Admission card to the Conversazione "To meet their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh", no. 3452; unused G.P.O London form to obtain a rail ticket for the purpose of attending the Conversazione at a special reduced fare; and a printed leaflet headed "The Penny Stamp Jubilee, July 2, 1890" with a poem composed by Mrs Adriana Phillips, the last two with small file hole and minor faults, an interesting and very scarce trio of ephemeral items. (3). Photo on Page 52. (Image1)

1890 Penny Post Jubilee envelope insert card bearing printed thanks from the Post Office Committee for assistance at the South Kensington Museum, named to Mr Steward and signed by the five committee members including F.E Baines and R.C Tombs, superb and very scarce. Photo on Page 52. (Image1)

Spink & Son medal struck to commemorate the Post Office Jubilee of Uniform Penny Postage at South Kensington on 2nd July, ephemera comprising two differing notices in red both sent to Postmasters asking them to display an enclosed notice about the medal, one clearly a proof with manuscript corrections; the coloured notice illustrating the medal with details and prices (five versions available, from white metal at 2/6 to solid silver at å£1.15.0); and a notice for sending to agents for the postal medal giving trade terms (which were also available to Post Office employees). The first three with small file holes (probably from the printers archives), the coloured notice with other minor faults, a very rare group, some possibly unique. (4).

Souvenir of the Penny Postage Jubilee Celebration at the South Kensington Museum, July 2nd, 1890, souvenir poster (444x284mm) depicting Thomas Edison and reproducing the first letters sent by "phonogram" at the penny post rates, bearing twelve strikes of six differing South Kensington Penny Post Jubilee handstamps including the 1d and 3d Tube Post types. Unusually fine condition.

Strip of paper with proof impressions of the six different handstamps used at South Kensington; Post Office envelope with ten impressions of the large c.d.s; and a sheet of paper with a further three strikes of the large c.d.s. (3).

Hand drawn card advertising "R.A Matthews & Co, Foreign and Colonial Stamp Dealers, 14 Aldersgate Street" bearing 19 May Guildhall "octagonal star" datestamp without number and two strikes of the 2 July South Kensington large c.d.s, attractive and unusual.

Money Order number 107 for 1d, the order specially prepared for the event with "South Kensington (Penny Postage Jubilee)" printed at the top, bearing the smaller size c.d.s, very fine and scarce, 157 Money Orders sold. Also an unused "Money Order Required" form bearing the large size c.d.s. (2). Photo on Page 48. (Image1)

1840 (May) Entire posted unpaid to "Mr Scott, Chamberlains Office, Guildhall" with "2" charge mark, reposted in 1890 with a 1d lilac cancelled by the large size South Kensington c.d.s, red Hoster arrival backstamp, very unusual (also see lot 295).

1d Penny Post Jubilee envelope bearing 1d black (SC plate 3, four margins) and 1840 2d blue KB (3 margins) each cancelled by the larger South Kensington c.d.s. R.C Tombs report on the event noted "many rare stamps were brought ..... amongst them six of the old black stamps". He makes no comment on 1840 2d blues brought along for cancelling but they almost certainly number less than the six 1d blacks so used. An exceptional item. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1d Mulready envelope stereo A279 handstamped with the large size South Kensington c.d.s. Tombs report states that just two original Mulready envelopes were brought to South Kensington for handstamping. Fine and rare. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1/2d Postcards both handstamped with the large South Kensington c.d.s, one very unusually applied in red ink contrary to regulations, the other in the usual black ink. (2). Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

Stamped covers (4, two bearing 1870 1/2d pairs) and postal stationery (12) posted at the Conversazione, including 1870 1/2d postcard, 11/4d postcard, complete 1/2d and 1d reply cards, 1/2d lilac S.T.O postcard, 1883 2d postcard, 1889 3d postcard, 1841 2d envelope, 2d and 21/2d S.T.O envelopes, all with the large South Kensington c.d.s; 1d envelope cancelled by 19 May Guildhall "octagonal star" datestamp number 10 with the large 2 July south Kensington c.d.s alongside; and 1860 (2) or 1867 1d postal fiscals (3, one on an unaddressed cover) all with the South Kensington large c.d.s; also 1d venetian red perfin "B&P" on piece, one 1/2d card with three further handstamps (including "Tube Post 3d Reply") on reverse. (21).

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelope (small tear at top) addressed to Wm Howell in Westminster, with insert card, the envelope and insert card both with large size South Kensington c.d.s which differs from the usual datestamp in several small but noticeable ways, most notably "1840-1890" being larger in size and the date smaller in size (with no dot after "JY"), "VR" in thinner and smaller lettering, the other lettering further from the circle with smaller spaces between the side crosses and wording. We have recorded one other example of this datestamp also on an envelope to Howell (illustrated in the Stamp World 90 handbook, and on the front cover of "Special Event Postmarks of the UK"). (2). Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelopes (10) and insert cards (4), unused postal stationery (5, including dated 1.10.70 1/2d wrapper and 11/4d postcard), and plain pieces of paper (2) all with various South Kensington handstamps, applied at a charge of 1d per handstamp, several with up to six differing handstamps, eight including the "Tube Post 3d Reply" handstamps, one cover bearing a bisected 1/2d stamp, an interesting selection. (21).

Unaddressed 1d Uniform Penny Postage envelope with large South Kensington c.d.s, later also handstamped with the "GERMAN EXHIBITION B.O / S.W" c.d.s (Oct 10) and blue "ROYAL NAVAL EXHIBITION / POST OFFICE / EDDYSTONE LIGHTHOUSE / LONDON S.W" datestamp (Oct 19) with central Anchor. Unusual.

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelopes with the large South Kensington c.d.s, addressed to "H.R.H The Prince of Wales, Marlborough House, Pall Mall, W" or to "The Rt Honble Lord Emly, Ex Postmaster-General, Postal Jubilee Conversazione, South Kensington", two notable addresses. (2).

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelope with two 1d stamps on the reverse, registered to "Mr George Pickering, Guildhall", registration number 57, with the registered letter receipt for item 58 also to "Pickering, Guildhall", the cover and receipt both with the large South Kensington c.d.s. 276 Items were registered at the South Kensington Conversazione. (2).

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelopes both to Chemnitz, Germany, with large South Kensington datestamps, one uprated 1/2d + 1d (perfined JFW); the other registered uprated 4d, registration number 62. An unusual pair, just 276 items registered in total. (2).

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelope registered to "Senhor E.W Parsone, Cia do Cabo Submarino, Ilha de Sao Thome, West Coast of Africa, via Lisbon", uprated 6d, cancelled by two strikes of the large South Kensington Penny Postage Jubilee c.d.s and oval South Kensington registered datestamps, registration number 88, Lisbon backstamp. Flap missing, otherwise fine and a remarkable destination. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelope with the large South Kensington c.d.s, registered uprated with two 1d lilacs (perfin JFW), registration number "1", apparently the very first registered letter to be posted at the South Kensington Conversazione (just 276 items registered in total). Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelope posted within Clifton on July 2nd, endorsed "above 1oz" with circular framed "1d" charge mark and circular framed "CB", unusual.

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelopes posted on July 2nd, the first day of issue, from provincial offices with cover from Rainhill to the Captain of the S.S "Chindwara" at Calcutta uprated with two 2d stamps, Sea Post Office backstamp; cover from East Grinstead to Stromness unusually bearing an extra 1d stamp (late fee?); and covers from Gosport (insert card from the Post Office, to Southampton H.P.O), Liverpool, Reading and Moffat; also an insert card posted at Moffat bearing 1d lilac with control "H". (7).

1d Uniform Penny Postage envelopes unused (3) and used (8) with 2 July first day uses from London (3, one registered uprated 2d), registered cover from Wallingford uprated 1d pair, also gold printed wrapper bands (2), and an insert card with advert for "Alliance Assurance Co. Ltd" printed upon it. (15).

1910-51 Uses of the 1d Penny Postage envelopes (15) and insert cards (3) including 1916 registered use franked 2d from Field Post Office 50, 1912 use from the International Jubilee Stamp Exhibition with insert card bearing five 1d stamps from the 1d red to KGV Downey Head and 1d "Ideal Stamp" all with the exhibition c.d.s, 1923 use from London International Stamp Exhibition charged 3d, etc. (18).

Insert card posted to New Zealand franked 3d, cancelled by the 2 July South Kensington large c.d.s, handstamped faint boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE 1 / FINE 4" showing a charge of 5d, Invercargill arrival c.d.s on the front, very unusual. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)