DISASTER MAIL: 1858 envelope to Bath, England sent from India carried on the ill fated ''S.S. Ava'' franked by 4a grey-black, which departed Calcutta and hit rocks on Pigeon Island eighty miles off Ceylon en route from India, bearing a fine strike of the script cursive ''Saved from the wreck of the Ava'' two lined h/s and boxed India Paid h/s, and London arrival, for AP 20; backstamped by Calcutta mark and Bath arrival for AP 20, very scarce. ? ? On board the ''S.S. Ava'' was over £200,000 of coinage and bullion (!) with seventy passengers bound for Trincomalee, Ceylon. Miraculously despite the collision with the rocks breaking the ships back there was no loss of life! (Image)

1852 Scinde Dawk, ½a white, cut square with clear embossing, cancelled by diamond of dots, vertical split which has been reinforced and some staining, still a sound example of this classic Indian rarity. SG S1 (Image)

1854-55 4a blue and pale red 1st printing, (Head Die I, Frame Die I) pos.1, with clear margins, just shaved at foot, cancelled by diamond of dots, fine. SG 18 (Image)

1854-55 4a blue and red 2nd printing (Head Die II, Frame Die I) used trio, touching to large margins, some imperfections (staining, creasing etc..) otherwise fine, collectable examples. SG 19-20 (Image)

1854-55 4a 4th printing (Head Die III, Frame Die II) selection of thirteen used examples (on and off paper), largely cut-to-shape, assorted cancels some with remnants of French markings, mixed condition, still a useful lot, with good colours and mostly neat cancels. SG 22-24 (Image)

1854-55 4a blue and red 4th printing (Head Die III, Frame Die II), pos. 4, cut round, used on piece, cancelled by diamond of dots and part French mark, an attractive example. SG 23 (Image)

1856-64 No wmk 8a carmine, large part o.g; small patch of dried gum, still of fine appearance for this scarce stamp. SG 48 (Image)

1860 (9 May) 8p purple on bluish paper, no wmk, block of 4 with interpane margin at left showing part inscription 'QUAR(TER)', from lower left corner of a right pane (diagnostic wmk lines), fresh o.g. A lovely multiple of this scarce and delicate stamp. (Image)

1909 15r blue and olive, unmounted o.g., very fresh; Aimé Brun guarantee on reverse. SG 146, £450 (Image)

1909 25r brownish orange and blue, large part o.g. with a light but slightly extensive hinge remainder. Wonderfully fresh. SG 147, £3000 (Image)

1948 First Anniversary of Independence 'Gandhi' set to 10r purple-brown and lake on first day cover addressed to Brighton, tied by Bombay oval d/s for 15 August 1948, fine. SG 305-308 (Image)

Telegraph. 1869 4a Die Proof in black on glazed card, trimmed to rather larger than stamp size, mounted on piece of thick card. Some peripheral staining from the mounting, not affecting the printed area. For SG T6 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1882 second watermark set of ten to 50r mint, a few minor blemishes but a very good set, difficult to duplicate in this quality. SG T32-41, £1215 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1882 second watermark high values on part of large ledger sheet (13 x 14"), almost completely centrally split. Bears the details of accumulated telegraph charges in the amount of 260r, and annotated at base 'Forwarded to the Superintendent Check Office Calcutta'. The charges paid by 5r, 10r (13), 25r and 50r (2), all whole stamps, Bombay straight-line cancels of 10, 11 and 12 - 88. Adhesives all punched, with glue-staining and some with considerable faults, but a quite remarkable document. SG T38-41 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1882 second watermark 50r blocks of ten and six on a document paying telegraph charges, signed by an official in ink and with straight-line Calcutta 8 - 1 - 85 blue cancels. Punched, folded between and with glue-staining; the whole document somewhat wrinkled and the the lower ten stamps creased, an amazing franking of 800r. The highest recorded Telegraph franking by some distance. SG T41 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1899 2r on 2r8a Calcutta surcharge, a fine o.g. example with good colour, very slight green offset on reverse; still fine. SG T52, £400 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1899 2r on 2r8a Calcutta surcharge, a fine o.g. example with good colour, fine. SG T52, £400 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1899 2r on 2r8a Calcutta surcharge, a study of minor type varieties, postmarks, etc. Two mint examples, one with the top 'R' in the surcharge defective (toned), another with angled serif to second 'E' in lower surcharge, fine. Used examples (45, including on part forms), with one showing 'U' in upper surcharge partially missing. SG T52 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1900 2r yellow o.g., fine, one tiny patch of gum loss but with excellent appearance. Very few examples of this stamp are recorded. SG T55, £950 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1904 1a - 50r set of ten all good to fine used, the 1a with postal CDS, the 4a with 'ex Corfield' pencilled on reverse, a very good set. SG 56-65, £660 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1904 1a - 50r set (less 8a) used whole stamps, with duplication, mixed condition. 1a, 2a (5, two good), 4a (3), 1r, 2r (7, 4 good, one ex Ulrich), 5r (5, 4 good), 10r (10, 6 good, one ex Corfield), 25r (3, 1 good, the other two slightly stained) and 50r (4, 3 good). SG T56-8, 60-65 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1904 2a - 5r, 25r and 50r, o.g. The 2a to 5r values with the odd minor fault, but the 25r very fine, and the 50r unmounted, a lovely stamp. SG T57-62, 64-5, £977 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1904 50r carmine, right marginal, unmounted o.g.; vertical bend, very good appearance. SG T65, £375 (Image)

Telegraphs. 1904 50r carmine, right marginal, unmounted o.g.; vertical bend, very good appearance. SG T65, £375 (Image)

Telegraph Officials. 1904 BO. POLICE DEPTt. handstamps on 1a in green, ex Ulrich, and in violet (creased); 2a in blue and in violet (creased); 4a in blue (creased). All o.g. and of good appearance. SG T56-8 (Image)