UNPLATED COVER GROUP - Oct. 1840 E to Leominster with three margin 1d black, heavily cut into at base, tied by red MX and with BROMYARD cds on the flap; Dec. 1840 part E to Emscote with 1840 2d blue with heavy black MX cancels, probably from London with Experimental black cancel but only WARWICK cds remains; and Feb. 1841 pair of London covers with traces of 1d blacks from impatient removal attempts. (4) Cross Reference : 1840 2d BLUES, HEREFORDSHIRE (Image)

MIXED PLATES TRIO OF COVERS - Sep. 1840 E (faults, toned) to Atherstone with MB plate 4 with four margins tied by overinked red cross (rusted paper clip affects stamp), ST BOSWELLS ds on the back; Oct. 1840 E to Preston with LE plate 5, four margins though somewhat roughly separated from the sheet, and tied by very fine crisp red cross, LANCASTER cds on the back; and Mar. 1841 EL to Tenterden with RF plate 6, three margins, tied by black cross with 'A' rh handstamp & SOUTHAMPTON and London cds on the back. (3) Cross Reference : ROXBURGH, LANCASHIRE, HAMPSHIRE (Image)

TWO IRISH COVERS INC. 1 IN CROSS & WITH INSPECTOR'S MARK - Nov. 1840 part E (no side flaps) to Kinnegad with Dublin ds and four margin 1d black, GE plate 7, tied by neat red MX having small '1' in the diamond, the only known Dublin example; and Feb. 1841 env. (tone spots) to Derby franked with four margin (just) 1d black, BG plate 8, and tied by black MX with Inspector's star on the flap. (2) Cross Reference : IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, DUBLIN CITY, INSPECTORS' MARKS (Image)

FINE USED TRIO: Pl. 1a LF, Pl. 3 GK & Pl. 6 TD. All are sound, 4 margin examples with red MX. (3) (Image)

MIXED PLATES TRIO - SD plate 1b and NK plate 2 each touched or shaved on one side and almost so on another, and QE plate 7 three margins; all sound. (3) (Image)

PLATE 1a - FL: 15 MAY 1840 EL from Edinburgh to Kelso. Fine 4 margin example appears to be tied by fine red MX, though stamp may have been lifted at some stage. Central fold in EL but well clear of the stamp. (Image)

PLATE 1a - QH - with crisp, deep red MX cancel. Fine. (Image)

PLATE 1b - CG WITH INVERTED WATERMARK - fine four margins and with the variety easily seen from the back. SG £2500. (Image)

PLATE 1b - PJ - ON COVER WITH ORANGE-RED CROSS - 11 Aug. 1840 EL to Saxmundham with four margin 1d black tied by almost solid orange-red MX of APPIN (ds on the back in the same colour, along with London transit mark). This cover recorded in Rockoff & Jackson. Cross Reference : ARGYLL, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

PLATE 1b - PAIR OF COVERS WITH BROWNISH RED CROSSES - Oct. 1840 part E to Bristol with fine four margin 1d black lettered PK cancelled with an almost solid MX and part NEWPORT.MON cds on the back; and Nov. 1840 E to Edinburgh with an almost four margin 1d black lettered LL tied by a red cross with large amounts of extra cancellation ink and DUNDEE ds on the back. Both items cancelled in shades of brownish red. (2) Cross Reference : ANGUS, MONMOUTHSHIRE, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

PLATE 2 - JD - ON COVER WITH 'BROWN' CROSS - neat and clean 15 July 1840 env. to Edinburgh franked with almost four margin 1d black (just touched at one point on the base) and tied by MX that has oxidised to a deep brown colour; red St BOSWELLS ds on the back parts of which have oxidised to a similar colour. Cross Reference : ROXBURGH, EDINBURGH (Image)

PLATE 2 - LE - ON COVER USED IN FIFE - 15 Aug. 1840 E to Wemyss Castle franked with 1d black just shaved or touched at two points, tied by a superb crisp deep red MX cancel; KIRCALDY [sic] ds on the flap. Cross Reference : FIFE (Image)

PLATES 3 & 6 - ON COVERS WITH LONDON EXPERIMENTAL BLACK CROSS - 3 Dec. 1840 E (partially split crease affects the front) franked with four margin 1d black, NF plate 3, and 'T.P/Cheapside' alongside. Plus 25 Jan. 1841 EL with near four margin 1d black, MB plate 8 (toned), with faint red 'T.P/Ur.Berkeley St' alongside. Both stamps tied by black MX cancels. (2) Cross Reference : LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

PLATE 3 - SD - four margin example with v. fine bright red MX cancel. (Image)

PLATE 4 - IK - WITH EXCEPTIONAL CRIMSON-RED MX - superb example with 4 margins and exquisite cancel. (Image)

PLATE 4 - PE - ON LINCOLNSHIRE COVER - Jan. 1841 EL to Folkingham franked with four margin 1d black and tied by poorly struck red MX with 'WRAGBY/140' in red and LINCOLN cds both on the front. Also Apr. 1844 ELs (2) to Hull with WRAGBY udc on the front. (3) Cross Reference : 1841 1d REDS, LINCOLNSHIRE (Image)

PLATE 4 OB - Fine 4 margin (v. close at left) example with light red MX (Image)

PLATE 4 - TJ - WITH PENNY POST & MX CANCELS - fair used with virtually four margins. SG £2000. Cross Reference : 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

PLATE 4 - DI - 14 May 1841 EL ('cleaned up' inc. with liquid paper) London to Walsall to which has been added 1d black that does not belong; 2004 RPSL cert. confirming. The stamp itself presents as four margin though on close examination small repairs are evident. (Image)

PLATE 5 - NG-NJ - very fine used four margin strip of four with red MX cancels. (Image)

PLATE 5 - WITH EXPERIMENTAL LONDON BLACK CROSS - 1 Jan. 1841 EL used in London with two printed notices inside, franked with a fine four margin 1d black, AL plate 5, tied by black MX; 'T.P/Chief Office' on the flap. Cross Reference : LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

PLATE 5 - SE - ON COVER TO YORKSHIRE - neat undated E to Skipton with 'T.P/Grays-Inn' on the front and franked with fine four margin 1d black just tied at right and struck leaving a clear profile. Cross Reference : LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, YORKSHIRE (Image)

PLATE 5 - WITH LONDON EXPERIMENTAL BLACK CROSS - 19 January 1841 EL to Westminster with 'St James's St' straight line tying a four margin 1d black, FJ plate 5, in addition to a black MX. 1978 BPA cert. Cross Reference : LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, 1840s CANCELLATIONS (Image)

PLATES 5 & 8 - DUO OF COVERS - Oct. 1840 E to DERBY (cds on the front) franked with AF plate 5 1d black (just shaved at one point, toned) tied by fine red MX and London cds on the flap. Also May 1841 E (soiled, faults, filing creases inc. through the stamp) to Perth and franked with AD plate 8 1d black with four margins and tied by black MX, MILNATHORT s/line and KINROSS & PERTH ds on the back. (2) Cross Reference : LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, PERTHSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE (Image)

PLATE 5 - AH - fine used 4 margin example with black MX clear of profile. (Image)