Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, 1914 (Nov. 28) official envelope addressed by Governor William Allardyce to fellow diplomat, then retired, Sir Henry Evan Murchison James at his home in Twickenham, franked 1d. cancelled F.5 c.d.s., with a fascinating and revealing enclosed signed letter, sent uncensored. “Then later we had our own squadron here under Admiral Cradock. I saw a good deal of him and we became great, indeed intimate, friends. Poor fellow, he was I fear given an impossible task with the material at his disposal. The naval action off Coronel was most disastrous resulting in the loss of the ‘Good Hope and the ‘Monmouth’ and every soul on board! A terrible business.” A historic item. Sir William Lamond Allardyce, GCMG (1861-1930) served as Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1904 to 1915, a particularly notable period in the history of the colony coinciding with the advent of the modern era of whaling, the establishment of the Dependencies and the introduction of wireless communication. Allardyce supervised advances in administration, sanitation, education and medical services for the Islands including the completion of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, among the first patients being casualties from the 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, 1914, Cape Verde picture postcard addressed to Norfolk, headed “Falkland/Isles”, with violet two line “RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIPS/NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED” and dated “Dec. 7th”, the eve of the Battle. Also an unused card of Admiral Sturdee. (2 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Canopus”, 1915 picture postcard of the ship to Wales written from “H.M.S. Canopus/24/9/15” bearing 1d. cancelled on arrival in London Nov. 4, also 1907 incoming picture postcard addressed to Royal Marine “H.M.S. Canopus/Portsmouth” sent from Beckenham Dec. 28, and four picture postcards of the ship unused (2, one with corner missing) or used. (6 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Carnarvon”, stampless envelope to Devon bearing rare “H.M.S. “CARNARVON”/3 SEP.1914/RECEIVED” violet oval datestamp crossed by Sept. 12 machine cancellation in red, with Ilfracombe Sept. 12 arrival backstamp, also a used picture postcard of the ship. (2 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Carnavon”, six postcards, photographic except one, four showing the ship incl. two undated with “RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIP/NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED”, one from Boris Smith reassuring that he is not “cold mutton”, and two unusual pre-war studio cards showing sailors with lady companions. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Glasgow”, 1913 (Aug. 3) p.p.c. of Sao Paulo sent by ship’s electrician from Santos to Surrey and real photographic card of the electrician’s football team at a recent match against the petty officers, both bearing Downey head 1d. cancelled in London Aug. 23 and Dec. 2 respectively but the latter unaddressed, also 1910 photographic card of the ship sent from Portland to London by then Captain’s valet Albert Penfold with 1/2d. cancelled Weymouth Nov. 8, unused photographic card and reproduced photo of the ship, and pamphlet of lyrics for patriotic song “Revenge” by A.G. Wilson and C. Shrives of the ship’s company (some faults). (6 items) (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Good Hope”, envelope addressed to Leading Signalman E. Cartledge “H.M.S. “Good Hope”/Portsmouth”, sent from Birmingham Aug. 9 1914 franked 1/2d. (2) with Aug. 14 Portsmouth arrival backstamp and showing rare boxed “SHIP LOST” in violet, also an unused postcard of the ship. The “Good Hope” had been lost with all hands in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile, sunk by the “Scharnhorst” and “Gneisenau”. (2 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Good Hope”, selection of cards, mostly depicting the vessel, unused and used incl. 1907 sent from ship no. 60 Mess, Falklands card of ‘Liberty Men’ (Heyburn AA-4-a) with message on reverse, and three ‘in memoriam’/’roll of honour’ cards. (11 items)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Inflexible”, three covers sent from the ship, two undated bearing 1d. cancelled by dumb framed circle of bars and with “PASSED/CENSOR” in double circle (Gould 6A 26), the other stampless with single circle “PASSED SHIP’S CENSOR” (6C 50) initialled by Lt. R.W. Gould and Oct. 21 1918 machine transit, also seven photographic cards incl. ‘battle honours’ and Christmas greeting types, most sent from the ship between 1912 and 1917, and 1913 underpaid incoming card addressed to the “Inflexible” in Malta. (11 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Invincible”, 1915 (May 18) picture postcard of “H.M.S. INVINCIBLE IN ACTION” addressed to Liverpool with message, “I see you are still having trouble in L’pool. I wish we could find some. It’s about time we had another fight”, also scarce unused photographic card showing crew of the “Invincible” on shore after the Battle with a lifebelt from the “Gneisenau”, postcards of the ship etc. (5) and later commemorative cover. (8 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falklands: HMS “Invincible”, 1915 (Nov. 14) envelope with enclosed letter from midshipman Alexander Scrimgeour, addressed to his former master Ernest Culme-Seymour at Royal Naval College Osborne, Isle of Wight, bearing G.B. 1/2d. pair tied by circular dumb cancellations, endorsed “Censored” with initials by commanding officer at lower left, Nov. 17 arrival backstamps, slight soiling. Alexander Scrimgeour is remembered as the author of “Scrimgeour’s Small Scribbling Diary”, his honest and moving account of his naval experiences at peace and war. The enclosed three sheet letter on HMS “Invincible” notepaper (with “(penguin)/MALVINAS” crest) reflects both his enthusiasm for action “It seems too hopeless for words to “dither” about in the North Sea doing nothing, when all one’s friends seem to be getting killed or wounded & making history in every quarter of the globe.” and his dread of the “inevitable consequences of an inconclusive peace”. He was killed six months later at the Battle of Jutland on May 31 1916 at the tragically early age of nineteen. Ex Barnes. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Kent”, picture postcard of Cape Verde (purchased en route) sent by Chief Petty Officer William Ruffell on HMS “Kent” to his daughter in Winchester with message sending Christmas greetings, annotated “Dec 7/14” (the date on which Sturdee's squadron arrived at the Falklands), with two strikes of small circular “PASSED/H.M.S. KENT/CENSOR” marking, G.B. 1/2d. and London Jan. 16 1915 machine transit (the earliest date of mail arriving back in England following the Battle), corner creasing and slight soiling. Also an unused photographic card of the ship. (2 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands: HMS “Kent”, plain postcard dated “Dec 9th/14” (the day after the Battle) from a member of the crew of HMS “Kent” to his sister in Aberdeen, with message “Am all safe. We accounted for our ship yesterday as I suppose you have seen by the paper.”, showing circular “PASSED/H.M.S. KENT/CENSOR” marking below G.B. 1/2d. cancelled on arrival in London on Jan. 16 (the earliest date of mail arriving back in England following the Battle), a little creased and stained. Also a used p.p.c. of the ship. Ex Moir. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands: HMS “Kent”, 1915 envelope with circular “PASSED/H.M.S. KENT/CENSOR” marking, addressed to London (apparently sent by clerk, Reginald Kitchin) with 1d. franking cancelled on arrival in London on Feb. 19. The “Kent” docked at Callao, Peru on Jan. 22 before proceeding to Chile, where it anchored at Blanco Encalada. Ex Faulkner. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands: HMS “Macedonia”, coloured postcard of the ship, dated Nov. 13 1914 endorsed “Posted at sea on active service/Stamp unobtainable”, addressed to Surrey with London Nov. 28 arrival and two line “RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIP/NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED” handstamp. Also an unused postcard of the ship. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Macedonia”, stampless envelope to London endorsed “From H.M.S. Macedonia/Stamps not available” with London Jan. 16 1915 machine arrival (the earliest date of mail arriving back in England following the Battle) and two-line “RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIP/NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED”. Also later unused p.p.c. of the ship. (2 items) In consort with the light cruiser HMS “Bristol”, the “Macedonia” had intercepted the German merchant ships “Baden” and “Santa Isabel”, colliers operating in support of the German squadron. After stopping and sinking the two ships, “Macedonia” returned to Liverpool carrying all German survivors that were fit to travel, arriving on Jan. 13. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Macedonia”, Art postcard “On Active Service” to London endorsed from HMS “Macedonia” with violet two-line “RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIPS/NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED” also envelope to London endorsed in red “Posted on H.M.S. Macedonia/no stamps available” with Aug. 1 1916 arrival, postcard of Rio addressed to Kent bearing 1d. with dumb ‘cork’ cancellation and blue two-line “Passed by Censor/> H.M.S. Macedonia <” and unused postcards of the ship and ‘battle honours’. (4 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Monmouth”, 1912 (Nov. 10) picture postcard of Chefoo endorsed sent by A.K. Hornstein, Assistant Paymaster of the “Monmouth”, franked Hong Kong 4c. cancelled by Liu-Kung-Tau c.d.s. Also unused p.p.c. of the vessel. The “Monmouth” was lost with all hands in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile, sunk by the “Scharnhorst” and “Gneisenau”. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, HMS “Monmouth”, 1913 (Feb. 3) envelope “Via Siberia” with enclosed three page letter written on Naval Signal forms by Signalman Willie Hatswell of the “Monmouth” to his wife in Devonport, posted in Hong Kong franked 4c. Also an unused p.p.c. of the ship. (2 items) The “Monmouth” was lost with all hands in the Battle of Coronel off the coast of Chile, sunk by the “Scharnhorst” and “Gneisenau”. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, British ships, selection comprising 1908 (Sept. 12) and 1915 (June 2) postcards endorsed from HMS “Kent”, sent from Port Lazeroff (Wuhan, N. Korea) and Esquimault, Canada respectively, undated photographic card of natives in the Magellan Straits endorsed sent from HMS “Macedonia”, Argentinian and Uruguayan postcards to England endorsed ‘O.A.S.’ and sent from unknown vessels, the latter (likely incorrectly) charged by 1/2d. postage due pair cancelled Oct. 21 1915, and 1891-1902 1s. cancelled fine PS.1A “De 30/14” c.d.s., late use of this higher value having been necessitated by increased demand from visiting sailors. (6 items) (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands: Visit of HMAS “Australia”, postcard of the cathedral (Heyburn AC-2-acz) inscribed on reverse “W.B. Crandon/Leading Stoker/H.M.A.S. Australia/Port Stanley/Falkland Islands/off Patagonia/South America/South Atlantic Ocean/Jan 3rd 1915”. A scarce card from the brief visit of the “Australia” for repair to her propeller and where she finally received news of the defeat of the German squadron. On Jan. 6th, having left Stanley the previous day, she intercepted and sank the “Eleanore Woermann”. Also unused p.p.c. showing members of the crew of the “Australia” on deck and undated envelope to Aberdeen bearing G.B. 1d. red tied by dumb cross with double circle “PASSED/CENSOR” (Gould 36C) known to be from the “Australia”. (3 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, Von Spee’s Asiatic Squadron 1906-15, SMS “Cormoran”, Envelope noted “Feldpostbrief” to Worms, endorsed from the “Cormoran” on reverse, with two light strikes of Marine Schiffspost No. 8 “1 3/15” c.d.s., resealed by U.S. censor label and with “Auslandstelle Emmerich/Frei-/gegehen” cachet in violet. Also unused photographic card of the Russian officers of the “Ryazan” being transferred to the “Emden” after their capture. SMS ”Cormoran” was originally a Russian merchant vessel named “Ryazan”. Captured by SMS “Emden” on Aug. 4 1914 she was converted into a raider at Kiautschou but forced to later seek port at Apra Harbour in Guam. The United States, then neutral, refused to supply provisions sufficient for Cormoran to make a German port and after the U.S. declaration of war on Apr. 6, 1917, the Naval Governor of Guam informed “Cormoran” that she would be seized as a hostile combatant, prompting her crew to scuttle her. In the resulting action seven members of the crew were killed, the others taken into custody as prisoners of war. This incident constituted the first violent action of the United States in World War I. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, Von Spee’s Asiatic Squadron 1906-15, SMS “Cormoran”, Envelope from Lt. Fratescher to Hamburg noted “Feldpostbrief” , endorsed from the “Cormoran” on reverse, with two fine strikes of Marine Schiffspost No. 8 “30 10/15” c.d.s., also Guam picture postcard to Kassel similarly noted with c.d.s. of “29 4/16”, both showing “Auslandstelle Emmerich/Frei-/gegehen” cachet in blue and violet respectively. SMS ”Cormoran” was originally a Russian merchant vessel named “Ryazan”. Captured by SMS “Emden” on Aug. 4 1914 she was converted into a raider at Kiautschou but forced to later seek port at Apra Harbor in Guam. The United States, then neutral, refused to supply provisions sufficient for Cormoran to make a German port and after the U.S. declaration of war on Apr. 6, 1917, the Naval Governor of Guam informed “Cormoran” that she would be seized as a hostile combatant, prompting her crew to scuttle her. In the resulting action seven members of the crew were killed, the others taken into custody as prisoners of war. This incident constituted the first violent action of the United States in World War I. Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, Von Spee’s Asiatic Squadron 1906-15, SMS “Dresden”, selection incl. 1914 (Apr. 23) cover to Brunswick franked 10pf. cancelled ship’s Marine Schiffspost No. 66 c.d.s., range of unused and used cards of the “Dresden”, its pursuers, damage caused (incl. unused photographic card showing her on fire), later artistic impressions, commemorative items, etc. (19 items) Photo. (Image1)

Falkland Islands: 1914 Battle of the Falkland Islands, Von Spee’s Asiatic Squadron 1906-15, SMS “Dresden”, 1914 envelope with enclosed letters dated July 9 and July 11, addressed by his wife to engineer Fritz Schmidt on board SMS “Dresden”, sent from Halberstadt with 10pf. franking, there being no exemption from postage for servicemen at this time, and with sender’s endorsement at lower left, a little soiled. At the Battle of the Falkland Islands on December 8th the “Dresden” was the only survivor from Spee’s squadron but, after pursuit into the Pacific, HMS “Glasgow”, “Kent” and the “Orama” caught up with her at Mas a Tierra, forcing her to scuttle after heavy shelling. Photo. (Image1)