Worldwide Stamps & Postal History WORLDWIDE MILITARY POSTAL HISTORY
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 198
Symbol:
19TH CENT. MILITARY SUPPLIES INVOICE/ADMIRALTY WARRANT FOR HONG KONG VOYAGE; Jan. 1806 part-printed EL (small faults; contents an invoice from W & G Bicknell for caps & plates for Privates and the 1st & 2nd Battalion) to Herts. with framed "PICCADILLY" and London cds on rear and rated '9' (d) on front plus an 1816 printed receipt for Phoenix Fire Office. Also, unusual printed Feb. 1875 Admiralty (London) warrant (no cover but endorsed for a Naval Officer Lieut. H.B.Warren) to travel by P. & O. "Mail Steamer" to "Hong Kong" (to join H.M.S Charybdis) with detailed printed list of luggage allowances. (3 items) Cross Reference: HONG KONG, NAVAL MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 34.00
Sold...GBP 34.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 06:58:38 EST
Sold For 34
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 199
Symbol:
INDIAN MUTINY - GRAPHIC EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF START OF MUTINY IN MEERUT (NR. DELHI); 22 May 1857 EL (large part typed transcript) from Lieut. (later Major-General) James Hills in "Meerut" to his brother in Poonah, endorsed "Bearing" with fair small 2-ring "MEERUT" cds on reverse beside "BOMBAY" cds (9 June) but also having - on the front - fair boxed "BOMBAY/Bearing" d.s. and boxed "INDIA UNPAID" with fine "POONA" arrival cds (17 June). The contents give a graphic account of recent events in the Meerut area at the very start of the Mutiny; "I am now having my turn in the way of excitement - on the 10th the N[ative]. I[nfantry]. troops here mutinied, shot down several of their Officers, fired all the Bungalows down in their end of the cantonments & then went off to Delhi, where they arrived on Tuesday & there the same diabolical performance was gone through - you can have no idea of the brutality - not only cutting down every European they cd. lay hold of, but hacking & stripping the bodies, ladies & children even were not spared. We (i.e. our Troop - one Horse Battery, the 60th Rifles & Carbonniers) turned out as quickly as possible, but before we got down to their lines, it was dark & the damage almost all done. A body of the Mutineers made a stand in a tope of trees, but 2 rounds of grape [shot] sent them flying. The worst of it was that we could not get there in time to save the lives. Next morning we patrolled round them & were awfully disgusted at the ruin we beheld & then our blood wd. run cold at the sight of one of the butchered corpses. The brutes of the bazaar & city of course joined with th Mutineers..." [There follows a gruesome description of the Mutineers setting fire to a fleeing pregnant officer's wife followed by her being stripped & shot dead.]... "At Delhi the same style of thing was carried on, only to a greater extent as there were no European Troops there... many Officers & their wives & other gentlemen & ladies have escaped... several of them only came in yesterday having wandered about the country all this time... all around us the Regts. are in Mutiny & if a decisive blow isn't struck at once, we will have a hard fight for Bengal... I don't know when we leave for Delhi; it depends of the Comr. in Chief - his force from Umballa had not left it two or so days ago but I fancy are now on the road...". An exceptional early account of the gruesome events during the first weeks of the Mutiny. Cross Reference: INDIA, MARITIME MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 6,000.00
Sold...GBP 6,000.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:01:52 EST
Sold For 6000
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 200
Symbol:
INDIAN MUTINY - ACCOUNT OF WRITER's ACTION THAT WON A V.C. - WITH RARE FIELD FORCE "MISSENT FROM"; 19 Jul 1857 EL (large part typed transcript; minor reinforcing of folds in places) from Lieut. (later Major-General) James Hills in "Camp [before Delhi]" to his brother in Poonah, endorsed "Bearing via Mooltan" with fine strike (for this) of the rare 2-ring Delhi Field Force Emergency "MISSENT FROM" mark on the reverse beside a fine "POONA" arrival cds (8 Aug.). The contents give a graphic account of recent events chasing the Mutineers and the recent action (on 9 July 1857) at the Siege of Delhi, for which the writer received the Victoria Cross. He writes; "Here we are...beating back the Pandies attacks & this is all we can do until we get reinforcements... until the City [of Delhi] is taken all these massacres we hear of will go on... You must have seen accounts of their rush into out Camp on the 9th; it was a very bold thing... instead of making the most of it, they galloped about waving their swords... the picquet was supposed to support my two guns instead of which they actually bolted - leaving me regularly in the lurch. My guns were ridden over before I cd. get them into action & I was very nearly polished off, [Lieut. Col.] Tombs saving my life by potting a Pandy who was in the act of splitting my skull. I was down on the ground, regularly done up without a single thing to defend myself. I have got great quedos for my conduct... 50 yds from me dashed a body of cavalry men; I tried to get my guns into action but only got one gun unlimbered when they were upon me. I thought that if I charged them I might manage to make a commotion & give the gun time to load & so in I went; at the front rank I cut down the first fellow, slashed the next across the face... when two Sowars charged me; both their horses crashed into mine at the same moment & of course both horse & self went flying... one of them giving my jacket an awful slice...". The citation for a V.C. for Hills that followed from this very action can be read in the 'London Gazette' of 16 Jan. 1858. There is much more in the letter, which is hurriedly written across two sheets of thin paper. Fabulous first-hand account of the very action which led directly to the writer being awarded a Victoria Cross, and a rare Field Force postmark and cover! Cross Reference: INDIA, MILITARY, MEDALS (Image)
Opening GBP 8,500.00
Sold...GBP 8,500.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:04:50 EST
Sold For 8500
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 201
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INDIAN MUTINY - "MALWA FIELD FORCE" COVER FROM MHOW REFERRING TO JAMES HILL's V.C.; Fine 23 Aug. 1857 EL from an unidentified British Officer ("H.N.D.P."?) headed "Mhow, Malwa Field Force" and sent to John Hills (Jack Hills' brother; see previous two lots) in Poona, with India perf. ½a Blue tied by very fine "43" Mhow Diamond with v. fine red boxed "MHOW/Paid" d.s. (very slightly off the edge) on the front along with a fine red "POONA" arrival cds (27 Aug.). The contents refer to Jack Hills' good prospects of being awarded the V.C. for the action of 9 July (see previous lot); "Your brother Jimmy is now a very distinguished man, and if his conduct is properly reported, there is no doubt but that he will receive the Victoria Cross. I wish him every success... for he is a noble fellow...". Jack/Jimmy Hills did indeed receive the V.C. as per the 'London Gazette' notice of 16 Jan. 1858. The writer continues; "Here all is quiet, tho' a hostile Rajah is only 6 miles off and Indore 14 miles... We are strengthening the Fort [at Mhow] as much as possible - it is a miserable affair. The grass cutters of Dragoons and Artillery were thrashed by enemy's Sowars a day or two ago. Troops from England are the great desideratum...". Rare and most attractive Campaign cover from this little-known Field Force.Cross Reference: INDIA, MILITARY (Image)
Opening GBP 2,600.00
Sold...GBP 2,600.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:07:25 EST
Sold For 2600
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 202
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ABYSSINIA EXPEDITION - FIELD FORCE CAMPAIGN COVER + LETTERS EX JAMES HILLS V.C. & HIS BROTHER; Small 1868/9 archive of family letters to/from the Hills brothers (James who won the VC in 1857 - see Indian Mutiny lots above - and his soldier brother John/"Jack"). A long and important 11/14 Apr. 1868 letter from "Mortar Battery Picquet below Fallah & Magdala" written by James Hills V.C. in a stampless env. (edge wear) to his sister Mrs. Veronica Evans in Aberystwyth (no pmks. - probably sent under cover along with John Hill's 12 Apr. 1868 letter), headed "via Marseilles. No Stamps Available in Camp nr. Magdala - Abysn." and signed "J. Hills Major, Com[mandin]g. Mortar Battery". The letter describes the last few days of their Siege of Magdala Fort in Ethiopia (c.155 miles north of Addis Ababa) ending with its successful capture; "...I am well in the front - in fact today am in the advanced post... yesterday there was a very stiff little skirmish... Theodore [Emperor Tewodros II] commenced the Sally by firing 3 shots from his heavy pieces & then the whole hillside seemed alive with men all streaming down to the attack... a Mountain Train Battery & the two Rocket Batteries - these gave it to them in a fearful style... 3 times they came on but it was no go. They were swept down & their leader - Theodore's head man killed...Theodore this morning sent in [his prisoners] Mr. Flad, Lt. Prideaux & his son-in-law to make terms of peace. I believe the reply sent back was unconditional surrender & prisoners to be given up. About an hour ago Flad & Prideaux again passed this very Battery... saying that Theodore was in a towering rage, that they had expected every minute to be shot & that they were carrying a message... Here comes an order for me...to retire for today to Camp...Here come my elephants, so I must see they are laden & move away. 12th [April]...a dozen Prisoners came in.. they said Theodore was lying drunk & had tried to shoot himself...". There is much detail of the rigorous march into the area and descriptions of the state (and numbers) of Theodore's European prisoners (men, women & children). There is a second small sheet; "14th We stormed Magdala yesterday; entrance very difficult but no flanking defences & loopholes wrongly placed, so loss trifling on our side... Theodore was shot in the leg & then as the Europeans advanced put a pistol to his mouth & shot himself... a youth called Gobezaye is to be put on the throne & then we march back." A breathless but fascinating account of the climax of the Campaign. Plus a separate 12 Apr. 1868 letter from John Hills to Veronica from "Camp Senafe" (c.250 miles to the north of Magdala) complaining of not being with the James & the advance party of the Expedition at Magdala, but mentioning James Hills, the elephants and Theodore. Also an unused self-addressed envelope in James Hills' hand to the "Abyssinian Field Force", and four July/Dec. 1868 letters from John/James Hills to Veronica, plus a stamp-removed env. regd. ex Lucknow to Wales in James Hills' hand. Stunning eye-witness account of the denouement of this famous Ethiopian Campaign. (6 letters + 3 envs.) Cross Reference: MILITARY, ETHIOPIA, INDIA (Image)
Opening GBP 6,500.00
Sold...GBP 6,500.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:09:49 EST
Sold For 6500
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 203
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
3rd BURMA WAR - C.-IN-C. SIGNED "FRED ROBERTS" MANDALAY/CAMP LETTERS REF. BHAMO DEFENCES; 24/25 Nov. 1886 pair of letters in one envelope (small tears etc.; flap lost) sent from Army H.Q. at "Mandalay" to "Colonel Hills"; one is a covering note from "E.O.[?] Baker" at "Army H.Q. Mandalay" advising that "Sir Frederick Roberts is not quite satisfied with regard to the state of the defences ar Bhamo, & he would be glad if you would arrange to proceed there at an early date...", the other is Roberts's "Private" letter on "C.-IN-C. IN INDIA" headed paper on the same theme; "I am not quite happy about Bhamo. It seems certain that the permanent garrison will be [he lists the regiments there] ...there ought I think to be a stockading around the barracks to prevent their being rushed and block houses... Bhamo is so important that I think you had better go there and take the business in hand...". Plus a similar 18 Oct. 1886 letter on C-in-C paper from Roberts un "Camp" to Hills about him "getting local rank" (promotion). (3 letters + 1 env.)Cross Reference: BURMA, INDIA, MILITARY, CHINA (Image)
Opening GBP 1,300.00
Sold...GBP 1,300.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:11:37 EST
Sold For 1300
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 204
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
BOER WAR - FAMILY CORRESPONDENCES INC. HAND-DRAWN PICTORIAL, "RESCUED FROM BOER...", ETC.; 1899-1902 covers (some with good contents) with 1899-1900 ingoing group (8; same corresp.) ex GB with 1d Lilacs incl. 4 May 1900 env. ex Cranbrook to 1st Scots Guards endorsed ion the front "Rescued from Boer Laage near Roodewal Stn., 13/6/00. J.S.M. Sgt.", and 25 Oct. 1900 ex Cranbrook to 13th Imperial Yeomanry with v. fine rare claret h.s. "RETURNED FROM/ADDRESSEE'S UNIT/UNDELIVERABLE"; also 11 covers to GB (mainly with 2-ring FPO cancels on 1d Lilacs) incl. 5 Sept. 1900 1d Pink env. with FPO 5 cds cancel and the oval stamp used as balloon from which a top-hatted man (Kruger?) is hanging by a string tied round his neck while he saws through the bench he stands on. (19 covers)Cross Reference: MILITARY - BOER WAR, RETURNED MAIL, PICTORIALS, HAND-DRAWN, PICTORIAL ENVELOPES - HAND-DRAWN (Image)
Opening GBP 420.00
Sold...GBP 420.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:12:27 EST
Sold For 420
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 205
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WWI - S. RUSSIA - 36-PAGE HAND-WRITTEN COPY REPORT ABOUT ANGLO-RUSSIAN COOPERATION; 14 Apr. 1917 lengthy hand-written copy of a 1 Feb. 1917 "Commander Locker Lampson's report (confidential) to Sir J[ames] Hills-Johnes V.C. etc.". In 1916/7 Locker Lampson was in command of the Anglo-Russian Armoured Car Expeditionary Force (also known as the Russian Armoured Car Division) but was still an M.P. (and a hugely influential politician); the Report describes his activities in Russia from Sept. 1916 to Jan. 1917, starting from Kars and then Tiflis (where he lunched with "Grand Duke Nicholas", the 1st cousin once removed of Tsar Nicholas II, and the D-on-C of the Russian forces in the Caucasus), discussing the idea of an excursion into Romania, the next move to Odessa, his 19 Oct. 1916 lunch with Tsar Nicholas himself, the move to Braila, a very detailed description of a 29 Nov. Battle with the Bulgarians there in which the armoured cars were only partly successful but prevented a rout of the Russians (who lost 9,000 men), the fall of Bucharest, the withdrawal from the Dobrudja, etc., etc., etc. Well worth transcribing and publishing in our view. Fascinating reading.Cross Reference: RUSSIA (Image)
Opening GBP 320.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:13:41 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 206
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
WWII NAVAL MAIL GROUP; range mainly to or from GB inc. c1941 env. to Boston franked KGVI 1/- + pair 5d tied by "RECEIVED/FROM/H.M.SHIPS" UDC and with censor mark & tape at left, c1941 OHMS Official Paid env. to H.M.S York franked KGVI 2d + ½d pair with 'H.M.SHIPS' printed reg. label on front and s/l "RECEIVED FROM H.M.SHIPS" h.s. on front, Jan. 1941 unfranked env. to Manchester with censor mark and "RECEIVED FROM/H.M.SHIPS" cds on front, c1942 env. to Glasgow franked KGVI 10d + 1d (5) tied by bold rubber "RECEIVED/FROM/HM/SHIPS" UDC and with framed "PASSED/9625/NAVAL CENSOR" h.s. on front and other related examples. [Ex John Daynes] (70 items) Cross Reference: GREAT BRITAIN, MILITARY - WWII, MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 110.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:14:12 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 207
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
WWII - FRENCH POWs IN GERMANY - DIRECTIONAL MAIL INDICATORS: Jun. 1940 to Jun. 1944 collection of mail from French POWs in German camps. Organised in order of camp number. Two earliest examples (23 & 24 Jun. 1940) are French Army cards, printed "F.M." types, handstamped "Kriegsgefangenpost" in red, simply addressed to Angers, France with no other directional indicator. Later cards bear variations of the handstamped "Besetztes Gebiet" (Occupied Zone) or "Unbesetztes Gebiet" (Unoccupied Zone). The handstamps occur in a wide variety of formats, fonts & colours. We note a scarce Oct. 1941 POW card from Stalag VI A to Dakar, Senegal. Very little POW mail to French African Colonies is to be found. Lot also includes an article on the subject from the journal 'Germania' by David Trapnell. (35 cards) Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, FRENCH COLONIES (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 130.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:14:33 EST
Sold For 130
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 208
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
WWII - "PAIFORCE" - THE "PERSIA AND IRAQ FORCE", 1942-46: A well presented study of the military & civilian mails associated with the allied occupation of Iran & Iraq during and just after WWII. The collection is accompanied by David Trapnell's definitive book on the mails and censorship of the period (Published 2019) with many of the scarce covers illustrated being present in this lot. Includes examples of mail from Polish Forces based in Iran, incl. Dec. 1942 OAS cover to Polish Embassy, London (illustrated on front cover of Dr. Trapnell's book). Also, Jul. 1942 censored, printed Postal Stat. env. of "HQ Tenth Army" to GB, 1945 'Blue Triangle' Air Letter of Indian Army Field Force from Shaiba to GB having RAF censor mark and printed 1944 Xmas card from US Military Mission, Moscow (APO 193) addressed to Philadelphia but missent to US Military Mission, Tehran (APO 523). Scarce thus. Other scarce items incl. letter from Italian POW working with PAIFORCE (very unusual to find such POWs so far East of Palestine), Aug 1943 Air Mail to Texas from US APO 816 (Basra) - the only American APO in Iraq and scarce thus. Good range of civilian censored mail showing combined use of Anglo-Soviet and Anglo-Soviet-Persian censor marks, etc. A comprehensive collection of this little known force, the main purpose of which was to protect the Middle East oil fields from Axis forces and to maintain supplies for the Russian war effort by providing convoys north through Iran to the Caucasus. A fascinating study. (c. 36 cards/covers plus a book) Cross Reference: POLAND, IRAN/PERSIA, IRAQ, MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 360.00
Sold...GBP 360.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:14:59 EST
Sold For 360
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 209
Symbol:
WWII RARE ENEMY ACTION CACHETS:1943 (May) part env. from HMS "Frisky" (R.N. tug based at Manchester) to Glasgow with on reverse a strike of the scarce "DAMAGED AS A RESULT/OF ENEMY ACT(ION")" h.s. 18 Oct 1940 env. (soiled) from Rossendale to London with on reverse a printed "The Postmaster/much regrets that/this packet has/been/damaged/delayed/in the post" with m/s "By Enemy Action" (2 items) (Image)
Opening GBP 340.00
Sold...GBP 340.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:15:20 EST
Sold For 340
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 210
Symbol:
WWII DAMAGED MAIL INCLUDING "SIBLEY" FORGERIES:1943 (May) env. naval censor h.s. and on reverse an large "G Crown R./OFFICIALLY SEALED IN THE/RETURNED LETTER SECTION./LONDON POSTAL REGION" with violet "DAMAGED BY ENEMY ACTION" h.s. Also covers (2) with various forged damaged by enemy action h.s. forged by A H Sibley and certificates from Nottingham Constabulary stating that they were used as evidence against him. (3 items). (Image)
Opening GBP 140.00
Sold...GBP 140.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:15:34 EST
Sold For 140
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 211
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
WWII - FRENCH POW MAIL "VIA GRANDE-BRETAGNE": Remarkable assembly of mail from French POWs in German camps dated between 27 Oct. 1944 and 25 Jan. 1945. The earlier of these have manuscript endorsements "c/o General Post Office/via Grande-Bretagne", others with the same instruction applied by 2 line handstamp, with slight variations in handstamps of different camps. Most unusually, a 25 Jan. 1945 letter ex Stalag IIIA with the handstamp entirely in English "c/o General Post Office/via GREAT BRITAIN" with capitalization and deletion of the directional option boxes as if to really emphasise the "via GREAT BRITAIN" endorsement. Lot includes an article ex 'Germania' by David Trapnell. An extraordinary group. (11 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, MILITARY - WWII (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 130.00
Closed..Jun-02-2021, 07:15:59 EST
Sold For 130
Sale No: 836
Lot No: 212
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
WWII ITALIAN POWs IN GERMANY - DIRECTIONAL HANDSTAMPS ON MAIL: Collection of Italian POW mail from various Stalags in Germany, dated between Jan 1944 & Jan. 1945. To facilitate distribution to German occupied Northern Italy or 'Enemy-held' Southern Italy, the cards are endorsed Northern Italy or Southern Italy either in manuscript, by application of a hand stamp, or inclusion of a 'directional box' printed on the cards. Alternatively cards may be handstamped in red "FEINDBESETZTES GEBIET" (Enemy-held Territory) or "Deutschbesetztes Gebiet" (German-held Territory). Examples of all these types are included. Wide variation of fonts, size and colours between different camps. Lot includes an illuminating article on the subject from 'Fil-Italia' by David Trapnell. (19 cards plus a few photocopies) Cross Reference: ITALY, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, MILITARY - WWII (Image)
