Union. 1796 (Feb 4) Entire letter headed from "Union Hospital Ship at Sheerness", addressed to Dundee with curved "QUEEN / BOROUGH" handstamp, London and Edinburgh backstamps, "4", "8" and "1/10" charges. The "Union" served as a hospital ship from 1793 until 1802, and was the first hospital ship to have special accommodation for female nurses; between Sept. 1795 and Feb. 1796 the "Union" received 479 sailors from the Russian fleet suffering from Typhus, of whom 34 died. A very scarce early hospital ship letter.

Tromp. 1807 (Sep 24) Entire letter headed from the "Tromp Hospital Ship, Falmouth", written by Surgeon James Moffat, addressed to "George Eastlake, Offg Judge Advocate, Plymouth Dock", charged 7d. The address panel headed "On His Majestys Service" and endorsed "Tromp", with Falmouth and Plymouth Dock mileage marks. Moffat has sent the Admiralty a copy of the charges against John Hill, Captain on H.M Hired Armed Ship the "Hamber", with a list of witnesses who will be called. The "Tromp" served as a hospital ship from 1803 to 1810. Very scarce.

1828-1903 Ephemera, cover and a card, with a fine 1828 Certificate from the Hospital Ship "Grampus" lying off Deptford Creek - "Alexander Wlaroff" aged 45, native of Archangel was admitted on board the above hospital ship ..... and was discharged at his own request cured ..... he conducted himself whilst on board in an orderly manner", with a fine picture of the ship; 1838 print of the Hospital Ship "Dreadnought" lying off Greenwich (reverse with Seamans Hospital Society accounts); 1873 print of the "Victor Emmanuel" hospital ship off the Gold Coast (from "The Graphic"); 1903 picture postcard of the "Maine", posted from the ship at Malaga; 1868 cover from Bute Docks with "Hamadryed Hospital Ship, Cardiff" printed flap. (5).

Asie. 1916 Cover with return address of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Lagos, registered to Funchal, a 50c stamp tied octagonal "MATADI A BORDEAUX / L.L No. 2" datestamp, the "MATADI A BORDEAUX" registration label handstamped violet "ASIE", Portuguese censor labels and cachets, also a postcard of the ship. A scarce registered cover with seapost cancel and registration label used on the ship. (2). Photo on Page 96. (Image1)

Serbia/Albania. 1916 Cover and cards (3), the cover franked Italian P.O in Valona 1pi cancelled by "POSTA MILITARE ALBANIA / No. 1" c.d.s with violet circular "MARINE NATIONALE / Navire Hopital "TCHAD" / SERVICE DE LA MER"; stampless card of the "Vinh-Long" sent from Salonica to "Miss C. Dunlop, Orderly, c/o Director of Medical Transports, Royal Serbian Army Headquarter, Salonica" with Serbian "A.P.O 999" arrival c.d.s; stampless cards of the "Asie" from Alger to "Miss M. Wilkinson, Scottish Hospital 301, Secteur 510" with light ship cachet or to England endorsed "Serbian Relief Fund, c/o British Headquarter, Salonique" with "Marine Francais" cachet on the picture side. (4).

1915-18 Covers and cards with cachets of the "Duguay Trouin" (3, one with "HOPITAL CHIRURGICAL FLOTTANT / DU C.E.O" cancelling a Greek 10L stamp, also two unused cards of the ship), "Divona", "Canada", "Espagne", "Sphinx" or "Ile-de-France"; also a complete French Red Cross Society booklet "Expedition Des Dardanelles" with a coloured illustration of the "Charles-Roux" on the front, containing twenty Red Cross labels sold for 1f; and a cover to the "Charles-Roux" at Mudros with "SALONIQUE" cachet. (11).

1915 Stampless picture postcard from Samara to Finland with a large red Hospital Ship cachet, a Red Cross in the centre, Samara and Wiburg datestamps.

1899-1991 Covers including 1899 "U.S ARMY HOSPITAL SHIP / MISSOURI" printed cover posted from "U.S Mil. Sta. No.1 Manila" franked 4c with red "Soldiers Letter / W.H Arthur / Major & Surgeon U.S.A" (a few faults), 1924-35 covers from the U.S.S "Relief" (3), "Mercy" (2) or "Medusa", WW2 and Korean War covers, etc. (18).

Austria - "Argentina". 1918 Stampless postcards all with "K.U.K Seespitalschiff VI "Argentina" / Zensuriert!", written from Cattaro, Fiume or Spalato. (14).

Austria. 1916-18 Stampless picture postcards (5), official registered covers (3) and Money Order receipts (3), with various cachets of Hospital Ship I ("Electra"), II (3, "Metkrovich"), III ("Tirol") or IV (4, "Graf Wurmbrand"), or Dampfer X, another cover inscribed from the "Baron Call", also a postcard of the "Tirol". (12).

Germany - Boxer Rebellion. 1900-01 Stampless cover and Feldpost cards (6), posted from the "Gera" (6) in Japan or China all with "KAIS. DEUTSCHE / MARINE / SCHIFFSPOST / No. 6" c.d.s (the cover with "KAISERLICHE MARINE / LAZARETSCHIFF GERA" cachet on reverse), or from the "Savoia" at Shanhaikwan with "DEUTSCHE SEEPOST / OST / ASIATISCHE / HAUPTLINIE / d" c.d.s and violet "Lazaretschiff "Savoia" / Chefarzt". (7).

Germany. 1914-18 Covers and cards (12) with "KAIS. DEUTSCHE / MARINE / SCHIFFSPOST" datestamps No. 119 ("Portia"), 120 ("Viola"), 188 (3, "Sierra Ventana", one with senders cachet), 191 ("Adler") or 192 ("Lensahn", with named cachet), or with cachets of the "Adler", "Hansa", Hilflazarettschiff "G" ("Titania") or Lazarettschiff "C" (2, "Cassell"). Also cards of the "Sierra Ventana" (2) and "Hansa", the Dutch ship "Koningin Regentes" and unnamed Turkish ships (2), and a 1944 card of the "Robert Ley" probably sent from the ship. (19).

1916-19 Covers and cards including stampless 1918 P&O crested cover with London Received From H.M Ship machine, backstamped violet "PASSED BY CENSOR / HOSPITAL SHIP E 0126" signed by R.G McLaren, Chief Engineer (the ship unidentified, only one other example of this cachet recorded), etc. (7).

1917-19 Stampless O.A.S covers from unidentified military transports probably used as hospital ships, comprising 1917 card from a member of the V.A.D, St. Johns Ambulance with A.P.O S.100 c.d.s of Taranto, army censor and violet "CENSORED / H.M.T.E 826"; 1917 cover with Base A.P.O Z c.d.s of Alexandria, triangular "CENSORED / MASTER" and boxed "ON ACTIVE SERVICE" (both previously used on the Hospital Ship "Lanfranc" sunk in April 1917) and "TRANSPORT No. 6812"; and 1919 cover with A.P.O SZ4 of Ismailia and triangular "CENSORED / BY MASTER / H.M.T.G 1260". (3).

1918-19 Stampless postcards with circular "AMBULANCE TRANSPORT / P.C / 14 / R.A.M.C", similar cachet with "P.C / 20", "HOSPITAL SHIP / P.C / 28 / R.A.M.C" or similar "P.C 13" cachet, P.C 3 used on the "Glengorm Castle", the other ships not identified. (4).

Russia. 1918 Stampless O.A.S covers from hospital ships in Russia, comprising cover with London Received from H.M Ship machine (June 19 1918) and circular "HOSPITAL SHIP / P.C / 8 / R.A.M.C" used on the "Kalyan" (at Archangel, Oct 1918 - June 1919), and a cover to the USA from an American soldier with "ARMY POST OFFICE / P.B -" (4 FE 19, the number unfortunately off the cover) and circular "HOSPITAL SHIP / P.C / 25 / R.A.M.C" (possibly used on the "Braemar Castle"). (2).

Agadir. 1916-18 Covers franked 1d with naval cancels, violet straight line "PASSED CENSOR" or circular "PASSED CENSOR / H.M.S "AGADIR"" (3 types, large or small central crown, or without a crown), also a card of the ship. (5).

Araguaya. 1917-19 Cover and postcards of the ship (2) all posted from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the cover franked 2c + 1c War Tax stamp with boxed "H.M HOSPITAL SHIP / No - / Date - / "ARAGUAYA"", the cards franked 2c or with the stamp removed, a scarce cachet. (3). Photo on Page 90. (Image1)

Assaye. 1915 Stampless O.A.S cover with a Valletta c.d.s and oval "H.M HOSPITAL SHIP / No / Date "ASSAYE"", also a 1916 Christmas card and a fine postcard of the ship. (3).

Asturias. 1915-16 Covers (4) and stampless picture postcards of the ship (5), two covers with Base A.P.O Z c.d.s or London Received From H.M Ship and red boxed "HOSPITAL SHIP "ASTURIAS" / PASSED BY CENSOR", two other covers posted by a crew member from Alexandria to Australia, the cards with "Received From H.M Ship" handstamp, Sliema or red Southampton Paid datestamps, or Southampton machine (2, one charged ½d). Also four cards of the ship, and a tie-on patients tag with oval "No. 2 HOSPITAL SHIP / "ASTURIAS"". (14).

China. c.1918 Covers (4, one with enclosed letter), front and picture postcards (2) with F.P.Oa or naval security cancels, one stampless cover with violet "CENSORED / Fleet Surgeon & S.M.O", the others franked ½d or 1d with violet "PASSED BY CENSOR" (4) or "CENSORED" (2), also a card to the ship and redirected with naval dumb handstamp, and a card of the ship. (9).

Braemar Castle. 1915-17 Covers and cards comprising 1915 cover posted at Ras El Tin franked 5m with violet "H.M.T. 602 / CENSORED MASTER"; 1916 1d + 1d reply card sent by Victor Marsh to Commander Mais and returned with boxed "ON ACTIVE SERVICE" and triangular framed "CENSORED" with manuscript "H.M.H.C 602"; two 1916 covers to Victor Marsh with tete-beche stationery cut-outs cancelled at Southampton and triangular "CENSORED / H.M.H.S 602 / MASTER"; stampless 1917 cover with boxed "ON ACTIVE SERVICE" and triangular "CENSORED / H.M.H.S 602 / MASTER" and London Received From H.M Ship machine; also two cards of the ship. (7).

Devanha. 1916-17 Stampless picture postcards from the ship (8, one depicting the ship), one with a Bombay c.d.s and violet boxed "CENSORED / H.M.H.S / "DEVANHA""; others with datestamps of A.P.O SZ22 or Base A.P.O T (both Port Said), C.S Office I.E.F or Valletta, also a card of the ship. (9).

Dongola. 1915-18 Cover and cards, two 1915-16 cards posted at Bombay franked 1a with violet "R.H Jackson" and "Major R.A.M.C / O.C Troops, H.M.H.S "Dongola"" or "Captain & ADJUTANT, R.A.M.C" and "H.M.H.S "DONGOLA""; stampless 1917 card with a Bombay c.d.s., violet "ON ACTIVE SERVICE" and "Major / O.C Troops, H.M.H.S Dongola"; 1918 stampless cover with Base Office B c.d.s and faint "ON ACTIVE SERVICE / H.M.H.S "DONGOLA"". Also two cards of the ship, one posted in 1915 "from Turkey" with partial A.P.O c.d.s. (6).

Dunluce Castle. 1917-18 Stampless O.A.S covers with Base A.P.O Z c.d.s and violet "Hospital Ship "Dunluce Castle" / PASSED BY CENSOR", or with a London c.d.s, Received From H.M Ship handstamp and violet circular "HOSPITAL SHIP / P.C / 29 / R.A.M.C". Also postcards of the ship (8, one posted stampless from a hospital at Sandgate), 1916 cover to a soldier at Salonica endorsed "sick on Dunluce Castle", and the 12 page pamphlet "Homeward Bound, A Souvenir of the return voyage of some damaged members of the A.I.F", printed and published on board with a picture of the "Dunluce Castle" on the front cover. (12).