RUBY MALTESE CROSS: 1840 1d black plate 1b MI lightly cancelled with a RUBY MX. Good margins on all sides. SG Spec. A2 ve £1,200. (Image)
Opening GBP 200.00
Sold...GBP 220.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 220
DERBYSHIRE
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 195
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
OLD CHEQUES WITH EMBOSSED TAX STAMPS FROM VARIOUS DERBY BANKS, ALMOST ALL UNUSED: c.1820-1941 all-different collection of attractively printed Bank Cheques with fine embossed Tax Stamps; "DRAFT" (2) or smaller oval types (albino, orange or blue), almost all being unused and unusually complete with their counterfoils at left. The early examples mostly from "Crompton Newton [or Evans] & Co.", and one dated "182.." (toning) from "Crompton Newton & Co.". Mostly fine. Some with security printing on reverse. [A similar smaller lot in Cavendish's Sept. 2004 auction, lot 1102, realised £160+BP.] Seldom seen. (33) Cross Reference: BANKNOTES, REVENUES (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 140.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 140
EDINBURGH
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 198
Symbol:
RARE EDINBURGH "TO BE/DELIVERED/FREE" MARK ON PRINTED UNIVERSITY BUSINESS RE SCHOOL AT TOROSAY, MULL: 25 December 1827 printed EL from "Edinburgh University Chambers" to Auchnacraig, Isle of Mull regarding a new school at Torosay, with a very fine rare Edinburgh "TO BE/ DELIVERED/ FREE" (Auckland ED172b; apparently rare in black; light vertical filing crease) front top right. (Similar sold Cav. Sale 716 Lot 2357 £440+BP) Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, SCOTLAND, INNER HEBRIDES, ARRAN, BUTE, ETC. (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 240.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 240
FREE MAIL
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 177
Symbol:
LONDON FREE MARKS INC. INSTRUCTIONALS, "ABOVE WEIGHT", LARGE "N" CODE, 3-RING DS, ETC.: Large 1775-1839 group of mainly fronts. Includes a section of earlier Free mark types inc. coded or uncoded 3-rings, Apples, N or O code crowned cds's plus a diverse assortment of various "TO PAY" 1d or 2d marks, "ABOVE WEIGHT" handstamps, etc. Majority of Free Frank period well-represented. (22 covers + c.130 fronts) Cross Reference: INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)
Opening GBP 170.00
Sold...GBP 260.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 260
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 178
Symbol:
RARE FREE FRANK TO A SHIP IN HARBOUR -ABUSE OF PRIVILEGE BY SCOTTISH P.O. SECRETARY: 20 Nov. 1798 EL from Edinburgh to "Capt. Milne, H.M.S. La Seine, Portsmouth" personally headed & countersigned by the Scottish P.O. Secretary "W[illiam] Kerr" but the letter was written by "David Milne", the addressee's father! It has two red Edinr. Bishop Marks on the front slightly overlapping a scarce uncoded red 3-ring London "FREE" transit cds. A few months before this, the addressee had been involved in capturing the French ship 'La Seine' and as a reward was given command of the ship when it was taken into the British Navy. Free franks to ships are very rare. Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, MARITIME MAIL, HAMPSHIRE (Image)
Opening GBP 70.00
Sold...GBP 140.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 140
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 179
Symbol:
FREE/F. FREELING/RETURNED LETTER OFFICE COVER - UNRECORDED TYPE - TO PORTUGAL REF. UNPAID LETTER IN TRANSIT: 27 Oct. 1831 printed EL to Porto with fine 2-ring "FREE" cds & red oval "LISBOA" arrival. Complete sheets extremely rare; the listing in the "Statement when the Mails are made up at this Office." section is unique & unrecorded. Fine item. Cross Reference: RETURNED MAIL, PORTUGAL (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 360.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 360
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 180
Symbol:
IRELAND - RARE FREE FRANKED ENV. TO JAMAICA WITH DUBLIN CROWNED "FREE" DS: 4 Sept. 1836 env. (rare before 1840 especially for overseas mail) sent free of postage from “Dublin” by Sir "C[harles] Yorke" to Jamaica in his capacity as Inspecting Field officer of the Militia; it has a very fine red crowned “FREE” cds of Dublin on the front. It was addressed to a very senior member of the Jamaican Government, the “Receiver General” who was in charge of all expenditure for the colony at this time, but he would still have been pleased not to pay 4s-4d postage for the double-rate letter. The envelope was endorsed “Private” on the front and “Duplicate” on the flap by Yorke, which rather suggests that this was a personal letter and therefore an abuse of the franking privilege, but without the contents of the letter we cannot be certain. Very few franked letters to the West Indies have been recorded. [Ex Graham Booth, 2022.] Cross Reference: JAMAICA, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)
Opening GBP 220.00
Sold...GBP 300.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 181
Symbol:
THE RARE 'LARGE E' CODE CROWNED "FREE" DS INC. A UNIQUE "PAR[LIAMENTARY] PRO[CEEDINGS]" USAGE: 13 July 1837 - 20 Nov. 1838 free fronts (7) all with mostly very fine strikes of this rare Evening Duty London crown-in-circle "FREE" ds (Galland 75; only 5 covers known) including a remarkable 17 July 1837 wrapper front endorsed "Par[liamentary] Pro[ceedings]" signed at top by the famous pugilist-gambler "J[ohn]. Gully M.P." with both the 'large E' FREE marks and a matching 2-ring uncoded example (unique thus), the latest known date (30 Nov. 1838; referred to by Galland but not seen by him), and all sent from London. Good lot in unusually fine condition. (7 fronts) Cross Reference: PARLIAMENTARY MAIL (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 182
Symbol:
LONDON 2-RING "FREE" DS FRONTS OF 9/10/11 JAN. 1840 + DUBLIN 10 JAN. 1840: 10 Jan. front from Ireland with 10 Jan. Dublin Free cds (fine) & London 11 Jan. "+" code London 2-ring Free (fine - day after last official day); plus fine or v. fine 9 or 10 Jan Free marks on fronts ex. London. (3 fronts) Cross Reference: POSTAL REFORMS, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, UNIFORM 1d POSTAGE PERIOD (Image)
Opening GBP 140.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 320
IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 199
Symbol:
CLONMEL - RARE EARLY 10d RATE COVER TO HOLLAND: 1 Sept. 1683 EL (some dusting, minor edge wear and fold clear of marks) from Clonmel to Andrew Russell in Rotterdam endorsed post pd to London 10d with v.fine SE/12 London Bishop ds and red crayon XI (stuyvers) Dutch delivery charge. Rare pre 1700 letter at the 4d to Dublin and 6d onwards to London rate. Cross Reference: NETHERLANDS (Image)
Opening GBP 260.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 200
Symbol:
EARLY "CORK" STRAIGHT- LINE COVER TO LIVERPOOL UNUSUALLY ROUTED "VIA CHESTER" & CHARGED 1s-1d: Fine 1 Sept. 1713 EL ex “CORK” (partly fine very early s. line on the front) to Liverpool when the only postal service between Ireland and England was via Dublin and Holyhead at this date. Unusually this letter was endorsed “Via Chester” by its sender to ensure it was not sent via London. The postal rate was the same by either route; this was 4d from Cork to Dublin (above 80 miles) + 6d on via Holyhead to Chester (2d Packet rate + 4d above 80 miles inland) = “10[d]”; that was changed to “1N1” (1s-1d) for the extra 3d (under 80 miles) from Chester to Liverpool. This was almost the highest possible single-sheet postal rate within Britain at this date. Cross Reference: CHESHIRE, POSTAGE DUE MARKS (Image)
Opening GBP 65.00
Sold...GBP 70.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 70
LONDON NUMBERS IN MALTESE CROSS CANCELLATIONS
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 164
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
COMPLETE 'SET' PLUS 2d BLUE & No. 8 COVER: Group of 1d red imperfs. on stock card with all 12 numerals represented. Variable margins. Also a fine no. 8 on cover to Folkingham and 1d pink cover to Leeds with no.6 cancel. Also 3/4 margin 1841 2d blue single with no. 1 cancel (14 stamps plus 2 covers) (Image)
Opening GBP 65.00
Sold...GBP 85.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 85
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 165
Symbol:
FINE GROUP: 28 March 1844 E to Liverpool with 1d plate 35 pair HK-HL with two fine strikes of "2" in MX. 30 June 1843 E to Rye bearing 1d plate 18 BK (shaved at foot) with a very fine "3" in MX. 30 March 1843 EL to Shrewsbury bearing 1d plate 24 AH-AI with two strikes of "5" in MX, an early date. 7 Aug. 1843 E to Edinburgh bearing 1d red plate 31 LC (vertical crease) with an almost complete "6" in MX. 11 Nov. 1843 EL to Edinburgh with 1d plate 32 JG with a complete "7" in MX cancellation. ?1843 part E to east Grinstead with 1d plate 40 JI with a fine upright "8" in MX cancellation. 8 Dec. 1843 EL to Market Harborough with 1d plate 38 ?G with a good "11" in MX cancellation. A good lot. SG £4,150. (7 items) (Image)
Opening GBP 150.00
Sold...GBP 220.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 220
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 166
Symbol:
NO 2: 13 Mar. 1844 env. from London to Edinburgh bearing a four margined 1841 2d blue plate 3 HB with a good strike of the No 2 in MX cancellation. Scarce. SG Spec. E1vb £2,250. (Image)
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 130.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 130
LONDON POSTAL HISTORY
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 192
Symbol:
SCARCE FOREIGN BRANCH PENNY POST TRANSFER HS: Trio inc. 1794 EL Berlin to Mr Lever Coachmaker to HRH Prince of Wales with v.fine PP hs and ms "1"; 1796 E (faults clear of marks) Italy to London with fine large PP / 1796 in circle hs and 1799 EL (rust spots) Gottingen to London with fine FOREIGN OFFICE / 99 cds and alongside a v.fine PP / 1796 in circle hs. Good trio. Cross Reference: GERMANY, ITALY (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 180.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 180
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 193
Symbol:
VERY RARE "NORTHERN DISTRICT/N" BLUE LABEL ON LOCAL UPRATED 1d PINK STAT. ENV. TO KING'S CROSS: 5 May 1857 1d Pink p.stat. env. affixed with 1d Red cancelled by circled "75" barred duplex & v. fine blue Northern District label plus "CORNHILL" straight line on reverse; V. few of these district labels have been recorded; probably less than 10 on covers. (Image)
Opening GBP 140.00
Sold...GBP 360.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 360
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 194
Symbol:
START OF LONDON POSTCODES - 1857 I.L.N. MAP, INITIALLED UDCs, 'GARTER' INITIALS ON WRITING PAPER, ETC.: 1857-68 section inc. "SIDMOUTH-ST-BRANCH/W.C." and similar 2-lines types for Charing X, Islington, Westminster-Bridge, Pimlico and Cornhill in black or blue plus UDCs for Charing X Paddington or Richmond; also eight 1883-1917 items inc. business or hotel stationery with imprinted or handstruck postcodes. (25 covers, business stationery etc. + Newspaper with 1857 London postal districts map) Cross Reference: NEWSPAPERS/MAGAZINES, MAPS (Image)
Opening GBP 110.00
Sold...GBP 240.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 240
OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 169
Symbol:
AMERICA - REMARKABLE HIGH VALUE FRANKING: 4 Dec. 1901 large (240 x 126 mm) parcel piece. registered from London to New York bearing 1897 Jubilee 4d (2), 6d (3), 1884 2/6d lilac NE and 5/- rose GC & GD all tied by oval "REGISTERED/LONDON CHIEF OFFICE E C" ds. Some folds well clear of adhesives. (Image)
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 340.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 340
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 170
Symbol:
AUSTRALIA - 9d & 10d RATE COVERS, ETC.: 12 June 1873 env. from London "via Brindisi" to Victoria bearing a single 9d straw plate 4 KB. Also another good used 9d HD. 22 Dec. 1870 mourning env. from London to Tasmania bearing a good 10d KA. Also another 10d GJ, fair used. SG £2,075. (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 190.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 171
Symbol:
AUSTRALIA: 22 Feb. 1883 mourning env. from Bromley to Melbourne bearing a fine 1883 6d on 6d. Also a mint 6d on 6d GC well centred, very light natural bend. (SG 162 - £675) and used OB & QL. (4 items) (Image)
Opening GBP 110.00
Sold...GBP 150.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 173
Symbol:
FRANCE - SPAIN - USA - NETHERLANDS, ETC.: Inc. 1862-65 E to France bearing 4d adhesives two with "INSUFFICIENTLY/PREPAID" hs, three having "50"numerals two of which cancel "PD" in oval hs. 8 Nov. 1856 EL from Newcastle to Valencia with 2d pair + 1856 6d. 1863 E from Liverpool to New York with 1/- green and on reverse small ""LIVERPOOL/P.L.O." cds. 9 Aug. 1861 E registered from London tom Milan with 1856 franked 2 x 6d. 1860 EL from London to Amsterdam with 1d + 4d (faded) + 1/-. An interesting group. (9 covers) (Image)
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 220.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 220
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 175
Symbol:
UNITED STATES - RARE 1/- "K IN CIRCLE" VARIETY: 16 July 1864 env. from Havant to Wisconsin bearing a marginal 1862 1/- green plate 2 KD, centred to foot but clearly showing the rare "K" in circle variety (SG 90a - £2,300 off cover). The right margin is a little trimmed and some slight wrinkling. A major rarity. (Image)
Opening GBP 240.00
Sold...GBP 240.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 240
PICTORIALS, HAND-DRAWN
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 183
Symbol:
ILLUSTRATED ENV. ATTRIBUTED TO LADY EDITH BLAKE: Undated env. (c. late 1860s) addressed to "Miss A. de la Poer, Gurteen, Clonmel, Ireland" franked very poor 1d red tied by Irish Diamond "42[?]" duplex beautifully illustrated in pen on front with a young lady in a classical pose (possibly the artists sister). The back flap (faults) is embossed "Newtown Anner/Clonmel" the home of Edith & Grace Osborne. Edith went on to become an accomplished botanical illustrator, so the drawing has been attributed to her. Included are an article by John Scott FRPSL which appeared in the London Philatelist (Dec. 2024) illustrating this item, and examples of her work in a Country Life article (30 July, 1970). Exhibition item. Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 500.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 500
PICTORIALS, PRINTED
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 184
Symbol:
OCEAN PENNY POSTAGE: Very fine unused 1850 League of Universal Brotherhood env. (minor staining/toning), State 1b (David Turner, Ocean Penny Postage) on grey paper with pink seal on backflap, without "City" added to imprint. Attractive item. Scarce. (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 140.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 140
POSTAL STATIONERY, QV
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 186
Symbol:
1855 STAMPED TO ORDER POSTAL NOTICE: 16 Nov. 1855 postmaster's notice (140 x 96 mm) with embossed 4d, 6d &1/- overprinted "SPECIMEN" for stamped to order issues. Fine. (Image)
Opening GBP 65.00
Sold...GBP 90.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 90
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 187
Symbol:
1859 STAMPED TO ORDER POSTAL NOTICE: May 1859 stamped to order Postmaster's notice (139 x 98 mm) with embossed 3d overprinted "SPECIMEN". Fine. (Image)
Opening GBP 50.00
Sold...GBP 65.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 65
REGISTERED MAIL
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 188
Symbol:
1853 RARE NOTICE OF OBJECTION: 24 Aug. 1853 printed Parliamentary Mail Notice of Objection to vote notice addressed to "The overseers of Saint John Hampstead in the County of Middlesex". On the front is a good red boxed "NOTICE 3d" hs. Fine and rare. (Image)
Opening GBP 130.00
Sold...GBP 140.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 140
SHIP LETTERS
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 168
Symbol:
GRAVESEND INDIA LETTER PAIR: 1824 wrapper ex Bombay? to Leith via the Cape. Endorsed "per Isabella" and having fine boxed "INDIA LETTER/GRAVESEND" mark: also 1838 EL from NSW to London having superbly struck, boxed "India Letter/Gravesend" mark (script type peculiar to Gravesend). During the 1830s letters to/from Australia were rated and treated as India Letters. (2 covers) Cross Reference: NEW SOUTH WALES, SHIP LETTERS, INDIA (Image)
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 110
UNIFORM 4d POSTAGE PERIOD
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 189
Symbol:
LATE USAGE "FREE" DS OF DUBLIN (INC. LAST DAY) & LONDON (INC. 10 JAN. 1840) DURING 4d-POST PERIOD: 9 Dec. 1839 - 8 Jan. 1840 cover + 9 fronts all franked by Peers (Parliament was not sitting during the 4d-Post Period so M.P.s could not frank mail then); 24 Dec. EL to a Rochdale M.P. apparently charged "1/-" though with a v. fine crown-on-top 'small E' code ds, 23 Dec. crown-on-top 'small N' code, 9 Dec.-7 Jan. trio sent cross-country in England and so with no London Free marks, 1 Jan. with hs "2" & rare late usage octagon-framed "TO PAY/2d/ONLY" (with MORTLAKE/EV cds), and 26 Dec. - 8 Jan. quartet all with scarce 4d-Post usages of Dublin's crowned "FREE" ds (uncoded or 3 "M" codes) inc. exceptional 8 Jan. 1840 front ex Monaghan to London with partly fine red 9 Jan. LAST DAY Dublin crowned "FREE" ("N" code) as well as crown-on-top 'small N' code London arrival ds of the First Day of Uniform Penny Postage (Free mail in transit was still free as long as posted on or before 9 Jan.). Remarkable lot; 4d-Post Irish FREE marks are rarely seen. (1 cover + 9 fronts) Cross Reference: FREE MAIL, OFFICIAL MAIL, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)
Opening GBP 110.00
Sold...GBP 120.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 120
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 190
Symbol:
SCARCE PREPAID 4d-RATE COVERS EX NEWCASTLE on TYNE (REF. SAVING POSTAGE) & BIRMINGHAM: 20/31 Dec. 1839 pair of unusually fine prepaid ELs to London with partly fine red boxed "PAID/AT/BIRMINGHAM" & red ms "4" or just with red ms "P4", both having cds's nicely placed on the flaps. The Newcastle cover unusually having a fine green "R" wafer seal (rare before 1840) and mention of saving postage with the new system where 2 sheets could be sent for the basic ½oz rate; "[I enclose another letter] to your neighbour... A postage will thus be saved to the Missionary Society...". Prepaid 4d-Post Period letters are rare because there no incentive to prepay them and people were still used to sending their letters unpaid. (2 covers) Cross Reference: NORTHUMBERLAND, WARWICKSHIRE - BIRMINGHAM, POSTAL REFORMS (Image)
Opening GBP 80.00
Sold...GBP 150.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 150
VALENTINES
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 191
Symbol:
ANTI-VALENTINE CARD: A paper 'card' (folds and in need of a clean) produced by MEEK, embossed with lace design with a printed coloured image of a two faced man and the rather unpleasant poem "You double-faced scoundrel, I'll show you your face,/The dirtiest, but yet not the least of your race,/Thou two-sided rascal where-er you go,/One tongue will say Yes,/the other No./J T Wood". No inscription (though perhaps one isn't needed as the card itself expresses deep feelings!). We have not seen one of this design before, and can find no mention of it in popular sources. (Image)
Opening GBP 65.00
Sold...GBP 85.00
Closed..May-11-2025, 04:00:00 EST
Sold For 85
WARWICKSHIRE
Sale No: 868
Lot No: 196
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
STRATFORD ON AVON RP PCs - SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL/PRINCE OF WALES OPENING, PROCESSIONS, ETC.: c.1902-30 collection of unused real photo PCs, almost all lively scenes relating to the Shakespeare Theatre & Festival (merry-go-round, speeches, processions, etc.). Superb lot. Plus a few other Warwicks cards and two photos (one a large on-stage view of actors). Remarkable and rare group inc. some with local publisher imprints on reverse. ( 35 cards + 2 photos) Cross Reference: PICTURE POSTCARDS (Image)
