BIRKENHEAD EARLY PRE-STAMP & STAMPLESS MAIL: A 1799-1846 range of Es & ELs with various Birkenhead namestamps inc. an 1837 E with a fine & rare straight-line italic "Birkenhead" hs; an 1837 reused insurance form with a fine straight-line italic "Birkenhead" hs; an 1840 E to Leeds with a faint straight-line italic "Birkenhead" hs and a very fine black "2"[d] post hs of Liverpool adjacent; an 184? EL to Broseley with a partial straight-line italic "Birkenhead" hs; an 1837 EL to the Mayor of Godalming with a partial straight-line italic "Birkenhead" hs; an 1838 EL to Manchester with a partial straight-line italic "Birkenhead" hs which has been improved; and several ELs with red handstruck "1" on the front; etc. All very fine. (23) (Image)

BIRKENHEAD SKELETON COLLECTION: An 1844-46 set of E & ELs with mainly fine strikes inc. an 1846 EL with a smaller diameter hs; and an 1845 EL ex Chepstow with the hs used as a receiving mark. All very fine. (5) (Image)

BIRKENHEAD UNIQUE "Missent to B.Head": An 1850 EL franked with a 3-margin 1d red star tied by a poor "905" numeral hs ex-Wolverhampton to Warrington via Liverpool & Birkenhead with a blue s/l "Missent to B.Head". Previously unrecorded and in very fine condition. Exhibition item. (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - 1d STARS & 1d PINKS: An 1852-64 accumulation of mail all paying inland postal rates inc. an 1862 "Notice of Objection" form posted to Kidderminster franked with a strip of 3 1d red stars (paying the 3d Notice rate) tied by "BIRKENHEAD/3/AU24/52/74" duplex cancels; an EL from London to Macclesfield franked with a 1d red tied by a London "27" barred numeral and a "BIRKENHEAD/DE23/1856/B" cds preceded by ms "Mis sent to"; a privately printed 1d Pink env. containing a fold out Waterlow & Sons advertising letter and waterlow anagram on flap; plus others in poor to excellent condition. (27) (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - OHMS & REVENUES: A small 1854-70 group of official mail and receipts inc. an 1854 blue EL/receipt posted to Chester with a "Rowland Hill" imprint; an 1854 "GPO Surveyor" env. (repaired faults) with a large rare "2" hs and inscribed "The Postage charged on this/will be allowed on sending/the Cover to London with/your Dead Letters"; plus 5 receipts dated between 1864-69 with various "INLAND REVENUE" stamps on them. Mainly in v. fine condition. (10) (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - TO IRELAND - "GONE TO SEA" HS: An 1855 E (opened out for display) from Ennis, Ireland to Birkenhead with a 1d red star tied with an over-inked Ennis "211" diamond numeral, endorsed "Passenger per 'Golden Era' Birkenhead/In haste" (en route to Australia). However, the letter did not arrive in time as evidenced by the partial oval hs "GONE TO SEA". A unique item. Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, NEW SOUTH WALES (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - 1855 MAIL TO PARIS: A quartet of covers all dated 1855, addressed to Paris, and stamps cancelled with "74" barred numerals inc. an EL franked with a 4d carmine on highly glazed deep blue paper (SG62). An attractive group. (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - DUPLEXES - MAIL TO AFRICA, INDIA & MAURITIUS: A quartet of covers to Africa & eastern destinations inc. an 1874 env. to Sierra Leone with a 6d chestnut tied by a mainly v. fine Birkenhead duplex and a red "1" adjacent, and a Sierra Leone receiver cds on reverse; plus a stampless EL to Mauritius, an 1870 env. to Bengal, and an 1890 env. to Madras. All in fair to good condition with fine strikes. Cross Reference: INDIA, MAURITIUS, SIERRA LEONE (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - RARE SPOON CANCEL QUARTET: A set of 4 EL, E & envs. addressed to inland destinations and all with fine 1856 code "E" Spoon cancels tying a 1d red inc. a cover to Cartmel with an "EGREMONT" UDC on reverse, and another to Bury with a partial "LIME KILN LANE" udc on reverse. Also similar on piece and an E with a partial 1856 "CHESTER" Spoon cancel. All fine condition. (6 items) (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - SIDEWAYS DUPLEXES - MAIL TO EUROPE: A small set of 1861-69 envs. all addressed to European destinations with varied rates inc. France, Germany, Holland (3) & Switzerland. all with very fine sideways duplex strikes. Cross Reference: FRANCE, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, SWITZERLAND (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - SIDEWAYS DUPLEXES - MAIL TO USA & CANADA TRIO: An 1869 mourning env. to California endorsed "Overland/Via New York" franked with a 6d lilac tied by a fine "D/FE 6/69" sideways duplex; and env. franked with a pair of 4d rose tied by a fine "E/FE 18/59" sideways duplex; and an env. (corner faults) franked with a 1/- green tied by a fine "3/NO 5/65" sideways duplex with a red "5" and "BOSTON BRANCH/DEC/10/24 PAID" cds adjacent. Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - SIDEWAYS DUPLEX PAIR TO SHANGHAI: A pair of envs. with different rates travelling by different routes to Shanghai. An env. endorsed "Via Southampton" franked with a 6d lilac tied with a good "OC 31/57" sideways duplex, and an env. endorsed "Via Marseilles" franked with a 6d lilac, 1d red & 2d blue all tied by fine "JA 8/58" sideways duplex. Very attractive pair. Cross Reference: CHINA (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - SIDEWAYS DUPLEX - RARE TO SINGAPORE: An env. (flap faults) addressed to Singapore franked with a 1/- green tied by a good "H/JU 2/62" sideways duplex, endorsed "Via Marseilles" and with a fine red boxed "INSUFFICIENT POSTAGE 6/BRITISH SHARE OF FINE 6". Rare thus. Cross Reference: MALAYA - STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - MATCHED PAIR OF RARE DISTINCTIVE "2" POSTAGE DUE: A pair of envs. to Edinburgh or Dublin cancelled with fine 1857 or 1858 sideways duplexes both with very fine large distinctive black "2" postage due marks. Rare. Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - MAIL TO EUROPE & AMERICAS: An 1868-82 group on envs. & cards to various international destinations with a variety of frankings. inc. an attractive EL to Valparaiso (Chile) franked with a 1/- pale-green tied with a fine "BIRKENHEAD/1 B/OC 4/72/74" duplex endorsed "pr Str. Republic" with a fine blue s/l "S/S REPUBLIC" hs below (possibly the only known cover to Valparaiso from Birkenhead). Plus others to Brazil, Germany, Holland (4), Switzerland, and USA (5). In variable condition but all with fine markings. (13) Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NETHERLANDS, BRAZIL, CHILE (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - TRIO OF ADVERTISING ENVS.: Three envs. franked with 1d red stamps tied with fine Birkenhead duplexes or sideways duplex with advertising emblems. An 1869 env. with oval red "WIRRAL AGRICULTURE SOCIETY" in a belt around an embossed image of a wheat sheaf, horse, cow, goat, sheep, pig & ducks on front; an 1877 env. with a circular "BEBINGTON FREE LIBRARY/MDCCCLXVI" around images of sailing ships, a steam train, a plough, and a church on front; and an 1868 env. with an oval "SCHOOL FRIGATE COMPANY/+LIVERPOOL+" around a sailing ship on flap. Fine and attractive. (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - DUPLEXES - MAIL TO AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND: An env. to New Zealand endorsed "Via Marseilles"with a 3-colour franking comprised of a 6d lilac, two 1d reds & a 2d blue (making a 10d rate), all tied by fine "5/11 AU/68" duplexes; and an env. addressed to Australia franked with a 6d chestnut tied by a fine "B/NO 8/75" duplex. An attractive pair. Cross Reference: AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - REGD. TO INDIA & RETURNED: A very busy env. (faults on back) franked with a 2d blue & 8d orange paying for registration and postage to India tied with v. fine "BIRKENHEAD/D2/30OC/78" cds's, ENDORSED "Via Brindisi", and an oval Birkenhead registration cds, red oval Calcutta "REGISTERED" cds and red boxed "UNCLAIMED" hs adjacent. Also on front in purple pen "Ford. to D.L.O. London". On reverse are 4 Calcutta cds's a partial "SEA POST OFFICE" cds, and a boxed "D.L.O./CALCUTTA/JAN:18". A very attractive item. Cross Reference: INDIA (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - POSTAL FISCALS AS POSTAGE: A set of five 1881-892 envs. with "INLAND REVENUE" stamps used as postage inc. a Registered Letter env. to Austria franked with large & small 1d pale lilacs and a ½d Bantam tied with fine "BIRKENHEAD/X2/SP1/90" thimble cds's; the others posted to inland destinations with single 1d lilac stamps. All fine and very attractive. Cross Reference: FISCALS, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - POSTAL FISCALS - REGISTERED: An 1887-90 trio of envs. with "INLAND REVENUE" stamps used as postage inc. an env. registered to France franked with two 1d pale lilac and a 2½d blue stamps tied with fine "BIRKENHEAD/9AX/NO10/87" duplexes;' an env. registered to Austria franked with a 1d purple and large 6d lilac both revenue stamps and tied with oval "REGISTERED/A/11NO90/BIRKENHEAD" cds; and an env. registered to Southport franked with a large 1d lilac and a pair of 1d red stamps tied with fine "BIRKENHEAD/9/MY16/90" duplexes and oval "REGISTERED/B/16MY90/BIRKENHEAD" cds adjacent. All fine and very attractive. Cross Reference: FISCALS, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - POSTCARD HALFPENNY FRANKING - FIRST DAY, 1894: A plain buff card addressed to Newferry franked with QV ½d orange cancelled by crisp Birkenhead Squared Circle of 1 September 1894; on the reverse - Here's to the new venture of Her Majesty's Post Office!. A scarce item in v.fine condition [similar sold in our Mar. 2004 sale for £2760]. Also a similar card with postmark dated 28 Apr. 1893 (pre-postcard halfpenny franking) allowed as Printed Paper Rate. (2) (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - RARE POSTED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS (1): A quartet of PPCs all franked with large "BIRKENHEAD/X/MAS" cds's for 4 different years between 1906-9. Mainly fine strikes. Cross Reference: CHRISTMAS/RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - RARE POSTED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS (2): A quartet of "BIRKENHEAD/X/MAS" cds's on 3 PPCs and an small env. for 3 different years between 1907-9. Two fine strikes, one partial, and one faint.Cross Reference: CHRISTMAS/RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - 1d RED & ½d BANTAM PLATES RANGE & ½d POSTAL STATIONERY POSTCARDS: A box file containing a large selection of 1858-80 mail all with Birkenhead duplex cancels inc. an OHMS Form Wr.7. to "THE RECEIVER OF WRECK" in Liverpool detailing the finding of a mast & sail at Rock Lighthouse, franked with a ½d Bantam (Plate 14). A useful accumulation for further study. (44 envs., 58 PCs) (Image)

BIRKENHEAD - LATE QV 1880-1901: A box file containing an interesting group of envs. in variable condition inc. an 1883 front illustrated with a comic ink drawing of a soldier; a well travelled 1899 env. with 13 Squared Circles & cds's of various towns and 4 "Not Known [at...]" ms's; 3 envs. with boxed "Undelivered for reason stated/To be returned to Sender/at the address shewn on cover." inc. a v. fine mourning env. franked with a 1d lilac ovptd. "I.R./OFFICIAL" tied with a fine Birkenhead Squared Circle; an 1890 env. illustrated with Horticultural awards (contents included); Lever Brothers advertising envs. (2) & card (1); four 1890 Uniform Penny Postage envs. all cancelled with fine Birkenhead duplexes; plus some envs. addressed to foreign destinations, registered mail, postage dues, receipts, etc. Mainly fine. (113) (Image)