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British Virgin Islands Postal History continued...

Stampless Covers and Early Letters continued...
Lot Symbol CatNo. Lot Description CV or Estimate
21 c image"Tortola/15 Sep 16" straight line datestamp, Type 3A, variety with only two numerals for the year date, exceptionally clear strike applied to folded letter written to England from Tortola on September 14th, consisting largely of a merchant's copy of an August 19th letter and an additional enclosure (not present), all causing this packet letter to be rated "7/-", three times the 1sh/2p packet rate and three times the 1sh/2p inland rate from Falmouth to Kendal, Westmoreland, manuscript receiving endorsement on October 30th, normal file folds, one barely touching the marking, otherwise very fine and an attractive multiple rate letter. (Image) Est. 750-1,000

SOLD for $575.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
22 c image"Tortola/22 Feb 20" straight line datestamp, Type 3A, variety with only two numerals for the year date, lovely clear strike applied to very fresh folded packet cover to the treasurer of the Methodist Missionary Society in London, rated "2/2"in manuscript, backstamped, extremely fine. (Image) Est. 500-750

SOLD for $625.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
23 c image1827 "Lancaster/Ship Letter" boxed handstamp on reverse of folded letter datelined "Tortola 20th April 1827", to Kendal in Westmoreland, England, manuscript "1/2", fresh and extremely fine; this illustrates the fastest and most economical way to reach this destination in northern England. (Image) Est. 300-400

SOLD for $230.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
24 c image"Tortola/5 Aug 34" straight line datestamp, Type 3A, variety with only two numerals in the year date, in black on the reverse of a prepaid folded cover from Tortola, endorsed "(single)" and "p Packet" in manuscript, plus red manuscript "2/2 PP" and red "Paid" tombstone handstamp on front, both establishing prepayment, this is probably a cover for a missionary letter being addressed to a member of the clergy, the docketing also notes "Happy termination of slavery" (slavery was abolished in Tortola on August 1, 1834), occasionally prepaid inbound letters from England are found, but prepaid letters are very rare from Tortola, this is the only example in the McCann collection and there were none in the Fredrick collection. (Image) Est. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,050.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
25 c image"Tortola/27 Jul 39" straight line datestamp, Type 3C, variety with only two numerals in the year date, on the reverse of a folded cover of a missionary in Tortola to the home office in London, manuscript "2/2" packet rate, backstamp slightly overstriking the Tortola marking, very fine: this is the scarce type with large letters in "Tortola", this type was first used 40 years earlier for two months in 1800, it actually differs in small ways from the earlier datestamp besides the two-numeral year date, but it is in this Type 3C family of markings, which are very elusive, there were none in the Fredrick collection. (Image) Est. 750-1,000

SOLD for $1,150.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
26 c image"West End Jan 23, 1840" dateline on lengthy folded ship letter to Burlington, Vermont, endorsed per "Brig 'Eliza' Jan 26", red "New York/Ship/Feb 11" c.d.s. and "20 3/4" rate in manuscript for 2c ship fee plus 18 3/4c inland postage, slight edge wear causing a tiny tear at bottom and some separation along folds, still nearly very fine and an attractive letter; most mail originated in Road Town and is identified simply as "Tortola" for the Island, this is the only example from this early period identifiable as being from the small community of West End and even more desirable by post to the United States. (Image) Est. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $675.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
27 c image1840 Inbound folded letter to Tortola posted on January 1, 1841 from London, manuscript rate "1/-" for packet service to Tortola and "3 bits" local assessment, marked in manuscript at left "Dead" as explanation for the return of this letter undelivered, also accompanied by the printed folded letter from the Dead-Letter Office in London with "1/5" to be paid by the sender, both letters are very fine; a scarce and very interesting documentation of how such matters were handled, certainly this was not welcome news by the original sender in this case, as the deceased had been sent power of attorney to settle the affairs of an estate on Tortola and the proceeds were being requested. (Image) Est. 750-1,000

SOLD for $600.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
28 c image"Tortola/28 Aug 1841" straight line datestamp, Type 3B, an excellent strike of this rare type, applied to the reverse of a folded cover to the Wesleyan Missions in London, per packet and rated "2/-" in manuscript indicating this was a double rate letter, backstamped. very fine; this type is characterized by its short approximate equal height of the two lines in the datestamp (3.5mm), Peter McCann considered this the least common of the straight line datestamps, this being the only example in his collection and no example in the Fredrick collection. (Image) Est. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,150.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
29 c image"Tortola/20 Oct 1842" straight line datestamp, Type 3D, quite well struck example applied across the letterjoin on the reverse of a folded packet letter to London, rated "1/-" in manuscript, backstamped, very fine; this is an extremely scarce type of the Tortola datestamp despite the relative late date of usage, being distinguished by the letters being spaced out to give "Tortola" a much longer length (38mm), amazingly elusive as this is the only example in the McCann collection and there was no example in the Fredrick collection. (Image) Est. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $800.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
30 c image"Tortola/12 Jan 1848" straight line datestamp, Type 3C, clear strike on the reverse of folded letter, which is a complete letter though only a single sheet, lowered packet rate of "1/-" in manuscript, backstamped London on February 3rd, very fine; this is the late version of the scarce Type 3C datestamp with larger tall letters in "Tortola" and a four numeral year date, but it differs from the 1800 version in small ways, primarily in that the height of the date line is only 3mm like Type 3D, a scarce marking and the only example of this variety in the McCann collection and not found in the Fredrick collection. (Image) Est. 500-750

SOLD for $425.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
31 c imageDouble-arc "Tortola/12 JY 1848" c.d.s. with index letter "A", Type 6 (early state with undamaged rim at left), clear strike of this surprisingly scarce postmark on the reverse of folded letter datelined "Tortola 10th July 1848", backstamped Annan, Scotland and with London transit, per packet with "1/-" manuscript rate, cover with minor soiling, otherwise very fine; an interesting personal letter that relates events in Tortola and other Caribbean islands, particularly relating to slavery; this double-arc cancel was used for a very short period in relation to the straight line markings, and unlike similar markings of other British post offices, is extremely scarce to rare. (Image) Est. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $1,450.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
32 c image1851 "On H.M. Service" cover to Saint Christopher from London, endorsed at left "Off: Admg Govt./N. Islands", on the reverse well struck examples of "Tortola/JU 30 1851" double-arc c.d.s., Type 6 (second state with bent rim at left) and slightly larger "St. Thomas/JU 30 1851" double-arc c.d.s., both applied in transit, rated "2/-", cover is very attractive though it has been expertly repaired replacing most of the back flap, plus a non-contemporaneous ink number on the front, very fine appearance; an exceptionally early and rare official cover. (Image) Est. 750-1,000

SOLD for $950.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
Great Britain used in Virgin Islands
Lot Symbol CatNo. Lot Description CV or Estimate
33 O S.G. #Z1 imageS.G. #Z1, 1858-60 1p Rose red with "A13" oval bars cancellation, Type 7, two quite clear strikes applied to horizontal pair, stamps have small faults, mostly clipped perforations, otherwise fine: of all the British Caribbean islands Tortola had the least correspondence, this is the only marking that was used on the stamps of Great Britain, it continued rarely to be used on the early stamps of Virgin Islands ("A91" being used much more often) and a variant of it is known used as late as 1902, but the four Great Britain values used at Tortola are among the rarest of any of the foreign usages of Great Britain stamps, no covers are known; the 1p in particular is of the greatest rarity with only nine stamps recorded, this being the only known pair. (Image) Est. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $5,250.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
34 c image1862 "A91" oval bars cancellation, Type 8, a clearly discernible strike tying 1857 1p Rose red (S.G. #40) to petite cover to Gosport, England, posted by a sailor on board the H.M. Ship "Orpheus" and signed by his commanding officer so that the concession rate of 1p would apply to send this cover back to England from the foreign locality of this ship, backstamped, very fine military posting; the "A91" oval in bars cancel was assigned to a Cunard Line contract mail ship in the Atlantic, quite likely traveling between Great Britain and the West Indies, for the Virgin Island postal history collector this is important because this number was re-assigned to Tortola in 1867 and this same cancelling device was used on the early issues of the Virgin Islands until 1904, no Great Britain stamps were used out of Tortola with this cancel being assigned there after the period of their use, but this highly desirable "forerunner" usage of this cancel is one of only two covers known, and on a particularly desirable concession rate cover as well. (Image) Est. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,100.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
19th Century Virgin Islands stamps on cover
Lot Symbol CatNo. Lot Description CV or Estimate
35 c S.G. #7, 9, 15 imageS.G. #7, 9, 15, 1866-70 Three-color franking of the early issues on attractive 1889 registered cover to Munich, Germany, stamps consist of the early 6p Dull rose on toned paper, perforated 12, plus 1p Blue green on white paper and 4p Lake red on pale rose paper, both perforated 15, each stamp is tied by a strike of "Tortola/AP 24 89" c.d.s. with index letter "C", Type 10, with an additional strike at left, red London registry transit also ties two of the stamps, backstamped, very fine; this cover shows an interesting variety of the early issues paying 8p postage, 2p registry and overpaid by 1p, all of these stamps are very rare used on cover even in this slightly later period, a lovely usage with great eye-appeal (Scott #2-3, 5a). (Image) Est. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,500.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
36 c S.G. #14b imageS.G. #14b, 1867 1/- Black and rose carmine with double frame on toned paper, well centered with central "A91" oval bar cancel, Type 8, faint vertical crease and small edge faults, on 1872 mourning cover to London with red receiving c.d.s. on front and back, clear black "Tortola/AU 12 72" c.d.s. with index letter "A", Type 9, on reverse, this cover has been expertly cleaned and restored replacing a portion of the backflap which affects no markings, and the cleaning has lightened the address which has been penciled in, very fine appearance; despite the condition, this cover is of extreme rarity, it is clearly from the well known Charles Hadfield correspondence, and only 1,000 of this stamp remained for use after the overprinted issues are subtracted, it is doubtful that more than one or two covers exist with this franking in any condition (Scott #7b). (Image) Est. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,300.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
37 c S.G. #15 imageS.G. #15, 1867 4p Lake red on pale rose paper, clearly tied to unusually attractive cover to London by "A91" oval bar cancel, Type 8, stamp is well centered and attractive despite a small facial abrasion, "Tortola/JU 12 81" c.d.s., Type 9, on the reverse, backstamped on August 26th, cover has a light unobtrusive fold and minor mounting stains on the reverse, still a very fine and handsome cover from this early period; the 4p rate was instituted in 1879, prior to that this stamp was issued in a quantity of only 13,000 divided between those printed on buff and rose paper, this latter being the scarcer, the issue was soon exhausted and few have survived, all making for a very rare usage on cover (Scott #5a). (Image) Est. 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $2,000.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
38 c S.G. #21 imageS.G. #21, 1867 1/- Black and rose carmine with single frame on white paper, just tied to 1873 mourning cover to London by exceptionally clear and well struck example of the very scarce "A13" oval bar cancellation, Type 7, "Tortola/DE 1 73" c.d.s. with index letter "A", Type 9, on the reverse, cover is marked "Post paid" in manuscript as well as London Paid receiving c.d.s., both on the front, backflap torn in opening just carrying to the front at top, stamp has light corner creases at top left, one ending in a minute tear, still a very fine and rare early cover; this stamp was issued in the miniscule quantity of only 2,000 stamps, in addition covers of this period are of the greatest rarity and nearly all of the 25 or so known covers before 1889 have either "A91" or various circular date pmks. cancelling the stamps, even loose stamps with the "A13" cancel are very scarce, on cover they are rare, this is the only cover in the McCann collection with this cancel and the only cover of which we are aware (Scott #7). (Image) Est. 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $3,000.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
39 c S.G. 25, 27, 29 imageS.G. #25, 27, 29, 1879-83 2 1/2p Red Brown, 1/2p Green and 1p Pale rose, a marvelous three-color franking of the surprisingly rare key-plate Victoria issue, this is the only 19th century issue that depicted royalty of Great Britain and was not much used, each stamp possesses a light strike of "A91" oval bar cancel, just tying two of the values to neat 1884 cover to Washington, D.C., "Tortola/AU 12 84" c.d.s. with index letter "A", Type 9, on the reverse, accompanying a mosaic of transits including St. Thomas, New York and Washington receiving cancel as well as a blue carrier c.d.s., stamps are well centered, slight postal soiling to stamps and cover slightly and inconsequentially reduced at left, otherwise very fine; an unbelievably rare and desirable cover with these issues showing a three-color proper franking for the 4p UPU rate to the United States, covers with this issue are much underappreciated and undercataloged in Stanley Gibbons, Dr. McCann knew of only two covers (this and the next lot) with these issues used in the early contemporaneous period of their issue, this being the finest (Scott #11, 13-14). (Image) Est. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,900.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM
40 c S.G. #31 imageS.G. #31, 1884 2 1/2p Ultramarine, horizontal pair with small flaws including small facial scuff to left stamp, tied to 1885 registered cover to the United States by "A91" oval bar cancel, Type 8, this is the same correspondence as the previous cover to J.A. Shindell in the comptroller's office in Washington, D.C., "Tortola/OC 14 85" c.d.s. with index letter "A", Type 9, on the reverse, proper registry markings including one of Danish West Indies, backstamped, unfortunately a 1p stamp has been removed as the proper rate is 4p postage plus 2p registry fee, still attractive and a rare cover as this is only the second cover known to the collector used in the period of the stamps issuance (Scott #15). (Image) Est. 500-750

SOLD for $350.00
Closing..Jun-27, 01:00 PM

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