OTHER CATEGORIES. OFFICIAL FREE FRANKS, FRANKING ABUSE, U.P.P. MAIL, INSURANCE "BONUS LETTER" WITH UDC, ETC.; 1819 Covent Garden play poster (not posted), plus group of prestamp/stampless printed covers; 1829 cyclostyled Cambridge University Election circular EL (franking abuse), Apr. 1834 Parliamentary Return ref. PO thefts of money in transit (ref. query from Postal Reformer "Robert Wallace", 1838/9 Free Es with "TITHE COMMISSIONERS" headings (one illust. in BPPP p.552 & one ref. giant packets going by "Coach or Van"), Feb. 1840 EL ref Queen's marriage with UPP hs "1", Dec 1840 EL ref. £872 in banknotes sent by post, 1840/4 OHMS trio (inc. Tithe/Poor Law Commissioners headings), 1845/8 pair ref. Solicitors, and 1848 redirected Insurance Co. EL with very fine STURMINSTER UDC. (13 items) Cross Reference: FREE MAIL, OFFICIAL MAIL, DORSET (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. BARTON ON HUMBER 1d BLACK COVER WITH PRINTED "COURSING CLUB" RULES & MEETING NOTICE; Fine 20th Nov. 1840 EL (minor seal tears) from Barton to Spittal with 1d Black (PE; almost 4m) tied by unusually light orange-red MX matching the fine scarce large "BARTON ON HUMBER" cds nicely placed on the top flap. The contents are a spectacular and attractive circular from the "BARTON-ON-HUMBER COURSING CLUB" with the new rules for 1841 and the next Prize Meeting to be run in Feb. 1841 with 32 dogs each paying the £10-10s-0d entry fee. Rare thus. [Illustrated fully in BPPP, p.340.]Cross Reference: LINCOLNSHIRE, 1840 1d BLACKS (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. BRIGHTON COURT OF REQUESTS CACHET ON 1d BLACK COVER REF. SMALL CLAIM COURT PAY-OUT; 20 Nov. 1840 E (some dusting and slight edge wear) sent locally in Brighton with Plate 4 1d Black (AB, just 4m) just tied by very fight orange-red MX matching the partial "[BRIGH]TON" cds on the top flap; most unusually there is a also a mainly very fine fancy 2-ring "BRIGHTON/COURT OF REQUESTS" armorial cachet at top left of the address. The mainly printed contents advise that a claim for £2-8s-10½d is ready to be paid out. [BPA Cert. (2011)] [Illustrated in BPPP, p.340.] Cross Reference: SUSSEX, 1840 1d BLACKS (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. SPECTACULAR 1d BLACK COVER - PRINTED INVITATION TO BECOME A FELLOW OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES; 19 Feb. 1841 EL (single large sheet; some creasing) sent from London (cds on top flap) to "Henry Godwin, Newbury, Berks." with 4m 1d Black (GG; filing crease) tied b very fine black London MX. The contents are a very attractive advice of FSA-ship (£8-8s-0d entry fee plus £4-4s-0d pa) with a printed version of the Society's armorial seal inside, signed by "Nichs. Carlisle". Remarkable contents for a 1d Black cover! [Illustrated fully in BPPP, p.343.]Cross Reference: 1840 1d BLACKS, BERKSHIRE (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. BLUE LLANELLY NUMERAL ON 4m 1d RED FORWARDING COLOURFUL O.H.M.S. CIRCULAR REF. "SMUGGLING" & "RUMMAGING"; Very attractive 15/18 Apr. 1845 E (one flap slightly reduced barely affecting contents; filing folds clear of stamp) initially sent OHMS with London crowned "PAID" cds to Llanelly ("On the Service of the Customs" heading) and then redirected to Carmarthen with a fine 4m 1d Red (QG) tied by a fine rare BLUE Llanelly "695" numeral. The printed contents concern "great laxity" in the inspections of coasting vessels resulting in "extensive smuggling transactions", and asks "that Officers of the Waterguard be strictly enjoined to rummage" them! Exhibition Quality. [Ex SG retail, June 2018; £675.]Cross Reference: 1841 1d REDS, 1840s CANCELLATIONS, WELSH POSTAL HISTORY, OFFICIAL MAIL (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. CHESTER SPOONS ON PAIR OF 2d BLUE 'STARS' COVERS WITH PRINTED CHURCH CONTENTS REF. PROVING WILLS; Remarkable 30 Apr./13 May 1857 pair of ELs (light toning) sent to vicars in Ormskirk (changed to "Lpool" before posting) or Congleton each with a 2d Blue 'stars' tied by partly fine "CHESTER" Spoon duplexes (codes "D" or "E"); both give notice of the Archdeacon's impending visit to hold a "Court of Visitation" for proving wills and the like - they were to be affixed "to the principal Door of your Church" (which would explain the toning) and so it is surprising that they have survived. Remarkable pair. (2 covers)Cross Reference: 1854-61 2d BLUES, CHESHIRE, SPOONS & SIDEWAYS DUPLEXES, ETC. (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. FIRST DAY OF USAGE ½d PLATE NUMBER (PL.11) ON PRINTED MATTER RATE COVER EX LONDON; Fine 1 Oct. 1870 EL (a couple of light vertical crease well clear of stamp) with printed contents and printed heading above the address "British Asylum for Deaf & Dumb Females" (being a voting form for their Committee); franked by a Plate 11 ½d Rose-Red (LM; slightly off-centre as usual) tied by a very fine small "LONDON N W/C 12/OC 1/70" cds. Used on the First Day of Usage of the British ½d stamp and the First Day of the Printed Matter rate. Attractive Exhibition Item.Cross Reference: FIRST DAY COVERS, 1870 ½d PLATES, FIRST DAY/SPECIAL EVENT COVERS (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. RARE FIRST DAY USAGE OF THE LARGE FORMAT ½d LILAC POSTCARD - EX YORK TO POCKLINGTON; 1 Oct. 1870 usage of the larger format ½d P. Stat. PC (light overall toning) which is thought to be the rarer of the two sizes used on the First Day; sent to Pocklington (fine arrival cds's of both Sat. 1 Oct. & Mon. 3 Oct. on reverse) cancelled by a superb First Day "C/YORK" cds. Interesting message; "Dearest Polly, My heart's sad at parting with you/When shall we meet again/I long for the time when I shall again/be cheered by the light of your eyes. J.H.H.". Cross Reference: FIRST DAY COVERS, FIRST DAY/SPECIAL EVENT COVERS, POSTAL STATIONERY, QV, YORKSHIRE (Image)

OTHER CATEGORIES. HYMN CARD WITH 1841 1d RED, P. DUE MARKS, PARL. REPORTS (REF. R. HILL OR "OBSCENE PUBLICATIONS"), ETC.; 1847-77 group inc. folded hymn-card posted from Durham with 1d Red tied by "267" numeral (a very early form of Postcard! - illust. in BPPP, p.351), 1859 EL (mis-perfed. 1d 'stars') with "YORKSHIRE UNION HUNT CLUB" rules, 1859/77 Parl. reports (not posted) ref. Rowland Hill's new proposal for compulsory prepayment or the rules for stopping "Indecent or Obscene Publications", 1871/7 ½d rose-red covers (6) inc. one endorsed "Nature of a letter" + others with hs "½d" or red Brighton "GONE AWAY..." marks, 1873 env. with ½d+2d (rare inland 4-6oz letter rate), 1874/84 pair of used (but not posted) rare ½d Green or Brown "VACCINATION CERTIFICATE" P. Stat. ELs, 1905/10 pair of giant folded "PANORAMIC LETTER CARD" PCs (charged 1d extra or with skeleton), etc. Great mix. (19 items) Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, POSTAL STATIONERY, QV, 1841 1d REDS (Image)