Christmas. 1903-09 Covers (4) and picture postcards (6) all franked ½d, cancelled by oval "POSTED IN ADVANCE / FOR DELIVERY ON XMAS DAY" (5) including R.O of Rochdale in red (1903), B.D of Bradford (1904) and S.C.R of Sale (1909) in black, or circular "X / MAS" cancels (5) including Eccles (1908?), Warrington (1908) and Leicester (1908), some faults or incomplete strikes. (10).

Macclesfield. 1903 Picture postcard posted within Macclesfield, the KEVII ½d cancelled oval "POSTED IN ADVANCE / M.C / 1903 / FOR DELIVERY ON XMAS DAY". A fine strike of this rare postmark, just 2,700 items posted for Christmas delivery in 1903, the only year this scheme operated in Macclesfield. Photo on Page 72. (Image1)

Norwich. 1908 Picture postcard posted within Norwich, a KEVII ½d tied by a fine "X / MAS" cancel, the "08" date at an angle. 14,905 Items posted at Norwich in 1908. Photo on Page 72. (Image1)

Cornwall Ship Letters. Falmouth. 1806-09 Entire from Philadelphia with oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / FALMOUTH" (S3) and entire letter from Cadiz with oval "SHIP-LETTER / (crown) / FALMOUTH" (S4) and red "CADIZ", both fine. (2).

Falmouth. 1858 (Sep 20) Entire letter to Whitehaven bearing Victoria 3d vertical pair (faults, one crossed by file fold) backstamped at Williams Town, with the scarce "FALMOUTH SHIP LETTER" double arc datestamp (S9, Dec 16) on both the front and reverse, backstamped with Whitehaven c.d.s and two Hensingham undated circles. Photo on Page 86. (Image1)

Marazion/China. 1839 (Jan 29) Entire letter from Canton to London "P. Euphrates", backstamped "MARAZION / SHIP LETTER (S2) and a London c.d.s (June 1), charged 5/-. File fold, otherwise fine, a scarce ship letter, probably the only known example on a letter from China. Photo on Page 86. (Image1)

Mevagissey. 1844 Entire from Rio de Janeiro to London, backstamped "MEVAGISSEY / SHIP LETTER" (S1) and a "MEVAGISSEY" undated circle, datestamps of St. Austell (May 11) and London, charged 8d, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 86. (Image1)

Penzance. 1831 (May 31) Entire with a Cape Town datestamp, addressed to London "pr Morning Star", backstamped "PENZANCE / SHIP LETTER" (S4) applied in error, overstruck by boxed "INDIA LETTER / PENZANCE" (In1), marked "1oz" and charged 4/4. Two vertical file folds, an unusual ship letter error.

St. Mawes. 1840 (Aug 16) Part entire letter from Manila to London per "G. Henderson" with "SHIP LETTER / ST. MAWES" (S1) on the front, London c.d.s (Mar 13), charged 2/8, unusually fine and scarce. Photo on Page 88. (Image1)

1884 (Sep 26) ½d Postcard written from the East Central Gallery, Health Exhibition, posted within London, the stamp cancelled by South Kensington duplex with the "HEALTH EXHIBITION / S.W" c.d.s, code B, alongside. A little staining to left edge and small piece missing at upper right corner but a good commercial use of an extremely scarce exhibition datestamp. Photo on Page 76. (Image1)

1884-88 Exhibition cancels on Surface Printed stamps, comprising 6d green (2, one with small corner fault) both cancelled 1884 "HEALTH EXHIBITION / S.W" c.d.s codes B (Oct 15) or C (May 10), 3d lilac with 1885 "INVENTIONS EXHIBITION / S.W" c.d.s code C (Sep 24), and 1888 (Apr. 25) "ITALIAN EXHIBITION / LONDON S.W" on 10/- blue (closed tear, crayon mark). A very scarce group. (4). Photo on Page 74. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image1)

1885-86 Birthday cards depicting "Ye Olde London Streete" at the 1885 International Inventions Exhibition or the Indian Palace at the 1886 Colonial & Indian Exhibition. Two finely printed and attractive cards sold at the exhibitions, each made of thick card, 128x163mm. (2).

1890 Penny Postage Jubilee. Covers with Guildhall (8) or South Kensington (3) Penny Postage Jubilee cancels; unused Guildhall invitation ticket; Post Office Christmas card featuring the Jubilee stationery and cancels; a miniature copy of the 1d Guildhall postcard; and a Furniss caricature envelope presented with "Stamp Collectors Fortnightly" in 1906. (15).

1901 "GLASGOW / EXHIBITION" Parcel Post label, unused; and 1911 "GLASGOW EXB / (Exhibition)" Parcel Post label with "EXHIBITION B.O / GLASGOW" c.d.s (3.45 PM, Nov 4), the label split in two parts and repaired (applied to piece) but very scarce. The latest recorded use of this c.d.s on the final day of the exhibition. (2).

1902 (May 8) Picture postcard of the Wolverhampton Exhibition Industrial Hall, bearing a purple exhibition label, posted locally with QV ½d cancelled "EXHIBITION B.O / WOLVERHAMPTON" c.d.s, the earliest recorded use of this c.d.s., fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 76. (Image1)

1910 Japan British Exhibition, picture postcard franked ½d cancelled by the exhibition machine incorrectly dated Aug 2, overstamped with the exhibition c.d.s showing the correct date of Aug 3, minor creasing but very unusual; and novelty postcard in the shape of a teahouse containing pull out views of the exhibition, with a tie-on address tag "Souvenir of Japan - British Exhibition" franked KEVII ½d, tied by "75" printed matter type datestamp. (2).

1914 (July 14) Picture postcard of Fore St. United Methodist Church, posted to Holsworthy with KGV ½d cancelled by "UMC CONF / REDRUTH" skeleton c.d.s. Message reads "Just about to kick off, observe new electric fittings, P. Office on premises". A scarce cancel, used on the first day of the five day Methodist Congress. Photo on Page 76. (Image1)

1920 (Aug 5) Picture postcard of Cowes, posted to London with KGV 1d cancelled "COWES / REGATTA" skeleton c.d.s. Fine and scarce, the Regatta c.d.s recorded August 2-6. Photo on Page 76. (Image1)

1929 U.P.U Congress. Booklets produced by Algeria, Romania and Ethiopia for presentation to delegates at the 1929 U.P.U Congress in London, all containing stamps then currently in use in those countries, the Algeria booklet including precancels and postage dues, all with special printed covers, all very fine, scarce and unusual. (3).

1776 Front to Winchester, signed "J. Free Cooper" and headed "Downton, 1776", with circular framed "FREE" in black (Jay 767a). Very scarce, the earliest of just four examples recorded in black.

1791 (Feb 26) Wrapper to Norfolk signed "J. Free Woodhouse", and a 1792 (Apr 12) entire letter to Cobb & Co in Margate, unusually signed and dated at the base of the letter, both with exceptional late uses of the 28mm circular framed "FREE" (Jay 767), the first in purple, the second in blood red, the colour used for the circular Free datestamps then in use. Lovegrove (and the first edition of Jay) record this mark used until 1788; the second edition of Jay mentions this 1791 entire as the newly discovered latest use. This 1792 letter extends that recorded use, possibly an emergency use of the old handstamp, the Free datestamps having been in use for over a year before this letter was sent. An exceptional pair in two distinct colours. (2). Photo on Page 76. (Image1)

1800-07 Entire letters (6), entires (4) and fronts (18) all with apple type Free datestamps, Jay 790 (2, one an entire), 792 (5, three on entires/letters) or 794 (21), including 1800 entire headed O.H.M.S and signed by Francis Freeling, 1805 entire letter written by Col. Robert Brownrigg (who was later Governor of Ceylon) from the "Ship Dart, Long Reach, River Medway", 1805 entire headed from Faringdon but posted at Oxford, etc. (28).

c.1835-38 Free fronts signed by the Postmaster General the Earl of Lichfield or Secretary of the Post Office Col. Maberley both with red crowned oval "To be / delivered / FREE" (Jay 717), and a front to "Smart Esq, Mail Co. Department, General Post Office" signed by George Louis, Superintendent of Mail Coaches to the G.P.O, with red octagonal framed "To be / delivered / Free" (Jay 716). (3).

1835 (Aug 23) Entire letter to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, endorsed "Application, A Pensioners Instructions required", prepaid at the 1d soldiers rate, with red crowned octagonal "To be / delivered / Free" (Jay 716), boxed "T.P / Rate 2" crossed out. Sent by James Campbell, late 85th foot, requesting new pension instructions as his previous instructions have been wantonly destroyed by his wife. A very unusual use of this handstamp on a letter accepted at the 1d soldiers rate. Photo on Page 76. (Image1)

Local Post / Penny Posts. 1815-39 Entires or covers (7) and fronts (26) all sent free but posted into the London local post or provincial penny posts, with "To Pay 2d only" or "To Pay 1d only" handstamps. (33).