1908 (Jan 15) Cover from Raymond Priestley, Geologist on Shackleton's 1907-09 Antarctic Expedition, addressed to his parents in England, with King Edward VII Land 1d tied by "BRIT. ANTARCTIC EXPD. / N.Z" c.d.s applied on the "Nimrod". The first use of KEVII Land stamps and the first mail from the expedition, sent back to New Zealand on the "Koonya" from the edge of the Antarctic ice pack, backstamped at Christchurch (Jan 23) and Tewkesbury. A stamp hinge applied over a small tear at upper edge, light vertical fold and flap torn, a scarce item of expedition mail. Photo on Page 108. (Image1)

1911 (Jan 23) Cover with "BRITISH ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION / TERRA NOVA R.Y.S" crest printed on the reverse (depicting a Penguin standing on Antarctica), from Raymond Priestley, Geologist on the 1910-13 Scott Antarctic Expedition, to his mother in England. Franked by Victoria Land 1d tied by the "BRIT. ANTARCTIC EXPD / N.Z" c.d.s applied on the "Terra Nova". Light vertical fold, otherwise a fine and rare item of expedition mail, only one other example of the Antarctic Expd c.d.s. with this 23 JA 11 date recorded by Robert Duns in "New Zealand Antarctic Postal History to 1941". Photo on Page 108. (Image1)

Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition. 1934 (Feb 12) Covers from G.C Francis in Palmerston North, addressed to "Little America Post Office, Antarctica" franked by N.Z ½d pair or 2d, both endorsed "per Discovery 2nd", with a 1935 (Feb 22) letter from the Little America Postmaster Leroy Clark to Francis, "I return herewith 24 covers received from you via Discovery II - rules prohibit me cancelling any covers at Little America which are previously cancelled in any way"; and a further 1936 (May 15) letter to Francis "when the Byrd Antarctic Expedition was disbanded in June 1935 a few letters which had not been despatched with the rest of the mail by Mr Clark, for some reason not apparent, were discovered ..... the enclosed letter is one of them", both letters received on 8 June 1936 (the return of these covers having been delayed for 15 months). (2 covers + 2 letters).

1625 (Jan 22) Entire letter from Isabella, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, sent from Brussels to Antwerp, written and addressed in Spanish, to "Juan Bravo de Lagunas of the War Council of the King, Subcastellan of Antwerp". The letter informs de Lagunas that the 300 men under the command of Maredas de Lia Callo, located near the Ballu of Vas, have been ordered to aid the guard of the dykes; when they arrive de Lagunas should distribute them to the posts he considers to be of most service. Isabella was the first surviving daughter of King Philip II, who appointed her joint Sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands with her husband (and cousin) Albert VII, Archduke of Austria, in 1598; when her husband died in 1621 she became Governor of the Spanish Netherlands until her death in 1633. A fine letter, signed "Assabel", with her impressed paper covered seal. Photo on Page 108. (Image1)

1938-53 KGVI 2/- - £1 Keyplate definitives showing the differing printings, written up on six pages, all identified by Robert Dickgiesser, with dates of despatch and perf size shown, nearly all fine mounted mint stamps (with just two used stamps included), missing just three stamps. A fine reference lot, comprising 2/- (13, with S.G. 116a (2), S.G. 116b used, one stamp missing), 2/6 (11, with S.G. 117a), 5/- (10, with S.G. 118a, 118b, missing S.G. 118c), 10/- (8, with S.G. 119, 119a, 119b), 12/6 (12, with S.G. 120, 120a (2), 120d used), £1 (7, with S.G. 121, 121e, missing S.G. 121b). S.G. £6,767. (61). Photo on Page 104. (Image1)

1938-53 KGVI 2/- - £1 Keyplate definitives, duplicated selection fine mounted mint (69) or used (15) on stock cards, sorted by value and printing, all identified by Robert Dickgiesser, comprising 2/- mint (15, with S.G. 116a) and used (7), 2/6 mint (6) and used (2), 5/- mint (15, with S.G. 118a, 118b) and used (3), 10/- mint (12, with S.G. 119a (2)) and used, 12/6 mint (6), £1 mint (15, with S.G. 121 (5)) and used (2), a useful lot. S.G. £6,184. (84). Photo on Page 104. (Image1)

c.1785-1865 Prestamp entire letters (9), entires (2) and fronts (16) with various handstamps including straight line marks in red (19) or blue, or fancy "FRANCA" handstamps of Cochabamba, Potosi (2, depicting an eagle, with separate "½" or "3½" rate marks), Sucre (3, two types) or La Paz, also an 1875 entire letter with similar La Paz handstamp used during a period of stamp shortages. (28).

1875-77 Stampless covers, the first with fancy oval "Franca" handstamp of La Paz used during a period of stamp shortages, the 1877 cover with fancy octagonal framed "CORREO / 10c / ANTOFAGASTA" and separate "Franca" handstamps, a few opening tears at the edge but still attractive. Antofagasta was one of eight offices in the Litorial Province of Bolivia allowed to use locally manufactured handstamps instead of postage stamps to signify payment of postage in 1872-79. (2). Photo on Page 108. (Image1)

1867-68 Imperf set of seven mint, 5c yellow green block of four used with pen cancels, 5c mauve (4, one with small thin) and 50c yellow with oval ""PAZ DE AYACUCHO" cancels, and 50c yellow with part two line "CERTIFICACION / LA PAZ" cancels. (17). Photo on Page 126. (Image1)

1867 5c Green, the plating study well written up on twelve pages with various plate varieties identified and illustrated, comprising stamps from the original plate (46) including yellow-green shade (2) and a deep green block of twenty, first re-engraved plate (25) including a block of ten, second re-engraved plate (52) including blocks of six (2), eight and twelve, third re-engraved plate (68) including block of 52 (reconstructed from blocks of eight, 16 and 28), and fourth re-engraved plate single and block of 36, various shades, some used. A fine study. (228).

1868-94 Stamps (35), covers (11) and documents (4), including 1868 9 stars 10c on 1870 cover, 1870-73 covers bearing 1870 11 stars 5c strip of three, 10c or 10c pair, 1887 roulette 2c mint block of twenty and 1c used on 10c postal stationery envelope to G.B, 1890-91 perf 12 5c on a 5c postal stationery envelope to G.B and late uses of the 50c or two 100r stamps on 1913-15 registered covers to the USA both used in combination with later issues. Also 1870-1911 legal documents showing revenue use of the 1869 or 1884 fiscal issues or 1878 postage issue, and a 1914 parcel form with customs duty paid by 1890-91 100c + 1901-04 5c + 10c pair. (50).

1901-04 American Bank Note Co. 2b, the unique group from the printers archives with two stamp size composite essays on card, both with printed central arms vignettes applied and handpainted frames in brown and Chinese white, one with the handpainted frame in an unadopted design, the second with the handpainted frame in the issued design and the central arms also partly handpainted over, both applied to thick card, the adopted essay (122x130mm) endorsed as approved and signed F.E Guashalk, dated "1/15/01" with "ENTERED" cachet initialled "D.E.W". Also a sunken die proof in the issued design, printed in the issued colour of brown on card, 124x178mm, endorsed as approved and signed F.E Guashalk, handstamped "FEB 4 1901" and initialled "SBC"; and a photograph of the Bolivia arms (211x167mm), mounted on thick card, presumably sent to the printers to enable the central vignette to be engraved. (4). Photo on Page 140. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

Postal fiscals. 1879-1913 Stamps (28) and covers (39), the display collection written up on 18 pages with some additional covers, comprising 1878-91 perf 12 1c - 2p and 1900-13 perf 14 1c - 5c stamps, and covers bearing 1c - 10c stamps showing use in all five authorised periods, during the 1879-83 Pacific War (2), the 1891 revolution (3), during the chaos after the revolution in 1891-92 (10), in 1900-01 during a shortage of stamps (11), and finally in 1913 when fiscals were authorised for postal use in order to use up excess stocks of stamps (12), also a 1900 cover with 1c + 2c (2) fiscals posted prior to their authorisation for postal use and therefore handstamped "INUTIL" and "MULTADA" and charged as unpaid. An interesting collection which includes their use on formula postcards (3), postal stationery, registered mail, use in combination with postage stamp issues, T.P.O cancels, etc. (28 stamps + 39 covers). Photo on Page 110 (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

1946-2001 First Day Covers, virtually complete from the 1946 Victory issue to 2001 Crabs set, in four small F.D.C albums, including 1962 and 1966 definitive sets to the £1, 1963 Scout Movement, 1964 Olympic Games and 1966 St. Barnabas miniature sheets, and all Europa issues from 1962. All clean covers, unaddressed or with handstamped or typed addresses, definitive sets spread over three or four small covers, 1946-84 covers all seldom seen unofficial F.D.Cs. Vlastos €3,565+.

1919 (Apr 7) Piece from an O.H.M.S envelope to Cairo with Base Army Post Office Z c.d.s (Alexandria), oval "Third Echelon" cachet and black boxed "AERIAL POST / E.E.F", used by the R.A.F emergency air service, very scarce in black.

1925 Cairo-Kano-Cairo R.A.F Flight. Long O.H.M.S cover (left side folded over) bearing datestamps of post offices visited by the R.A.F ground party led by F/Lt Greenham, who constructed landing strips along the route. Bearing Chad 45c cancelled at Abecher (Nov 14) and Sudan 10m cancelled at Geneina (Nov 21), with datestamps of Adre (Nov 19) and El Fasher (Dec 22), very unusual and rare.

1927 Covers flown by Imperial Airways from Cairo to Basra, one to Karachi carried on the first flight (Jan 12), another carried on the first weekly flight (Apr 13), two bearing 27m air stamps. (3).

1932-38 Covers including 1932 cover from Malakal to Atbara with "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID FOR / DESPATCH BY AIR MAIL", 1932 first flight at 15m rate from Khartoum to Malakal or Cairo, 1933 Khartoum to London carried over first Cairo to Alexandria air link, 1933 first accelerated service from Atbara to London or London to Khartoum, 1935 London to Wadi Halfa diverted via Malta, 1935 Cairo to Bucharest first flight via Athens to Warsaw, 1935 Cairo to Limassol first flight, Cairo to Tanga first day service, 1937 Southampton to Alexandria first experimental flight, 1937 Vienna to Luxor first accelerated service, 1937 Alexandria to Nicosia first flight, 1938 London to Khartoum first regular accelerated service, etc. Also "Sudan Airmail Service by Imperial Airways, Rates & Latest Times of Posting, Winter 1933-34" leaflet. (18).

1857-69 Entire letters (12) and an entire all posted unpaid to Portugal with "GIBRALTAR" c.d.s in black (8) or blue (3), two others simply with a San Roque c.d.s or oval framed "C. Est. de N.", transit datestamps of San Roque and "E.A. BADAJOZ - LISBOA" (2), two disinfected, two with boxed "P. BRIT", various Portuguese rates, one incorrectly charged 240r as though from France with "ESPANA / IRUN" c.d.s. (13).

1936-40 Covers and cards to England, all from the dealer P.J Drossos, twelve registered, several with Exchange Control cachets or labels, three censored, one misdirected to the USA, various stamps. (20).

1896 (June 3) 10a + 10a Reply card posted from Reykjavik to England, the message concerning the use of reply cards, the unused reply half still attached, with fine "LEITH SHIP LETTER" c.d.s (S8, June 19). Robertson illustrates a similar postcard sent to the same address on the same day. Very fine.

1919 R.A.F "Old Carthusian" first England to India flight, cover from Baghdad to Dehra Dun headed "On Active Service" and signed by the sender (Acting Director of Postal Services) franked I.E.F 1a cancelled violet "POSTAL SERVICE M.E.F / AERIAL POST - BAGHDAD - DELHI / PER / HANDLEY-PAGE AEROPLANE" with Indian F.P.O 55 c.d.s (Jan 9) in the left portion of the cachet, backstamped with violet circular "CARRIED BY AERIAL MAIL / BAGDAD - DELHI / JANY. 1919" applied at Delhi, datestamps of Delhi (Jan 20) and Dehra-Dun. Flown from Baghdad (via Ahwaz, Bushire & Bandar Abbas) to Ormara where the plane made a forced landing, then carried by General MacEwen on H.M.S "Britomart" to Karachi and by rail to Delhi (arriving on January 20th, three days before the arrival of "Old Carthusian"). Also a copy of the 2020 publication "The Flight of Old Carthusian" by Ed Wolf which records 28 covers posted at Baghdad with the flight cachet, of which just six were stamped, three with I.E.F stamps. Light horizontal fold, otherwise one of the finest known covers from this important flight, very rare with an I.E.F stamp. Photo on Page 30. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

1919 R.A.F "Old Carthusian" first England to India flight, stampless cover (made from old forms) headed "On Active Service", signed "S.B Henson 2Lt, 72 Sq R.A.F" and endorsed "By Air from Baghdad", addressed to his brother, Major F.J Henson, in Bombay. Handed directly to one of the crew of "Old Carthusian", therefore bypassing F.P.O 55 so not receiving the four line Baghdad cachet, handstamped violet "FIRST THROUGH AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO INDIA / KARACHI 14.1.1919" applied upon arrival at Karachi, with the date altered in manuscript to "17.1.1919", and circular "PASSED CENSOR / 2 / KARACHI", backstamped at Bombay (Jan 20). The Karachi cachet used on mail which was not taken off at Ormara by General MacEwen, but continued on "Old Carthusian" to Karachi (and so did not receive the circular Delhi cachet). Edge tear at upper left, otherwise fine and very rare, just three hand carried O.A.S covers originating in Baghdad (or Cairo) recorded by Laurence Kimpton in "Air Mails Across The Middle East 1918-1930". Also a copy of the 2020 book "The Flight of the Old Carthusian" by Ed Wolf. Photo on Inside Front Cover. (Image1)

Persian Gulf - Bandar Abbas. 1919 R.A.F "Old Carthusian" first England to India flight, cover written at Bandar Abbas by the British Consul, George Alex MunGavin, to his wife at Manora, endorsed "By first through aeroplane U. Kingdom to India", carried on "Old Carthusian" to Karachi, handstamped upon arrival with violet "FIRST THROUGH AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO INDIA / KARACHI 14.1.1919" (altered in manuscript to "17.1.1919") and circular "PASSED CENSOR / 1 / KARACHI", backstamped at Karachi and Manora. Franked by India 2a6p, applied at Bandar Abbas but cancelled upon arrival in Karachi (Jan 17). "Old Carthusian" arrived at Bandar Abbas on January 12th, departing the following day. Kimpton records 23 items carried on the flight from Bandar Abbas, of which 22 received the Karachi cachet with the date altered. A fine and rare cover from the Persian Gulf, sold with a copy of the 2020 book "The Flight of the Old Carthusian" by Ed Wolf. Photo on Page 30. (Image1)

1919 (Feb 24) Government of India O.H.M.S cover from Baghdad to England, signed "R.A Young", with Iraq 8a cancelled by F.P.O 55 c.d.s and violet boxed "POSTAL SERVICE, M.E.F /AERIAL MAIL, BAGHDAD - CAIRO / BY 31ST WING, R.A.F., MESOPOTAMIA", backstamped at Cairo with Army Post Office SZ10 skeleton c.d.s (Mar 1). Flown by two R.A.F DH4 aircraft piloted by Major O.T Boyd and Capt. F. Nuttall; the flight was delayed by rain at Damascus, and both aircraft were later forced down by mechanical trouble and were finally delivered to Kantara by rail, the journey taking five days. Small part flap missing, otherwise fine and scarce, about 25 covers recorded from this pioneer R.A.F flight. Photo on Page 30. (Image1)