PRICES CURRENT TO FRANCE WITH 1841 1d RED VIA BOULOGNE & CHARGED "15[decimes]" ON DELIVERY; Attractive and very fine 26 June 1843 EL (printed Prices Current; "Prezzi Correnti") from London to Lyons unusually franked with an 1841 1d Red (4 good to very large margins; just clear of filing fold) tied by a very fine London MX with fine red 2-ring "ANGL./3 BOULOGNE 3" cds alongside. Also having a very fine sender's oval "HEATH, FURSE & Co./London" cachet in the opposite corner and charged "15" (decimes) on delivery. Exhibition Quality; rare example of 1841 1d on cover to France. [Brandon Cert. (2005)] Cross Reference: 1841 1d REDS, FRANCE, PRINTED MATTER, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

PRICES CURRENT COVERS WITH TAX STAMPS (G.B. POSTAGE FREE) TO DANZIG/BAVARIA/TRIESTE; 1847 EL Liverpool to Trieste with 1d Tax Stamp on flap and red oval London "PD" On the front, 1849 EL from Newcastle on Tyne to Danzig with 1d Tax Stamp (double impression, on the front) via London/Ostend, and 1852 EL ex Lpool to Bavaria with Tax Stamp and unusually with large part address wrapper-band in place and Red hs "3" (London?; part lost with wrapper). Colourful and scarce trio. (3 covers) Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, NORTHUMBERLAND, LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL, DANZIG (Image)

PRICES CURRENT COVERS WITH TAX STAMPS (G.B. POSTAGE FREE) TO MALTA (WITH RED HS "3") OR NORWAY; Oct. 1853 prices current folded inside its original address wrapper-band so that the 1d Tax Stamp is visible having red. "LONDON/PAID" cds & matching v. fine rare red hs "3"; plus fine Jan. 1853 Prices Current EL from "NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE" (fine red cds on reverse) to "Laurvig" (Norway) with 1d Tax Stamp (on the front) [illust. in BPPP, p.278]. Rare and attractive pair to unusual destinations. (2 covers) Cross Reference: MALTA, NORWAY, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

PRICES CURRENT COVERS WITH TAX STAMPS PLUS 1d POSTAGE PAID WITH 1d REDS TO HOLLAND; Feb./May 1852 pair of prices current ELs from Newcastle on Tyne to Rotterdam each with red Tax Stamp on the front but also having 1841 1d Reds (almost 4m and margins in places) tied by "545" numerals but also having mainly fine triangular-framed "3c" or "1½c" "ROTTERDAM" marks and ms "5" charges. From 1849, the P. Current rate to Holland have the 1d postage paid as well as the Tax. Fine pair. (2 covers) [The first illustrated in BPPP, p.282.] Cross Reference: NETHERLANDS, 1841 1d REDS (Image)

PRICES CURRENT COVERS WITH TAX STAMPS (G.B. POSTAGE FREE) TO GERMAN STATES, AUSTRIA & FRANCE; 1853/4 pair ex Liverpool to Bavaria/Austria "via Calais" with address wrapper-bands (first with v. fine red London h.s. "2") both with fine 1d Tax Stamps, 1853 P. Current EL ex London to Troppau (Prussia; via Belgium & Bremen) with 1d Tax Stamp & Berlin TPO d.s.'s on flap , and uncharged 1854 P. Current E to Marseilles with 1d Tax Stamp on the front but no postal charge. Plus 1853 P. Current EL sent unpaid (at letter rate; no Tax Stamp) ex Liverpool to Marseilles. (5 covers)Cross Reference: LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL, FRANCE, AUSTRIA, GERMAN STATES (Image)

PRICES CURRENT COVERS WITH TAX STAMPS (G.B. POSTAGE FREE) TO SPAIN/ITALY/FRANCE; 1854/55 stampless ELs trio from Glasgow to Spain, Liverpool to Sardinia or London to Bordeaux each with red 1d Tax Stamp, the Liverpool cover unusually with v. fine red hs "2" matching the "PAID" cds. Attractive and colourful group. [The cover to Spain illust. in BPPP, p.279.] (3 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, SPAIN, ITALIAN STATES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (Image)

AUSTRIA/FRANCE/GERMAN STATES - PRICES CURRENT + BOOK POST (ONE REGD.) - STAMPED POSTAL RATES; 1859-79 Prices Currents inc. 1859 pair with 1d Red ex Lpool to Bohemia/Vienna, 1866/70 trio each with 2d Blue to Bamberg/Vienna(2) ex Liverpool/Glasgow, and 1873 pair ex London/Newcastle to Austria with 2d Blue pair (letter rate) or 1d Red; plus rare 1873/75/79 "Book Post" trio with 2d Blues - 1873 "CARRIAGE DRAWINGS. BOOK POST." imprint [illust. in BPPP, p.445], 1875 to Cannes with rare printed intaglio-style "BOOK POST" label, or 1879 regd. (rare for Book Post) ex London to Vienna with two 2d Blues tied by cork cancels. Good lot. (10 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, GERMAN STATES, REGISTERED MAIL, AUSTRIA (Image)

BELGIUM/HOLLAND - PRICES CURRENT, PRINTED MATTER & BOOK POST RATES; 1865 printed EL ex Leeds to France (Missent) with 2d Blues (2) endorsed "Try Belgium" and returned, 1865/78 P. Current trio ex Liverpool/Sunderland/London to Belgium or Holland (2) each with single 1d Red, and 1867 open-ended wrapper (P. Current?) ex Paisley to Holland with 2d Blue; plus rare 1871/77 "Book Post" pair to Holland - wrapper with string still in place and 1d Red ex london, or large "Photographs only" label on cardboard box-top with 2d Blue tied by v. fine Bradford duplex. Scarce group. (7 items) Cross Reference: FRANCE, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS (Image)

DENMARK/FINLAND/NORWAY - PRICES CURRENT MAIL AT 1d, 2d, 3d OR SCARCE 5d RATES; 1856/79 quartet to Denmark ex Newcastle/Hull/Leith with 1d Red (1859), 3d Rose-red (1869 via Belgium), ½ Rose-reds (2; 1872 via Belgium) or ½d Rose-red (1879); plus 1871/2 pair to Finland each with 2d Blue (one via St. Petersburg & one with fine "HUTH" perfin); plus 1859/75 trio to Norway with 1d Red (1859 ex Hartlepool), rare 5d-rate with 3d Rose-red+2d Blue (ex Liverpool; illust. in BPPP, p.279), or single 2d Blue (1875; fine "H/C & Co" perfin). Good lot. (9 covers) Cross Reference: DENMARK, FINLAND, NORWAY, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

PORTUGAL/SPAIN - PRE-UPU BOOK-POST & PRICES CURRENT RATES INC. 1d, 2d OR SCARCE 3d RATES; 1864/71 pair of printed ELs to Lisbon with 3d Rose-red (Small Letters; ex Lpool) or single 1d Red (endorsed "P. Book post" ex Cork, Ireland); plus 5 1857/75 Prices Current ELs to Spain with 1d Reds (4 with singles inc. CARDIFF sideways duplex; two being illust. in BPPP, p.280 or p.430), plus 1862 to Cadiz with 1d Red 'stars' pair having a very fine blue Cadiz hs "4" alongside). Scarce group. (7 covers) Cross Reference: PORTUGAL, SPAIN, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

SWEDEN - PRICES CURRENT WITH SINGLE 1d RED OR 2d BLUES + RARE "BOOK POST" 2d BLUE COVER; 1857-74 covers inc. 10 Prices Current with two still in their original address wrapper-bands (ex London, Bute Docks, Newport Mon., etc.) with 2 with 1d Red 'stars' plus 6 with 2d Blues; plus rare Dec. 1870 endorsed "Per Book Post" with 2d Blue (pl.13) tied by light Falkirk duplex. Attractive and colourful group to various Swedish towns. (11 covers)Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SWEDEN, WELSH POSTAL HISTORY, LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL (Image)

SWITZERLAND - PRICES CURRENT 1d/2d-RATE COVERS + UNUSUAL REGD. PRINTED PAPERS RATE; c.1854-68 Prices Current wrappers/ELs (ex Liverpool, London or Manchester) all with single 1d Red (8; mainly 'stars' & inc. a fine Manchester Spoon cancel - all with red "PD" or "PP" in circle marks (1 or 2 rings) sent to various Swiss towns; plus 1868 pair of similar ELs to Basle with single 2d Blues (pl.9) ex Liverpool, and remarkable parcel front with "COTTON SAMPLES" imprint changed in ms to "Printed Papers" regd. to Zurich with Jubilee ½d+3d+1/- ex Manchester. Attractive lot. (11 items) Cross Reference: SWITZERLAND, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SPOONS & SIDEWAYS DUPLEXES, ETC., REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

ALGERIA/FRANCE/IONIAN IS./MALTA - PRICES CURRENT MAIL SENT AT FULL LETTER RATES; 1866 ELs 4d-rate pair from Birmingham/Liverpool to Malta/Algeria each with two 2d Blues; plus unusual 1868 prices current EL sent at letter rate to "Corfu via Italy" with 2d Blues (2) + 6d Mauve (2; one creased) [illustrated in BPPP, p.280), and 1869 P. Current ex London to Lyons with 4d Vermilion (full letter rate). Unusual group. (4 covers) Cross Reference: IONIAN ISLANDS, MALTA, LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL, ALGERIA (Image)

ALGERIA - RARE PLATE 9 ½d ROSE-REDS ON PRINTED MATTER FROM "BUTE DOCKS" (WALES); 16 May 1872 front (central vertical fold) to "Philippeville, Algerie" with a pair of Plate 9 ½d Rose-reds (LH stamp with wrinkle and trimmed perfs at left) tied by fair/fine "BUTE DOCKS/D57" duplexes. The stamps have "CORY/C" perfins and the wrapper's imprint was "BOOK POST/CORY BROTHERS & CO.'S COAL, COKE & FREIGHT REPORT", hence the perfins. Exceptional usage of this rare Plate 9 stamp to an overseas address.Cross Reference: 1870 ½d PLATES, FRANCE, ALGERIA, PERFINS (Image)

AUSTRIA - RARE 5-COLOUR FRANKING "BOOK POST" WRAPPER TO VIENNA WITH 1d+2d+3d+4d+6d FOR THE 1s-4d RATE; Exceptional "Per BOOK POST" wrapper (part top flap lost; some creases well clear of stamps) from Leigh (Lancs.) to Vienna (Bernardy Correspondence) with an amazing 5-Colour franking all tied by fair-fine "LEIGH LANCASHIRE/258" duplexes; 1d Red (pl.154), 2d Blue (pl.13), 1867 3d (pl.8), 1865 4d (pl.12) & 1872 6d (pl.11; horiz tear). It was addressed to Vienna but "[via] Frankfort" and so has a Frankfurt backstamp and the Vienna address emphasised with blue crayon underlining. The senders were agricultural machinery manufacturers, and so this wrapper presumably enclosed a copy of their trade list; it weighed above 8 & up to 16oz for the 1s-4d rate. Very rare franking and rate; we can recall having seen only two other pre-1880 G.B. covers with a 5-colour franking! [Illustrated in BPPP, p.436.]Cross Reference: AUSTRIA, SURFACE-PRINTED ISSUES, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, LANCASHIRE (Image)

GERMANY - 4-COLOUR FRANKING (2d BLUE WITH 3d+9d+10d) FOR RARE REGISTERED 2s-0d BOOK-POST RATE; 26 Mar. 1873 blue paper parcel front to "Aachen, Germany" endorsed "Registered" and "Book Post" exceptionally franked for the 2s-0d rate (4d regd. fee + 5x 4d per 4oz = 1lb 4oz weight) for this package with Pl.13 2d Blue + Pl.9 3d Rose-red, Pl.4 9d Bistre and Pl.1 10d Brown, all tied by near fine London "SE/12" numerals with red London registered ds's and red "PD" in circle on the front. An amazing (unique?!) franking and a rare example of the registered international Book-Post rate. [Ex Robert Johnson, Cavendish 9 June 2006; lot 1295, realised £750+BP.] [Illustrated in BPPP, p.425.] Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, SURFACE-PRINTED ISSUES, GERMANY, 1858-69 2d PLATES (Image)

FRANCE - RARE "R.L.O." CANCELS ON UNDERPAID RETURNED "BOOK POST" COVER TO FRANCE WHICH WAS TURNED & RETURNED TO G.B.; Extraordinary 27 Nov. 1875 complete long (11½ x 4½ ins.) wrapper with blue "PER BOOK POST" device at top left, addressed to Biarritz from London franked only with three 1d Reds (pl.171 + pl.174 x 2) tied by London dotted "NPB" cancels... the wrapper could not be sent underpaid and so it was marked with the "DEFICIENT POSTAGE (6)/FINE (3)" mark and returned to sender. This Postage Due mark was then covered by 3 further 1d Reds (pl.170) and a 6d Grey (pl.14); all were pre-cancelled by the very rare London "R.L.O." [Returned Letter Office] diamond cancels and finally sent on (1 Dec.) marked "PD". On arrival in France the wrapper was turned and sent back to London (5 Dec.) franked by a pair of French 30c brown (adjacent to a closed tear) tied by v. fine "BIARRITS" cds's and endorsed "Papiers d'Affaires" with red boxed "PD" mark. Amazing! The "R.L.O." cancels are almost impossible to find on cover - were they always pre-cancels? One month later France had joined the G.P.U. and the rates/treatment would have been very different. [Ex Peter Chadwick; Cavendish Jan. 2002, lot 1511 - realised £460+BP.] [Illustrated twice in BPPP; p.408.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, RETURNED MAIL (Image)