1844-71 GROUP OF UNDATED IRISH S/LINE, UDC, R/HOUSE ETC MARKS - mostly 1d red frankings - good range inc. "Armoy R.H/Ballymoney" (2), BALLINAGORE on back of 1d pink cancelled with scarcer MULLINGAR English-type spoon (fair strike), "BALLINGLEN/RATHDRUM", BALLYBRITTAS, "BRIDGETOWN/WEXFORD" on back of env. with 1d red (damaged) tied by scarce WEXFORD English-type spoon, "Carrickallen/Killishandra", CHAPELIZOD, "COURTHOUSE R.H/BELFAST", DALYSTOWN, "Donadea/Kilcock" (2), DUNSANY, "GLIN/126", GRANGE, "KNOCKTOPHER/63", SILVERMINES, WARINGSTOWN, WATERGRASSHILL, and "WHITEABBEY/BELFAST". (25 covers)Cross Reference: SPOONS & SIDEWAYS DUPLEXES, ETC. (Image)

COVE SHIP LETTER MARKS; Pair with 1 Apr. 1800 EL to Dublin ex Portsmouth (Virginia) rated '7'9d) on front and with "COVE/SHIP LE." h.s. on front and 12 Sep. 1837 E (ex West Indies?) to London rated '1/10'(d) with "COVE/SHIP.LETTER" h.s. on front. Good pair showing different types of these marks. (2 covers) Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, SHIP LETTERS, COUNTY CORK (Image)

EARLY LETTER TO DENMARK WITH LONDON POST PAID MARK; 29 Aug. 1801 EL (small opening tear) to Copenhagen with "KINSALE" h.s. and tombstone "PAID" h.s. and circular "POST/PAID/D" h.s. also on front. Endorsed 'ppd' and rated '5/2'(d). Rear with a double-ring "FOREIGN OFFICE/34/1801" mark and small circular "SE/1/1801" d.s. Unusual origin and destination. Cross Reference: LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, DENMARK (Image)

IRISH INSPECTORS CROWN WITH POSTAGE DUE; 2 July 1813 EL (mostly v.fine) to Dublin with fine and rare "OULART/58" mileage mark on front and rated '7'(d) on front. Crown Inspectors mark placed at top with ms. 'More to Pay 7d' just below and with Dublin octagonal "PAID" d.s. on front. Rare example of overweight and underpaid mail from this tiny village. Cross Reference: INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS, INSPECTORS' MARKS, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, WEXFORD (Image)

MONEY LETTER, FRED MAIL & DUBLIN UNPAID MARK; Trio with Nov. 1817 EL endorsed 'Money Letter' to Dublin with "GOREY" h.s. on front with "[crown]/C" h.s. on front and rated a total of '2/4'(d) on front and a Dublin Octagonal/circular d.,s. on rear, July 1829 OHMS printed E to Limerick with "[crown]/FREE" d.s. on front and July 1839 E to Dublin Ex Lamberhurst (Kent) rated '1/4'(d) on front and with "Postage to/Dublin/not paid". Good examples of this scarce marks. (3 covers) Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, DUBLIN CITY, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, FREE MAIL (Image)

RARE IMPROVISED KENMARE SHIP LETTER MARK; Oct. 1821 duplicate EL (mild file folds) 'p Jungfrouw Johanna' to Bordeaux, datelined at NY and intended to be carried privately to Holland, however an emergency landfall was made in Ireland having been blown off course. Endorsed 'Ship Letter' with "KENMARE/156" mileage mark in Blue alongside. Initially rated '2/9'(d) then deleted and re-rated '1/6'(d) and the rear with Dublin and London cds and an "ANGLETERRE" mark on front. Exceptional Irish Ship Letter with three examples believed extent (all from this voyage) with one illustrated by Robertson (1955) Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SHIP LETTERS, IRISH POSTAL HISTORY, KERRY (Image)

RARE "IRISH SOCIETY" PRINTED HEADING FREE FRANK WITH RED "CHARITY LETTER/POST PAID" INSIDE; Remarkable 9 July 1823 mostly printed EL posted twice - each time with the rare printed heading of the "IRISH SOCIETY for promoting the Education of the Native Irish through the medium of their own Language"; the first time to Ruskey with a fair (but rare) red Dublin "CHARITY LETTER/POST PAID" h.s. then sent back to Dublin with a very fine rare "RUSKEY/66" mileage mark, framed Dublin "FREE" d.s. and the black Dublin Penny Post Handstruck "1" and oval "12 O'CLOCK" d.s. Very rare specific Irish Official Free wrapper. Similar example sold for £500 in our Jan. 2010 sale. Cross Reference: DUBLIN CITY, REDIRECTED AND TURNED MAIL, FREE MAIL (Image)

MANUSCRIPT "Ship Letter" + "KILLYBEGS/123" MILEAGE MARK & SIMILAR MANUSCRIPT "Ship letter" COVERS TO B. GUIANA/G.B.; 2/4 July 1832 EL from "Glengary" to Demarara endorsed "Pd to Quebec" (replaced by "Paid 11") with a fine blue m/s-dated "LANCASTER" UDC on the front, but also having a bold "Ship Letter" endorsement at top left of the address in a different hand, above a partial "KILLYBEGS/123" Irish arrival mark (with a second strike on the reverse); it was charged "3/2" in Ireland (presumably via Falmouth to British Guiana) with a fine red Dublin 10 Sept. transit diamond on the flap. Extraordinarily rare Ship Letter port; Robertson did not record any and Tabeart only notes a maximum of three 2-line marks (A1) of 1796-1800; hence this is an important addition to the record of Irish Ship Letter markings. Plus a similar 29 June 1832 large part E to GB with fine m/s-dated "COBOURG" UDC on the front (red m/s "Paid 1N4") with a similar Manuscript "Ship letter" marking but no Killybegs or Dublin transit marks. Probably from the same sailing. Amazing pair. Sold in our Mar. 2015 sale for £1700. (2 covers) (Image)

CORK & QUEENSTOWN SHIP LETTER MARKS; Pair with 24 July 1837 EL to London ex NY with fine Black framed "CORK/SHIP LETTER" h.s. on front and 15 Dec. 1850 EL (file fold) to London ex Port Louis with Crown "MAURITIUS" d.s., "ship Letter" h.s., circular "PAID", "8" decimes mark, small and scarce "QUEENSTOWN/SHIP LETTER" and Queenstown double-cds both in Blue on front. Rear with Dublin & London d.s. Good pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: CITY OF CORK, SHIP LETTERS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MAURITIUS (Image)

IRISH UNIFORM 4d PERIOD MAIL; Pair with 7 Dec. 1839 EL to Roscrea with framed "POST PAID/AT CARLOW" and rated '4'(d) on front. Rear with Carlow and Maryborough double-arc d.s. and s/l "ROSCREA" h.s. and 21 Dec, 1839 reduced EL to Clonmel ex Dublin initially rated '4'(d) but found to be overweight and re-rated '8'(d) prepaid. Dublin and Clonmel d.s. on rear. Unusual pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: UNIFORM 4d POSTAGE PERIOD, DUBLIN CITY (Image)

PAID AT DUNGANNON MARKS; Pair with 13 May 1840 E to Dublin and 19 Feb. 1843 EL to Lurgan each rated '1' and with fancy framed "PAID/at/DUNGANNON" h.s. on front, latter in Blue with matched double-arc d.s. on rear - only two examples in Blue believed to exist - and presumably struck in error in this colour. (2 covers) (Image)

IRISH PAID & PENNY POST MARKS; Range on annotated leaves inc. Feb. 1840 EL to Ayr ex Ballyclare rated '1'(d) with "P.PAID" h.s. on front, 1847 EL to Chesterfield franked 1d Red with "RANELAGH/PENNY POST" h.s. in front possibly in leu of a cds, 1849 EL to Manchester with framed "PAID AT/NEWTOWN LIMAVADY" in Blue h.s. on front, 1849 EL to Cadamstown with "BANAGHER" double-arc d.s. and s/l "POST PAID" h.s. both in Blue on front and other related examples inc. Free and Official mail. (19 covers + 1 front)Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, FREE MAIL (Image)

MX CANCEL USED TO INDICATE MISSING PAYMENT; 14 Oct. 1842 EL (faint file folds) to Ballymoney datelined at Newtownards and with Newtownards, Armagh, Belfast and Garvagh d.s. on rear. The original 1d franking - as evidenced on stamp sized faint stain and remnants of original MX cross cancel at left and top right - has apparently fallen off and same area has had an additional strike - in transit or on arrival - in recognition to avoid being taxed as unpaid letter. Remarkable, if unique, Irish use of a MX cancel and important exhibition item. Cross Reference: 1840s CANCELLATIONS, 1841 1d REDS, LINE-ENGRAVED ISSUES, DOWN

SKIBBEREEN SHIP LETTER MARK ON EL TO SCOTLAND EX VALPARAISO; Apr. 1845 EL (faint file fold) ex Valparaiso to Edinburgh endorsed 'Goddess' at lower left and landed at Crookhaven with scarce "SKIBBEREEN/SHIP LETR." and "SKIBBEREEN/PENNY POST" "No.1" Receiving House h.s. all on front and with Skibbereen, Dublin & Edinburgh d.s on rear. Fine "8" h.s. ship letter charge also on front. Similar example sold in our Jan. 2007 sale for £480. Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, SHIP LETTERS, COUNTY CORK, IRISH POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

1849/1856 IRISH MAIL WITH CDS USED AS CANCELS: Jan. 1849 E (edge fault, faults on the back) to Hounslow with close-to four margin 1d red tied by both a blue LIMERICK cds and its 303 numeral in black, LISNAGRY s/line alongside; and Aug. 1856 env. from NEWLAND (udc on the back, along with COLEFORD cds) to Newtown Mount Kennedy with C8 1d red tied by 212 numeral, redirected to 'Camp at Curragh' with another C8 1d red tied solely by fine blue-green "NEWTOWN MT KENNEDY" cds. Attractive duo. (2) Cross Reference: GLOUCESTERSHIRE, LIMERICK, CANCELLATIONS, WICKLOW (Image)

1858-63 SIDEWAYS "I I" & "H" CDS CODES PLUS SCARCE "H&K PACT" DUPLEX GROUP: 1858 env. ex France with imperf 40c and 1860 env. (faults) to France with 4d rose each with DUBLIN backstamp or tying duplex with sideways "I I" code, and Oct. 1860 E ex France & Feb-May 1861 trio of 1d red envs. ex London (2) or Wolverhampton all to Dublin with sideways "H" code within DUBLIN cds on the back (ex France is in blue), the first two types of H&K handstamps; and scarce "H&K PACT/186" duplex on Nov. 1861- Feb. 1863 envs. (5, inc. in blue) to various England cities, plus on three 1d red pieces. (14 items) Cross Reference: IRELAND, SHIP LETTERS, FRANCE (Image)

1861-c1908 H&K CDS BACKSTAMP GROUP OF MAIL: Range of types of the "H&K PACT" or "H&K PACKET" cds, inc. on extremely rare 1869 'Per Book Post' wrapper sent registered from Edinburgh with 1d red & 2d blue plate 12 (2, one damaged) incredibly rare regd. wrapper despite condition, 1869 env. Exeter to Durham with both 'Mis-sent' & 'Mifsent' on the flap, and 1905 env. to Durban missent to Dublin; foreign origin mail inc. 1892 pair of envs. ex India each with ½d blue-green (5) all tied by MHOW duplexes, 1903 env. ex Rome with 25c blue, 1904/07 pair of envs. from India with QV or KEVII 1a rose & "SEA POST OFFICE" cds on the backs & three others ex India. (64) Cross Reference: INDIA, IRELAND, MARITIME MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

1861-1905 H&K CDS GROUP OF MAIL: Extensive range, mostly backstamps, 1861-90s range with broken-circle "H&K PACT" cds types inc. 1861/62 pairs of envs. ex London with H&K cds struck in blue/bluish ink, 1866 E from London with 1d red & 2d blue plates values, 1869 officer's letter (faults) to 'H.M.S. Jaseur' Sierra Leone with 6d purple plate 8 then redirected back to Dublin, foreign origins with 1864 pair of envs. ex France franked 40c Empire perf issue, 1882 env. from India franked ½a & 4a stamps tied barred diamond and TURKAULIA & BOMBAY cds on the back, etc; 1869 legal env. from Shrewsbury with 1d red plates (3) and "H&K PACT" alongside on the front; and 1888-1905 range with single/double-ring H&K cds on the back. Plus group of PPCs (7) depicting Irish mail steamers and c.1841 engraving (tone spots) of Holyhead harbour. (66) Cross Reference: IRELAND, SHIP LETTERS, MILITARY - GB FORCES OVERSEAS (Image)

RARE 1862 3d LATE FEE COVER WITH SCARCE H&K DUPLEX CANCELS: 10 June 1862 env. (flap fault) to Liverpool franked 1857 1d red (4) paying the penny postage plus a 3d late fee, all tied by "H&K PACT/186" duplex. Rare 3d late fee via H&K packet; previously sold by Cavendish in 2009 for £260 + prem. Cross Reference: IRELAND, SHIP LETTERS, LATE FEE/TOO LATE MAIL (Image)

SCARCE H&K DUPLEX ON 1862 REGISTERED COVER TO WORCESTER: 23 June 1862 reg. legal env. (creases, faults mainly on the back) to Worcester franked 1857 1d red (10) paying 4d postage plus 6d reg. fee all tied scarce "H&K PACT/186" duplex plus similar single cds alongside; BIRMINGHAM transit cds on the back. Visually appealing despite condition issues. Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, SHIP LETTERS, WORCESTERSHIRE (Image)

VERY RARE "MISSENT to HD & KN PACKET" ON 1863 COVER: July 1863 env. (minor flap tear) to Callan franked with 1857 1d red tied by fair strike of the rare H-rated 372 numeral of "PASSAGE WEST", wrongly sent to the Irish Sea packet with very fine & very rare boxed "MISSENT/to/HD & KN PACKET" on the back. Exhibition item; bought for £1250 in 2014. Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, MISSENT MAIL (Image)

CORK TO DUBLIN T.P.O. - COVER WITH THE VERY RARE "T.O.3" NUMERAL: 20 Sep. 1868 env. (minor toning/wear) to Sheffield franked 1d red tied by a mainly fine and very rare H-rated "T.0.3" numeral with QUEENSTOWN cds on the front, having the original contents written on board ship 'Off Queenstown' about to leave for the US. This is one of only 3 recorded examples of this cancel on cover, and it is thought to have been applied on the Cork to Dublin T.P.O. Important Irish Exhibition Item; with copy of 1989 Martin Willcocks article about this cover and the TO cancels. [Ex Brian Wallas; sold by Cavendish in 2013 for £760.] Cross Reference: T.P.O.s AND STATION MARKS (Image)

EXTREMELY RARE H&K "NIGHT MAIL" CDS ON 1881 COVER: 23 May 1881 env. (minor flap tears) to Wales franked with ½d dull green & 1d venetian red (small fault) both tied by mostly fine strikes of the extremely rare "NIGHT MAIL/H&K PACT" cds, WREXHAM cds on the back. Believed one of four known; bought for £750 in 2018. Cross Reference: IRELAND, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

1884-1912 H&K CDS USED AS A CANCELLATION, GROUP OF MAIL: with 1884 ½d brown PC to London uprated with ½d slate both cancelled with double-ring "H&K PACKET" with the ½d slate also tied by overstruck London red cds a second strike of which is below, 1887 PC used from Castlecomer to New Ross uprated with ½d vermilion with double-ring "H&K PACKET" cds, 1889-1901 group (7) of envs. each franked 1½d with stamps tied by various types of H&K cds, and 1905-12 range (8) of PPCs stamps tied by single-ring "H&K PACKET" cds. (17) Cross Reference: IRELAND, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

20th CENTURY RAILWAY DATESTAMPS; Range on annotated leaves inc. 1905 PPC to Loughgall franked KEVII ½d tied by "PORTADOWN STATION/1" cds, 1907 PPC to London franked KEVII ½d tied by skeleton "STRAFFAN STN/13" cds, 1916 PPC to Dublin franked KGV ½d (3) each tied by "G.S & W T.P.O/DAY MAIL" cds, 1925 env. to York with Tullamore reg. label affixed and franked 5d stationery indicia tied to front with "PORTARLINGTON/RAIL" cds on rear and other related examples. (17 cards/covers) Cross Reference: RAILWAYS, T.P.O.s AND STATION MARKS, LIMERICK