1901 Royal visit of the Duke & Duchess of York on H.M.S "Ophir" to Australia, New Zealand, Cape Colony and Canada. An exceptional album with "H.M.S Ophir 1901" on the cover containing photos, ephemera and cuttings from the royal tour, kept by The Honorable Gerald Hay, a naval officer on the ship. The album contains 120 real photographs, many very fine quality, including many of the ship, its officers and men, King Edward VII visiting the ship, the departure from Portsmouth, entering Malta, S.S "Britannia" aground in the Suez Canal, views of Aden, Suez, Colombo, Singapore, crossing the line, Melbourne with decorations and illuminations for the royal visit, Sydney, a Maori War Dance, Maoris in gala costume, His Royal Highness and suite, Auckland, Akarori, aborigines, Hobart, Fremantle, sports and theatricals on ship, Mauritius, Cape Town, the royal barge, H.R.H Alexander of Teck, north American Indians, Quebec, Halifax, arrival at Portsmouth and the royal train alongside the ship, etc. Some photos of dignitaries or ship's officers are signed alongside the photos, the autographs include H.R.H Duke of York (3) and Duchess of York (2), their children Albert, Henry, Edward and Victoria, H.R.H Alexander George of Teck, the Governor-Generals of Australia and Canada and their wives, all the ship's officers and most of the royal guests. Also various magazine cuttings, pencil sketches (2) and printed ephemera (17) with concert programmes (2), theatre programmes (3) and a menu from the ship, crossing the line certificate, invitations to the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament at Melbourne (with programme), a reception given by the Duke & Duchess to celebrate the opening and to a reception at Parliament House, to a Grand Exhibition of chopping in Hobart, and to a dinner at the Guildhall, London, upon their return (with menu). Binding broken and the album cover with some water damage, the contents however fine, a unique volume.

1914 (Apr 17) Cover bearing proof impression of seven London E.C cancels or handstamps comprising 1d Paid and Official Paid datestamps in red, 2d charge mark and boxed "Found Loose / at G.P.O E.C" (2 strikes), Krag machine and the rare "LONDON / A / GR" hooded circle datestamp. This datestamp with "GR" code was issued in 1910 for use on mail from the King; it is illustrated in "Royal Household Mail" by G. Morgan (fig 3.5, pages 34/35) who states "No examples recorded". Similar handstamps with V.R are common whilst a few examples are recorded of the rare E.R handstamp, but this is the first example of this "GR" handstamp we have seen. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)