1840 1d Blacks (4) and 2d blue, and 1841 1d reds (7, four on covers), the single stamps all with four margins, including 1d black plate 1a KE (worn plate) with brown Maltese Cross and OC with pink Maltese Cross (both with Brandon Certificates), GB plate 1b on piece and SI plate 4 with 1844 type Scottish numeral cancel on piece, 1840 2d deep blue JG plate 1 on piece with solid centre Maltese Cross, 1d reds with Cork first type Maltese Cross (Brandon Certificate) or No "4" in Maltese Cross, 1d red plate XI, etc. A good group. (8 + 4 covers). Photo on Page 44. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5) (Image1)

1841 1d Pale red-brown, AD with upper sheet margin showing part inscription, four margins, unmounted mint, full original gum. Photo on Page 44. (Image1)

1840 (May 26) Part entire sent within London franked 1d black plate 1a LL and ML, both with good margins, tied by three superb deep red Maltese Crosses, blue "T.P / Charles St, Westr" handstamp and red backstamp. Photo on Page 36. (Image1)

1840 (June 27) Entire letter from London to John Steele in Campden prepaid 1d in cash, reposted from Campden to Lady Steele in Cheltenham franked 1d black GI plate 1a with good margins tied by two red Maltese Crosses, the address and stamp both unusually on the reverse of the letter, with Campden and Cheltenham datestamps, fine and very unusual. Photo on Page 36. (Image1)

1841 1d Red-brown, FI-GI vertical pair, four margins, portions of adjoining stamps above and at right, FI close at upper left, unmounted mint, full original gum. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1841 1d Pale red-brown, CE-DF block of four, clear margins on all sides, DF close at right, mint with large part original gum, an attractive block. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1840 1d Black, AL plate 1b, reduced sheet margin at right, large to enormous margins, an exceptional stamp used with red Maltese Cross. Photo on Page 44. (Image1)

1841 1d Red-brown, JA-JF marginal strip of six, part inscription in left sheet margin, margins on all sides, JB close at top, two light horizontal creases, still an attractive mint strip with large part original gum. Photo on Page 44. (Image1)

1848-54 10d Embossed, cut square with good margins on all sides, used with London District "26" numeral cancel, scarce so fine. S.G. 57, £1,500. Photo on Page 60. (Image1)

Belgium. 1854 Entire letter from Liege to New York, the letter headed with five fine engravings of prize medals, privately carried to London where it was posted (Mar 10) franked by 1/- embossed single, pair and strip of three (all cut square, two to four margins) tied by "17" cancels, one pair lifted and hinged in place to show the boxed senders cachet "VIELLE / MONTAGNE" below. A fine embossed issue franking paying the 3oz rate, carried on Cunard steamer "Africa". Photo on Page 56. (Image1)

1857 (Jan 3) Entire letter from Liverpool to USA "per America via Boston" posted into the Floating Receiving House, franked by five embossed 1/- stamps (corner marginal pair + three singles, all cut square, 3 or 4 margins, two with four large to enormous margins) paying the 2oz 4/- rate + 1/- late fee, each cancelled "466". Backstamped Liverpool F.R.H datestamp, red "20 / CENTS", "PAID" and "BR. PACKET / BOSTON" c.d.s. An unusually fine and attractive embossed issue franking. Photo on Page 56. (Image1)

1841 1d Red-brown, unmounted mint singles (12) and a vertical pair, various shades, all with four margins, comprising AF, BE, CG, CE, FA with inscription in left sheet margin, GC-HC pair, IG, KB, KD, OL, SJ, TJ and TL, a few minor faults though most are fine, all with full original gum, a good group. (14). Photo on Page 44. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image1)

1840 (May 28) Entire letter from Sheffield to Tideswell, the contents comprising an invoice for girls clothing with a printed heading for "T.B & W Cockayne, Linen & Woollen Drapers, Silk Mercers, Hosiers &c" depicting a female figure holding scales and a sword, boxes of goods alongside and a sailing ship behind. Franked by a 1d black, OG plate 1b with large margins tied by a red Maltese Cross, Sheffield backstamp. An unusually fine stamp, 1d blacks rarely found on printed letters. Photo on Page 36. (Image1)

1841 1d Red-brown, unmounted mint singles comprising CE, DA, HC, HE, HG, IE, II, KA, QL, SE and SH, all with four margins, KA with inscription in left sheet margin, various shades, mainly very fine, all with full original gum, a good group. (11). Photo on Page 44. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image1)

1854 1d Red-brown, perf 16, watermark Small Crown, LA with a fine black Maltese Cross cancel, fine and scarce, with Eichele Certificate (2010). S.G. £800. Photo on Page 46. (Image1)

1857 1d Pale red GG plate 68, die II, perf 14 on white paper, watermark Large Crown, superb mint, original gum. S.G. 38, £425.

1869-79 1d Red plate 225, PL-QL vertical pair unmounted mint, original gum, QL with slightly rounded corner perf, otherwise fine; mint multiples of this plate are scarce. S.G. £6,000. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1857-74 Covers franked by 1d reds, various unusual uses and rates including 1857 cover redirected with a second 1d red; 1858 cover franked 1d redirected with two 2d blues (enclosures presumably added upon redirection); 1862 cover from London to Jersey endorsed "Left Jersey"; 1860 registered cover from Glasgow to Paisley bearing seven 1d reds (including strip of five); 1858 cover twice redirected charged 1d, then increased to 2d; 1874 Parliamentary Notice franked 1d + 6d, etc. (8).

1857 (June 25) Entire letter from Manchester to France, 4d paid in cash, an 1857 1d rose red (S.G. 40, paying a late fee?) cancelled by red circular framed "PD" with a further strike below, red Manchester and London "Paid" datestamps with French transit and arrival datestamps. A very unusual cancel. Photo on Page 52. (Image1)

1859-73 Covers franked 6d to Italy, the first from Keighley franked 2d plate 7 + 1d single and strip of three, the second with 1d plate 147 and 148 strips of three, two unusual line engraved frankings. (2).

1862-73 Covers to France, franked 1d red single + strip of four (1d late fee) tied by Bristol sideways duplexs, 1d red vertical strip of four tied by Folkestone 303 sideways duplexs, or 2d blue plate 14 vertical pair, three fine line engraved frankings. (3).

1875 Cover (signed "Granby") from London to Lord Acton in Munich franked 1d red plate 177 single + pair, unknown and returned, reposted from Charing Cross to Paris franked 1870 1½d rose red plate 3 pair, a "3" charge crossed out, flap missing, very unusual.

1858-76 2d Blue plate 13 cancelled by oval framed "PD" in red, very unusual and scarce. Photo on Page 46. (Image1)

Afghanistan. 1879 Cover from Abergele to H.M Sandbach, Royal Artillery, at Sitapur, India, franked 2d blue plate 15 single + pair, redirected to Peshawar Valley Field Force. An attractive cover to Afghanistan during the Second Afghan War. Photo on Page 52. (Image1)

1858-76 2d Blue, JC imperforate forgery, four margins. A very unusual well produced forgery, described and illustrated in the December 1908 "British Philatelist" published by Charles Nissen & Co (photocopy included), the first example we have seen, with Brandon Certificate (2003). Photo on Page 46. (Image1)