Other countries continued...
Liberia continued...
| Lot |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 4031 |
cover |
 1864 (July 22): Long personal letter written from the Rev. C. Colden Hoffmann at Cape Palmas, 5 pp. folio, the first half-sheet with attractive lithographed letterhead "St. Mark's Hospital, Cape Palmas, West Africa / For
Seamen, Colonists and Natives" and illustration of the brick-built hotel in its tropical surroundings. Hoffmann discusses his correspondent T. B. Burton's plans for a forthcoming visit to Liberia giving advice on many subjects, including the plan of
"visiting the different towns in Liberia before starting for the interior. This may be done by means of the litle Colonial vessel that carries the Mail, she usually leaves on the 17th of the Month, the day after her arrival. She stops only a few
hours however at the lead intermediary towns Sinoe & Bassa, unless specially detained. The boats are small and uncomfortable. This plan thought a pleasant one, will cause you to lose a Month from your interior work and exposes you to the fever in
the start for seldom one exception occurs of a person passing a Month on Shore on the Liberian coast without an attack of acclimating fever". A rare and historic letter confirming the operation of a coastal packet service between Harper/Cape Palmas,
Sinoe, Bassa and Monrovia. Note: The writer, Rev. C. Colden Hoffmann of the Protestant Episcopal Church arrived as a missionary to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Mount Vaughan, Cape Palmas station in 1849 where he would remain for more
than twenty-five years (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 300.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4033 |
cover |
 1864: Coastal Mail to Corisco (Spanish Guinea) via Fernando Po. A Matched Missionary Pair. Attractive and highly unusual album page comprising two stampless covers from Liberia to Rev. R. H. Nassau, Corisco
(Spanish Guinea, West Africa), both endorsed “Via Fernando Po”, illustrating rare intercolonial West African mail carried outside the main transatlantic postal system. The first a Monrovia to Corisco, 1864, envelope bearing clear blue “MONROVIA /
LIBERIA / PAID” circular datestamp (CP.1) with integral “PAID”, manuscript “4d” rating (8 cents coastal rate), addressed to Corisco, with routing instruction via Fernando Po. Reverse with manuscript receipt notation indicating arrival September 1864.
The other, Harper (Cape Palmas) to Corisco, 1864, struck with “HARPER LIBERIA” circular datestamp in black (CP.1), likewise rated “4d” and similarly endorsed “Via Fernando Po”, to the same recipient. Reverse with corresponding receipt notation. Some
edge wear and reinforcement at sides, as often encountered on coastal mail of this period. A remarkable matched correspondence pair showing the same missionary network and postal route from two different Liberian origins of Monrovia and Harper both
directed to Spanish Guinea via the important redistribution point at Fernando Po. Mail of this nature represents a little-documented and highly specialised branch of West African postal history, distinct from the better-known transatlantic routes to
Europe and the United States. Examples to Corisco are exceptionally scarce, and paired usages demonstrating consistent rating and routing are seldom encountered. Additional markings include collectors’ or archival handstamps (including circular
“R/VC”) and a straight-line “Samuel May” marking, indicative of early handling within missionary or abolitionist correspondence networks. Condition is typical for the period, with light folds, minor wear, and one cover with tape edge reinforcement;
nevertheless a highly presentable and historically significant duo. An exceptional and rare intercolonial Liberia correspondence pair (Image
1)
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Currently...CHF 400.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4034 |
cover |
 1867 (May 15): Entire letter from Monrovia to New York, carried privately by American vessel and struck on arrival with clear black "NEW YORK SHIP LETTER / JY 26 / 4" indicating the reduced rate of 4 cents to pay. An
exceptionally rare and possibly unique usage of this Ship Letter cds on an item of mail from Liberia (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 200.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4035 |
cover |
 Stampless Period 1869 (March 4): Cover with embossed "HOFFMAN / INSTITUTE / CAPE PALMAS / CAVALLA W.A." senders cachet sent fully paid from Harper to Stuttgart, Württemberg, struck on despatch with rare "HARPER / LIBERIA MAR.
12" cds. (Cockrill: Type CP.13) and adjacent circular "HARPER / LIBERIA / PAID" (Cockrill: Type CP13.A), both in blue. Prepaid at 32 c. with manuscript '1/3d.' credit to Great Britain in blue crayon and carried by West African Steamship Company
packet to Liverpool with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 1 MY69" transit on obverse and thence via London with 3 May transit on reverse and red "PD" on front, Ostend, Aachen and Prussia with blue double circle "AUS ENGLAND PER AACHEN / FRANCO /
4/5" entry mark (Van der Linden fig. 251) to Stuttgart. "9V / 4/5" Stuttgart distribution handstamp on reverse. A fine and attractive entire with this rare postmark. Reference: Recorded in: John Sacher, "Liberia - Prepayment of Mail in the 19th
Century", The London Philatelist, Vol. 119, June 2010, p. 163 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 750.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4036 |
cover |
 Stampless Period 1870 (July): Cover sent pre-paid from Monrovia to Boston, Mass., carried by British packet to Liverpool with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 30 JY 70" transit on obverse and further on Cunard steamer
'China' to Boston with red 'BOSTON / PAID / AUG 11" arrival also on front. Fully pre-paid at the new 14 Cent rate with manuscript "7 d paid" in red ink, 6 d. credit to Britain consisting of 2 d. ship fee to Liverpool and 3 d. for the transatlantic
voyage by British vessel under the new 1869 anglo-american convention not denoted on cover but struck in Liverpool with red '2 / CENTS' credit to the US. Receivers docketing "from Monrovia, Africa" in pencil on front. A rare and interesting entire,
the earliest known at the new 14 cents rate from Liberia to the USA after the postal convention signed between Britain and the United States in December 1869 had halved the cost of transatlantic mail (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 300.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4037 |
cover |
 Stampless Period 1875 (ca.): Double weight local cover from Harper to Monrovia, struck twice with circular "HARPER / LIBERIA" handstamp in black (Cockrill: Type CP.1) on despatch with black straightline "PAID" (Cockrill: Type
PD.1) at centre and manuscript '3 c.' denoting payment of the scarce inland rate at upper right. Presumably carried by coastal steamer with "GREENVILLE / LIBERIA" (Cockrill: Type CP.1) transit on obverse, assessed as double weight on arrival in
Monrovia and charged a further '3 c.' in red crayon. Some overall ageing, small tear at top and part of backflap missing. Unique and of singular importance; the only recorded local letter and thus the only proof of a 3 cent inland rate prior to the
introduction of such a postage stamp in 1881. Provenance: Collection John Sacher, Spink, London December 2016, lot 1379 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 750.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4038 |
cover |
 Stampless Period 1876 (Dec. 28): The entire letter written from H. A. Williams, Edina to C. F. Adams in Cincinnati, Ohio, 2 pp. folio with pre-printed letterhead "H. A. Williams / Edina, Grand Bassa / Liberia (West Coast of
Africa)" amongst other things explaining the reason for Liberias extended stampless period and reading in part: "According to request I enclose herein a few of each denomination of Liberian stamps. They are not allowed to be used consequent upon a
rescent (sic) robbery upon the Treasury Dep't, letters thro' the post simply stamp'd 'Paid' and postage marked". Sold with the original envelope adressed to Adams in Cincinati, sent fully paid at the reduced 1869 rate to the US, struck on despatch
with circular "MONROVIA / LIBERIA" handstamp in black and as described in Williams' letter endorsed "7 paid" in purple ink, carried by British packet to Great Britain with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 28 DE 76 / 3A" on obverse, reverse with
"NEW YORK / PAID ALL" duplex and 11 Jan. arrival. A unique and historic document of the foremost significance to Liberian philately and postal history. Note: The fact that most Liberian covers sent between 1860 and early 1868 were pre-paid by postage
stamps and that this practice then suddenly seems to stop after February 1868 and does not resume until after Liberia joining the UPU in early 1881 long remained unexplained, especially since the fourth transfer printing of the Liberty stamps had
only just been delivered in late 1867 and copious quantities of these stamps remained (they are of course quite commonly found unused today while only the 6 c. value exists in a small number of used examples). The discovery of this letter was the key
piece of evidence showing that the stamps had in fact been invalidated after the described burglary in order to prevent the fraudulent use of stolen stamps. The demand to replace the stamps seems to have been so low that they were not replaced until
the UPU-regulations on evidence of pre-payment made this unavoidable. Reference: Illustrated and extensively discussed in: John Sacher, "Liberia: "Prepayment of Mail in the 19th Century" , The London Philatelist, Vol.119, June 2010, pp. 154-156 &
161-162. Provenance: Collection Floyd E. Risvold, Spink Shreeve sale 121, New York January 2010, lot 1257; Collection John Sacher, Spink, London December 2016, lot 1407 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 1,000.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4040 |
cover |
 Stampless Period 1877 (March): Cover sent pre-paid from Monrovia to Cincinnati, Ohio with manuscript '7 d. paid' in red and struck on despatch with "MONROVIA / LIBERIA" handstamp in black (Cockrill: Type CP.1). Carried by
British packet via Great Britain with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 6 MR. 77 / 2 D" transit on obverse, "NEW YORK / PAID ALL" duplex and Cincinnati (30 March) arrival on reverse. Somewhat soiled and vertical fold at right, still a fine and
rare entire (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 300.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4041 |
cover |
 Stampless Period 1880 (Feb 5): Cover with embossed letterhed from the Department of State, Monrovia adressed to the Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Right Reverend William Bacon Stevens in Philadelphia, struck on despatch
with new black "MONROVIA / LIBERIA / FEB. 5 1880" cds (Cockrill: Type CP.6) and adjacent straightline "PAID", carried via Great Britain with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 26 FE. 80 / 5B" transit on obverse and 9 March arrival on reverse. Fully
pre-paid '1/4' d. s indicated in red crayon at four times the new 8 Cent UPU rate. An attractive and most interesting cover being both the first to document the 8 Cent UPU rate and the earliest recorded use of Monrovia's circular date stamp. Note:
Sent from the Liberian Department of State this cover presents strong evidence that the 1880 Fifth transfer printing was issued at some later time during 1880 rather than as some authors previously believed in late 1879 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 300.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4042 |
cover |
 1896 (Dec 22): Cover from Grand Bassa to Cape Palmas with senders rubber stamp "P. E. Rectory, G. Bassa" in black, struck on despatch with very fine "GRAND BASSA / LIBERIA" cds (Cockrill: Type CP.18), fully pre-paid in cash
with manuscript 'Paid' in red crayon and indistict Harper arrival on reverse. Slightly reduced at left and opening fault taped at upper left, nevertheless a fine and very rare internal cover in the first year of use of this Grand Bassa cds.
Provenance: Collection Barbara Fosdyke Ray Liberia, Schulyer Rumsey, San Francisco April 2011, lot 2549 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 200.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4043 |
cover |
 Lots & Collections Early Missionary & Privately Carried Mail. 1842/44: A significant and instructive group of four items illustrating the formative period of transatlantic communications prior to the
establishment of regularised postal arrangements. The group comprises letters from Monrovia to New York including an August 1842 cover to Rev. Dave Mees bearing "PHILADELPHIA / SHIP" markings and rated 14½ cents due, endorsed “Per Brig Grecian
Laurin”, together with a November 1842 letter to Walter Lowrie charged 6 cents port-of-arrival rate without handstamps, an unusual and informative usage. Also included is a June 1842 letter written at sea and carried privately outside the mails, and
an 1844 incoming letter from New York to Monrovia addressed to Rev. John Seys, routed via Baltimore and carried by private agency, illustrating the reliance on missionary and commercial networks for transmission. Condition is mainly fine. An
exceptional group demonstrating the transitional nature of Liberian mails in the early 1840's (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 300.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4044 |
cover |
 Ship Letters 1846/59: Including Outports and Inland Destinations. A valuable group of five stampless ship letters from Liberia, illustrating the development of transatlantic postal communications from early
Monrovia origins to wider outport usage and inland distribution within the United States. The group includes Monrovia correspondence to Philadelphia bearing “BALTIMORE / SHIP / 7” markings, together with missionary letters from Greenville to New York
showing blue “SHIP” and “7” ratings, and an early Monrovia example with red “NEW-YORK SHIP / 7” handstamp. 1859 cover from Lexington (Sinoe County) to Cincinnati, Ohio, carried via Baltimore and rated “SHIP / 5”, demonstrating the extension of
Liberian mails beyond the principal port and to inland destinations in the American Midwest. The correspondence comprises commercial, missionary, and personal letters, reflecting the growing complexity of communications between Liberia and the United
States in the mid-19th century. Condition is typical of this type of correspondence, although generally fine (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 500.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4045 |
cover |
 1850/80: Group of seven stampless letters from Liberia to the United States illustrating 5 and 6 cents shipping rates. Comprising Monrovia (1857, to Richfield Springs, NY; 1858, to New York) and Cape Palmas
(Harper) 1860 to Michigan. All bearing "SHIP" handstamps and charged "5" cents due, representing the post-April 1855 rate (3 c. inland plus 2 c. ship fee), with examples entering via both New York and Baltimore. An attractive and well-balanced group
demonstrating the standardised ship letter rate period, including an example from the outport of Cape Palmas. Also, illustrating consistent application of the 6 c. rate over a ten-year period; Monrovia (1850, H.W. Erskine) and Greenville (1850, Rev.
J.M. Priest; 1860, J. Leighton Wilson), all addressed to the Mission House, New York. Each charged "6" cents due, representing the port-of-arrival rate, and notably without "SHIP" handstamp, the method of conveyance being implied by the rating. 1880
(June 28) Monrovia to Waterford, Virginia, USA, "MONROVIA LIBERIA" and red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" with small "PAID hn black alongside, rated "4d." in manuscript, a later Liberian mail routed via the British packet system. Condition is
typical of this type of mail, with filing folds and the odd fault, although in the main very presentable. An attractive and well-balanced group demonstrating the standardised ship letter rate period and later usage (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 400.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4047 |
cover |
 'Linie Hamburg-Westafrika' 1897/1910: Assembly of 25 covers, cards and stationery items from Liberia mainly addressed to Germany, incl. 1906 p.p.c. to 'Artillery Depot' in Strassburg, 1906 postcard to Cameroon,
1909 postcards (2) to USA, tied by 'Dt. Seepost XXXI' and 'XXXII' (S.S. Lucie Woerman) as well as 1909 envelope also tied by 'Deutsche Seepost XXXII' to England (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 300.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4048 |
cover |
 German Seapost Mail 1898/1937: Group of six envelopes and 15 cards showing diff. frankings and ship cancels, incl. 1898/1905 commercial covers posted aboard Steamers "D.LULU" of 'Hamburg Westafrika Linie', 'Adolf
Woermann' (1898) and 'Hedwig Woermann' (1905), further German Fieldpost and picture postcard usages as 1903 card showing mixed franking of Liberia with German Kamerun 10 Pfg., German Reich 5 Pfg. and Funchal 5 c. yellow, 1909 picture postcard with
combination franking Liberia, Togo 5 Pfg. and a pair of German Reich 5 Pfg. tied by 'Deutsche Seepost XXXII' to Hamburg as well as six cards with 'Marine Schiffspost' cancellations (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 300.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4049 |
cover |
 British Paquebot Mail 1895/1925c.: Group of 21 envelopes or cards, incl. 5c. stationery envelopes (3) tied by 'PAQUEBOT LIVERPOOL' h.s. with two sent to Hamburg, Germany, 1896 3c. postal card usages with two to
Germany and one to the Netherlands, envelope from 'Greenville 21. Feb. 06' to Liverpool, card and envelope cancelled 'PAQUEBOT PLYMOUTH' with one to Germany as well as further shipmail to the USA (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 200.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4050 |
* |
 1860: 12 c. Trial-colour Plate Proof in lilac on thin meshed paper with gum, a choice example of delicate colour and with huge margins on three sides, just clear at left, large part og. A significant and exceptionally rare
Trial Colour Proof with only seven examples recorded, one of which is housed in the Tapling collection at the British Library (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 500.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4051 |
* |
 First transfer printing 1860: 6 c. red, perf. 11¾ x 12, an unused example of fresh colour, short perfs. at right as to be expected from this issue, large part og. A very rare stamp unused with less than fifty examples believed
to exist Scott = $ 400 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 150.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4052 |
cover |
 First transfer print 1860: 6 c. red imperf. to corner margin at top right and 24 c. green used on 1861 cover to Bristol, Maine, both cancelled "HARPER / LIBERIA" in black with primitive large straightline "PAID" of Harper
(Cockrill: PD.7) at right. Carried on West African Steamship Company packet to Liverpool with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 11 OC. 61 / 5A" transit on obverse and thence by Cunard steamer 'Africa' with black "N. YORK. BR. PKT. / 5 / OCT. 26"
entry also on front. Fully pre-paid at the 33 Cent rate under the 1858 convention with the balance settled in cash but the usual 1/3½ d. credit to the UK not denoted on the cover. Liverpool correctly considering both the British share of 4 d. ship
fee to Liverpool, 1 d. transit and 8 d. for carriage by British steamer over the Atlantic and the 2½ d. credit to the US as paid did not however indicate any US credit on the cover which was then erroneously charged '5' Cents inland rate on arrival
as expressed by the entry mark. A superb and very rare entire. Cert. PE (2025). Note: This is the only recorded use of the large primitive 'PAID' of Harper (Cockrill: PD.7) on cover. Further to this there exist only two single stamps cancelled thus
which are also offered in this sale. Reference: Illustrated in: John Sacher, "Liberia: The Early Post Offices and Stamps", The London Philatelist, Vol. 101, Nov. 1992, p. 324 and in: John Sacher, "Liberia - Pre-payment of Mail in the 19th Century",
The London Philatelist, Vol. 119, June 2010, p. 157. Provenance: Collection Robert Blake Yardley, H. R. Harmer, London 1944; Collection Charles Lathrop Pack, Harmer Rooke, New York 1945; Robson Lowe sale 4096, London September 1976, lot 1728;
Collection John Sacher, Spink, London December 2016, lot 1385 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 5,000.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
| 4053 |
cover |
 First transfer printing 1860: 6 c. red, the unique horizontal pair used in combination with 24 c. green (2) on 1862 cover to Boston, Mass., all lightly tied by circular "HARPER / LIBERIA" handstamps in blue (Cockrill: Type
CP.1) with primitive intaglio handstamp "PAID" (unknown in Cockrill) at lower left. Carried at double rate by West African Steamship Company packet to Liverpool with red "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET / 10 MAY 62" transit on obverse and thence by
Cunard steamer 'Scotia' to Boston with "BOSTON BR. PKT. / MAY 21" arrival also on front. Fully pre-paid at the 66 Cent double rate under the 1858 convention with the balance settled in cash but with the usual 1/3½ d. British credit not denoted on the
cover. In Liverpool both the British share of 8 d. ship fee to the UK, 2 d. transit and 16 d. for carriage across the Atlantic by British vessel and 5 d. US credit were correctly considered pre-paid but with no indication of credit on the cover it
was struck with black '10' Cents US inland postage to pay on arrival.The adhesives with minor imperfections incl. the pair with trimmed perfs. at top, the envelope cleaned and reverse restored, none of which detracts from this spectacular and
important rarity. The sole recorded multiple of the first transfer 6 cent red and an exhibition item of the very highest calibre. Cert. PE (2025). Reference: Illustrated in: John Sacher, "Liberia: The Early Post Offices and Stamps", The London
Philatelist, Vol. 101, Nov. 1992, p. 324 and in: John Sacher, "Liberia - Pre-payment of Mail in the 19th Century", The London Philatelist, Vol. 119, June 2010, p. 158. Provenance: Collection John Sacher, Spink, London December 2016, lot 1386 (Image 1)
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Currently...CHF 7,500.00
Closing..Nov-24, 11:59 PM |
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