RANGOON - 1a-RATE COVERS (INC. UPRATED P. STAT. ENV.) WITH ½a FRANKINGS TO BASSEIN/CALCUTTA; 11 Sept. 1858 usage of the India P. Stat. ½a Blue E (one flap reduced) uprated with India ½a Blue (corner fault) cancelled & tied by very fine Rangoon "B/156"Octagons; plus 28 Nov. 1859 env. (opened out for display) to Calcutta with India ½a Blue (2) tied by fair "B/156" Rangoon Octagons with very fine red boxed "RANGOON/SHIP LETTER/PAID" d.s. nicely placed on the top flap. (2 covers) Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, INDIA, MARITIME MAIL (Image)

BASSEIN - INTERNAL 2a & 4a-RATE COVERS TO RANGOON WITH "B/12" OCTAGON CANCELS; 12 Jan. 1859 E (some speckling of blue paper) to Rangoon with India 2a Red (slight fading) tied by a mainly very fine scarce Bassein "B/12" Octagon with fair red 2-ring red "BASSEIN/+P.O.+" cds (crease) alongside. Also 3 Nov. 1858 E (some speckling of blue paper) to Rangoon with India 4a Black (some short perfs. at top) tied by an unclear scarce Bassein "B/12" Octagon with fair red 2-ring red "BASSEIN/+P.O.+" cds on the reverse. (2 covers) Cross Reference : INDIA (Image)

MOULMEIN - 3a-RATE "B/127" OCTAGONS COVER WITH "RANGOON/SHIP LETTER/PAID" D.S.; 29 Aug. 1859 E (minor flap faults) from Moulmein to Rangoon "P [Ship] Burmah" with India 1a Brown + 2a Orange (rubbed) tied by mainly very fine Moulmein "B/127" Octagons with sender's red oval "FORWARDED BY/GARDNER BROOKE & Co./+MAULMAIN+" cachet on the front and faint red 2-ring Moulmein backstamp beside a mainly very fine red boxed "RANGOON/SHIP LETTER/PAID" d.s. (1 Sept.). Cross Reference : MARITIME MAIL, INDIA (Image)

AKYAB - INDIA 2a ON COVER TO HONG KONG VIA CALCUTTA FORWARDING AGENT; Very fine 2 Sept. 1860 EL from "Akyab" (Mohr Bros. & Co.) to "Hong Kong" sent by private means (or under cover) to a Calcutta Forwarding agent who applied a v.fine boxed "Gisborne & Co." cachet on the flap and posted it "Per [Ship] Lancefield" to HK with India 2a tied by a very fine Calcutta "B/1" octagon, with red boxed "CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/PAID" d.s. (13 Sept.) on reverse overstruck by over-inked small "HONG-KONG" arrival cds (20 Oct.); charged "4" on delivery in Hong Kong. Attractive and rare FAC cover. Cross Reference : HONG KONG, INDIA, MARITIME MAIL, FORWARDING AGENTS (Image)

MOULMEIN - UPRATED USAGE OF INDIA 1a P. STATIONERY ENV. TO G.B. WITH 1a PAIR + 4a FRANKING; 11 Feb. 1864 usage of the 1a Brown India P. Stat. env. (slight speckling of the blued paper) to GB "Via Marseilles" cancelled - along with additional India 4a Black & 1a Brown Pair - by partial Moulmein "B/127" Octagons and manuscript lines; the stamps also tied by part of the fine red 2-ring "MOULMEIN/+P.O+" cds which matches the v. fine red boxed Moulmein "INDIA PAID" mark alongside. Attractive and unusual uprated Postal Stationery usage. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, INDIA (Image)

PROME SQUARE GRID CANCELS; Trio with Jan. 1877 env. to Calcutta franked QV 4a + ½a tied by square grid cancels and with framed "REGISTERED/O/N W/D" reg. mark and "PROME" cds - Proud type D4 - used 5 months beyond the latest recorded date, June 1881 env. to Genoa franked QV 1a pair + ½a pair tied by four strikes of the square grid cancel with "PROME" cds also on front Feb. 1882 QV 2a6p embossed env. to England with square grid cancel and Prome cds on front. (3 covers) Cross Reference : REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

RANGOON CANTONMENT; Range with 1877/78 envs. to Philadelphia or England franked QV 6a tied by "RANGOON G.R.H/R -1/1" duplexes, 1882 mourning env. to Edinburgh franked QV 4a + ½a tied by ms. and Proud type K4 grid cancels with v.fine "RANGOON.C.P.H" cds on rear (Proud type D3), 1884 QV 2a6p env. to Scotland with mostly fine "CANTONMENT/RANGOON" cds (Proud type D4) on front - the earliest recorded example, 1920 underpaid env. (with contents) to Rangoon franked India ½a with framed "CANTONMENT-RANGOON"/DUE/'1' AS." h.s. on front and other related items. (9 cards/covers + small qty stamps) (Image)

MOULMEIN REGISTERED MAIL; 13 Mar. 1878 env. (slightly reduced at left) to Bombay franked India QV 4a, 1a & ½a tied by three strikes of the Moulmein cds and with framed "REGISTERED/MOULMEIN./N...../W...../D....." h.s. also tieing two of the adhesives. Sold for £220 in a Feb. 2011 London auction. Scarce three-colour franking. Cross Reference : REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

INCOMING MAIL FROOM GB WITH TOUNGOO BACKSTAMP; 28 November 1878 env. 'via Brindisi' to Tonghoo, Burma, India franked 8d Orange tied by fine Edinburgh duplex with Bombay and transit & Tounghoo arrival d.s. on rear. Ex Gilbert Wheat, sold in our June 2009 sale for £160 Cross Reference : OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SCOTLAND (Image)

CHARLES MILDMAY (ROYAL ARTILLERY) CORRESPONDENCE INC. RANGOON; 1882/84 range inc. Aug./Sep. 1882 mourning envs. (one illustrated, stamp removed) others franked GB 4d + 1d or 6d both with "3 DELY/RANGOON" d.s. on rear - unrecorded by Proud, Sep. 1882 QV ½a env. to Rangoon with framed "TOO LATE" h.s. on rear, Feb. 1883 mourning env. to Rangoon franked GB QV 5d Indigo (SG £275) plus 1884 envs. to the same addressee in India ex Italy franked 2 x 20c or Germany franked 20pfg and other related examples. (20 covers) Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, LATE FEE MAIL, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

RANGOON REGISTERED MAIL; Range with 1883 env. to Genoa franked 4a + 1a tied by grid cancels with "RANGOON" cds and framed "REGISTERED/RANGOON/N....W..../O...." h.s. on front - three years later than recorded by Proud, 1904 KEVII 2a reg. env. used locally uprated KEVII 3a pair (2) tied by Rangoon cds with framed "R/RANGOON" reg. mark on front, 1906 KEVII ½a env. used locally and uprated KEVII 3a with framed "R/RANGOON" reg. mark on front, 1935 env. to Luxembourg franked KGV 8a, 3a6p (2) & ½a tied by "RANGOON/REGISTERED" cds with circular bold "AR" mark and airmail label affixed and other related items. (18 covers) Cross Reference : REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAL STATIONERY, AIR MAIL COVERS (Image)

3rd BURMESE WAR - SOLDIERS CONCESSION RATE COVER + FRONT EX MINBU TO G.B. + F.P.O. 4a GREEN (2); 1 Mar. 1887 env. (light staining; flap lost) to Kent headed & countersigned for the Concession Rate for a private "Edbrooke" at "Mimbu, Burmah" with India ½a Green (2; one with faults at foot) tied by a single barred "R" cancel matching the very fine small "MINBOO" cds on the reverse, 11 Jan. 1887 usage of the front of an India 9pi P. Stat. Concession Rate env. to Suffolk cancelled by a v. fine "MINBOO" cds from a Private i the "Burmah Field Force", and 2 off-cover India 4a cancelled by v. fine "UPPER BURMA/FIELD P.O." Squared Circles (27 Dec. 1886 + 4 Jan. 1887). Rare group. (4 items) Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, INDIA, SQUARED CIRCLES (Image)

RANGOON STEAMER DATESTAMP ERROR; June 1887 QV ½a env. to Madura (India) with Devakota cds on rear posted on board the Raspootana and cancelled by a "RANGOON STEAMER/A.IN (inverted to read 'NI')" cds and rare thus. Sold for £230 in a Sep. 2018 London auction. (Image)

STEAMER MAILS - EARLY IRRAWADDY RIVER & RANGOON STEAMER SERVICE C.D.S.'s ON COVERS, ETC.; 24 Jan. 1889 env. to Mandalay with ½a Green Pair tied by fine small rare "I.2. OUT/SET No.1" cds's of the Prome-Mandalay River Steamer, 21 May 1892 usage of the 2a 6p on 4a 6p Yellow P. Stat. env. (some wear) to GB cancelled by the similar rare "R.4 OUT/SET No.1" Steamer cds 1892/4 ½a envs. believed to have been carried on the IFC steamers, and 9 Mar. 1889 + 5 Mar. 1893 pair of envs. with rare "RANGOON S[TEAMER]. S[ERVICE]." cds's - env. to GB with 2a(2)+½a tied by barred "RMS" cancels with the rare smaller SS "SET.C" cds on reverse, and ½a P. Stat. env. to India cancelled with the rare larger "SET No.A" cds. Plus 5 off-cover stamp & block with these cds cancels. Ex Filby sold for £600 in our Dec. 2017 sale. Rare group. (9 items) Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL (Image)

RARE RANGOON-PROME "T.M.2" MARKINGS; Range with Apr. 1889 QV ½a env. to Calcutta with "T.M./" IN/SET No. 5" d.s., June 1889 QV ½a env. to Bombay with "T.M.2 IN/SET No.2" d.s., Oct. 1889 QV ½a env. to Calcutta with "T.M.2.IN/SET. No.1" d.s. (Proud type D1) [Ex Downton], Dec. 1889 QV ½a env. to Calcutta with "T.M.2/IN/SET No.3" [Ex Downton] or "No.4" d.s. - the latter the only recorded example. Rare assembly of these marks. (5 covers) Cross Reference : RAILWAY MAIL (Image)

IRRAWADDY STEAMER SERVICE GROUP; Range with 1892 QV 2a6p env. to Germany with "R-4 OUT/SET NO.3" d.s., 1894 QV 2a6p env. to London cancelled by "R.4 OUT/SET No.1" d.s. - the latest recorded use, 1897 QV 2a6p env. to Scotland with "R-4 IN/SET No.3" d.s. and step-framed "NOT CALLED FOR/163" h.s. on front, 1905 KEVII ½a env. to Rangoon with "R-4 OUT/SET No.5" cds with framed "TRAIN LATE" h.s. alongside, 1906 PPC to Scotland franked KEVII 1a tied by "R-4 OUT/SET No.2" cds and other related examples. Sold for £500 in a Sep. 2018 London auction. (21 covers/cards + 3 stamps) Cross Reference : INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

MANDALAY CRESCENT DUPLEX; 16 Dec. 1892 India 1a on 1a PC (addressee name over scored) to England cancelled with "MANDALAY/W" Crescent duplex (Proud type KO11)and with Bombay transit d.s. on front. Rare. Cross Reference : POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

PACIFICATION PERIOD - CONCESSION RATE COVERS TO U.S.A. OR TO G.B. EX RANGOON/MANDALAY; 30 Dec. 1892 usage of the India 9pi Red P. Stat. env. countersigned for a Norfolk Regiment Private but addressed to "Minneapolis" cancelled by a fair "RANGOON" cds; plus 27 Aug. 1897 "2nd Bn. The Royal Scots" imprint env. (flap lost and faults) headed & countersigned with India 1a Brown tired by v. fine "MANDALAY" cds. Good pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, POSTAL STATIONERY, INDIA, MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES (Image)

LASHIO REDIRECTED & TAXED MAIL; Apr. 1896 QV ½a env. to Lashio cancelled by Cleveland Town cds and redirected to Rangoon then Cambridge with circular "T" "I.B.2D" and framed "REEXPEDIE" h.s. on front with ms. 'Detained/Supts office/Lashio' at top. Rear with Maymyo (2 dates), Lashio (2 dates), Rangoon (2 dates) and Cambridge d.s. Very unusual. Ex Hoskins. Sold in our Sep. 2015 sale for £280 Cross Reference : POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

STEAMER MAILS - KEVII/KGV MAIL WITH THE RARE IRRAWADDY FLOTILLA C.D.S. CANCELS; Quartet inc. fine 10 Nov. 1909 usage of the KEVII 1a Red P. Stat. PC (written on board "R.M.S. Burma") to Dorchester cancelled by a very fine rare "R-4 OUT/A SET No.2" cds, and 1938/40 trio to India/sent locally cancelled by mainly v. fine large 2-ring "R-11" (2) or "R-14" cds's used on the Prome - Mandalay (2) or Mawlaik - Monywa Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. steamers. (4 covers/cards) (Image)

IRRAWADDY STEAMER SERVICE GROUP; Range inc. 1913 env. to Regensburg franked KGV 1a (2) + ½a tied by three strikes of the "R-11 OUT/SET No.4" cds - the only recorded example, 21 June 1928 fragment franked KGV 1a pair tied by large part "R-12/SET-1" cds - the only recorded example, 7 Oct. 1938 fragment franked 'BURMA' opt KGV 1a strip of three + 2a6p tied by two strikes of the "R-11/SET 5" cds - the only recorded example, 1932 env. to India franked KGV 1a + 3p tied by "R-11/SET 1" cds - the earliest recorded example and other related examples. Sold for £500 in a Sep. 2018 London auction. (10 covers, three fragments & 3 stamps) (Image)

RAF FLIGHT BY EMPIRE CRUISE SEAPLANE; Feb. 1928 env. to Rangoon franked India KGV 3p pair & ½a tied by Park Street Calcutta d.s. with printed "CALCUTTA/BRITISH FLIGHT.BY SEAPLANE" & Map label and with Rangoon arrival d.s. on rear. Cross Reference : AIRMAILS (Image)

GERMAN WORLD FLIGHT - CALCUTTA TO AKYAB; Feb. 1929 "BARON VON KOENIG/BOY PILOT" PC to Calcutta franked India KGV ½a tied by Calcutta d.s. readdressed to Akyab and with framed "DELAYED BY/UNFAVOURABLE/WEATHER. LEFT/'5th' FEBRUARY" with a total of 41 covers flown. Rare. Cross Reference : AIRMAILS (Image)

HADLEY & PRATT FLIGHT; Mar. 1931 env. to Calcutta franked India KGV 1a (20 tied by either Calcutta or Rangoon d.s. with aeroplane-shaped cachet indicating flight by Ross Hadley & John Pratt (USA) and with "Held up till 1st April,/Owing to unforeseen circumstances." cachet on front and 'John E.Pratt' signature below. 45 covers flown. Scarce. Cross Reference : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AIRMAILS (Image)