1st BOER WAR - SHIP'S BAG USAGE OF G.B. 1d VENETIAN REDS ON COVER EX NAVAL SUPPORT FOR BRITISH FORCES; Attractive 6 Mar. 1881 env. (slight faults but with complete contents headed "H.M.S. TOURMALINE, Simons Bay, C.G.H.") to Winchester franked by GB 1d Venetian Reds (6), all tied by mostly v. fine "PLYMOUTH TO BRISTOL T.P.O." c.d.s.'s (21 Mar.). The letter mentions recent reinforcements to fight the Boers; "a rumour we hear that Laing's Neck has been taken is true...once over that difficulty with the present number of troops, they ought to account for the Boers satisfactorily, though I dare say resistance would be prolonged for some time." The British were defeated at Laing's Neck on 28 Jan. 1881, but a week before this letter they had also been heavily defeated at Majuba Hill! Rare Naval Officer's letter from this Campaign. [Illustrated in NOL, p.52.] Sold for £440 in our June 2007 sale. Ex Osborn. Cross Reference: INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, BRISTOL, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, MILITARY - BOER WAR (Image)

BRAZIL-GB - NAVAL COVER EX RIO WITH SUPERB PURPLE "POSTED AT SEA/DANUBE" - remarkable and spectacular 8 Jan. 1901 env. ("H.M.S. BASILISK." flap) to "H.M.S. Britannia, Dartmouth" franked by GB 1d Lilac tied by a truly superb purple "POSTED AT SEA/DANUBE" ship's cachet with Rio & Dartmouth backstamps. Possibly unique. Sold by Cavendish in 2011 for £350. Cross Reference: BRAZIL, MILITARY, NAVAL MAIL, PAQUEBOTS (Image)

NAPOLEONIC WAR LETTER TO ENGLAND; 16 Apr. 1805 EL (central stain from read wax seal) to England datelined [HMS] San Josef off Brest [France] with poor strike double-oval "SHIP-LETTER[CROWN]/PLYMOUTH" h.s. [Tabeart S5] on front and rated '1/-'. Content by John Bowker......since we drove them into Brest they have not shewn the least inclination to move....I have just been making inquiries amongst my messmates to know if they have received many letters lately and I find not one of them have had a post letter since we sailed from Torbay.....should Bony's troops get over what a nest of charming women they'd find in the neighbourhood.....Unusual and with a typed transcript. Cross Reference: FRANCE, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR (Image)

GUION LINE TRANSATLANTIC MAIL; Range on leaves in binder inc. 1870 EL to Cognac ex Philadelphia carried on the Colorado and with framed "GB/2F----" accountancy mark on front, 1871 mourning env. to Rome franked 10c pair tied by NY fancy cancel (Weiss TR-C1/F9) 1872 EL to Holland 'pr Manhattan' franked 10c and tied by NY fancy cancel, 1872 E to Berne 'pr Wisconsin', franked 2c (2) + 3c pair and tied by NY fancy cancels (Weiss TR-C7/S16), 1873 env. to Geneva franked 2c (5) tied by NY fancy cancels (Weiss ST-BP 10) with "NEW YORK PAID ALL/VIA ENG. & OST" cds on front, 1875 1c PC to Frankfurt uprated 1c, carried on the Wyoming and tied by NY fancy cancel (Weiss type ST-8P5 - only three other believed extent on a PC), 1875 env. to Frankfurt franked 3c + 2c jointly tied by NY fancy cancel (Weiss GE-EP3/G15) and other related examples plus some shipping ephemera. Good group, several are Ex Kirke. Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FRANCE, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

CUNARD & ROYAL MAIL STEAM SHIP ADVERTISING CARDS: Four cards, one each for the "S.S. Parthia", "S.S. Java", "S.S. China" and "S.S. Abyssinia & Algeria" (Both on one card). Card for "S.S. Parthia", designed to be folded, shows a list of ships in the Cunard Atlantic Fleet on the front, a view of the ship and a cabin plan on the inside, and the Cunard Line rates of passage & agencies on the rear; the other three show a sepia-tinted print of the ship on the front and a cabin plan on the back. All in v. good condition. (4) Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)

HAMBURG-AMERICA LINE P.H. & EPHEMERA GROUP: Written-up 1894-1939 range of covers & ephemera of the Hamburg-America Line inc. 1894 regd env. to a passenger of S.S. Havel at Southampton franked GB 3d tied Southampton Row cds with fine "REGISTERED/W.C.D.O." cds below & 'Please delivery immediately' at base, 1894 printed env. (earliest type with "Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft" company name across the top) to USA franked German 20pf tied shipboard cds underpaid but untaxed, 1898 Hamburg-Amerika Linie printed env. (with original small format ship etching top left and & coloured H.A.P.A.G. company crest on back flap, opened out for display) franked German 20pf (faults) tied "DEUTSCHES SEEPOST" ship board cds underpaid with boxed "T" & ms '2/25' & 'T' in blue crayon & N.Y. "DUE/10/CENTS" duplex with US 5c (pair) p.dues on rear, 1907 Hamburg-Amerika Linie printed env. (with new larger format four funnel ship etching top left) to Germany franked German 10pf (pair) tied "DEUTSCHES SEEPOST" ship board cds's, 1907, 11 & 20s trio of printed envs. to Italy, Germany or Switzerland each with a different version of the bi- or tri-coloured company flag, 1931 regd env. ex New Jersey to England franked US 15c & 2c with ms 'By S.S. "New York"/sailing Feb. 11th', etc. Plus small group of programmes, menu cards, etc. (13 covers & 6 items of ephemera) Cross Reference: SHIPS/SHIPPING, REGISTERED MAIL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, GERMANY (Image)

HAMBURG-AMERICA LINE 'FLAG' CANCELS & NORDSEE-LINIE-HAMBURG PPC GROUPS: 1926-36 range of Hamburg-America Line cards/covers on pages, posted on board with associated ship 'flag' cancels inc. 1926 real photo PC (HAPAG liner "Deutschland") to USA franked German 5pf & 10pf tied "DEUTSCH/AMERIKANSCHE/ SEEPOST" cds with attached "DEUTSCH-LAND/H.A.L." flag, and 1928 full colour PC (HAPAG liner "Albert Ballin") franked German 15pf (trimmed) tied cds with "ALBERT/BALLIN/H.A.L." flag; 1901-08 PPC range of the Nordsee-Linie-Hamburg routes to Heligoland (5) & the North Frisian Islands (3) with Heligoland route inc. 1901 PPC (S.S. Cobra battling high seas to Heligoland) franked German 5pf tied Cuxhaven cds on landing with fancy scallop edged "Auf hoher See" cds applied on board, etc. Good lot. (16) Cross Reference: SHIPS/SHIPPING, PICTURE POSTCARDS, HELIGOLAND, GERMANY (Image)

WORLDWIDE PAQUEBOT CANCELS; Mainly a range of mail, fragments and loose stamps with Paquebot & ship related marks inc. 1931 env. to B.Guiana franked St Kitts Nevis 1½d cancelled on arrival with "MAILED AT SEA" h.s. on front and many off cover examples with "RMS" "LOOSE LETTER", "SEE POST" and "PAQUEBOT" cancels plus a general group with 1911 India Coronation Durbar booklet franked KGV 1a, 2a & 3a with special cancels, 1933 airmail env. to London franked Costa Rica 5c on 10c (double opt), 1colon, 40c +20c on 50c with San Jose reg. label and framed "A.R." mark on front, 1936 Queen Mary inaugural voyage env. to NY franked GB ½d tied by Southampton machine cancel, 1936 Scipio crash env. ex Malaya, Portugal 1912 5r bisected and tied to a fragment (SG unpriced) and Chile 1861 10c bisected and tied to a fragment (SG £100) and many others. (51 covers/cards + c100 stamps) Cross Reference: ST. CHRISTOPHER/ST. KITTS NEVIS, PAQUEBOTS, BISECTS, INDIA (Image)

20th CENTURY PAQUEBOT MAIL - Carton containing mixed range in albums and loose, inc. 1903 env. (corner fault) to France with ½d blue-green (2) & 1d red tied BARBADOS cds plus purple underlined "POSTED ON THE HIGH SEAS"; 1907 PPC to Gloucester with ½d green tied "BARBADOS/G.P.O." cds with large "POSTED ON THE/HIGH SEAS." alongside; 1908 PPC to GB with 1d red tied purple "TRANSITO/COLON" cds and RMSPCo oval garter "Posted on High Seas" alongside; 1928 env. (faults, punch hole) to Hull with 1½d brown tied double-framed "PAQUEBOT" possibly applied in Rio; and 1935 env. to ship in Southampton with handstruck "UNCLAIMED ON BOARD S. S. AURANIA". Also small stockbook of stamps, all common values. (Qty) Cross Reference: PAQUEBOTS (Image)

PAQUEBOT MAIL TO GREAT BRITAIN; Range with 1906 PPC (dated at Las Palmas) to England franked KEVII ½d (2) tied by "T/LONDON" cds, 1910 PPC to England franked KEVII ½d tied by double-ring "G.K. & ARDRISHAIG PACKET/IONA" cds, 1913 PPC to England franked Colombia 2c tied by "PAQUEBOT/POSTED AT SEA/RECEIVED/SOUTHAMPTON" cds, 1931 PPC to England franked KGV 1½d tied by indistinct Paquebot cancel and with double-ring "POSTED ON THE HIGH SEAS/R.M.S.P "DARRO" d.s. on front, 1936 env. to NY franked KGV 1½d tied by Southampton Paquebot machine cancel and other related examples. (167) Cross Reference: GREAT BRITAIN, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, GREENOCK AND ARDRISHAIG STEAMERS, ETC., PAQUEBOTS (Image)

PRE-STAMP/STAMPLESS MAIL TO USA; Range with 1827 EL to NY ex London rated '1/6'(d), 1840 EL to NY ex Whitby rated '8'(d), 1846 EL to NY ex Liverpool with a "1/-" h.s. and "7"(cents) h.s. applied on arrival, 1857 unpaid EL to NY ex Liverpool with "19/CENTS" h.s. obliterated by a "466" b/n and a "38/CENTS" h.s. applied to indicate a double-rate and with a "48"(cents) h.s applied on arrival, 1865 unpaid EL to Connecticut 'pr City of Manchester' with "3/CENTS" h.s. deleted and with "N.YORK 24/AM PKT/U.S.32 NOTES" d.s. on front and a few others. (8 covers) Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RETALIATORY RATE LATE FEE MAIL; 5 Aug. 1848 EL to NY franked pair 1/- Embossed (closed tear at base of right unit) both with "466" bar cancels apparently representing the ship letter rate plus 1/- late fee. "24" h.s applied on front to indicate a fully unpaid letter and rear with two Liverpool d.s. Attractive. Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, GREAT BRITAIN, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

DOUBLE RATE LATE FEE MAIL; 16 Aug. 1851 EL to NY franked 1/- Embossed (3 - all cut square but variable margins) tied to each other or cancelled by "466" b/n cancels and representing the double 1/- per ½ oz. rate plus 1/- late fee. Rear with scarce "LIVERPOOL/F.R.H." double-arc d.s. and front with "PAID" and "10/CENTS" charge mark. Scarce late fee mail. Cross Reference: LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL, LATE FEE/TOO LATE MAIL, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Image)

EMBOSSED FRANKINGS TO USA; Pair with 24 Mar. 1849 EL endorsed 'Niagara' at lower left to NY franked 1/- Embossed (one corner clipped) and 1d Red (3 inc. a partially severed pair) all tied or cancelled by "466" b/n cancels and with a Liverpool double-arc d.s. on rear representing the ship letter rate plus 3d late fee, and 6 May 1854 E ' per Europa' to Philadelphia franked cut-to-shape pair 1/- Embossed and a Philadelphia arrival d.s. Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, EMBOSSED ISSUES, LATE FEE/TOO LATE MAIL (Image)

MAIL TO ENGLAND WITH SCARCE BELFAST SHIP MARK; 15 Feb. 1839 EL (minor faults) to England (datelined at Mobile [Alabama]) endorsed 'pr Napoleon' at lower left initially rated '4'(d) and re-rated '2/-' with v.fine and scarce framed "*BELFAST*/SHIP LETTER" h.s. (Rob. S5). Rear with Belfast and Dublin d.s. Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, BELFAST (Image)

SCARCE POOLE SHIP LETTER MARK; 2 May 1795 EL (file folds) to London, datelined at Annapolis (Maryland) with "POOL/SHIP LRE" h.s. on front and London Bishop mark on rear. Rated '6'(d) in total (5d inland + 1d ship letter). Fine. Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SHIP LETTERS, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, DORSET (Image)

WRECK OF THE EMEU; 31 Aug. 1857 env. 'per Emeu/via Marseilles' to Devon franked 1/- Octagonal, cut square, tied by b/n '4' with Sandhurst, Melbourne, London, Barnstaple and Lynton d.s. on rear or front. The Emeu ran aground in the Red Sea near Jeddah with her mails eventually picked up by the Madras nearly a month later. Cross Reference: CRASH/WRECK MAIL, VICTORIA, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, SHIPS/SHIPPING (Image)

WRECK OF THE EMEU; 16 Sep. 1857 EL 'per Emeu/via Marseilles' to London franked 1/- Octagonal (creased, four margins) tied by b/n '1' with Melbourne and London d.s. on rear or front. The Emeu ran aground in the Red Sea near Jeddah with her mails eventually picked up by the Madras nearly a month later. Cross Reference: CRASH/WRECK MAIL, VICTORIA, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, SHIPS/SHIPPING (Image)

TRANSATLANTIC (G.B. / U.S.A.) EPHEMERA MIX: An 1835-1914 set of advertising / instructional leaflets, receipts, etc. inc. an 1848 leaflet advertising passage, freight & parcels on "THE OCEAN STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY'S U.S. MAIL STEAM SHIPS WASHINGTON AND HERMANN"; an 1853 letter to Cadiz outlining rates of freight & charters for "THE CRESCENT CITY LINE OF PACKETS"; an 1855 posted flyer for "THE NEW CLIPPER BARQUE ROBERT LEONARD"; an 1858 posted flyer advertising that the "INDUS" will replace the "IRVINE" on the Liverpool to Boston route; plus other items, some illustrated. All in excellent condition. (11)Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)

GREAT BRITAIN & "COLORADO" STEAM SHIP ADVERTISING CARDS: An engraving of the "SS Great Britain" and a small sepia-tinted print of the "SS Colorado" with plan of passenger deck on back. Both in excellent condition. (2) Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)

S.S. GREAT EASTERN EPHEMERA: A variety of material about this sail-powered, paddle wheel and screw-propelled steamship inc. an 1857 ticket to view the ship under construction in London, printed on thin green paper with a fine engraving of the ship at sea; plus correspondence, illustrated writing paper, publications, share certificates, engravings of or about the ship (mainly taken from publications), an illustrated handkerchief, and a large colour fold out dissected side view of the ship. All in fine condition. (24 items) Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)

CUNARD ILLUSTRATED EPHEMERA: An 1874-1904 set of attractive material inc. c1874 Boarding pass (4½"x3", folded into quarters, some faults) headed "CUNARD STEAMSHIP COMPANY" with central vignette of fully rigged steamship at sea and below "Pass one on board the R.M.S. Hecla JAMES ALEXANDER, Agent" (probably New York). Scarce; an 1883 Trade card (5"x3½", corner crease & traces of mounting on reverse) headed "CUNARD STEAMSHIP COMPANY" with chromo litho view of the "S.S Servia" at sea. On the reverse is a list of 10 steamers operating on the New York, Queenstown & Liverpool route. Attractive design, printed by Major & Knapp, N.Y.; an Apr. 1892 Timetable (4pp, 8"x5½", some faults), published in the USA, for sailings between New York & Liverpool detailing sailings, fares etc. with woodcut illustration of a two-funnelled liner; an 1904 illustrated letter sheet (4pp 7"x4") with photo vignette of the "RMS 'UMBRIA' IN MID ATLANTIC"; plus two 1885 concert programmes from the R.M.S. Aurania. Very attractive and scarce items. [ex Gunn] (6) Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)

CUNARD EARLY PASSENGER LISTS: An 1878-1887 set of attractively illustrated saloon passenger lists for the R.M.S. Batavia, R.M.S. Bothnia, R.M.S. Gallia, S.S. Oregon , R.M.S. Etruria, and R.M.S. Aurania. The list for R.M.S. Gallia has edge faults but the others are in excellent condition. (5)Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)

CUNARD PASSENGER LISTS: An 1887-1903 set of attractively illustrated passenger lists inc. an unused form for the "R.M.S. INVERNIA". Others inc. R.M.S. Pavonia, R.M.S. Cephalonia, R.M.S. Scythia, R.M.S. Catalonia, R.M.S. Saxonia, and R.M.S. Lucania. Some with small faults but mainly in excellent condition. (7)Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)

CUNARD MIX: An 1870s-1933 range range of ephemera inc. an 1870s "British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company" bill of fare from R.M.S. Algeria used as a menu (faults); an 1883 letter "CUNARD ROYAL MAIL STEAMSHIP AURANIA" headed paper; 1890s passenger tickets for ships Bothnia, Servia, or Gallia; plus advertising leaflet & card, an 1873 bill of lading, a 1933 payment receipt, and b&w PPCs of ships. Mainly in fine condition. (19) Cross Reference: EPHEMERA (Image)