Isle of Wight. Cowes. 1770 (Mar 6) Entire letter concerning a warrant issued by order of sessions levying £300 on the Isle of Wight for not raising a militia, posted to Winchester charged 2d, backstamped "ISLE / OF WIGHT" (IW 23), a good strike of this uncommon handstamp.

Cowes. 1826-1904 Entires, covers and cards including mileage mark and similar handstamp with the mileage removed, circular undated handstamp, 1875 entire to Norway bearing five 1d reds, 1870-77 covers to France franked 3d or to Victoria franked 6d, etc., also an 1811 invoice from the Fountain Inn at West Cowes advertising post chaises and coaches to Newport. (10).

Cowes. 1840 (Aug 11) Entire letter written from Cowes Castle, seat of Viscount Gort, to Foots Craybearing a 1d black (HF plate 6, three margins, just touched at left) tied by a red Maltese Cross, backstamped at Cowes.

Newport. 1786-1836 Entire letters with 1786 "N. ISLE OF / WIGHT 97", 1801 "ISLE OF WIGHT. N" on a local letter to Gatcombe House, 1804 mileage mark on a letter prepaid 1/11 to Colonel Campbell, an English officer in Germany, and 1829-36 circular datestamps. A good lot, the first two both very scarce. IW 61, 64, 66 in black, 71. (5). Photo on Page 290. (Image1)

Newport Penny Posts. 1831 Front with "No. 1" of Godshill and light "Newport, Isle of Wight / Penny Post"; 1840 1d Mulready envelope stereo A137 to Kent cancelled by red Maltese Cross, with red Newport datestamp and "No 2" of Ventnor in purple both on the front; and an entire bearing a 1d black (PJ, plate 4, four margins) tied by red Maltese Cross with red "No. 1" of Godshill and a Newport backstamp. The Mulready with a little staining, the 1d black entire with closed tear at top repaired internally with tape. (3).

Ryde. 1788 Entire letter from Sea View to London handstamped "R. ISLE OF / WIGHT 97" (IW 80), part of upper flap missing and tiny nick at upper edge, otherwise fine. An exhibition quality example of this very scarce first type mileage mark. Photo on Page 290. (Image1)

Ryde. 1818-1912 Entire letters, covers and cards including boxed "Ryde / Penny Post" on letters toBrading (2), mileage mark, single arc datestamps in yellow, red or black, 1873 cover to India franked three3d stamps with hexagonal Cochin arrival datestamp on the front, cover to New South Wales redirected to USA, etc. (15).

Ryde/Brading. 1872-74 Printed forms for £2 worth of 1d stamps, or £1 worth of receipt stamps, received by the sub-office at Brading from the head office at Ryde, signed by the Brading Sub-Postmaster with datestamps of both offices, very unusual. (2). Photo on Page 288. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

Undated Circles. 1845-59 Covers (5) and an entire letter with undated circle handstamps comprising "SEAVIEW" (2, in blue or red), "VENTNOR" (in red), "BONCHURCH", "GODSHILL" or "BINSTEAD". (6).

Osborne. 1900 (Jan 6) Mourning cover with enclosed letter, both with embossed "(Crown) / Osborne", the cover to Lady Drummond in Wales bearing a 1d lilac tied by "OSBORNE / I. OF WIGHT" c.d.s. The enclosed letter refers to the death of Lady Drummond's son in law, the service of her two sons in South Africa with a third about to join the Yeomanry, and a mutual friend who left for South Africa "on special service" departing with Lord Roberts on the "Dunottar Castle". A scarce cancel, the royal post office at Osborne only open 1897-1901. (Cover + letter). Photo on Page 290. (Image1)

Osborne. 1899 (July 25) Mourning cover with Osborne crest on flap, the enclosed letter written on similar crested notepaper referring to the Queen, royal family and other notable visitors to Osborne, posted to Lady Drummond at Margate with 1d lilac tied by partial "OSBORNE / I. OF WIGHT" c.d.s ("OSBOR" off the cover, the c.d.s only used in 1897-1901, at the royal post office at Osborne House). Also an 1887 cover with Osborne crest addressed to "Le Comte de Reiset" in France with 2½d lilac tied by Cowes squared circle. (2 + letter).

Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert. 1903 (Aug 4) Stampless cover with the royal yacht name embossed on the flap, handstamped with the "ERVII" cypher, a Cowes c.d.s and red "OFFICIAL - PAID / (crown)" c.d.s, posted during the King's visit to Cowes Week. This scarce Official Paid c.d.s used on mail from the King when he was travelling, and not at any of his royal residences. A very scarce and superb quality cover. Photo on Page 290. (Image1)

London District Post Envelope. 1869 Cover franked 1d from Kingston on Thames to London with "POSTAL DISTRICT / WC" embossed on the front. When London postal districts were introduced in 1857 labels and envelopes with embossed postal district initials were sold for use to London addresses. The cover slightly trimmed affecting the stamp perforations and upper half of the reverse removed, the front still attractive and scarce.

Maritime Mail. 1803 (Dec 9) Entire letter from Alexandria, Virginia, to London "p ship Hero, Cap. Cole" with an unusually clear strike of the scarce oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / ISLE OF WIGHT" (Rob S1), charged 11d. Photo on Page 290. (Image1)

1823 Entire to London and redirected to Freemantle near Southampton with a Calcutta datestamp and boxed "INDIA LETTER / ISLE OF WIGHT" (In 1), partly overstruck by a London inspectors star, altering the rate from 1/1 to 9d.

Cowes - Forwarding Agent. 1838 Entire from Matanzas, Cuba, to London, backstamped with a Cowes c.d.s and fine oval "FORWARDED / BY / ROBT. R. HUNTER / CONSUL U.S.A / COWES", charged 1/6. Photo on Page 290. (Image1)

Ryde. 1850 Entire to Bristol charged 8d with superb "RYDE / SHIP - LETTER" in blue (Rob S5), the first recorded year of use in blue. Photo on Page 290. (Image1)

Yarmouth. 1826 Entire letter from Bahia to London "p. Victoria", backstamped "SHIP LETTER / YARMOUTH / Isle of Wight" (Rob. S2), charged 1/5, file fold, otherwise fine.

Sark. 1899-1904 QV ½d Postcard (faults) and picture postcards (14, thirteen depicting Sark), and a 1906 cover, all with "SARK" c.d.s code "A" applied away from the stamps, which are cancelled in Guernsey. Also a 1903 cover from Malta to Woking and redirected to Sark with arrival backstamp. From mid 1904 stamps were usually cancelled at Sark instead of in transit in Guernsey. (17).

1902-32 Cards and covers from Sark, selected items comprising underpaid picture postcards to Ceylon, France, Cuba, India or Switzerland all charged postage due; KEVII (2) and KGV ½d postal stationery postcards; 1905 picture postcard with ½d cancelled at Sark then reposted three months later with a second ½d cancelled at Disley; 1917 picture postcard posted locally on the island with a KGV stationery cut-out; 1932 cover from Canada to Sark redirected to London with double ring c.d.s; also picture postcards from Alderney to Sark (2); stampless 1914 picture postcard from a British nurse at the English Military Hospital at Limoges to Sark; 1909 card from Jersey to Sark but directed to London, handstamped "Adresse insufficente / Retour a l'office", crossed out then sent to the Channel Islands; and 1906 picture postcard from Guernsey also bearing perforated label "Try Guernsey for Health & Pleasure, close to Sark, the gem of the Channel" depicting Sark harbour. An unusual group. (16).

1902-34 Picture postcards (69, sixty two depicting Sark), a plain postcard and covers (2) all with "SARK" code "A" datestamps, two cards to USA or India; 1904-32 postcards and a cover addressed to Sark (20, one with Cobo Guernsey rubber c.d.s, three redirected with Sark datestamps); a 1906 postcard written at Sark but posted at Southampton; and other unused picture postcards of Sark (3). Also later 1948-80 covers and cards (18). A fine lot. (114).

World War Two. 1941-45 Covers (5) and a picture postcard from Sark to Guernsey, the postcard bearing G.B stamps, one G.B 1½d postal stationery envelope bearing occupation issue 1d, the other four covers all bearing occupation issues. (6).

The Alistair Kennedy Collection. Picture Postcards. c.1902-30 Picture postcards, some on pages with Post Offices (some accompanied by cards showing matching cancellations), public houses, telephone linesmen at Essendon, fire at Letchworth, visit of Prince of Wales to Hertford, foxhounds, schools, policemen, street scenes, etc., with a good number of real Photo cards, also a few more recent cards. (c.600). (Image1)

c.1800-1940 Covers and cards in a box, a large quantity with prestamp mail, single and double ring datestamps, picture postcards, etc. (Many 100s).

c.1940-2010 Covers and cards, a large quantity in two large boxes with many c.d.s cancels, postage due and explanatory marks, incoming mail, a large quantity of 1960s registration envelopes, etc. (1,000s).