Postal History - Military Campaigns 1884-85 continued...
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 2608 |
 /D |
 1884 Burn Murdoch stampless cover with colourless regimental embossing on the flap, endorsed "No Stamps" to Kent with untidy
'WADI-HALFA' cds, 'T'-in-box & superb '2D/½' handstamps, to Kent with 'SEVENOAKS/ DE26/84' arrival backstamp, minor blemishes. With the enclosed 8pp 8vo letter to "Mamma" headed "Akasheh" that states "...We are halting here for a day to give the
camels a rest...I am doing Adjutant and Quartermaster for the whole Convoy...this will be the last chance [to write] till we get to Dongola...".
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Estimate AU$600
Currently Opening at...AU$460.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2609 |
|
 1884 (undated) fragile cover endorsed "From Pte Ryder 4th Dr Gds Camel Corps Egypt" (= Dragoon Guards) and countersigned "Darley
Capt/Commanding Detachment/4th Dr Gds/Camel Corps" at lower-left, to London with British 1d lilac & boxed 'T' handstamp below but cancelled on arrival with 'F'-in-bars & poor cds alongside, light soiling & two minor repairs at left. Elements from 14
regiments were combined to create a Desert Camel Corps. Posted in the brief period between creation of the Corps & leaving for Khartoum. It was apparently posted at a civilian post office in Egypt where the British stamp was not accepted, and taxed.
However, in England, the 1d soldier's concession was recognised & accepted. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$850
Currently Opening at...AU$650.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2610 |
|
 1885 (Jan 12) cover to "General Gordon/Khartoum/Soudan/Africa" with Washington 2c brown x3 (a 1c convenience overpayment) tied by
'CINCINNATI' duplex, the reverse a bit aged with transits of New York, Alexandria (3.2.1885), 'ASSIOUT/4FE85' & 'WADI-HALFA' (?.2.85), opened-out for display. General Gordon was killed 26.1.1885, before the cover even reached Egypt. It seems odd that
it was nonetheless forwarded to the Sudan, especally as all British forces had been evacuated to Wadi Halfa or Suakin after the fall of Khartoum.
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Estimate AU$1,000
Currently Opening at...AU$750.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2611 |
/D |
 1885 Burn Murdoch cover "No 17" with light '[KORT]I/[star & crescent]/9FE85/...' cds, unusually without a 'T' handstamp & endorsed
"5" (pence?), Sevenoaks arrival backstamp of MR2/85, some immersion damage including loss of the sender's endorsement at upper-left. With the enclosed 3pp 8vo letter - also with signs of water-damage - that states "We yesterday received the news of
the fall of Kartoum...This is terrible news...I don't know what Wollesley will do now. I fancy we had better give them another licking and then clear out...I enclose my diary...I fear a very bad account of the battles..." The diary is about 20
close-written pages from a small notebook & makes for very interesting reading.
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Estimate AU$1,500
Currently Opening at...AU$1,150.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2612 |
/D |
 1885 Burn Murdoch stampless cover endorsed "No Stamps" to Kent with 'T'-in-box & large '2½' handstamps, faint 'KORTI' cds
(identifiable from the Arabic inscription at the base: rare on cover), 'SEVENOAKS/MR17/85' arrival backstamp. With the enclosed 4pp letter to "Mamma" with a postscript to his sister "Beatrice" headed "Gakdul/Feb 18th" that states "...We left the
greater part of the force at Abuklea & marched on for this place...we heard of the death of poor Sir Herbert Stewart on his way here...also of Gen Earl's death & victory...[Just learned that] Gen Buller has been attacked at Abuklea and orders have
been received to send 300 men & 600 camels to him in case he has to retreat..."
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Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2613 |
|
 1885 (Feb 22) apparently civilian cover to Ireland with Egyptian 1pi pink tied by one of two strikes of 24mm 'WADI-HALFA/...' cds,
very fine 'LARNE/MR9/85' arrival backstamp, small part of the flap missing. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$200
Currently Opening at...AU$150.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2614 |
|
 1885 (Feb 23) fragile apparently civilian cover to Kent with no OAS or military endorsement and Egyptian 1pi pink tied by one two
light but legible strikes of the 'KORTI/[star & crescent]/...' cds, part Woolwich arrival backstamp of MR17/85, minor faults. A very unusual usage from a military outpost. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$500
Currently Opening at...AU$380.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2615 |
|
 1885 (Feb 28) cover to Gloucestershire "via Brindisi" with 20pa pink pair tied by three overlapping strikes of the 'SOUAKIN' cds,
the reverse with Suez & 'SWINDON STATION' transits & 'FAIRFORD/NR16/85' arrival, minor peripheral defects. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$350
Currently Opening at...AU$270.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2616 |
/D |
 1885 (March) Burn Murdoch cover with colourless regimental embossing on the flap & signed by him at upper-left, to Kent most
unusually carried by Diplomatic Bag with very fine facsimile signature 'R Thompson/WAR OFFICE' cachet & light 'OFFICIAL PAID/AP15/85/LONDON SW' cds in red on the face, 'SEVENOAKS/ AP15/85' arrival backstamp, very minor blemishes. With the 3pp 8vo
letter headed "Korti/March 22nd 85" which states "Here I am still in hospital but I have not nearly so much fever...I am waiting anxiously for letters...they probably will have been stopped at Abu Fatmeh where the Regt is now...This letter is to have
the honour of travelling in Lord Wolseys [error for "Wolseley"] bag & they are waiting for it". A rare usage.
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Estimate AU$1,500
Currently Opening at...AU$1,150.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2617 |
|
 1885 Burn Murdoch fragile cover "No 21" with clear 'KORTI/[star & crescent]/...' cds, 'T'-in-box handstamp but because the sender
omitted stating his rank it was sent at the "other ranks" rate with very fine '1d' handstamp, unusually with no arrival backstamp but docketed at right "Recd Wed March 25 1885", some staining/toning. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2618 |
|
 1885 (Mar 2) cover without endorsements except signature of General Lord "Wolseley" at lower-left, to "Lt Colonel Rundle/Egyptian
Army/Korosko" with light but obvious 'KORTI/[star & crescent]/...' cds & 24mm 'KOROSKO/ 11MR85/...' arrival cds on the face, damaged on the reverse from having been glued in an album. The Commanding Officer's signature was effectively a frank
signifying official status & free postage. It's therefore quite incongrous that the 'T'-in-handstamp was applied, not once but twice. Rare internal mail. Korosko was some 640km almost due N of Korti - between Wadi Halfa & Assouan - but much further
by river. (Image1)
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Estimate AU$1,000
Currently Opening at...AU$750.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2619 |
|
 1885 (Mar 29) officer's cover without endorsement to England with Egyptian 'PARAS 20 PARAS' on 5pi pair tied by two of three light
but clear strikes of the rare 'TANI/[star & crescent]/...' cds, Alexandria transit & 'WOOLWICH/ AP20/85' arrival backstamps, very minor blemishes. Only three Tani covers have been recorded, this the only one with adhesives. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$1,500
Currently Opening at...AU$1,150.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2620 |
/D |
 1885 (Apr 13) Burn Murdoch cover signed by him at upper-left, to Kent with 'PARAS 20 PARAS' on 5pi pair uncancelled with very fine
'WADI-HALFA' cds alongside & partial 'T'-in-box below, 'SEVENOAKS/AP28/85' arrival backstamp. One of the finest items in the correspondence. With the 4pp 8vo letter headed "Abu Fatmah/April 5th" which states "...here we have stuck owing to a block in
the line of convoys in front. We have been delayed here nearly a week..." then a litany of complaints about his health & lack of promotion.
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Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2621 |
/D |
 1885 (Apr 20) Burn Murdoch cover signed by him at left (newly promoted to captain), to Kent with 'PARAS 20 PARAS' on 5pi blue-green
pair uncancelled with a fine strike of 'WADI-HALFA' cds alongside, 'T'-in-box handstamp at the base, the adhesives & 'T' obliterated in London with 'FB'-in-bars 'killers', 'SEVENOAKS/ MY5/85' arrival backstamp, very minor blemishes & opened a bit
roughly at the back. Apparently the Sudanese mail clerk thought the Egyptian stamps were invalid. At London, their validity was recognised.
With the enclosed 5pp 8vo letter headed "Wada Halfa [sic]/April 17th 85" (while in hospital) in which he states "We...have now nothing but easy travelling ahead of us...left Koti on 27th of March...the last day finishing with 60 miles in the
train...I shall try to get three months sick leave...and I should get [back] out here in time for the Autumn Campaign...We are taken the greatest care of here...I get A.I. tea, a great luxury after the beastliness we used to get in the desert...11
officers (all sick or wounded) & 57 men in the same state..."
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Estimate AU$850
Currently Opening at...AU$650.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2622 |
|
 1885 (Apr 22) cover with officer's unnecessary endorsement at the top largely erased & signed by him at lower -left "NF Elliott
Capt/42nd Regt", to Scotland with light but legible 'DONGOLA' cds, 'T'-in-box & large '2½' handstamps, part 'HAWICK' arrival backstamp affected by loss of part of the flap, minor soiling. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$400
Currently Opening at...AU$300.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2623 |
|
 1885 (Apr 29) stampless cover endorsed "On Active Service/M Drummond/ [?]" at lower-left, to "Megginch Castle/Errol/Scotland with
part Souakin cds (identified from the Arab inscription at the base) & very fine 'T.'-in-box handstamp, the reverse with cds of Suez (4.3.1885), Alexandria (5.5) & 'ERROL/MY12/85' arrival, very minor blemishes. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$400
Currently Opening at...AU$300.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2624 |
D |
 SUAKIN FIELD FORCE: 1885 printed page headed 'MILITARY/POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS IN EGYPT' & dated at the base 'Palace, Valletta/March 20
1885' regarding the Suakim Field Force stating that a Military Post Office would be established there, registration & postal order facilities would be provided and "...correspondence arriving from Egypt unpaid...will be surcharged only at the single
letter rate of 2½d per oz", a couple of minor repaired peripheral tears. (Image1)
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Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2625 |
S= |
 SUAKIN FIELD FORCE: 1885 (Mar-May) usages of British 'MILITARY/TELEGRAPHS' stamps with mostly light but identifiable part-strikes
of the rubber 'FIELD TELEGRAPH/ S K /No 16' cds x5 and of similar '.../ Q I / No 3' cds x3 (one is superb) in violet used at Quarantine Island.
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Estimate AU$400
Currently Opening at...AU$300.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2626 |
|
 SUAKIN FIELD FORCE: 1885 (Apr 4) cover with embossed '.../THIRD BATT/GRENADIER GUARDS' in red on the flap, to "May Fair/London"
with Egyptian 1pi pale blue tied by two fine strikes of the 24mm 'SOUAKIN/...' cds, Suez transit backstamp & poor London arrival in red on the face, opened a little roughly. (Image1) (Image2)
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Estimate AU$300
Currently Opening at...AU$230.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
| 2627 |
/D |
 SUAKIN FIELD FORCE: 1885 (Apr 27) stampless officer's cover endorsed at lower-left "From Maj Mackenzie/ NSW Contingent/ Camp/Hanoub
[?]", to the writer's mother in England, very fine 'BRITISH-ARMY-POST- OFFICE/ A /AP27/85/EGYPT' cds, 'T'-in-box & superb '2D/½' handstamps, London arrival backstamps of MY5/85, light vertical fold at right & minor blemishes.
The enclosed 4pp 8vo letter headed "Sudan/28 Apt 85" & signed "Douglas Mackenzie" with chatty comments "...We are well to the front. Arabs about but not in great force. They fired 97 shots at us...but they only wounded our camel driver...98 [degrees
Fahrenheit] in our tent & getting warmer. Brig[ade] well away from Suakin & amongst hills our camp is very healthy...Excuse state of paper, nothing can be kept clean here..."
The NSW Contingent, the first Australian force to serve outside of Australia, comprised 734 men & 24 officers. They departed Sydney 3.3.1885, saw very little action, & embarked for Sydney only ten weeks later. Many were employed on the Suakin-Berber
Railway, which was abandoned after only 26km of track had been laid. About 50 members volunteered for a newly-raised Camel Corps. Major Henry Douglas Mackenzie was one of the senior officers. A rare & important item: only nine covers have been
recorded from members of the New South Wales Contingent.
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Estimate AU$2,500
Currently Opening at...AU$1,900.00
Closing..Dec-11, 05:30 PM |
