1827 (Dec 16): Entire letter addressed to a Lieutenant on board the 'HMS Cadmus' in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Struck on despatch with fine two line 'COLDSTREAM / PENNY POST' in black and prepaid '3/10d.' in red manuscript on front. Long cross-written letter, an unusual usage. (Image 1) (Image)

1840: (1 d.) Mulready lettersheet, Proof printing of stereotype with frame lines but without instruction panels on sides and without value in black on India Paper, minor tear at bottom and some creasing along folds which have been carefully rebacked, otherwise in a very fresh state of preservation. Gi = £ 3'800.rnProvenance: ´SEVERN´ collection (2010) (Image 1) (Image)

GB / USA 1840: "Congressional Mulready", the 1840 facsimile of the Mulready, imprint of 'W. J. Stone Sc. Wash.tn" at lower left, with additional 'stamp' based on the 1 d. black on front right, stereo A34 letter-sheet. Produced as an Essay for presentation to the US Senate, in conjunction with Daniel Webster's resolution dated June 10, 1840 "relative to a reduction of the postage on letters", originally inscribed "Sen(ate). 1(st). S(ession). 26(th). C(ongress). No. 547" at lower right. Some soiling due to handling at the time and since, but of great scarcity and of wonderful appearance - a tribute to the printer's art. Cert. BPA (2008). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1840: Mulready 1 d. envelope, used example to Spalding, Lincolnshire cancelled by red Maltese Cross, reverse with 'St. Leonard's On Sea' despatch cds in black (May 25) and London transit cds in red (May 26). A few wrinkles but an attractive usage during the first month of issue Gi = £ 550. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1837: Wyon City Medal, with head of Queen Victoria as used for the 1840 1 d. black & 2 d. blue and issues thereafter, a fine example in silver produced by William Wyon (1795-1851) struck to celebrate Victoria's first visit to the City of London in November 1837 after her accession to the throne. The head was actually modelled by Wyon when Victoria was 15 years old in 1834. Small imperfections but an iconic and rare medal and a wonderful frontispiece to a collection.rnrnrn (Image 1) (Image)

1840/41: Embossed Essays for stamping paper and eNvelopes, Wyon / Whiting Essay in black with white letters ´POSTAGE ONE PENNY´ in engine-turned surround and Queen's head without pendant curl, some paper adhereance on reverse. Very rare Gi = £ 2'000.rnProvenance: H.C.V. Adams collection (1956), ´SEVERN´collection (2010) (Image 1) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black (intense shade), large regular margins, tied by neat red MC to entire with "T.P. / Potters Bar" to Barnet with datestamp of October 3, 1840, for arrival, very fine and nice cover from the former London Two Penny Post. SG Spec. AS41 = £ 725. (Image 1) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black, plate 1a, lettered EK, a fine four margined used example neatly cancelled by Maltese Cross in red. Signed Pröschold Gi = £ 375. (Image 1) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black, Plate 1b, lettered CG, a fine used example with four even margins, neatly cancelled by Maltese Cross in red. Small ink stain on reverse at base but a most attractive stamp. Signed Pröschold Gi = £ 375. (Image 1) (Image)

1840 (May 6): 1 d. black, plate 4, lettered LF, large margins all round, cancelled by neat red Maltese Cross Gi = £ 375. (Image 1) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black, Plate 5, lettered TH, plate variety double letter 'H', a marvellous unused example from base of sheet with large margins all round and showing tiny portion of adjoining stamps at top and at right, italic marginal imprint "AND SIDE of the" at base, of fresh colour and appearance, without gum. A lovely stamp. Cert. Brun (2010), Eichele (2011) Gi. Spec. AS25b. Gi = £ 12'500+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black, pl. 6, lettered PJ, a fine used example with good margins all round, cancelled by crisp red Maltese Cross. Cert. Von der Weid (1982) Gi = £ 375.rnrnrnrnrnrnrnrn (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black, plate 6, lettered GD, a fine four margined used example neatly cancelled by red Maltese Cross. (Image 1) (Image)

1840 (May 6): 1 d. black, Plate 6, lettered OC, two fine used examples, each with four clear to large margins, with State One cancelled in red and State Two cancelled by black Maltese Cross, a fine and very scarce matched pair Gi Spec. cat AS41+AS42 = £ 975/Gi = £ 750. (Image 1) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black, pl. 6, lettered FD, a fine four margined example used on 1840 cover front only to Whitchurch, neatly cancelled by crisp red Maltese Cross, with fine NEWPORT-SALOP cds (Dec 16) at left. Signed Pröschold. (Image 1) (Image)

1840: 1 d. black, pl. 7, lettered HA, a fine used example with clear to large margins all round with portion of adjoining stamp at right and part marginal inscription "In Wetting the..." at left, cancelled by black Maltese Cross, signed Brun. Rare thus Gi = £ 375+. (Image 1) (Image)

1840 (May 6): 1 d. black, pl. 7, lettered SH, a fine used example with good to large margins all round and portions of adjoining stamps at left and at right, cancelled by black Maltese Cross Gi = £ 375. (Image 1) (Image)

1840 (May 6): 1 d. black, Plate 9, lettered MC-MD, a fine used horizontal pair with large margins all round, neatly cancelled by light red Maltese Crosses. A fresh and very fine pair Gi = £ 1'250. (Image 1) (Image)

Spilsby Maltese Crosses 1840: Covers (2) from Spilsby to "Newton, Chambers & Co., Thorncliffe, an Ironworks near Sheffield", the first with 1 d. black, pl. 4, lettered MH, used example with clear to large margins neatly tied by red Maltese Cross with repeated strike alongside the adhesive at left. Reverse with 'Spilsby' double arc undated circle of despatch; most attractive and scarce - the earliest recorded usage of the 'Double Cross' listed by Rockoff & Jackson, see Volume II, page 251. Cert. Eichele (2011); the second with 1 d. black, pl. 9, lettered IC, a fine used example tied to 1841 entire letter from the ame correspondance, neatly tied by black Maltese Cross with repeated strike alongside the adhesive at left. Reverse with 'Spilsby' double arc datestamp (April 19) in black of despatch. Both a tad fragile along folds but most attractive and scarce. A sensational pair of covers with both the red and black Crosses. Illustrated in Rockoff & Jackson, Volume II, page 253. Certs. RPSL (1983).rnNote: George Newton, Thomas Chambers along with Henry Longden signed a lease to extract coal and ironstone from the Thorncliffe valley in December 1793. The company founded was "The Thorncliffe Ironworks". By the end of the 19th century the company was not only mining coal and ironstone but building blast furnances, coke ovens and chemical plant. Heavy section iron from the Thorncliffe Ironworks was used in two iconic structures: Tower Bridge, crossing the river Thames in London, and the Eddystone Lighthouse. (Source: Wikipedia)rnProvenance: Collection 'Wills', Harmers, London, Nov 1989, lot 212.rn Collection Hassan Shaida, Sale 1, Feb. 1992. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1840: 2 d. deep full blue, Plate 1, lettered PB, a fine four margined example in a deep shade, used on 1840 double rate cover to London tied by Maltese Coss in red. Reverse with Liverpool despatch cds (Sept 12) and London arrival (Sept 14). Slight closed tear at top of cover not greatly affecting attractive appearance. Cert. Ferchenbauer (1985) Gi = £ 2'750. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1840 (May 6): 2 d. blue, Plate I, lettered RL, a fine used example in a deep shade, good even margins all round, cancelled by black Maltese Cross. Cert. Von der Weid (1982) Gi = £ 900. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1840 (May 6): 2 d. blue, Plate 2, lettered MJ-MK, a delightful used horizontal pair in a bright resonant shade, large even margins all round, neatly cancelled by red Maltese Crosses (rare on this Plate). An exceptional and most attractive pair Gi = £ 1'800/Gi Spec. cat DS8f = £ 3'500.rnProvenance: Collection Wills, Harmers, London, 7 Nov 1989. (Image 1) (Image)

1840 (May 6): 2 d. 'steel' blue, Plate 1, lettered MB-MC, the fine used horizontal pair in this distinctive shade, good to huge margins all round, neatly cancelled by black Maltese Crosses. A fresh and very fine pair Gi = £ 3'800/Gi Spec. cat DS4 = £ 3'800. rnProvenance: Collection Wills, Harmers, London, 7 Nov 1989. (Image 1) (Image)

1840: 2d. blue, plate 1, strip of four RC-RF, tied by red MC's and "BOSTON SHIP" datestamp to 1840, Mulready lettershett 2d. blue, Stereo "a 96" with "GLASGOW APR. 14. 1841" datestamp for despatch on reverse, addressed to "James Burns, Portrait Painter, New York". The 2d. strip with mostly large margins (RC close at one corner, RF slightly touched at right), a fifth stamp having been removed, the lettersheet slightly age toned and some wear at edges but all letterfolds carefully backed by hinges. Nevertheless a hightly impressive and rare overseas combination use of adhesive Stamps and Postal Stationery. Cert. RPSL (1996). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1840: 2 d. pale blue, Plate 1, lettered DC, a fine used four margined example neatly cancelled by Maltese Cross in red Gi = £ 1'000. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)