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;) | Second Sailing GB used abroad, BRITISH GUIANA postal history 1858 entire headed "(Duplicate) Demerara May 10th 1858" (being the date GB stamps placed on sale having arrived the day before on the MY 9 1858 steamer) with lightly creased and badly defective GB 6d pmk'd crisply struck "A03" to London with DEMERARA MY 25 1858 despatch dbl-arc. A significant item documenting the Second Sailing with duplicate of First Sailing letter. A first sailing cover pmk'd Demerara MY 10 1858 with GB 6d used strip of four pmk'd "A03" to James Ewing in Glasgow is recorded £125 |
;) | NEW SOUTH WALES postal history 1875 cover to Paris with three colour franking of 4d, 6d, 1/- pmk'd SYDNEY AU 9 1875, no flap. £250 |
;) | MALTA postal history 1860 wrapper to Marseilles with GB QV 4d strip of three (fault) pmk'd A/MALTA/AU 11 60 "A25" duplex paying the scarce 1/- rate with oval "P-D." in black. £240 |
;) | VICTORIA postal history 1868 cover and lengthy enclosure with QV 2d pair, single pmk'd Melbourne JY 18 68 duplex to Cirencester, Gloucestershire. £50 |
;) | NEW BRUNSWICK postal history (Ex DALE LICHTENSTEIN, CARTIER) 1863 treble rate local cover with exceptionally rare QV 10c red bisected diagonally in se-tenant pair with whole stamp (SG.17) tied by mute grids on orange envelope to Richibucto, flap torn on opening, backstamped weak red KINGSTON and clearer black SHEDIAC both dated JY 20 1863. Ex DALE LICHTENSTEIN (Nov/1868) and CARTIER (Sept/1977 realised £1300). The 10c red bisected on its own (SG.17a, Cat.£600 on cover) paying the 5c local rate is commonly found (the bisect being a temporary solution for the suppressed 5c Connell stamp which was never issue, the QV 5c was issued in or around July 18). The 10c alongside a separate 10c bisect on cover is exceptional (one noted dated DE 1860 paying 5c local rate plus 10c registration from Salisbury to Lower Coverdale SG Auction May/1979 realised £1300). Argenti only recorded three examples of the se-tenant 10c pair, one bisected on entire. The two other dated covers being FE 14 1861 from W.O. Albert Mines to Hampton paying 5c local, 10c registration (Dale Lichtenstein May/1969 R$525, Sothebys Sept/1984 E£800) and a second triple local rate dated MR 30 1865 from St. John to Kingston, Richibucto marked "with note enclosure" no doubt accounting for the extra weight (ex Argenti, Groom, Chester Beatty). Argenti only recorded three examples of this 15c make-up, two being treble local rate (for letters weighing 1 oz. but not exceeding 1½ oz.), and one paying 5c local rate plus 10c registration. £4250 |
;) ;) | CEYLON postal history 1869 OFFICERS CONCESSION RATE OF 10d cover (1 of 2 known) endorsed "Chichester/Cap. A.D.C." at lower left to his daughter Amy in Cleobury-Mortimer RE-DIRECTED THREE TIMES on arrival with Ceylon QV 10d orange pmk'd black "B" showing red TRICOMALEE PAID AU 18 69 cds alongside and b/stamped red COLOMBO PAID A/AU 21 69. On arrival b/stamped LONDON N7/SP 20 69 and LONDON X10/SP 20 69 with re-direction to a Square in London S.W with circled "1d" due handstamp; further re-direction to Army Agents Cox & Co, Craig Street with free re-direction within London crowned "R" applied plus CHARING CROSS W.C. A6/SP 20 69 cds, finally re-posted with GB QV 1d red Plate 108 pmk'd BEWDLEY SP 21 69 duplex to Tiverton, Devon. Flap removed plus minor faults. Officers did not mark their mail for the privilege postage rate of 6d per ½oz (plus any Foreign Rate) unless there was a savings. There was no advantage on U.K. mail when rates were 6d via Southampton and 10d via Marseilles, but increases to 9d and 1/1d respectively on FE 1 1868 allowed a savings of 3d (as seen on the above cover). The concessionary rate was withdrawn DE 31 1869 so savings were only possible over a 23 month period. £3250 |
;) ;) ;) | OFFICERS 10d CONCESSION and CIVILIAN 1/1d SAME DAY SAILING, CEYLON postal history TWO COVERS TRAVELLING ON THE SAME DATE VIA MARSEILLES to ENGLAND, the first with exceptionally rare (1 of only 2 known) OFFICERS CONCESSION RATE of 10d endorsed "Chichester/Cap. A.D.C." to his daughter in London pmk'd COLOMBO B/JY 3 69 backstamped London AU 2 69, the second with standard 1/1d rate to Axminster, Devon pmk'd COLOMBO B/JY 2 69 backstamped Axminster A/AU 3 69, both with missing flaps. An exceptional pairing. Officers did not mark their mail for the privilege postage rate of 6d per ½oz (plus any Foreign Rate) unless there was a savings. There was no advantage on U.K. mail when rates were 6d via Southampton and 10d via Marseilles, but increases to 9d and 1/1d respectively on FE 1 1868 allowed a savings of 3d (as seen on the above cover). The concessionary rate was withdrawn DE 31 1869 so savings were only possible over a 23 month period. £3750 |
;) ;) ;) ;) | The "42" Kolkata cover from Prince Alfred, Royal Visit to Ceylon 1870, a unique exhibition item 1870 cover with spectacular four colour Royal Coat-of-Arms printed flap posted by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (second son of Queen Victoria born 6 August 1844 and first member of the British Royal family to visit Ceylon) to his eminent friend Dr. Joseph Fayrer C.S.S., 42 Chowringhe Road, Calcutta with QV 1/- reddish lilac tied COLOMBO AP 18 70 duplex paying the double short-lived (1868-1870) 6d rate to India, reverse Galle transit and Calcutta STEAMER LETTER AP 27 70 arrival. (Ceylon was ceded to the British Empire in 1815 and when the Prince arrived March 30 1870 thousands of chiefs, headsman and ordinary people flocked to Colombo. On the day after arrival a grand reception was hosted by Governor Sir Hercules Robinson, and thereafter the Prince made excursions to elephant kraals with gatherings of 10,000 people or more, went elk hunting, elephant shooting, and was lavishly dined throughout, even with gold plates and gold cutlery encrusted with rubies, emeralds and pearls. Prince Alfred, Honorary President 1890-1900 of what is now the Royal Philatelic Society, was the first serious stamp collector in the royal family and it is thought that he encouraged his nephew, later KGV, to collect stamps. Prince Alfred sold his collection to his brother King Edward VII, who shared his enthusiasm, who in turn gave it to his son King George V, and keenly expanded by the latter the two collections became the basis of what is now the Royal Philatelic collection. Sir Joseph Fayrer (1824-1907) was an English physician noted for his writings on medicine and particularly the treatment of venomous Indian snakebites. In 1847 he was appointed medical officer on H.M.S. Victory and in 1869 accompanied Prince Alfred, as his physician, on his grand tour of India. In 1901 he was appointed Physician Extraordinary to King Edward VII. Eastern India's tallest project, The "42", an iconic 62 storey tower with luxury apartments is planned for 42B Chowringhee Road. £18500 |
;) | 20 used LA BREA, Trinidad postal history on wrapper front tying 1861 (1d) rose-red (SG.52) addressed Charles Fabien, Port of Spain, reverse text does not include despatch date, faults. £175 |
;) ;) | VICTORIA postal history 1868 cover to Edinburgh with strip of three QV 2d pmk'd "196" numerals with boxed "TOO LATE" handstamp alongside, reverse BRANXHOLME despatch datestamp showing "MR" slug, fine blue Melbourne AP 1 68 and Edinburgh JU 19 68 arrival, some toned perfs. This cover missed the previous ship, the GEELONG, by just one day £140 |
;) ;) ;) | VICTORIA postal history 1875 cover to Edinburgh with QV 9d pmk'd Geelong "2" duplex dated JY 13 75, sender's printed flap and Edinburgh SP 13 75 arrival backstamp. The "Ceylon" went aground and broke her shaft on her outward leg. £150 |
;) ;) ;) | VICTORIA postal history 1875 cover to London with QV 6d, 1/- pmk'd Melbourne SE 7 75 duplex, sender's printed flap, some soiling etc. £120 |
;) ;) ;) | VICTORIA postal history 1860 reg. cover with pair 1/- paying 1/- postage 1/- registration to Reading, Berkshire pmk'd "93" numerals with ARARAT C/MY 15 60 despatch and READING C/JY 8 60 arrival backstamps, left stamp with perf. faults. £175 |
;) ;) ;) | NEW ZEALAND postal history 1870 reg. cover front with 2 x 6d tied Wellington "070" duplex to the Old ground or the rookery, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland showing London 26 NO 70 transit and A/ENNIS/NO 29 70 arrival. Soiled in places. Approximately only 1 in every 100 NZ Chalon covers were sent registered. £265 |
;) ;) ;) | REGISTERED BOOK POST, New Zealand postal history 1871 opened-each-end foolscap wrapper (232 x 103mm) marked "Per Book Post to be Registered" and "via San Francisco" to Edinburgh, Scotland with QV 4d, 6d tied WELLINGTON duplex dated JA 3 71 with London 27 FE 71 transit and Edinburgh FE 28 71 arrival backstamp, some peripheral edge faults and filing crease but exceptionally rare and probably unique as such. With the termination of the route via Marseilles, the postage rate via Brindisi was reduced to 9d per half ounce letter on THIS SAME DATE of 3 January 1871 £1250 |
;) | JAMAICA postal history 1859 mourning cover front to Thomas Perrier, London with GB QV 6d pmk'd "A01" (SG.Z5) with KINGSTON-JAMAICA A/SP 10 59 and LONDON PAID OC 3 59 cds alongside. £120 |
;) | ARRIVING IN THE U.S.A. ON DAY LINCOLN ASSASSINATED, BAHAMAS postal history 1865 stampless cover "p. Corsica" to Miss Benjie Henderson, Newark, Delaware with red NASSAU/B/AP 10 65/PAID cds rated red "4" showing 5/APR 14 N. YORK BR. PKT cds (day Abraham Lincoln assassinated) and manuscript "Due 5 cts at Newark". Some soiling, no backstamps. On AP 2 1865 victory of Grant over Lee concluded the Civil War, on AP 14 1865 Abraham Lincoln assassinated in Washington DC and died the following day. During the Civil War Delaware was a slave state which remained in the Union £425 |
;) | VICTORIA postal history 1867 reg. cover front to Locarno, Switzerland with QV 10d, 1/- pair, single (3/10d rate) pmk'd "3" numerals with REGISTERED CASTLEMAINE A/OC 25 67 alongside, soiling. £250 |
;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) | THE SEARCH FOR EXPLORERS BURKE and WILLS, South Australia postal and social history 1862 cover to Mr. Edward Palmer, McKinlays Exploring Expedition, Adelaide G.P. Office with pair QV 1d (one defective corner) pmk'd PORT-AUGUSTA OC 6 62 with handstruck "UNCLAIMED", reverse GPO OC 8 1862/7 datestamp. Filing crease crosses adhesives as the unclaimed letter was placed in the accompanying "Returned Paid Letter" back to Mr. H. Mildred, Port Augusta making an exceptionally rare "round trip" pair. In 1859 the South Australian Government offered £2,000 for the first successful south-north crossing of the continent west of the 143rd line of longitude. In 1860-61 Robert O'Hara Burke and Willian John Wills led an ill-fated expedition of 19 men with the ingroup back to report only to find that another expedition under Howitt, which had left June 1861, had already found the graves of both Burke and Willstention of crossing from Melbourne (south) to the Gulf of Carpentaria (north), approx. 2,000 miles. At that time most of the continent had not been explored by non-indigenous people. The south-north crossing was successful but both of the expedition leaders died on the return journey. Only one man, John King, made the eventual return to Melbourne. Six expeditions were sent to search for Burke and Wills. One left August 1861, under McKinlay, and found the remains of Charles Gray, one of the expedition, and a partially empty grave in the Cooper Creek area. McKinley sent part of his in that same area. In December McKinley visited the site of the graves and then went on to explore the lakes region around Lake Moolionburinna. In February he left the Cooper region following Burke and Wills track to the Eyre Creek and the Gulf before turning east to a station on the Bowen River near Port Denison in Queensland, and the party returned by sea to Adelaide. Edward Palmer was the bullock driver with the McKinley led "South Australian Burke Relief Expedition". Accompanied by previously owned Sarah Murgatroyd's book THE DIG TREE, the extraordinary story of the ill-fated Burke and Wills Expedition (372 pages) and 150th anniversary commemorative stamps. £1425 |
;) | DOMINICA postal history 1878 small stampless piece with red DOMINICA PAID/I/SP 27 78 cds (ERD) to J.W. Shannon, Barbados. £225 |