George thanks the Khedive for allowing Ahmed Ourabi and Aly Fehmy, both exiled for rebellion in 1882, to return to Egypt. A unique cover and letter, signed "George". Photo on Page 112. £300-400
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1901 (Mar 27) Cover to "The Hon. Secretary, Philatelic Society, Montreal, Canada" with G.B 1d lilac cancelled by London c.d.s (Apr 1) used on naval bag mail, the enclosed letter on H.M.S "Ophir" notepaper written from Malta by Arthur Bigge on behalf of the Duke thanking them for their message of sympathy following the death of Queen Victoria. Also a copy of the letter from the society to the Duke. £80-100
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1901 (Oct 20) Printed speech given by Prince George upon his arrival at Ottawa, the second page signed "George" in the Prince's hand. £120-150
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1901 Passes, invitations and ephemera from the royal tour, mainly from Canada including a dinner invitation from the Lt. Governor of Ontario and passes issued at the Citadel, Quebec (2) or by the Grand Trunk Railway all named to F.L.C Pereira; woven silk "The Royal Visit, October 17 and 18 1901, Press"; silk menu card for a dinner given on P.&O. Steamer "Kingston" through the 1000 islands; and an admission ticket to a dinner at Coastal Wharf; also Cape Town Government House admission ticket and Mount Nelson Hotel menu; menu from the Bristol Hotel in Colombo, Ceylon; and Wellington, New Zealand souvenir programme for the royal visit. (11). £250-300
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Mauritius/Ceylon. 1901 Formula stationery postcards issued to commemorate the Duke's visit, unused or with a 2c stamp cancelled to order at Curepipe; also an unused Ceylon 2c card with printed message regarding the Planters Ball at Kandy in honour of the Duke and Duchess. (3). £100-120
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Canada. 1901 2c Postcard from the Canada Express Co. at Halifax (Sep 26) to "H.R.H The Duchess of York, c/o H.M.S Ophir, City"; and cover posted in Toronto with 2c cancelled violet "ROYAL REVIEW / EXHIBITION PARK CAMP / OCT 11 1901 / TORONTO / ARMY POST OFFICE", Assistant Postmaster datestamp on reverse. This special datestamp used at the review of troops by the Duke and Duchess, where Boer War medals were presented. (2). £100-120
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1901 Wrench "Links of Empire" picture postcards posted from places visited on the tour, sixteen cards (from the set of 20, missing cards 14-16 and 18, card 19 not posted), card 13 with G.B 1d lilac tied by Ascension c.d.s (corner crease), cards 4 and 5 with G.B stamps cancelled by London datestamps used on naval mail. (16). £180-220
| 1905-06 Prince and Princess of Wales Tour of India | |
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"The Royal Tour Souvenir Album, India 1905-1906" published by Johnston & Hoffman in Calcutta, containing 187 pages of photos, well produced, binding a little loose, otherwise fine. £70-80
| 1921-22 Prince of Wales Tour to India and the Far East | |
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India. 1921 (Dec 30) Telegram from the Prince of Wales in Calcutta to England; 1922 (Mar 15) letter from Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey (Comptroller & Treasurer to the Prince of Wales) to Frank Rich in England regarding five ponies and a charger which the Prince is sending back to England; and picture postcards (5, two real photo cards) of the Prince in India. (7). £160-200 |
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India. 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). £200-250
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Japan. 1922 Ephemera given to crew members of H.M.S "Renown" (10) including greetings from Osaka and Tokyo, Japan Government Railways 3rd class pass, Yokohama Municipal Tramways ticket with special folder and packet, programmes of entertainment at the Shurakkan Theatre in Kobe (2), etc; and picture postcards (11) with a set of eight cards in a printed envelope. (21). £350-400
| 1925 Prince of Wales Tour to South Africa and South America | |
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Southern Rhodesia. 1925 (July 9) Large (34x22½cm) stampless registered cover to the Cape with two strikes of the special bilingual Royal Tour datestamp and bearing the pink "R / S. RHODESIA" registration label with boxed "ROYAL TOUR" handstamp applied, Prince of Wales feathers printed on the flap and impressed in the wax seal, backstamped with the Royal Tour datestamp and at Bulawayo, Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. Very few examples of the scarce Royal Tour registration label are recorded, this example numbered 15. £150-180
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Original photo album, the cover with embossed Prince of Wales feathers and "H.M.S "REPULSE" ROYAL TOUR SOUTH AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA" containing 219 original photographs, all professionally taken by the accompanying Central News photographer (most with "Photo Supplied, Central News" handstamp on reverse), twelve taken on "Repulse" en route to South Africa, 157 in Southern Africa, 33 in South America and 17 on the voyage back to England. A scarce album with many fine photos, probably supplied to a member of the royal tour party, covers detached. (219 Photos). £600-800
| 1934 Prince George Tour to Southern Africa | |
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1934 Covers with the Royal Tour datestamps used on the royal train (25) including cover with Natal 1d pair cancelled to order with rare violet oval bilingual Royal Train cachet (Mar. 2), stampless official covers from Pietermaritzburg (Mar. 3) and Mafeking (Mar. 19) both with the scarce bilingual "ROYAL TOUR H.R.H PRINCE GEORGE / OFFICIAL FREE" cachet, registered covers with C.O.Ps (2), first flight covers to Nyasaland (2), Belgian Congo covers (4, one commercial), also registered cover from Parliament House to the train, dance card for a Grand Ball in Durban, postcards and photos of the tour (4), and other associated cards. (31+). £700-800
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