CONVENTION & FEUDATORY STATES, BURMA, CEF, IEF, ETC.: Five stock books and a small pocket book with the duplicated mint & used collections for the various Convention States, QV-KGV mint & used, mostly to 12a values but a few high vals. noted. Also representative ranges of various Feudatory States, a collection of used Burma and a small range of CEF/IEF issues. (Very many 100s) Cross Reference: INDIAN CONVENTION STATES, INDIAN FEUDATORY STATES, BURMA (Image)

1788 TRIAL OF WARREN HASTINGS; Printed official pass (torn at top left; small faults) 'FOR THE TRIAL OF WARREN HASTINGS ESQ/PETER BURRELL DY GREAT CHAMBERLAIN"/SIXTH DAY to the 6th Day of Warren Hastings (former Governor-General of Bengal) with red wax Coat Of arms seal at lower left and inscribed 'Heathfield' [1st Baron Heathfield] and 'The Great Elliot/Defender of Gibraltar' [George Augustus Elliott; Garrison Commander during the 1779 siege] at base. The rear endorsed 'Trial commenced 15th Feb. 1788 at Westminster......and terminated in his acquittal on the 23rd Apr. 1795......' Scarce contemporary evidence of one of the longest British trials concerning alleged abuse of powers in India. Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, GIBRALTAR (Image)

CALCUTTA - RARE OVAL-FRAMED "No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs. [3]" PREPAID SHIP LETTER MARK WITH "LONDON/SHIP LRE"; 1795 E to Bonaw (Argyllshire) with rare oval-framed Calcutta "No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs." on the rear with a large "LONDON/SHIP-LRE" and s/l "BONAW" h.s. on the front; charged "1" and then '2/1'. The oval mark is H-Giles Fig. SD1 of which he only records three examples (all of 1794); this cover is unrecorded and the latest example believed extant. Carried on the Dart which landed at Torbay on 19 Aug. 1795 with London arrival d.s. and Edinburgh Bishop mark on rear. Example in the Manning Collection sold by us in Sep. 2015 for £2000. Important exhibition item. Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, ARGYLL, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

19th CENTURY INTERNAL MAIL; Range on annotated leaves inc. 1796 EL (contents in French) to Chandernagore ex Calcutta with double-oval "G.P.O/pt. pd." d.s. on rear, 1860 opened-out env. to Umballa ex Simla franked ½a with framed "A.M." h.s. on rear, 1867 local env. to Calcutta franked ½a tied by Calcutta duplex and with framed "INSUFFICIENT" h.s. on front, 1873 env. to Poona franked 1a + ½a pair tied by "BOMBAY/PM" duplexes and with "TOO LATE" h.s. on rear and a few other related examples. (12 covers/cards) Cross Reference: TOO LATE MARKS, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS, TOO LATE MARKS, LOCAL POSTS (Image)

EARLY LETTER FROM A SCOTTISH SOLDIER LANDED AT WORTHING; 19 Feb. 1798 EL (few faults; 'Cedgeree Bengall on the board the Earl Spencer') to Aberdeen rated '1/1'd and carried on the Britannia with London d.s. and double-lined framed "WORTHING" h.s. (in lieu of a ship marking) and an Edinburgh Bishop mark on front applied in transit. Contents inc. "....a great many French Frigates on this coast which causes our men of war to be on their guard.....our ships company is very sickly at present with the plague....the people hurts them-selves much by drinking bade water without liquor mixt in it." Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, SUSSEX (Image)

SCARCE FORT ST GEORGE PAID MARK; 15 Mar. 1800 EL (mostly v.fine) to Bombay with scarce 2nd type oval mostly v.fine "Post Paid/Fort St. George" (HG 4) h.s. - much of frame visible - on front and separate d.s. of "15" (day) and "Mar" (month) on front and rated '10f' on front. Pair of covers with this mark sold in our Sep. 2015 sale for £550. (Image)

CALCUTTA/BENGAL MADRAS SHIP LETTERS; Range on annotated leaves inc. Mar. 1806 and Dec. 1813 EL's to Scotland with large oval "Bengal/G.P.O" d.s. on rear and "SHIP-LETTER/[CROWN]LONDON" [Rob. S15 or S18] on front, Dec. 1818 EL to Scotland with double-ring "CALCUTTA/POST NOT PAID" d.s., framed "SHIP LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" and framed "½" h.s. all on front, 1835 EL to Calcutta with an oval Capetown f/a/c, framed "Inld Ptg -6/Ship Do-6/(2) As 12" and circular "GPO" d.s. all on rear, Jan. 1838 EL to Calcutta ex COGH with scarce fine-lettering "Ship Postage '3/Inland do '3/An...6/1 Tolas" mark on rear, 1844/53 EL's to Edinburgh or Aberdeen rated '1/-' or '1/10'(d) with Madras GPO or Calcutta GPO framed d.s. on rear, latter also with a framed Simla d.s. on rear and 1847 EL to Calcutta with framed Kedgeree and Calcutta ship letter d.s. on rear plus two maps. (10 items) Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, SCOTLAND, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, FORWARDING AGENTS (Image)

EARLIEST RECORDED INDIA LETTER MARKING; c.Jan. 1815 E to London endorsed 'p General Nuvill' rated '1/4' with a double-ring "INDIA SHIP LETTER/(Crown)/G.P.O./LONDON" d.s. on front and rear with a London d.s. Note: The India Letter rules and rate changes were introduced, just 10 days prior and whilst this letter was in transit. The equal earliest example of this mark (other in the Barrie Jay collection) and rare thus. Example in our June 2000 sale sold for £160Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL (Image)

KING'S POSTAGE/INLAND POSTAGE WITH CROWNED INDIA PACKET LETTER/G.P.O./LONDON; Jan. 1816 E (part letter) to Calcutta ex London with faint & widely spaced wording [Robertson In.2] - crowned "INDIA PACKET LETTER/GPO/LONDON" d.s. and scarce framed "KING'S POSTE"/COS INLD do/[DATE]" arrival mark of India on the upper flap. Rated '1/2'(d) for a letter posted in London. Scarce. Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

INDIA LETTER MARKS (BRITISH PORTS); Range on annotated leaves inc. 1820 EL to Glasgow, datelined at Cuttack with double-ring "CALCUTTA?GENERAL POST OFFICE" and with framed "INDIA LETTER/FALMOUTH", framed "½" h.s. and Glasgow arrival d.s. all on front, 1822 EL 'Ship letter' to London ex Madras (datelined 'off Teneriffe') with "Postage to London/Not Paid" h.s. on front, rated '1/4'(d) and redirected to Windsor with poor but rare "INDIA LETTER/HOLYHEAD" mark across flap on rear, 1823 E (part-letter) to England (redirected) with circular "POST/SAUGOR/OFFICE" on rear and framed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" h.s. on front, 1836 EL 'ship letter' to England with double-ring "ALLAHABAD/Pt Pd '8a'/[DATE]/18'36'" cds and Calcutta Ship letter d.s. on rear and framed "INDIA LETTER/LIVERPOOL" h.s. on front and a few others. (7 covers) Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, REDIRECTED AND TURNED MAIL, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)

19th CENTURY INWARDS MAIL EX GB; Range on annotated leaves inc. 1823/28 EL's to Calcutta dated at London but posted on arrival with framed KEDGREE/POST OFFICE/SHIP LETTER" marks (both slightly different) on rear, 1828 EL to Calcutta (redirected to Neemuch) with "NEWTOWN" (Wales) UDC on rear London Ship letter d.s. on front and framed "Inld Ptg - 5/Shop Do -2/(1 )As 7" h.s. on rear, 1846 EL to Calcutta ex Paisley with framed "CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER/[DATE]/Bearing '8as'" h.s. on rear, 1853 env. to Bombay ex Montrose with Bombay Steamer Postage d.s. on front, 1856 env. to Calcutta ex London endorsed 'Not found/Return to London' and a few others. (12 covers) Cross Reference: WELSH INTEREST, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SHIP LETTERS, FREES (Image)

SWANAGE/NAGPORE - RARE RED INDIA LETTER ON COVER WITH CIRCULAR "NAGPORE/POST/PAID"; Fine 20 July 1837 E (part letter) from "Nagpore Residency Post Office" to Inverness routed "via Bombay" with a faint red circular "NAGPORE/POST/PAID" (HG2; "Scarce") on the flap beside a mainly very fine rare orange-red boxed "INDIA LETTER/SWANAGE" (Rob. In.1; scarce) - probably struck in London in this colour and an Edinburgh transit d.s. on rear and a framed "½" Scottish toll charge h.s. on front. Scarce port of entry for Indian mails. Similar example sold for £220 in our Sep. 2015 sale. Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, SHIP LETTERS, DORSET (Image)

BAREILY DATESTAMP & BLACK INDIA OVAL; 3 May 1838 EL (crosswritten) 'by First Steamer/via Bombay' and 'Post Paid to Bombay' to England with framed "BAREILY/[DATE]/Paid" d.s. on rear in purple - only known in 1838 with oval "INDIA" h.s. in black on front also only known for nine months, prior to being used in red. Scarce combination of marks. Fine. Cross Reference: INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL (Image)

SCARCE EXPRESS LETTER CARE OF AN AGENT; 14 Nov. 1840 EL (datelined a week earlier 'on a brach of the Brahmaputra [river]....') to England care of a forwarding agent in Calcutta, endorsed 'p Overland mail/Express' at top with an oval "FORWARDED BY/CANTOR & Co" /CALCUTTA" and framed "INDIA" h.s. in red on front. Rear with framed "GOWHATTI/[DATE]Paid" d.s., Calcutta Steam. Contents (partially transcribed) by Captain F.Jenkins 47th Bengal Native Infantry ".....I am company with one of my junior assts......navigating up....that branch of the Brahmaputra.....passing....Nowgong....." Early & unusual example of express mail. Cross Reference: EXPRESS MAIL, FORWARDING AGENTS, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, REDIRECTED MAIL (Image)

OVAL FREE DATESTAMPS ON MILITARY CONCESSION MAIL; Pair with Feb. 1842 EL (stained from heavy tape repairs; partially transcribed) to England with oval "LOODIANA/[DATE]/FREE" d.s., oval "INDIA", London Paid transit d.s. and Bolton d.s. on front or rear. No rate markings but endorsed from Sgt J.Pulas of the 31st Regiment (involved in the 1st Afghan War) and countersigned by the Commanding Officer at lower left; contents mainly family matters "....at this moment struggling....with the opposition.....in a camp...we are on our March to......Ferozepore..." and Nov. 1847 unpaid EL (some internal repairs; datelined at Bellary) to London endorsed 'From Pte Dennis Woolfe......' and 'Commanding Officer 1st Madras Fusiliers' with oval "BELLARY/[DATE]/FREE", oval "INDIA" and "2" (d) h.s. charge mark for an unpaid concession rate. Contents mainly concerning the discovery of another soldier with the same surname but unrelated and "....a Band Corporal's Daughter of the Hussars was pleased to make me a present of a consort or 8 (?) silver keyed flute which I am learning....." Rear with two London d.s. (2 covers) Cross Reference: INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, FREES (Image)

OVAL AND FRAMED INDIA MARKS ON MAIL TO GB; Range on annotated leaves inc. 1842 EL (partly transcribed "....let me know of my husband....gunner in the 1st batallion Artillery who was discharged...about the beginning of 1837...I cannot get married to another man because I cannot state whether my husband is now dead or alive...") to London with oval "MADRAS[DATE]/FREE" d.s. on rear and oval "INDIA" h.s. on front, 1841 EL to England 'Via Egypt & Marseilles' rated '3/6'(d) with framed "INDIA" h.s. on front, 1844 E to Edinburgh with framed "PALAVERAM" d.s. and an embossed QV wafer seal on rear and oval "INDIA" h.s. on front, 1852/53 E/EL to Edinburgh or London with framed "SURAT/[DATE]/Paid" or "KURACHEE/SHIP LETTER/[DATE]/Paid" and oval "INDIA" h.s. on front and other similar examples. (10 covers) Cross Reference: INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, FREES, SEALS/WAFERS (Image)

19th CENTURY STAMPLESS MAIL TO FRANCE; Range on annotated leaves inc. 1843 EL to Bordeaux ex Calcutta with framed "STEAM POSTAGE '9'/INLAND Do '14'/TOTAL '1-7'" h.s. on rear and framed "INDIA" and framed "PAQUEBOTS/DE LA/MEDITERRANEE" h.s. on front, 1857 EL to Marseilles ex Calcutta with framed "INDIA UNPAID" h.s. on front, 1861 E to Bordeaux ex Madras with crescent "INDIA UNPAID" and "GB/1F62 4/10c" accountancy mark on front, 1864 EL to Nantes with framed "INDIA PAID" h.s. with "PAID" deleted by ms., "CALCUTTA/INDIA UNPAID" duplex and "GB/1F62 4/10c" accountancy mark all on front and a few similar examples. (8 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)

INDI MARKING & CALCUTTA GPO DATESTAMP; 6 Nov. 1847 mostly fine EL 'Per Steamer "Precursor" via/Southampton' to London with uncommon framed "INDI" h.s. clearly showing "A" completely missing and rated '1/-' on front. Rear with rare framed three-line "CALCUTTA/G.P.O/[DATE]" h.s.and a London arrival cds. Unusual combination of marks. Cross Reference: INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL (Image)

UNPAID MILITARY CONCESSION RATES CHARGED 2d; Trio with Sep. 1848 EL (large part transcribed) to Scotland datelined at Fort St George from Colour Sgt Alexander Hosie of the 25th regt with Madras GPO and Aberdeen d.s. on rear and a "2" charge mark on front contents ref. '....the death of Colonel Chambers which took place at sea off the island of Ceylon.......the Rgt devalued when....Lieut Colonel of the old school who it is said sleeps with the articles of war under his pillow & takes them to church in his pocket....I am in good health but not content for this is one of the most disgusting stations in the country...' and Mar. 1852 EL to Edinburgh 'From No. 1613 Pte Jas. Cuddie 5 Co. H.M. 61st Regt' and datelined at Sabathoo; '....it was then that I saw through the design of those who were interested in this affair, every species of temptation was held out to me, to induce me to remain as I was an outcast and a deserter from the service I had voluntarily entered......' with oval "INDIA" and "2"(d) charge mark on front plus a c1850 front to England 'From No. 365 Private Peter Coats 2nd Queens Royal Rgt' countersigned at base with oval "INDIA" and ms. '2'(d) charge mark on front. (3 items) Cross Reference: MILITARY - PENNY CONCESSION RATES, SCOTLAND, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL (Image)

PONDICHERRY 19th CENTURY MAIL; Range with 1845 EL to Marseilles datelined at Pondicherry with framed "MADRAS/STEAM LETTER/[DATE]Paid" and framed "MADRAS[DATE]/Paid." d.s. on rear, 1849 EL to Marseilles ex Reunion with framed "PONDICHERRY" three-line d.s. and crescent "INDIA PAID" h.s. on front, 1857/60 EL's to Bordeaux or Marseilles with double-ring ""BUREAU DE PONDICHERRY" cds and framed "PD" marks on front and 1868 EL to Port Louis franked 1a tied by Pondicherry duplex and a faint oval f/a/c with "6d/TO PAY" h.s. on front. (5 covers) Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, REUNION, FRENCH COLONIES, MAURITIUS (Image)

1a FRANKINGS ON INTERNAL MAIL; Range on leaves inc. Nov. 1855 E to Rangoon 'per Steamer Sesostris' with solo franking tied by octagonal "B/1" cancel and a Calcutta transit d.s. on rear, Jan. 1856 E to Secunderabad ex Madras franked strip of three tied by dotted lozenge cancels, Jan. 1856 env. to Bombay franked pair tied by "57" b/n with "AHMEDNUGGUR" framed d.s. on front, and Aug. 1856 E to Bombay ex Calcutta with solo franking tied by octagonal "B/1" cancel. (4 covers) Cross Reference: SHIPS/SHIPPING, BURMA (Image)

1853 COVER REDIRECTED IN GB WITH 1d RED - May? 1853 env. to London paid '1/-' cash with "CALCUTTA/G.P.O./SHIP LETTER" ds on the back, red boxed "INDIA" on the front applied in London, redirected to Yorks. with four margin 1d red imperf tied by London numeral, London (2) and NORTHALLERTON cds on the back. Scarce and attractive.Cross Reference: 1841 1d REDS, YORKSHIRE (Image)

HALF ANNA FRANKINGS; range on annotated leaves inc. July 1855(?) reduced native E endorsed 'No 176 Registered Letter' at top and ½d tied by dotted diamond cancel, 1855/56 env.s to Calcutta or Amritsar franked ½a with dotted diamond or "1" barred diamond cancels, 1856 native env. to Panwell franked ½d on rear with "52" diamond bar cancel with Poona d.s. and framed "TOO LATE" mark also on rear, 1857 EL to Calcutta franked 1d tied by ms. 'X' and "173" (Landour) diamond bar cancel, 1857 E to Jullundur franked ½a tied by "158" (Lahore) diamond bar cancel and with a "LAHORE/CHRONICLE/PRESS" intaglio seal on rear and a few similar examples. (12 covers) Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, TOO LATE MARKS (Image)

HALF & 2 ANNAS FRANKINGS TO GB; Pair with 22 Feb. 1855 env. (few stains) 'stamped ½' to England 'via Southampton' franked ½a, margins close to good, slightly stained at edges and tied by a dotted diamond cancel with framed "INDIA" h.s. on front and rated '1/-' and 23 Feb. 1856 EL (two vert. file folds) to Edinburgh franked 2a (four margins) tied by "B-1" octagonal cancel and crossed by ms. 'Two Annas' with fine "INDIA" h.s. on front and rated '6'(d). (2 covers) Cross Reference: INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL (Image)

1a FRANKING WITH RARE BOMBAY PAID MARKING; 23 June 1855 slightly reduced E to Mauritius franked 1a on rear (excised but replaced in correct position) tied by "I" in diamond bars with very scarce "BOMBAY/SHIP.LETTER/[DATE]/PAID." h.s. and double-oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" d.s. both on front. Unusual. (Image)