1853 (Aug 12) Entire letter bearing 1853 10c yellow-bistre (S.G. 37a, £750 as a stamp, four margins) tied by star cancel, posted within Paris and redirected to Angouleme charged 15c, backstamped with four Paris or Angouleme datestamps. A fine and scarce entire letter. Photo on Page 188. (Image1)

Telegraph Stamps. 1882 Perforated 25c - 2f set of four, used selection comprising 25c (6, one on piece), 50c (15 including block of four, one on piece), 1f (23 with a pair, one used on complete telegram form, another on part form) and 2f (16, including pair and strip of four), various cancels (with nine used in Algeria), perfs and shades, a few minor faults but most fine. Hiscocks 5/8. (60).

Air Mails. Flights to Ethiopia. 1929-31 Covers (9) and picture postcards (3) all flown from Djibouti, comprising 1929 (Dec 29) first flight to Addis Abbeba (4 covers + card) or Dire Daoua all with "1 SERVICE AVION" cachet applied to the stamps (15 in all) and on the covers; 1930 (Apr 17) second flight to Addis Abbeba with two line flight cachet (3 covers + 2 cards); 1930 (Oct 31) special Coronation flight to Addis Abbeba (2) with special cachet on reverse in black or violet, all fine. (12). Photo on Page 194. (Image1)

1929-45 Covers (13) and a postcard flown from Djibouti comprising 1929 (Dec 29) first flight to Addis Abbeba (cover + card) with "1 SERVICE AVION" applied to the five stamps and to the covers; 1930 (Apr 17) second flight to Addis Abbeba with two line flight cachet (2); 1931 (Dec 3) Marcel Goulette and Andre Salel record breaking return flight to Marseille, with special label; 1932 (Apr 22) first flight to Dakar (3, one a large cover bearing four 3f on 5f stamps); 1932 (May 13) first service to Rome, covers flown to Asmara or to Rome; 1937 (Dec 3) Andre Japy world distance record, return flight to Marseille (2, both with cachets showing incorrect year date "1397"); 1941 (Nov 27) stampless soldiers cover carried on blockade running flight to Marseille handstamped "SERVICES AERIENS SPECIAUX / PENDANT LE BLOCUS DE DJIBOUTI"; 1945 (Apr 10) French colonial troops flight to France. (14). Photo on Page 194. (Image1)

1902 (Jan 2) Picture postcard of a railway viaduct on the Djibouti to Harar line, sent registered from Djibouti to Belgium franked on the picture side by vertically bisected 25c right hand pair (valued at 5c each) and two vertical bisects of the 20c from the 1894 Obock issue, a further vertically bisected right half 25c on reverse, all tied by blue Djibouti datestamps with boxed "R", arrival datestamps of Brussels and Feluy-Arquennes". An unusual registered card, correctly franked 35c, sent by a Belgian in the "Societe Anonyme Belge d'Abyssinia". Photo on Page 192. (Image1)

Ethiopia Combination Frankings. 1900 Ethiopia ¼g postal stationery postcard precancelled at Harar (16 Oct 1898), posted in Djibouti with 1894 imperf 10c tied by blue Djibouti c.d.s (May 1) and a French arrival c.d.s, backstamped at Marseille, a fine and scarce card. Photo on Page 188. (Image1)

1904 (Nov 8) Registered cover to Belgium via Aden, the front with printed senders details of "Goolamally M. Mohamedally & Co., General Merchants & Commission Agents, Aden, Zaila, Djibouti and Harrar and Addis Abbeba" with crossed flags, franked on the reverse by Ethiopia 1903 ¼g pair, ½g, 1g and 2g in combination with Obock 1894-1903 15c, 20c and 50c, Djibouti 1894-1902 30c and French Somali Coast 1902-03 1c pair, 2c pair and 4c, three Ethiopia stamps uncancelled (though one pair is tied by a c.d.s), the other Ethiopian and French Somali stamps all cancelled by Djibouti datestamps in blue, arrival c.d.s of Fontaine - L'Eveque with boxed "R" on the front. An exceptional registered combination franking to an unusual destination. Photo on Page 188. (Image1)

1896 Obock 15c postal stationery envelopes registered to Switzerland, comprising 1892 envelope (H&G 2b) uprated with 1894 1c (3), 2c and 5c, or 1894 envelope (H&G 4a) uprated with 1894 1c, 2c and 4c (2), both cancelled at Obock with transit and arrival datestamps of La Reunion A Marselle, Djibouti and Bern. Addressees surname partly removed, otherwise both fine. (2). Photo on Page 188. (Image1)

1903 (Nov 26) Picture postcard registered from Djibouti with boxed "R" handstamp and bearing a small Djibouti registration label, franked by Obock 1892 4c and 1894 1c + 2c, and Somali Coast 1902-03 1c, 2c, 5c and 10c pair, the 1892 Obock 4c pen cancelled, the other Obock and Somali Coast stamps tied by Djibouti datestamps, arrival c.d.s, very unusual. Photo on Page 190. (Image1)

1886 Pieces cut from newspaper wrappers sent by Wm. Dawson & Sons in London to "Rev W.E Cousins, Antananarivo, Madagascar, c/o H.B.M's Consul Tamatave, via Reunion" all with British stamps cancelled by "DS / F" precancels or "F.B" Foreign Branch obliterators in combination with Mauritius stamps cancelled "B53", two with Port Louis datestamps. Sadly all have been crudely cut out with severe faults to one or more stamps, one with a Mauritius stamp removed, nevertheless scarce combination frankings, the Mauritius stamps added at Port Louis to pay for the conveyance from Mauritius to Tamatave, the cost being recovered from the addressee by the British Consul in Tamatave. (4).

1894 Cover to England bearing an indistinctly cancelled France 25c stamp, blue "BRITISH / MAIL / 5 OCT 94 / ANTANANARIVO" c.d.s alongside, with Ligne T. Paq. Fr. No. 6 transit datestamp and Enfield skeleton backstamp, vertical central fold, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 204. (Image1)

Admiral Nelson Signed Letters & Documents. c.1785 Part document "that the Prisoner has been remarkably careful of the cargos entrusted to his charge, they do therefore, only adjudge the said Lieutenant Sympson to be severely reprimanded by the President, and muleted six months personal pay, as Commander of His Majestys Storeship the Whitby, and he is hereby adjudged to be severely reprimanded and muleted accordingly", boldly signed "Horatio Nelson", five other signatures include Admirals Cuthbert, Collingwood and Charles Stirling. The page previously folded and the autographs displayed in an oval frame resulting in toning around the oval area previously displayed, the first page of the document missing, an accompanying collectors write up stating the document dates from 17th June 1785 and was written on H.M.S "Boreas" in Nevis Roads. A fine early Horatio Nelson signature. Photo on Page 42. (Image1)

Nevis. 1787 (May 8) Handwritten document "These are to certify the Principal Officers & Commissioners of His Majestys Navy, that Mr William Batty served as servant of His Majesty's Ship Boreas under my command from the 24 March 1784 to the 1 January 1786, and as ab [able seaman] from that time to the 1st of May following, and from which time to the date hereof he served as midshipman of the said ship, during which time he behaved himself with diligence and sobriety and was always obedient to command, Given under my hand on board His Majestys Ship the Boreas in Nevis Road the 8 May 1787", signed "Horatio Nelson". Also a small piece with "Wm Battys whole servitude 4 years 6 months 6 days, as Midshipman 1 year 9 months 24 days" written upon it. The document with some folds, the edges trimmed with no loss to the written text, both items pasted on to card. A good example Nelson's signature, signed when he was 28 years old, and had been in command of H.M.S Boreas in the West Indies for three years. Photo on Page 44. (Image1)

Corsica. 1796 (Sep 14) Handwritten letter, "Sir, His Majestys Ship Captain being in want of bread - I have to request you will be pleased to supply her purser with such quantity as you can conveniently part with, taking his receipts for the same, I am Sir, Your Very Hum Servt", signed "Horatio Nelson", written at "Bastia 14 Sep 1796", the reverse addressed "On His Majestys Service, John Buckholm Esq, Commsr General, Bastia", hand delivered, with file note "Bastia 14 Sep. 1796, H. Nelson, Requisition for Bread for His Majestys Ship Captain". Nelson was prominent in the occupation of Corsica in 1794, when he was wounded in the eye; in June 1796 he transferred to H.M.S "Captain". On September 18th, four days after this order was written, H.M.S. "Captain" captured the island of Capraja which was being used by pirates, and later that month Nelson oversaw the British withdrawal from Corsica. In February 1797 Nelson distinguished himself at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent where his ship H.M.S "Captain" was the most severely damaged of all vessels engaged in the battle. A fine Horatio Nelson signature. Photo on Page 45. (Image1)

1802 (Oct 5) Entire letter written and addressed entirely in Nelson's hand, "Merton Oct 5th 1802, My Dear Sir, I shall be most happy to see you at Merton and in case you should come when I am from home I will say Friday, and if you will do me the additional favour of dining with us I shall be very glad, and of the opportunity of presenting you & my god son to Sir William & Lady Hamilton, and believe me ever your most faithful servant, Nelson + Bronte", addressed to "George Galway Mills Esq, 47 Lower Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, London", posted in the London local post with handstruck "2", oval "Two Py Post / Unpaid / Low. Tooting" and red datestamp on reverse. Nelson lived on half pay at his estate in Merton in 1801-02 during the Peace of Amiens, sharing the house with his mistress Lady Hamilton and her husband Sir William. George Mills, M.P for Wallingford, owned the 286 acre Belmont Estate in St. Kitts, and became friends with Nelson during his service in the West Indies. A good postally used letter referring to Lady and Sir William Hamilton with a fine Nelson + Bronte signature. Photo on Page 46. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

British Forces Mail. 1793 Flanders Campaign. 1792-95 Entire letters from Corporal William Norman in the Duke of Argyll's Company, 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, to his brother-in-law Robert Dimsdale in Yorkshire, one 1793 (Apr 30) letter written from Orque near Tournai, includes "the French have raised the siege of Williamstadt .... we have marched after them through Holland, Brabant and Austrian Flanders and arrived at this place last Thursday where we have joined part of the Austrian Army who are encamped at this place which is the last town in Austrian Flanders joining the French territories. The French Army are now very near us, within a few miles, the outlines of their patrols and ours having communication with each other. Yesterday a skirmish happened between a small party of Austrians and French in which it is reported about 10 men were killed. We hourly expect to have an engagement as the French Army is very near and numerous so that they must fight or starve. I suppose they will prefer the former as our numbers are very small compared with theirs but we daily expect a reinforcement". The other letters written in London, all three with London datestamps. (3).

1799 Dutch Expedition / Ramsay Correspondence. 1799-1830 Letters from Nicholas Ramsay including 1799 letters written at Chelmsford whilst trying to join the expedition (3) and a good letter (no address panel) from Holland with news of the expedition. Also letters to or from his father, the latter passing on news from Holland, and a printed letter concerning raising a subscription for the families of those killed or wounded in Holland. (9).

1801 Egypt Campaign. 1801 Letter posted as a free frank from Edinburgh to the 1st Battn. of Aberdeen Volunteers at Aberdeen, the printed contents concerning general orders on the recent events in Egypt, to be read to the regiment. The two general orders are enclosed, and comprise details of the gallant victory at Aboukir and Alexandria.

1803-05 Entire letters from George Green (an alias for George Price) who was pressed into the navy when serving on the Indiaman "Walmer Castle", all posted to his brother in London, the first letter of 1803 (Dec 18) reporting his misfortune at being pressed, being unwell and therefore being sent to the "Sussex" hospital ship, written from that ship at Sheerness, charged 6d; the other six letters all sent from H.M.S "Speedy", part of the squadron blockading Boulogne, posted from Deal. Three letters endorsed and dated from H.M.S "Speedy" at The Downs and countersigned, prepaid at the 1d concession rate, the others sent as ordinary unpaid letters, presumably because the sender had no money to prepay them. The letters from H.M.S "Speedy" include details of actions with the French and the capture of nine French gun boats full of men. Green was one of 25 men pressed into H.M.S "Speedy" from the "Walmer Castle" as it was about to sail for China on 19th November 1803; he finally absconded from the ship in August 1805. An exceptional correspondence, with transcripts, and the book "Pressganged" which is based upon these letters, the first letter soiled, otherwise largely fine. (7). Photo on Page 40. (Image1)

1808-15 Entire letters including 1808 letter from an officer on the Transport "Boreas" at Spithead waiting to sail for Corunna; 1812 letter posted at Santarem by an officer en route to join the army, with green dated "LISBON / F" handstamp of Falmouth; and an 1815 (June 26) letter from Valogues written in French, referring to Wellington, British officers, etc. Also a 1795 (March 23) receipt given at Essen for 3/7 paid to a guide for the 3rd Regt. of Guards, during their retreat to Vechte. (4).

Michell Correspondence. 1813-14 Entire letters written by Captain John Michell of the Royal Artillery from Villafranche (Dec 17 1813 & Jan 6 1814), Boulogne (Mar 12 1814) or from "Ridgeland Estate near Negril Bay, Jamaica" (Nov 7, 1814), the last written on his return from the expedition to America (during which Washington was sacked), all to his wife in Portsmouth. Also an 1814 (Mar 20) letter from his brother Captain Edward Michell, R.A, written from Andenbosch whilst recovering from gunshot wounds to his left side and hand received during the assault on Bergen-op-Zoom, to his mother in Gloucester. Five fine letters with some good content, the Jamaica letter with light Savanna La Mar handstamp, three others with light green Falmouth Packet Lre handstamps. (5).

Duke of Wellington Letters & Autographs. 1834 Envelope to the Ordnance Office in Dublin, and an 1829 front to Exeter, both signed "Free, Wellington", addressed in the Duke's hand, both from London with red Free datestamps. (2).

Joseph Fouche, Minister of Police. 1808-09 Letters signed by Fouche, the first on headed notepaper acknowledging receipt of a declaration made before him by Armand Vandore in the name of his deceased mother; the second to the Minister of War concerning five Englishmen implicated in the affair of Chateaubriant, who have been ordered to be sent to a depot for prisoners of war. Fouche joined the revolution in 1792, plotted the overthrow of the Directory in 1799 and then supported Napoleon who made him Minister of Police in 1800; he was known for his ruthlessness and widely feared. (2).

Pierre Augereau, Duke of Castiglione, Marshal of the Empire. 1808 and 1813 Letters to the Minister of War, the first recommending Major Guassart, Legion D'Honneur, be promoted to Colonel (with a note showing his promotion was confirmed by the Emperor); the second from Wurtzbourg requesting Andre Julien Fossey be promoted to Adjutant to the Commissioner of War in the H.Q of the Army Corps commanded by Augereau, both signed "Augereau". Augereau distinguished himself in Italy, Germany and Holland, and was elected a member of the Council of Five Hundred in 1799. (2).

Comte Jean Baptiste Jourdan, Marshal of the Empire. 1799 (Feb 15) Letter on "Jourdan, General en Chef" printed notepaper, from the General Headquarters at Strasbourg, to Citizen Jean Debry, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic at the Congress of Rastadt. Jourdan is unable to give the Prince de Linage an unlimited safe conduct which would allow him to travel freely across the armies of the republic; however he will grant him a safe conduct to remain in the town in Germany which he designates to Jourdan. Jourdan distinguished himself in the revolutionary wars of 1793-95 in Austria and Germany but was defeated in Germany and Switzerland in 1799. A fine letter, signed "Jourdan".