FRANCE: 1844-76 eighteen hand-written brandy cask invoices from Jas Hennessy & Co addressed to wine merchants "Messrs William Pulling and Sons, Hereford", all with Cognac despatch and Hereford arrival cancels including pre-stamp (4) and franked 1849-52 40c (4, all in pairs, one with two pairs), 1853-61 40c (4 singles and a pair); condition very mixed. (18); Est £250-£270 (Image)

FRANCE: 1852 (28 Apr) and (17 Nov) hand-written brandy cask invoices from Jas Hennessy & Co addressed to wine merchants "Messrs William Pulling and Sons, Hereford" both franked with 1849-52 40c horizontal strip of four, the former with close to large margins, the latter with very close to large margins, tied by diamond "898" numerals, Cognac despatch alongside and London paid in red, the former backstamped Hereford (1.5) on arrival; the former with front panel tear, both vertically re-folded affecting stamps and other minor faults. Fair; Est £500-£600 (Image)

FRANCE: 1849-52 10c. bistre horizontal pair variety 'Tête-bêche', used by grill cancel in black, roughly torn at top and with a light crease, nevertheless one of the most popular varieties among the classic stamps, RPS certificate (2019), a rare pair SG 21 £27,000; Est £1500-£2000 (Image)

FRANCE: 1849-52 20c. black horizontal pair variety 'Tête-bêche', four good to very large margins, used by grill cancel in black, RPS certificate (2019), a very attractive and rare pair in very fine condition SG 23 £9,000; Est £2000-£2500 (Image)

FRANCE: 1862 20c. blue horizontal pair variety 'Tête-bêche', used by lozenge of dots with 532 number of Bordeaux cancel, few imperfections including staining at top, RPS certificate (2019), SG100 £1,600; Est £100-£120 (Image)

FRANCE: BALLON MONTE: 1870 (28 Dec) printed "PAR BALLON MONTE' lettersheet with enclosure carried on "Bayard" balloon flight to London franked with 1863-70 Napoleon Laureated type 30c tied by light Paris star cancellation, London paid arrival (3.1.71) below including printed double sided "LETTRE-JOURNAL/DE PARIS/Gazette des Absents" journal (No 20, Mercredi 28 December 1870) with transcript; both have faults and entire partly stuck down from previous mounting. Good; Est £150-£170 (Image)

FRANCE: COLLECTIONS AND RANGES: 1849-1986 mint and used collection in two albums including 1930 1.50f + 3.50 Smile of Reims used, 1936 50fr. Banknote mint, also back of book with precancels, mixed condition (Thousands); Est £350-£400

GUADELOUPE FRENCH: 1884 cover to Switzerland bearing 25 on 35c. black/orange cancelled by "Point a' Pitre" (23 MAI 84) double concentric rings cds, alongside maritime "Ligne B" (26 MAI 84) cds, the reverse with Swiss arrival 'Ambulant 12.VI.84' and 'Morges 13.VI.84' cds, with Behr certificate (2008), an attractive solo franking cover, SG 7 Yvert 2; Est £200-£300 (Image)

GUADELOUPE FRENCH: 1896 cover registered to Vivario (Corsica Island) bearing 1891 issue 2c. block of five and 20c.(2) cancelled by "Basse-Terre" (14 AOUT 96) cds, alongside "R" boxed registry hand-stamp, the reverse with "Ajaccio" and "Gatti di Vivario" (5 SEPT 96) arrival cds, roughly opened with parts of flap missing, otherwise fine appearance; Est £100-£150 (Image)

MADAGASCAR (BRITISH): 1884 4d (1oz.) magenta, handstamp in black, unused without gum; fractional thinning at top, neat owner's handstamp on reverse. Shows hollow stop after 'B'. 1886 BPA cert states internal frame-line split. Excellent appearance nonetheless. SG 5, £550; Est £100-£120 (Image)

SUDAN: 1935 Air 2½p on 5m black and green variety "SURCHARGE INVERTED". Very fine used with part AIR MAIL cds. RPS Certificate (1970). SG 70c, £1,400; Est £500-£550 (Image)

SUDAN: 1941 1m to 20p pale blue and blue set of 15 in blocks of 4, light bend on one lower 20p otherwise fine, unmounted o.g. SG 81/95; Est £400-£450 (Image)

SUDAN: 1948 1m to 50p carmine and ultramarine set of 16 in irregular blocks of 4, fresh and fine u/m SG 96/111; Est £100-£120 (Image)

SUDAN: OFFICIAL: 1948 1m to 50p carmine and ultramarine set of 16 in blocks of 4, good colour, unmounted o.g. SG O43/O58; Est £140-£160 (Image)