DERBY CITY PICTURE POSTCARDS COLLECTION (INC. 67 RP) - ALL DIFFERENT MOSTLY STREET SCENES; c.1901-20 (mainly KEVII & mainly used) Collection in 2 boxed good quality small ring-bind Lindner albums with clear sleeves; all different views inc. 2 multi-view letter-cards, 6 1906 Royal Visit/Show cards, many street-scenes (arranged A-Z) inc. trams & motor cars, etc., etc. The product of many years of searching. (191 cards) Cross Reference: PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)

DERBYSHIRE TOWNS/VILLAGES PPCs - ALDERWASLEY TO CHESTERFIELD (INC. 146 RP) - ALL DIFFERENT INC. SPECIAL EVENTS; 1900-c.1920 (mainly KEVII & mainly used) Collection in 3 boxed good quality small ring-bind Lindner albums with clear sleeves; all different views inc. Ashbourne Shrovetide Football, Ashopton (drowned village) views, 1900 used Belper card, many good street-scenes (esp. village RPs), 1905 RP pair of General Booth visit, 1905 folding Bamford twin-card, Baslow Camp, Buxton (inc. 10 1913 RP tennis/sports, hunt, procession, Army marches, Calver College groups, many Castleton (Camp views, concertina cards & May pole), Chesterfield (3 railways, trams, 1910 procession), etc., etc. Wonderful basis for further collecting. (264 cards) Cross Reference: PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)

DERBYSHIRE TOWNS/VILLAGES PPCs - CHINLEY TO MATLOCK (INC. 136 RP) - ALL DIFFERENT INC. SPECIAL EVENTS; c.1902-1920 (mainly KEVII & mainly used) Collection in 2 boxed good quality small ring-bind Lindner albums with clear sleeves; all different views inc. many good street-scenes (esp. village RPs), Derwent (drowned village) views, 1915 Dore/Chinley railway RP (Hathersage skeleton), Dovedale Refreshment Room, 1907/8 Eyam Plague Anniv. RP crowds, Great Hucklow section, Ladybower reservoir RP types, Cromford Canal RP, Matlock group, etc., etc. Good basis for further expansion. (225 cards)Cross Reference: PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)

DERBYSHIRE TOWNS/VILLAGES PPCs - MATLOCK BANK TO YOULGRAVE (INC. 128 RP) - ALL DIFFERENT INC. SPECIAL EVENTS; 1900-1920 (mainly KEVII & mainly used) Collection in 2 boxed good quality small ring-bind Lindner albums with clear sleeves; all different views inc. many good street-scenes (esp. village RPs), Matlock Bank/Bath section (inc. 1900 court size & one aluminium card), good range of Spondon, Staveley Jazz Band RP, Strines May Pole RP, Sudbury Hunt RP, Thorpe Cloud Station RP, 1900 Tideswell, Trent Sailing + Rifle Range, Midland Railway county maps pair, etc., etc. Good basis for further expansion. (211 cards)Cross Reference: PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)

DERBY - VERY EARLY DATED (1317) VELLUM DEED REF. NEARBY HAMLET OF BEARWARDCOTE; 30 Sept. 1317 AD neatly written small vellum deed (fits an album page; only 225mm wide) recording the sale of land "in Berwardecotes" [a hamlet 4 miles east of Derby] and is once again recorded at the end as having been witnessed by several people, but it also has the Latin date "p[ro]xi[mus] post festum Sta. Mich[aelus] Archangeli, Anno Regni Regis Edward filie Reg. Edward". That is: "the day after the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels [30 Sept.] in the 11th year of the reign of King Edward, the son of King Edward", i.e. the 11th year of the reign of King Edward II, whose reign began on 7 July 1307, making this deed dated to 1317. It still has part of a white wax seal (on its strap). Marvellous Page One forerunner for any Derbyshire (or British PH) Collection. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, EARLY LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS (Image)

DERBY - EARLY DATED (1353) VELLUM DEED REF. NEARBY HAMLET OF TRUSLEY; This small 30th Sept. 1353 AD vellum indenture (12 ins. max width; fits a large album page) written in French records the letting of land "in Thrusseley" [Trusley, a hamlet 6 miles east of Derby] but does not have a list of witnesses. Instead, it has the full date; "lundi prochain apres la fest de sante Michael Archangelo, l'an du regne le Roi Edward, tierce puis le conquest, vicesimo sysime". That is: "on Monday next after the Feast of St. Michael and all Angels [30th Sept. – Saturday in 1353] in the 26th year of the reign of King Edward, the third since the Conquest". It still has a complete dark red wax seal (on its strap) - rare thus at this early date - having a legible but (as yet) uninterpreted inscription around a central religious scene. Great Page One forerunner for any Derbyshire (or British PH) Collection.Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, EARLY LETTERS (Image)

TIDESWELL - EARLY PREPAID LETTER SIGNED BY "EDWARD ASHE" + ASHE'S 1667 BRASS TRADE TOKEN; 11 June 1669 EL from "Tydswall" to London endorsed "Poft is pd 6[d]" on the front having a partial London "IV/14" arrival Bishop Mark on the side-flap (displays well with filing date). The letter (ref. lead shipments & prices) was written & signed by "Edward Ashe", and this cover is accompanied by the rare early ½d Token inscribed "EDWARD ASHE" on one side and "HIS HALF PENNY/TIDSWALL 1667" on the other. Amazing matched pair! [The token was not sent in this letter, sadly.] (2 items)Cross Reference: COINS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, EARLY LETTERS (Image)

TIDESWELL - EARLY LETTER TO LONDON WITH CANCELLED "3[d]" RATE & INSPECTOR'S CROWN; 7 Aug. 1685 EL from "[Great] Hucklow" (near Tideswell) to John Moore in London charged "3[d]" with fine "AV/10" London arrival Bishop Mark on the side flap, but an Inspector noticed that the letter should not have been charged (Moore was an M.P. from 1685-7) and so the "3" has been crossed out with both the authorising signature "Caldicott" (?) and a very fine early small London Inspector's "[Crown]" mark on the front. Exhibition Quality. [Ex Grace Dove 1991 & ex Cavendish 'Pepys' 1 Nov. 1996 auction; lot 427, realised £400+BP.]Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, EARLY LETTERS, INSPECTORS MARKS, EARLY LETTERS (Image)

BUXTON - RARE 1st-TYPE STRAIGHT-LINE + VERY RARE 1st-TYPE MILEAGE ON FRANKED COVERS; 10 Oct. 1762 EL from Buxton to London franked by Lord Grey (signed "FreeGrey") but written by a "J. Skinner". This abuse of privilege was not spotted and so there is a manuscript "P" (for Privilege mail) and a very fine 1st-Type "BUXTON" mark (only 2 others recorded, dated 1759 and 1769) on the flap. Plus 13 Oct. 1788 E to Malpas franked by "[Lord] Bagot" on his own business; it has the very rare "BUXTON/160" 1st-Type Mileage mark on the front. Only one other example of this 1st-Type Mileage has been recorded (dated 6 Aug. 1788). Two of the very best prestamp Buxton covers in private hands. (2 covers) Cross Reference: FREE MAIL (Image)

CHESTERFIELD - 1790 P.O. RECEIPT, HORSESHOE, UNIQUE(?) M/S "Too Late" & LOCAL 1d-POST COVER; Rare 23 Oct. 1790 mainly printed receipt for dinner etc. with "BLUETT/CASTLE INN & POST OFFICE/CHESTERFIELD" heading, 1792 E with remarkably clear Horseshoe, 1821 local EL with m/s "1" (rare) & v. fine mileage cds, and 22 Mar. 1829 EL with very fine partly dated ("22/1829"!) mileage-removed beside red m/s "Too Late". This is the only recorded Chesterfield Too Late cover. Very rare group of Exhibition Items. (3 covers + 1 receipt)Cross Reference: LATE FEE/TOO LATE MAIL (Image)

HAND-PICKED PRESTAMP COVERS OF BAKEWELL, CASTLETON, BUXTON, CHAPEL, TIDESWELL & S. MIDDLETON; 1794-42 group inc. v. fine 1794 "BAKE/WELL" EL, 7 June 1794 (wrongly listed as Jan. in new BCC) EL with earliest recorded "STONEY MIDDLETON" mark (horseshoe; in use to the 1840s!), boxed/lined 1801/30 mileages of Bakewell or red Buxton/Tideswell (both rare), lovely blue 1826 CHAPEL LE FRITH, rare 1836/9 pair of different tiny "CASTLETON" marks (endorsed "Cash" as a Money Letter or franked), and v. fine UDCs of CHAPEL-IN-LE-FRITH" (1838) or "CASTLETON-DERBYSH." (1842). Marvellous group. (10 covers)Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

HAND-PICKED PRESTAMP COVERS OF - MATLOCK, MELBOURNE, BUTTERLEY, SHARDELOW & WIRKSWORTH; 1800-39 covers all with mainly very fine and mostly rare markings; 1800 "MATLOCK" s. line (only 2 known), 1821/7 pair of v. fine "WIRKSWORTH/Penny Post" (different marks), 1830 "BUTTERLEY" (only 4 known; long & amusing letter written by a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo), 1836 "SHARDELOW/109" boxed mileage (few known), and v. early "MELBOURNE" UDC (only known pre-1840 usage). Excellent group of fine/rare marks. (6 covers) (Image)

PRE-STAMP & QV COLLECTION: Range of mainly 19th C. covers plus a handful of KEVII/KGV items. Emphasis on covers relevant to Alfreton & Belper in particular plus the Chesterfield area. Group of ELs inc 1819 EL to Derby with "ALFRETON/140" mileage mark, 1837 ELs with scarce Belper UDC & Matlock Bath UDCs respectively, 1833 EL to Derby having scarce Duffield "N1" Rec. House mark; also Chesterfield mileage & 'mileage removed' type marks. Selection continues with a range of imperf. & perf. 1d red frankings with MX or numeral cancels and later duplexes, squared circles, etc. (68 cards/covers plus 2 pieces) (Image)

GLOSSOP/MANCHESTER - RARE PAIR OF PRE-1840 PENNY POST COVERS - "Glofsop/ P P" + "GLOSSOP/PP"; 1827/38 pair of ELs both from "Glossop Hall" to Mottram/Leicester, and so sent via the Manchester Penny Post service (both with red "MANCHESTER" cds backstamps); the first with mainly v. fine framed "Glofsop/P P" and the other with mainly v. fine "GLOSSOP/PP", each mark nicely positioned at top right. Exhibition Pair of very rare Penny Post marks. (2 covers)Cross Reference: LANCASHIRE - MANCHESTER (Image)

ASHBOURNE - "TOO LATE" MARKS (RED + BLACK; ONLY ONES KNOWN) & 1841 2d BLUE COVER WITH BLUE NUMERAL; 1833/43 pair of ELs (latter with 1d Red Imperf.) each with v. fine handstruck "TOO LATE" - 1833 in red & 1843 in black - which are the only examples recorded (DY33); plus remarkable 2 Jan. 1849 E with near 4-margin 1841 2d Blue (RL; filing fold) tied by a mainly fine strike of the Ashbourne "28" Numeral in a clear BLUE ink matching the fine "ASHBOURNE" cds alongside - 1841 2d Blues with blue cancels are very rare, especially so on cover! Very rare trio. ( 3 covers)Cross Reference: LATE FEE/TOO LATE MAIL, 1840s CANCELLATIONS, 1841 2d BLUES (Image)

EARLIEST KNOWN COVER FROM (& TO) DERWENT (DROWNED VILLAGE) + THIMBLE C.D.S. ON PPC; Extraordinary 20 May 1839 E prepaid from London to "Derwent, Matlock" with fine "MATLOCK BATH" UDC on the front but then correctly addressed to "Hathersage"; it was then turned and sent back unpaid to London from "Darwent" (filing note) with a mainly fine "Hathersage/Penny Post" (filing fold; only one other pre-1840 usage recorded). The evacuated village of Derwent was 'drowned' under the Ladybower reservoir when it was first filled (in 1943/47). This is the only recorded cover from Derwent prior to 1885, and the only ingoing cover recorded before 1900! Plus rare 1904 real photo PPC of the Derwent hotel & bank with KEVII ½d tied by v. fine "DERWENT" thimble cds, and unused c.1930 PPC of Ashopton (the other village 'drowned' by the reservoir. (3 items) (Image)

FIRST DAY OF 1d BLACKS - 6 MAY 1840 CASH-PAID COVER FROM CHESTERFIELD TO LONDON; 6 May 1840 env. (opened out for display) from " CHESTERFIELD" (faint but readily legible red "MY 6/1840" cds on top flap) with red manuscript "1[d]" (cash prepaid), and also having a very fine red London "10 Fn10/MY 7/18490" arrival cds on the side-flap. Good example of a 6 May 1840 cover (and - of course much cheaper than one with a stamp). A 6 May 1840 2d Mulready from Chesterfield is in the British Library's Fletcher Col lection, but no 1d Blacks have been recorded used in Derbyshire before 9 May 1840 (ex Derby). (Image)

DERBY - MULREADY 1d LETTER-SHEET WITH RARE RED BOXED "MISSENT TO/DERBY" MARK; 3 Aug. 1840 usage of the 1d Black Mulready letter-sheet (stereo A2; vertical crease towards right) from London to "Hathersage, Derbyshire" cancelled well clear of Britannia (contrary to PO regulations!) by a very fine orange-red London MX but also having a mainly fine orange-red boxed "MISSENT TO/DERBY" mark at left of the address. This is one of only two recorded Derby Missent marks in red, and Mulreadys are very rarely seen with Missent marks of any kind. Exhibition Item. [Ex Christies/RL, 4 Mar. 1993; lot 2249, realised £130+BP.]Cross Reference: MULREADY STATIONERY & PROPAGANDA COVERS, MISSENT MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

BUXTON - MAY-DATE MULREADY 1d LETTER-SHEET WITH RARE RED BOXED "Missent to/Buxton" MARK; 19 May 1840 usage of the 1d Black Mulready letter-sheet (stereo A54; vertical crease, closed tear at foot, etc.) from London ("T.P./Bayswater" in black cancels Britannia as well as an orange-red MX!; clear cds on flap) to "Burton, Derbyshire" and also having a mainly fine orange-red "Missent to/Buxton" mark at left of the address, along with cancelled m/s "Buxton" and red m/s "Try Chesterfield". Eventually it was realised that it was intended for Burton on Trent (not in Derbyshire!). This is the only recorded Buxton Missent mark in red, and Mulreadys are very rarely seen with Missent marks of any kind, especially those used during May 1840.Cross Reference: MULREADY STATIONERY & PROPAGANDA COVERS, MISSENT MAIL, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

DERBY UNUSUAL LOCAL USAGE OF THE 1d MULREADY ENVELOPE TO NEARBY OSMASTON; 27 Aug. 1841 usage of the 1d Black Mulready env. (stereo A157) from "DERBY" (mainly fine cds backstamp) cancelled by a fair black Derby MX, addressed to "S[amuel] Fox Esqr., Osmaston Hall, Derby". With a fine red wax "JE NE CHANGE QU'EN MOURANT/[leaf]" seal (I only change when I die), probably of the Surrey Salvin family. Local Mulready usages are rarely seen.Cross Reference: MULREADY STATIONERY & PROPAGANDA COVERS (Image)

ALFRETON/MATLOCK BATH/WIRKSWORTH - REGISTERED COVERS (1/- OR 6d FEES) WITH IMPERF. 1d REDS; 1844/1845/1849 trio of Es all endorsed "Registered" and having 1841 1d Red single (Wirksworth, 1849, one fine 4m 1d Red; m/s 6d fee), Pair (1845, Matlock Bath, near-4m - filing crease; m/s 1/- fee) or two singles (1845, Alfreton, 4m + 3m). Rare trio; 1840s covers registered with stamps are very elusive - for example, there are only a handful of stamped 1/- fee covers recorded from the whole of Derbyshire. (3 covers)Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

EXCEPTIONAL UDCs - STAVELEY WITH RARE "187" NUMERAL + SUPERB NORMANTON/MATLOCK VILLAGE/TIBSHELF; 22 June 1844 usage of the 1d Pink envelope with a very fine red "STAVELEY" UDC nicely placed on the front and the stamp cancelled with a nearly very fine very rare "187" Staveley 1844-Type Numeral (one of only two recorded on cover), the same "187" on off-cover 4m 1d Red, and 1848/52/55 ELs trio with superb strikes in blue of the UDCs of "MATLOCK.VILLAGE", "TIBSHELF" & "NORMANTON" respectively (they could hardly be clearer strikes!). Rare group. (4 covers + 1 stamp)Cross Reference: 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

DERBY - PAIR OF VERY SHORT-LIVED "2D" IN CIRCLE U.P.P. POSTAGE DUE MARKS IN BLUE OR BLACK; 3 Aug. 1847 mourning env. with a mainly very fine strike of this unusual "2D" in circle mark (D affected by small repair) in Blue (the only recorded example in this colour and one of only 3 in total) in the 'stamp position'; plus 23 Sept. 1847 E with a mainly fine strike of the same mark in black (one of only 2 recorded in black) also in the 'stamp position'. Remarkable pair. (2 covers)Cross Reference: UNIFORM 1d POSTAGE PERIOD, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)

GLOSSOP - THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE BLUE U.P.P. HANDSTRUCK "2" (UNPAID) MARK; 2 Jan. 1849 unpaid EL from "Charlesworth; near the Bull Head" to Penistone with a very fine blue "GLOSSOP" UDC nicely placed on the front along with an equally very fine matching blue Handstruck "2" mark. This h.s. "2" was discovered in 1995 but no other example has yet been recorded. Exhibition Quality. [Ex Michael Jackson, Nov. 1995; £110 retail.]Cross Reference: UNIFORM 1d POSTAGE PERIOD, LANCASHIRE - MANCHESTER, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)

DERBY - PAIR OF FULLY STAMPED 1850s REGISTERED COVERS - 4x1841 2d BLUES OR 6d EMBOSSED + 1d 'STARS'; Spectacular 29 Aug. 1851 E with 1841 2d Blue single (4m) + Strip of Three (almost 4m) all tied by v. fine Derby "242" Numerals with a matching blue-green cds alongside (a filing fold between the single and strip seems not to affect either); plus 2 May 1855 EL with cut-square (almost 4m) 6d Embossed + 1d Red 'Stars' (light crease) tied by fine Derby "242" numerals with v. fine blue "DERBY" cds nearby. Attractive pair very suitable for Exhibition. (2 covers)Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, 1841 2d BLUES, EMBOSSED ISSUES (Image)