G.B. World War One (12) and World War Two (30) covers with a good range of explanatory marks on undelivered mail to servicemen, censors, P.O.W mail, etc. (42).

G.B. 1799-1829 Entire letters from soldiers (7) or to soldiers (7), one letter to a soldier posted unpaid so charged the full rate of 1/4, one letter to a soldier written in India but posted at Chatham apparently charged at the 1d rate but then redirected and charged the full 1/8 rate, the others all sent at the 1d concession rate. Noted is an unusual 1827 letter from Stamford endorsed "From John Oldfield Serjeant 3rd Guards Commanding the recruiting party Stamford in the absence of the Officer" which was accepted by the Stamford Post Office, 1827 letter to Woolwich with red crowned "To be / delivered / Free", 1808 letter with red "Woolwich E.O / 1 py Post Paid", etc., a few faults though most are fine. (14).

G.B - Sailors Letters. 1803-12 Entire letters sent at the 1d rate comprising 1803 letter from H.M.S "Zealand" at the Nore to London with red crowned "To be / delivered / Free"; 1810 letter from H.M.S "Attack" at the Nore; and 1813 entire letter from H.M.S "Ajax" off Toulon posted at Dartford to another seaman on H.M.S "Impregnable", the last very soiled, the others with minor faults or soiling but very reasonable appearance. (3).

India. 1827 Entire letter from Cawnpore to England from a soldier in the 11th Dragoons, backstamped at Calcutta, carried by an East India Co. ship and handed into the Post Office upon arrival, therefore only the 1d rate charged as there was no expense incurred by the Post Office in conveying the letter by sea, handstamped by circular "INDIA SEAMAN & c / 1 / LONDON". Upper and lower edge faults but very rare, this 1d rate "Seaman" handstamp not recorded in the County Catalogue of London Postal History by B. Jay, ex Sattin collection. Photo on Page 116. (Image1)

India. 1838 Entire letter from Cawnpore to London, unusually headed "From Mary Ann Bonner 5th Bn Bengal Arty, Widows Letter", countersigned and accepted at the 1d rate, backstamped Calcutta G.P.O Ship Letter datestamp, with circular "INDIA SOLDIER & c / 3 / LONDON", charged the 1d rate + 2d ship letter fee. A few edge tears, but a very unusual letter from a soldiers widow accepted at the concession rate, ex Sattin collection.

Burma/G.B. 1859 Cover from Leeds franked by a 1d red, addressed to "Private Jonas Bell, No 3631 68 Regiment, Burmah Island, Madras, East Indies", redirected to Rangoon, backstamped at London, Madras and boxed Rangoon Ship Letter datestamp, a very unusual and scarce 1d rate cover from G.B to Burma. Photo on Page 120. (Image1)

Afghanistan. 1879 (Nov 11) Cover from Cabul to Scotland with "FIELD P.O" backstamp, headed "From No. 1503 Corp. W.A Cameron 72nd Highs" and countersigned, bearing India 8p tied by a diamond of bars, missent to Banbury and then directed to Banchery. William Cameron was killed on 1st September 1880 at the Battle of Kandahar. A couple of very minor edge tears, otherwise fine and scarce. Photo on Page 120. (Image1)

Egypt - Sailors Rate. 1898 Cover to England headed "From W. Howe, Seaman, H.M.S Fearless, Suez" and countersigned, franked 5m, paying the sailors concession rate from Suez, fine and unusual.

War of the Austrian Succession. 1745 (July 10) Entire letter from Captain James Dalrymple to his father, The Earl of Lowdon in London, inscribed "par L'Hollande" with a reasonable strike of the scarce circular framed "AB" handstamp (Armee Britannique), "JY/15" Bishop Mark, charged 10d. Written from Diegham Camp, the letter includes "it is no more a doubt that the French have besieged Oudenarde, all the deserters agree that they began to fire upon it on the 15th so I think we may take our leave of the place & L.H Beauclere's Batallion which together with the Dutch makes the Garrison. Blygh's Regiment is gone into Brussels, they are scarce 300 strong so you may judge what the action of Mille has been for they were recruited by the Draughts before they left camp. Handesyde's is gone into Antwerp & I believe is in no better condition. My Lord Crawford is going to Namur to review the 8000 Austrians which are taken into our pay & are there in Garrison. In case the news of this Detachment to the Rhine be confirmed we intend I believe to bring into the field the Garrisons of both Mons & Namur & very likely if occasion offers we may try the fate of another action". Photo on Page 120. (Image1)

Seven Years War. 1760 (Aug 1) Entire letter written by Lt. Col. Sloper from Warburg Camp, to London, privately carried and posted in the London local post with triangular "PAID / PENY / POST / T / SA" and manuscript receivers name. The short message reads "I have just time to tell you that we yesterday on this ground defeated mon. Mien who commanded above thirty thousand French. The British cavalry has received deservedly the greatest praise. I am perfectly well". The British contingent in Germany, commanded by the Marquis of Granby, stormed the French held town of Warburg in July 31st capturing 1,500 men and ten pieces of artillery.

Portugal - 1d Sailors rate. 1832 Entire letter to Scotland, headed "From Robert Rodan Pte Royal Marines, H.M. Ship Talavera off Oporto 24 September 1832" and countersigned, prepaid to Scotland at the 1d concession rate. The letter concerns a debt of £23, upon which Rodan offers to pay £15, and includes the postscript "The reason your letter was returned for postage was owing to the ship having sailed before its arrival. We sailed from Plymouth on the 24th - on the 1st joined the English squadron off Lisbon, arrived here on the 10th. We daily expect the Briton Frigate here to relieve us to join the Admiral off Lisbon. We are the only line of battle ship here. Don Miguel & Don Pedros squadrons are at sea. We expected to have heard of an engagement before now." The British fleet were supporting the young Queen Maria in her attempt to regain the Portuguese throne seized by her uncle, the regent Miguel, who was defeated in July 1833. Central vertical fold, otherwise fine and scarce, backstamped at Devonport (with boxed "Too Late") and Dumfries.

Spain - Carlist War. 1838-40 Entire letters from Midshipman Edmund Marriott on H.M.S "Gorgon" (3) or "Salamander" (5) to his sister or parents in England, the first letter (7 Aug 1838) from H.M.S "Gorgon" at Sheerness reports "we are to go and help Lord John Hay fight the Carlists", six further letters written at Passages (4 Feb 1838 - 5 April 1840), the final letter (8 Oct 1840) from Portsmouth. The first letter from Spain carried to England on H.M.S "Devon" and posted at Devonport, the other five with red oval "S-SEBASTIAN" handstamps (3) or datestamps of St-Jean-de-Luz (2), all endorsed "Via Bayonne" and backstamped in Paris. The letters include descriptions of the carnival at St. Sebastian, reports of the Carlists capture of a British schooner, transfer from H.M.S "Gorgon" to H.M.S "Salamander", narrow escape from being shipwrecked in a storm, blockade of the Port of Bermeo, arrival of four hostages under a flag of truce held whilst the enemy were allowed to fish, attending balls and seeing bull baiting in Santander, visiting the French Commodore, etc. The British sent a legion of mercenaries and naval support to aid the Spanish Government in their fight against the revolt of Don Carlos, who sought to seize the Spanish throne from the infant Isabella. An interesting correspondence. (8).

Franco-Prussian War. 1870 Stampless covers (2) and a front all with Prussian Feldpost datestamps, the covers both unusually addressed to England, one with "5 Armee-Ops" c.d.s charged 1/-, the other with "1 Armee-Ops" c.d.s. endorsed "Feld Post Brief" and handstamped red "PD" with a London Paid c.d.s; the front with "3 Armee" c.d.s from Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia, Commander of the third army, addressed to his wife "Her Royal Highness Crown Princess of Prussia, Princess Royal of Great Britain and Ireland, Homburg von der Grosse, Frankfurt a/m". Three unusual items. (3).

Zulu War. 1879 (July 17) Stampless cover endorsed "On Active Service, no stamps available" and signed"A. Maude, Capt 90 L.I", addressed to Col. Maude at Buckingham Palace with red inspectors handstampand circular framed "6d" charge mark, backstamped at Durban and London (Aug 20). Recipientsendorsement shows the original letter was from "St Pauls, Zululand, July 17th". A fine campaign cover. Photo on Page 120. (Image1)

Sudan. 1896 (Aug 6) India 1a Soldiers and Seamens Envelope sent from Souakin to India with "BASE OFFICE / B" c.d.s, left edge trimmed upon opening, otherwise fine.

Sudan. 1896-97 Covers from Charles Ferguson both with "WADI-HALFA / CAMP" datestamps, the first a stampless cover to Scotland endorsed "Field Service, no stamps obtainable, C. Ferguson Bim., 10th Soudanese" with 18 Nov. 1896 c.d.s and boxed "T", marked as a double weight letter with "5d / F.B" charge mark, Cairo and Scottish backstamps, opened on three sides with a few edge faults; the second cover to London with Egypt 5m pair tied by 5 Jan. 1897 datestamps, a third datestamp below, Cairo and London backstamps, this cover very fine. Sir Charles Ferguson served in the Grenadier Guards and then the Egyptian Army from 1896 until 1907; he was later Governor General of New Zealand. (2).

Gold Coast - Ashanti Wars. 1901 (Jan 22) G.B 1d Lettercard, altered for use as a postcard with message on the reverse which includes "I am now in charge of garrison here ..... hope to go up the Gambia next month with the Expedition", written from Prahsu by "A.J.M.D". Addressed to Melbourne, Victoria, endorsed "On special service, A.F.F" with datestamps of Prahsu and Cape Coast, a Gold Coast stamp unfortunately removed but a very unusual home made postcard, apparently from an Australian serving with the Ashanti Field Force.

Niger Coast. 1901 Cover to Canada endorsed "P. Master Old Calabar please stamp, Capt. Carstairs, Officer commanding troops Cross River Division, Umwana, Southern Nigeria", two Niger Coast 1d stamps added in transit by the Old Calabar Postmaster and tied by Oct. 14th datestamps, backstamped at Toronto. Captain Carstairs joined the newly formed Southern Nigeria Regt (crest on envelope flap) from the Canadian Militia in 1901. An exceptional campaign cover sent whilst on active service in the interior, carried by runner to the coast where it was stamped and posted. Photo on Page 124. (Image1)

British Somaliland. 1903 (July 28) Cover to England with India QV 1a tied by "F.P.O No 6" double ring c.d.s, used at Upper Sheikh, backstamped "BASE OFFICE / BERBERA" c.d.s and at Aden, recipients file note, otherwise fine.

1900 (Jan 17) Captured red "O.H.M.S / REGISTERED / S.R FRENCH / Post Office" envelope sent to Jagersfontein, headed "Veld Dienst" and endorsed from Colesberg O.V.S, with O.F.S 1d tied by "COLESBERG / C.G.H" squared circle, a second finer strike on the front. An attractive cover sent during the Boer invasion of the Cape.

1900 (Aug 29) Cyclostyled envelope entitled "Trek", depicting a fleeing President Kruger being chased by six bulldogs representing the British Isles, Navy, Volunteers, India, Canada and Australasia, posted from Cape Town to England franked 1/2d pair, unusually fine condition.

Ladysmith Siege. 1900 (Jan 30 - Feb 28) Ladysmith Siege postcards to England all with a Ladysmith c.d.s and circular framed "10c" charge mark which has been obliterated by an "FB" handstamp in the London Foreign Branch, two with red London Paid datestamps (Mar 25), a couple of very minor edge faults though generally fine and attractive. (3).

Rhodesia. 1900 (June 8) Cover with "67th Company / Imperial Yeomanry / (Sharpshooters)" printed on the flap, franked by 1/2d pair tied by Umtali datestamps (June 8), and a stampless cover with "T" handstamp and Bulawayo c.d.s (Oct 30), both covers endorsed "From Corporal T. Hefferman, 12467, 67 Co. I.Y, Sharpshooters" and countersigned for the 1d concession rate, both addressed to the actor H. Beerbohm Tree at Her Majestys Theatre in London, the stampless cover delivered free of charge with a red London E.C Paid c.d.s applied. The stamped cover with vertical central fold and stampless cover with unobtrusive opening tear at upper edge, otherwise a fine and attractive pair. (2). Photo on Page 124. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

Rhodesia. 1900 (July 12) Cover to England headed "From W.N Clark Lieut. 70th (S.S) Coy I.Y Fort Charter" and countersigned by another Lieutenant, franked Rhodesia 1d tied by "274" obliterator with datestamps of Charter and Southampton Packet Letter on the front, backstamped at Bulawayo. A fine cover from an officer incorrectly accepted at the 1d soldiers concession rate. Photo on Page 124. (Image1)

New Zealand. 1900 (Sep 3) Printed pictorial envelope "New Zealand to the Front!" depicting a Maori holding the New Zealand flag standing alongside Britannia, designed and printed by J. Hooker of New Plymouth, posted within New Zealand bearing 1d pair. A little very minor staining, otherwise fine, a scarce and attractive cover. Photo on Page 124 (Image1)