The John Minns East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: 1891 (Mar. 2) envelope addressed to Colombo, Ceylon franked at 3a. rate by "1 Anna" handstamped on 4a. brown, initialled "A.B." by Company Cashier Archibald Brown, and 2a. vermilion (affixed inverted), tied by Mombasa c.d.s's but missent to India with scarce framed "MISSENT IN/INDIAN MAIL" alongside, carried on the S.S. "Africa" to Aden and to Bombay on the "Assam" with Sea Post Office, Bombay Mar. 16 and Colombo Paid arrival of Mar. 23 on the reverse. Only two covers bearing S.G. 21 are recorded. Ex 'Shivani'. Illustrated in "British East Africa: The Stamps and Postal Stationery" by Minns (ed. Krieger, 2006), p. 47. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: 1891 (Mar. 3) C.M.S. envelope addressed to Westmorland, England by Rev. Harry Kerr Binns, Secretary to the C.M.S. Mission in Freretown, franked at 41/2a. rate by "1/2 Anna" handstamped on 2a. vermilion initialled "A.D." by Chief Accountant Andrew Dick, and 4a. yellow-brown, tied by Lamu c.d.s's and blue pencil line, carried on the S.S. "Africa" with Aden Mar. 9 transit and Kendal Mar. 23 arrival on reverse. The only recorded example of S.G. 20 on cover and one of just two known covers from Lamu franked with a manuscript provisional. Illustrated in "British East Africa: The Stamps and Postal Stationery" by Minns (ed. Krieger, 2006), p. 45. Ex 'Shivani'. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: 1891 (Mar. 30) envelope addressed by postmaster Thomas E.C. Remington to London and locally redirected franked at 41/2a. rate by "1/2 Anna" in manuscript on 2a. vermilion, initialled "A.B." by Company Cashier Archibald Brown, and 4a. brown, tied by Mombasa c.d.s's with red Apr. 20 London arrival on the reverse. Only two covers bearing S.G. 23 are recorded. Ex 'Shivani'. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: 1893 (Dec. 13) Guardian Fire & Life Assurance Co. envelope registered to London (small part address erased), franked at 41/2a. registered rate by "1 Anna" in manuscript on 4a. brown initialled "A.B." by Company Cashier Archibald Brown, 1/2a. deep brown and 3a. black on red, tied by Mombasa squared circles, with red London Jan. 14 and 15 arrival markings, Zanzibar Dec. 16 and Aden Reg. Dec. 29 transit c.d.s's on reverse. The eighth and last of the rare commercial 'Provisional' covers and one of only two bearing S.G. 26. From the John Wilks Collection, ex Seys and Kiesel. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: 1893 (Dec. 13) envelope registered to I.B.E.A. Co. staff member Robert Macallister whilst on leave in England, franked at 41/2a. registered rate by two examples of "1 Anna" in manuscript on 3a. black on dull red, initialled "V.H.M." by bank manager Victor H. Mackenzie, and 21/2a. black on bright yellow, tied by Mombasa squared circles, with London Jan. 14 registered oval in red alongside, one provisional additionally tied by next day Woolwich registered oval, and with Zanzibar Dec. 16 and Aden Reg. Dec. 29 transit c.d.s's on reverse. One of eight known 'Macallister' covers, five posted on this day, the others on Oct. 15 1894. Ex Danson. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: British East Africa Forgeries: The John Minns FRPSL collection of forgeries and fakes of British East Africa in one album, written-up and with illustrations and genuine stamps, incorporating the forgery reference collection of the late Stuart Rossiter FRPSL and based on a display given to the East Africa Study Circle on Oct. 13 1984, incl. faked overprint forgeries of the I.B.E.A. Co 1890 overprints with genuine 1a. on 2d. (2), 4a. on 5d., range of Fournier forgeries with pieces from record book reproductions, proofs, imperf. and perf. forgeries, Sperati forgeries incl. 1a. "ANL", 4a. grey with handstamp, genuine 8a. and 1r. grey, fake cancellations incl. Madame Joseph and 'Reykjavik' types, 'Hayman' imperfs. mint and used, 1891 manuscript provisionals with genuine 1/2a. on 3a. "AB" fiscally used 8d, 1895 provisional handstamps with Fournier fakes, 1895-96 'on India' with "Br1tish" in 2a. mint block of eighteen and 8a. mint block of nine (toned), 'on Zanzibar' overprints and '21/2" surcharges incl. genuine (both values), fair to fine. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Use of Stamps of India: 1890 (Aug. 28) 'native' envelope to Karachi franked by India 3a. paying the single rate to India or Ceylon, tied by Mombasa c.d.s. with Bombay Sept. 9 transit and Karachi Sept. 13 arrival backstamps, a little stained and creased but rare. Sent during the period of temporary shortage of stamps after the purchase by dealers Whitfield King of the remaining stock of the first issue. Ex Pemberton and 'Shivani'. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: I.B.E.A. Co. Overprints on Great Britain: 1890 Deutsche Witu - Gesellschaft Lamu envelope addressed to Berlin, franked at double rate by 1/2a. on 1d. pair, 1a. on 2d. and 4a. on 5d. tied by "ADEN/JL 29/90" squared circles and with Aug. 13 arrival on reverse. Believed to have been carried by dhow to Aden and from there to Naples on the S.S. "Madura", arriving on Aug. 10. One of only three recorded commercial covers bearing the first issue and a crown jewel of East Africa philately, having graced previously the Davy, Croft, Rossiter and 'Shivani' collections. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: "1/2 Anna" handstamped on 2a. vermilion, unused, trivial mark at left otherwise fine and most attractive. One of only six recorded unused examples. Ex Krieger. S.G. 20, cat. £11,000. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: "1/2 Anna" in manuscript on 2a. vermilion with original face value not obliterated, initialled "A.D." by Chief Accountant Andrew Dick, unusually cancelled by Aden "MA 9/91" squared circle and crossed by blue pencil line as noted on mail from the C.M.S. Mission at Freretown. S.G. 22, cat. £4,750. A rare stamp, with no unused examples recorded. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: "1 Anna" in manuscript, 'heavy' surcharge, on 4a. brown, initialled "A.B." by Company Cashier Archibald Brown, large part original gum, small mark at foot otherwise fine and rare. Ex Gibralter and Krieger. B.P.A. certificate (2000). Only five unused examples have been recorded in this hand. S.G. 26, cat. £10,000. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1891 Mombasa Provisionals: "1 Anna" in manuscript, 'light' surcharge, on 4a. brown, initialled "A.B." by Company Cashier Archibald Brown, horizontal pair tied to piece by "MR 15/91" c.d..s's, this the earliest known date of usage, part lifted for inspection, fine. Only one other pair is recorded, any multiple of the Mombasa Provisionals being rare. Ex Pirie, Pennycuick, Dunstan and Minns. S.G. 26, cat. £4,000+. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1895 (Feb.) Remington Provisionals, "1 anna" on 3a. black on dull red, used with "AP 10/95" c.d.s., fine. B.P.A. certificate (1982) S.G. 32, cat. £7,000. Only five used examples recorded. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1895 (Feb.) Remington Provisionals, "1 anna" on 3a. black on dull red, used on fragment with "FE 22/95" c.d.s., the earliest known date, fine. B.P.A. certificate (1962) S.G. 32, cat. £7,000. Only five used examples recorded. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1895-96 'On India' Overprints: 1a. plum, variety "Brit1sh", mint, fine and fresh. Ex Wood, Minns and Krieger. R.P.S. certificate (1973) S.G. 50a, cat. £18,000. The error occurred in the outer left column on the four values of the first printing, as well as the early printing of the 21/2a., and was corrected before the second printing. The mint example on the 1a. is unique in private hands, the only other recorded unused example being in the Royal Philatelic Collection. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1896-1901 'Small Queen' Issue: Imperforate colour trials with handpainted duty tablets, complete set of fifteen values 1/2a. to 5r., all in issued colours except 21/2a. and 1r. transposed to accord with U.P.U. requirements. Submitted by De La Rue to the Foreign Office on Nov. 14 1895 as proposed colour scheme. Ex Minns and Baillie. Three sets only were produced by De La Rue, this being the 'customer' set, another set retained by De La Rue for record on an appendix sheet and later sold (see 'Shivani' action, May 1997, lot 282) and a 'working' set formerly in the Hunt, Danson and Pennycuick collections and subsequently dispersed. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1897 'On Zanzibar' Surcharges: 21/2 type 12 on 1a., variety "British/East/Africa" overprint double, mint, slight faults. B.P.A. certificate (2013) notes "central thin spot". Ex Pennycuick, 'Shivani' and Vestey. S.G. 86b, cat. £7,500. One of only two recorded examples. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1890-95 I.B.E.A. Co. Definitives: Bradbury, Wilkinson file reference stamps, a unique assembly originally retained by the printers, all in fine ungummed marginal blocks of four comprising 1890 printing 1/2a., 1a., 2a., 4a. (both colours), 8a. blue, 1r. (both colours), 2r., 3r., 4r. (2) and 5r. (2), 1891 printing 3a., 41/2a., 1892 printing 21/2a., 1893 printing 1/2a., 21/2a., 3a., 41/2a., 1895 printing 1/2a., 1a., most handstamped "SPECIMEN" in red or green (sometimes very faint), mainly fine. (21 blocks of four) With two B.P.A. certificates, 1991, for twelve blocks, ten included in this lot. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: 1890-95 I.B.E.A. Co. Definitives: 21/2a. black on yellow thin paper, first printing, mint horizontal strip of three from the right of the sheet, imperf. between pair at left [columns 8-9], a few shortish perfs. at left otherwise fine and unique. Ex Wood and Krieger. S.G. 7a, cat. £8,000+. •ÈÀThe only recorded example in a strip. Illustrated in "British East Africa: The Stamps and Postal Stationery" by Minns (ed. Krieger, 2006), p. 34. Photo. (Image1)

The John Wilks British East Africa: I.B.E.A. Co. Overprints on Great Britain: 1890 1/2a. on 1d., 1a. on 2d. and 4a. on 5d. each handstamped "CANCELLED" (type GB14), very fine with gum and strong colours, the 1a. on 2d. lower marginal and showing break in second "N" of "ANNA". Produced as De La Rue or Inland Revenue reference specimens, it is thought that no more than twelve sets were created. (Image1)