1953 1a on 1d light ultramarine and ½a on ½d orange, fraction '½' omitted, tied to local, hand-addressed cover by Muharraq Bahrain cds '21 NO/53'. Scarce and attractive. SG 81, 80a, £425+ (Image)

1953 1a on 1d light ultramarine and ½a on ½d orange, fraction '½' omitted, tied to reverse of local cover by Bahrain cds '19 DE/53'. Scarce used example. SG 81, 80a, £425+ (Image)

Mainly mint collection including 1933-37 to 5 wmk inverted, used values to 5r, 1934-37 to 4a, 1938-41 to 25r, 1948, 1951 and 1955 to 10r on 10s, 1950 and 1964 to 10r. Careful viewing recommended, slightly mixed condition, still many good to fine (hundreds) (Image)

QEII selection of plate flaw varieties in positional mint blocks plus 1953 ½a,1a 1½a set of 3 x 20 sets in corner blocks of 10, unmounted o.g. (128) (Image)

RAILWAY: early to modern large accumulation of receipts housed in three box files and large envelopes, contained in a carton, with a multitude of mixed and single frankings. generally good to fine. A very interesting lot. (thousands)

1849-1998 duplicated and fairly complete used collection arranged in three stockbooks, contained in a half carton, including a good range of earlier issues, imperf and perf to 40c, 1919-20 'Tin Hat' set to 10f, 1932 Cardinal Mercier to 10f + 40f, 1933 Orval abbey to 10f + 40f, Condition mixed with many fine. (thousands)

POSTAL HISTORY: 1928 2s6d black and carmine on pale blue tied by Hamilton datestamp (26 JUL 1928) on registered cover to England, receiving cancel on reverse, Birmingham registered oval (8 AU 1928), fine SG 89 (Image)

POSTAL HISTORY: 1941 PC 11 Form No. 141 “The British Censor is not responsible for the mutilation of this letter”, initialled in manuscript, inside Norway to Chicago, USA cover sent 5 NO 1941, Bermuda censor label examiner 2064 with manuscript IC, includes part of original letter, unrecorded by Miller thus rare (Image)

POSTAL HISTORY: 1941 PC5 form “This cover was open when it reached the examiner” found inside a somewhat worn cover from Niamey, Niger to USA , censored with UK PC 90 type label applied, examiner 6179, the form is folded and stuck in parts as it is gummed, unrecorded by Miller thus rare (Image)

1927 £1 purple and black/red, block of four, (Pos. 39-40, 51,52), bearing single line pen strokes denoting CANCELLED invalidation, full unmounted o.g. An interesting item, scarce as a multiple. SG 55var (Image)

1928-32 2s6d black and scarlet-vermilion on deep blue showing variety "BREAK THROUGH SCOLL" (R1/9) cancelled with two part Mangrove Bay cds. Fresh colour and very fine. SG 89jd (Image)

1924-32 12s6d grey and orange blue, right marginal, variety 'BROKEN CROWN AND SCROLL' in the repaired state but with the repair to the scroll beginning to break down. Fine large part og. SG 93b, £750 (Image)

1962-68 2d definitive error with lilac omitted, SG 164a; 1s with large orange upward shift, SG 171 var, both fine unmounted mint, rare (Image)

1937-52 KG VI stock on manila stocksheets in red binder. This is what our American friends would call a 'powerful' stock, arranged by CW catalogue numbers but catalogue figures taken from SG, without premiums. Some meaningful quantities of better stamps, full inventory enclosed, strength in mint with almost half being unmounted. No poor stamps noted, identification appears accurate or conservative; a goldmine for the reseller. STC £17215 unmounted, £20363 mounted and £2446 used

Mainly mint collection including 1865-93, 2d rose (3), 2d dull blue (short perfs at top) to 1s, 1883-1904 to 1s, 1906-10 to 4d, 1918 to £1, 1920 Tercentenary to 1s, 1924-32 to 12s6d l/l corner marginal example, 1938-53 to £1 (5) plus various additional printings, 2s to £1 (2) used, plus later definitives. Careful viewing will reward, slightly mixed condition, still many good to fine (hundreds) (Image)

POSTAL HISTORY: 1854-1941 Collection, mainly of town and village cancels on picture postcards, mounted on annotated exhibition pages (31). 1854 outer sheet with "Kandy Steamer Letter mark to England, 1901 Registered Envelope from Boer War POW at Ragama Camp, 1936 First Flight cover to India, 1940-41 Steamship covers for maiden voyages of American Export Lines Steamships, 1905 PPC with Avisawella CDS to Germany,1906 PPC to France underpaid with T mark and Postage Due applied on arrival, 1907 PPC to England with Katmale cds, fine and interesting lot

PHOTOGRAPHS: Lovely portfolio of 12 original black and white photographs 23cm x 28.5cm, the images were also used in postcards and there are examples of these in the lot. Also includes a small 19cm x 13cm circa 1920 tourist booklet with interesting images

1857 Die Proof in black without value, type 1 used for pence issues, defaced with a manuscript line, taken from the original Perkins Bacon die, ex “Gem Collection of Ceylon” (2021), fine (Image)

1864 ½d dull mauve imperf, wmk. crown CC, on piece taken from the De La Rue daybook dated 13 April, ex “Gem Collection of Ceylon” (2021), fine (Image)

1864 ½d dull mauve imperf, wmk. inverted crown CC, unused, ex “Gem Collection of Ceylon” (2021), fine, SG48 var (Image)

1867-70 4d rose-carmine, wmk. crown CC, horizontal strip of six, large part o.g., very attractive and rare multiple, SG 65b (Image)

1867-70 9d blackish brown, wmk CC type 6, a magnificent block of 38 (10 x 4, lacking the upper left and lower right stamps), brilliant o.g. (hinge traces on eight stamps, otherwise unmounted). Couple of inconsequential blemishes mentioned for accuracy, but superb condition for a multiple of this size and age, and one of the largest extant multiples for the entire pence series. Truly a spectacular showpiece of great rarity. SG69b

1869 2s deep blue imperf. official, overprinted “SERVICE” in red, unused, ex “Gem Collection of Ceylon” (2021). Fine and scarce, SG O5a (Image)

1867-70 9d blackish brown, wmk. crown CC, horizontal marginal strip of six, large part o.g. with a few minor flaws (clipped perfs at top, few minor tone specks), fifth stamp showing the “White Face” variety. Very fine and striking multiple, SG 69b var (Image)

1880 Pair of Sperati forgeries of the 24c value: first in black with pencil signature and handstamp "REPRODUCTION INTERDITE", stamped on reverse “Sperati Reproduction 6”. Other in vermilion, dated 18/1/45 with various notations made in margins. Fine and rare (Image)