THREE INTERESTING COVERS: 26 March 1903 printed "Anglo-Swiss Cond. Milk Co" 1d stationery env. uprated with 2½d "A S C M C" perfin and used from London to Basle. 13 Feb. 1903 illustrated People newspaper env. bearing ½d & 1d "PEOPLE" perfins used from London to Sleaford. 2 Oct. 1925 printed EL with "EYELETS" illustrated advertisement used from Aylesbury to France. (3 items) Cross Reference: PERFINS (Image)

ARMY PIGEON SERVICE MESSAGE FORMS: Two unused forms ex "Army Book 418.". In pristine condition. (Image)

MISCELLANY INC. EXPRESS NEWSPAPER EDITOR MAIL: 1925-1938 group of covers letter cards, maps, etc. Inc. 15 May 1925 red express env. produced for Newspaper Editors printed with "CORRESPONDENCE. IMPORTANT./SPECIAL NIGHT BOX", sent from South Africa to GB during Prince Edward's Royal Tour of South Africa, franked 6d pair + 2d pair cancelled by poor "SOUTH AFRICA/ROYAL TOUR" oval ds's, with orange "BY AIR MAIL/PER LUGPOS" label and purple "B. A. AIR MAIL/[date]/S. A. LUGPOS" cds on front; 31 Dec. 1936 Regd env. from Capetown to London sent on a trial flight aboard 'Castor' franked 5d (2d+2d+1d) meter mark, with purple "R Capetown/KAAPSTAD/No. 7491" hs; Great Western Air Services company label proof depicting the company logo, along with Railway Air Services composite map showing a variety of routes; plus other similar items inc. GPO Notices, Air Mail Rate leaflets, etc. (24 items) Cross Reference: AIRMAILS, ROYALTY, EXPRESS MAIL, MAPS (Image)

SEAHORSE 2s-6d SINGLE-FRANKING ON EXPRESS RAILWAY AIR SERVICES COVER; Attractive 30 Nov. 1934 env. to Wick with KGV Seahorse 2s-6d tied by "WILTON ROAD HUDSONS PLACE/S.W.1" cds and the boxed "RAS/3D PA[ID]" hs, having the Highland Airways 1st Flight label on reverse signed by the Pilot; carried on the first RAS flight from Croydon to Glasgow and then sent on the 1st Inverness to Wick flight. Rare thus; one of only 4 such covers flown. [A similar cover sold in our 24/1/2004 sale 650 lot 1196 for £850 + B.P.] Cross Reference: EXPRESS MAIL, AIRMAILS (Image)

KGV FRANKED AIRMAILS TO SOUTH AMERICA: 1936-39 group of covers on written-up display pages inc. 1939 env. (some foxing) to Brazil franked 2/6d Seahorse + 1/- tied by Southampton machine cancel with fine red "DEUTSCHE LUFTPOST/[airplane]/EUROPA-SUDAMERIKA" hs; 1939 printed env. to Chile franked 2/6d Seahorse + 3 x 1/- perfins with faint Deutsche Luftpost hs; plus other high frankings using KGV stamps to Brazil, Argentina, or Bolivia. (8 covers) (Image)

PRE- AND POST-WWII GB KGVI AIRMAILS: 1937-52 group containing PC rates, British Islands flights, etc. inc. Dec. 1950 Christmas 'Drop Mail' env. (one of four examples) flown from Kinross to the weather ship 'Weather Explorer' 200 miles south of Iceland, signed by pilot WCom Holgate DFC with purple oval Kinross ds, "1950 XMAS/DROP MAIL/28 DEC 1950" hs & v. fine blue oval "OCEAN WEATHER SERVICE/WEATHER EXPLORER" cachet initialled by Capt. Wilkinson (master of the ship); 2 July 1945 env. sent via British Airmail service from Stornoway to Glasgow (a one-way service) with onward transmission to Waterloo Station with "SCOTTISH AIRWAYS/LIMITED/AIR/LETTER/SERVICE" cachets (2 - one cancelling stamp & another at bottom left); 1 Feb. 1947 commercial env. sent via British European Airways from Stornoway to Glasgow for onward transmission to London, with "SCOTTISH AIRWAYS/LIMITED/AIR/LETTER/SERVICE" cachets (2) overstamped with ""BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS" cachets; and other similar examples. Also inc. 1937 leaflets advertising the locations of 'Blue Boxes' for posting Air Mail; plus 4 booklets detailing the rates for Air Mail from Oct. 1937-Oct. 1938. (24 covers, 6 leaflets + 4 booklets) Cross Reference: AIRMAILS (Image)

KGVI AIR CRASH MAIL: Scarce 1938-53 group of covers inc. 7 Feb. 1938 env. to Tunisia ex GB franked ½d + two other missing adhesives, with "ACCIDENT D'AVION/Correspondances recueilliesealler/NE PAS TAXER" hs at bottom. This cover was carried on Loire et Olivier F-ANPB 'Ville de Bone' piloted by P Burello - the plane took off in thick fog and was blown off course by strong wind, crashing into a breakwater and catching fire, killing 8 people; 10 Aug. 1939 env. to Switzerland ex GB franked 1d + 1½d, recovered from the wreck of the Imperial Airways 'Super Electra' and forwarded in Ambulance cover from Bern to Lucerne on 15 Aug. with red "Angebrannie Postsendung/Flugzeugunfall" cachet applied; plus other similar examples in Flying Boat crash, etc. (6 covers)Cross Reference: CRASH/WRECK MAIL (Image)

EMPIRE AIRS - TEST & TRIAL FLIGHTS, P.O. LEAFLETS, ETC.: 1937 group of covers & leaflets inc. 5 Jan. printed env. to Australia ex GB between offices of "W.J. Bush & Co. Ltd", franked 2/6d for the 1/3d per oz rate (1/-+1/-+6d) each perfinned by "WJB" initials, with Air Mail label affixed, sent prior to the 'Stage 3' project from London-Paris then by rail to Marseille where 'Castor' (on its return from Alexandria) picked up this mail to be flown by Imperial Airways to Australia; 2 Feb. Air Mail env. to GB ex Egypt franked 28ml (9ml+8ml+7ml+4ml) cancelled by Cairo cds's (3), carried aboard experimental flight on C-Class flying boat 'Castor' on the first 'all the way by air' service between Southampton-Alexandria, with typed ms "By Imperial Airways/First All-air service/from Egypt to England" in blue & red; plus other similar examples inc. carried aboard 'Cassiopea', 'Cygnus', 'Courtier' & 'Coriolanus'; and PO leaflets explaining the introduction of the air mail routes. [Many items ex Mike Shand, purchased in our Dec. 2013 auction] (8 covers, + 6 leaflets) Cross Reference: AIRMAILS, PERFINS (Image)

EMPIRE AIRS - STAGE 1 TO SOUTH AFRICA: 1937-9 group of covers inc. 26 June 1937 env. to Sudan ex Liverpool franked 1½d, with ms "First flight/of unsurcharged/airmail service" at top left and "June 26 1937/GT BRITAIN TO AFRICA/First unsurcharged airmail" at centre, with purple slogan pmk for Imperial Airways advising all post for east & south Africa now go by air along with map of Africa; 14 June 1937 env. to Sudan ex Wolverhampton franked 3d (1½d+1½d), arriving in Sudan 18-19 June, before the scheme began; and 9 Aug. 1937 env. to Greece ex Christchurch franked 2½d with ms "By first flight/ordinary rate/London - athens" at top left; plus other similar examples inc. P.Due & registered mail, mail send during WWII, and mail carried aboard 'Clio', 'Centurion' and 'Calpurnia'. Also inc. Postal notices/leaflets (2) detailing rates for postage to countries in Africa, plus a P.O. 'Daily List' detailing the change to Air Mail service from surface mail. (36 covers + 3 notices) Cross Reference: SUDAN, AIRMAILS, MILITARY - WWII, P.O. NOTICES (Image)

EMPIRE AIRS - STAGE 2 TO MIDDLE-EAST & AFRICA: 1937-8 group of covers & cards inc. 20 Feb. 1938 1½d P.Stat. env. to Bahrain ex Newport, an Intermediate stop on the First Flight from London to Bahrain, bearing slogan pmk publicising the 1½d per ½oz rate on reverse; 1 Mar. 1938 env. to Sutton Coldfield ex Alexandria flown on the first 'All-Up' flight on stage 2 - with very short notice of the flight very few letters were carried (rare thus); plus other similar examples inc. mail carried aboard survey flight 'Clio' and transferred to 'Calypso', June 1938 Government White Paper discussing the extension of the Scheme, and leaflet advertising the extension of the Scheme. (14 covers/cards + 2 leaflets) Cross Reference: BAHRAIN, AIRMAILS, P.O. NOTICES, EGYPT (Image)

EMPIRE AIRS - STAGE 2 TO/FROM SMALLER COUNTRIES INC. CEYLON, TIBET, SEYCHELLES, CHINA, HONG KONG, ETC.: 1938 group of covers inc. 19 Feb. env. ex Sutton Coldfield to Ceylon redirected to Kolahina flown aboard the first 'All-Up' flight to Ceylon, with typed "First "All-Up"/Empire Air Mail Scheme/and First Regular All-Air to Ceylon" with Centurion logo at left & 22 Feb. env. to Seychelles ex London with boxed "Return to Sender" hs on front, backstamped in the Seychelles, both of these envs. delivered on intermediate stops in the Indian ocean on the First Flight from London for Seychelles and Colombo Ceylon; 23 Feb. env. to Singapore ex London with typed "'First all up Empire Air Mail Service/England-Malaya 24.2.38'" at bottom left & signed by the pilot Scotty Allan; plus other similar examples inc. rare FDC/First flight covers for mail to New Zealand, returned mail, mail carried outside the Scheme, surcharged mail, etc.; plus PO Leaflet advertising the Scheme and all its destinations. (21 covers + leaflet) Cross Reference: AUTOGRAPHS, AIRMAILS, SEYCHELLES, RETURNED MAIL (Image)

EMPIRE AIRS - STAGE 2 TO INDIA & MALAY STATES: 1938-9 group inc. 30 Aug. 1939 1½d P.Stat. env. to India ex Seaford, sent shortly before the outbreak of WWII (possibly the last flight to reach its destination at 1½d per ½oz rate), with censor tape applied to top and purple triangle "PASSED/CENSOR/4/KARACHI" cachet on front; 22 Feb. 1938 env. to Allahabad ex Kankroli sent via a new route aboard flying boat 'Coogie' from Karachi to Calcutta via Udaipur, Gwalior and Allahabad with typed "1st Flight: Udaipur-Allahabad./per Flying-Boat "Coogie"" and purple First Flight pictorial hs; plus other similar examples inc. mail carried aboard 'Camilla' & 'Coogie" Flying Boat services, Regd mail, and Feb. 1938 British Government White Paper setting out the particulars for the preliminary operation of the Scheme between GB & Malaya. (14 covers + 2 leaflets) Cross Reference: AIRMAILS, INDIA, P.O. NOTICES, PARLIAMENTARY (Image)

EMPIRE AIRS STAGE 3 - PACIFIC ISLANDS, PERAK, IRAQ, KUWAIT, ETC.: 1937-9 group of covers inc. 28 July 1938 first flight envs. to New Hebrides/Banks Islands with typed "PER FIRST ENGLAND AUSTRALIA AIR-MAIL/AT THREE HALFPENCE" at top right, each with boxed "RETOUR/A L'ENVOYEUR" hs's & New Hebrides receiving marks; 2 Sept. 1938 GPO Notice extending the "All Up" airmail rate of 1½d for letters & postcards to Hong Kong; plus other similar examples inc. testing routes and notices related to stage 3 extensions. (11 covers + 5 notices) Cross Reference: AIRMAILS (Image)

EMPIRE AIRS STAGE 3 - AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND: 1938/9 group of covers & PCs inc. 26 June 1938 env. to Malvern, Australia ex GB franked 10d + 5d, with ms "ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA/FIRST SERVICE BY FLYING BOAT/ALL THE WAY" in ink with accompanying newspaper clipping about the flight; another env. carried aboard the same flight to Queensland via Rome ex Stockport with ms "1st 1½ Air Mail" in pencil, along with accompanying newspaper clipping about the transport of letters from KGVI to the Governor-General of Australia; 12 June 1939 env. to GB ex Adelaide via Darwin & Singapore carried aboard the 'Centurion' which crashed in the Hoogly River, with red "SALVAGED A L/EX CENTURIA" hs on front and GPO Returned Letter resealing label on reverse; plus other similar examples. (26 items) Cross Reference: CRASH/WRECK MAIL, RETURNED MAIL, AIRMAILS (Image)

1882 PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON COVER: 3 Nov 1886 env. (faults) from Demerara to "Cooeroo Demerara River", bearing 1882 type-set 1c magenta pair(SG type 26, one stamp defective at right), each cancelled with a double ring ds with ms "Please do not/attempt to remove/Stamps" at top left. Marked in blue "stamps out of issue" and charged "O4" cents double deficiency. The reverse with T.P.O. DEMERARA RIVER/B. GUIANA" double ring cds (Proud D2). A rare item. Note: De La Rue delivered replacement stamps on 27 Jan. 1882. The Governor hinted that the provisionals should be kept against a future shortage. No record appears to exist of instructions to destroy. (Image)

1882 1c MAGENTA VARIETY: A mint 1882 1c magenta with "SPECIMEN" double inverted, both are incomplete strikes. Also a used normal example. Fine SG 162 var. (2) Cross Reference: PERFINS, SPECIMENS (Image)

COACH ROUTE ACROSS ULVERSTON SANDS, RETURNED MAIL, ETC.: A small set of 1807-46 mail on display pages inc. 1807 or 1835 ELs carried by coach across Ulverston Sands, 1807 EL with "ULVERSTONE" mileage mark, along with modern colour print of coach & map of route and contemporary engraving of coach; 1846 EL ex Liverpool to Spain with several postmarks or hs's inc. red boxed "Return'd for/[ms] 10 Postage" hs on front & larger red boxed "Return'd/for Postage" hs on back; 1846 EL ex New Orleans (Consul for the King of Sardinia) to Turin (Minister of Foreign Affairs) expressing concern for the state of war between the USA & Mexico with several postmarks or hs's inc. red boxed "No. [ms] 1286/Detained for Postage" hs; 1838 EL posted inland Brazil with fish shaped hs of "SANTOS". All v. fine. (5 covers)Cross Reference: RETURNED MAIL, LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL, LANCASHIRE, BRAZIL (Image)

KEVII & KGV FRANKED MIX: 1903-36 accumulation of display pages of items franked with KEVII or KGV stamps inc. 1903 'AR' form posted in Manchester to the Imperial German Consulate; a fascinating underpaid 1903 env. to Japan with 9 'Advertising' notes attached as the addressee could not be found (with detailed explanatory write-up); 1931 env. posted in Wales with v. fine boxed "Imitation Typewriting/Posted out of Course/180" hs, plus 2 other envs. with explanatory marks (1914 & 1936); 3 Ship Letter Telegrams with envs. (1933-36) one with large oval "LAND'S END/RADIO STATION" cachet on back; 1933 & 1936 envs. with C.O.D. labels. A very varied and interesting lot. (14 items) Cross Reference: INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS, MARITIME MAIL, TELEGRAMS, JAPAN (Image)

c1911 RARE EXPERIMENTAL PERFORATIONS: A piece of Crown sideways watermarked gummed paper (5½" x 11") headed "Experimental Perforations/of watermarked paper for Postage Stamps/"Gauge of Perforation 16/Diameter .. .. .. .032"/Direction Vertical". A small number of divided perforations and a little creased. Very rare. (Image)

1912 BROMIDE OF MACKENNAL'S LAUREL & OAK LEAF DESIGN: A bromide (62 x 67 mm) of the Mackennal laurel and oak leaf design with the centre removed to allow different heads to be inserted, eventually the correct proportions of head to frame were achieved using this "push me, pull you" model. Rare. (Image)

1912 1d COIL STAMPS: 11 March 1929 env. from Avonmouth to Denmark bearing ½d green and two vertical Kermode vending machine coil 1d reds (both off centre, and with jagged perfs. at top). Scarce. (Image)

1948 £1 BROWN COMPLETE SHEET: £1 'Arms' type umm sheet of 40. Vertical crease through middle perforations, else very fine. SG 478c £1000. (Image)

1948 £1 ROYAL SILVER WEDDING SHEET: £1 blue umm complete sheet of 20. Very fine. SG 494 £800. (Image)

1948 £1 ROYAL SILVER WEDDING OPTD "CANCELLED" WITH PUNCHED HOLES: £1 blue umm overprinted "CANCELLED" (type 34, SG Qcom11t) with three 5mm punched holes, plus ordinary marginal stamp for comparison. (Image)

1951 £1 BROWN COMPLETE SHEET WITH RE-ENTRY: £1 'FESTIVAL' type (SG 512) umm sheet of 40 with re-entry of "DIEU" in R5.1 & R5.4 (SG Spec. Q38a), plus other unlisted re-entries. Horizontal crease through middle perforations, else very fine. SG £2010+. (Image)