| Lot# | Category | Description | |
|---|
| 1 |
the home station |
1795 (May 5) Act of Parliament that established the concessional postage rate of 1d for letters to or from soldiers or sailors, regardless of the distance travelled. An extremely important document, that also restricted the entitlement of Members of Parliament to free postage, and introduced concessional postage for patterns & samples. |
Price: A$190.00 |
| 2 |
the home station |
1813 (Sept) double-sided GPO notice (245x387mm) headed "On the Exemptions granted to Seamen in the Navy, and Soldiers in the Army, in respect of the Postage of their Letters", confirming the current regulations but adding that letters to soldiers & sailors could now be sent for 1d, also listing those members of a ship's company who were not entitled to the concession, heavy central fold that has caused separation & been rejoined. Stated to be extremely rare & believed to be the only copy in private hands. |
Price: A$380.00 |
| 3 |
the home station |
AT SEA: 1804 entire headed "at Sea HM Gun Brig Snipe Oct 19 1804" - en route to Yarmouth - & signed "Apprentis/Ths Godfrey", rated "1" in red but obliterated & endorsed "Marked thro Mistake" as the face was not countersigned, subsequently rated "10" also crossed-through & marked "11" payable by the addressee, to Kent, filing creases. An excellent postage due item. [As an indentured apprentice, Thomas Rowe was exempt from impressment. He asks his "Hond Marster...to doo all in your Power to Get me Clear from this pleas...the Lewtenant will not look at my protekshon at all"] |
Price: A$575.00 |
| 4 |
the home station |
CHANNEL ISLANDS: 1805 OHMS printed entire with 'Navy Pay Office' imprint at lower-left & endorsed "Free TD Boswell/Prize Department" & "J Torode/of the Blanche", to a woman on Guernsey with light but discernible strike of the 38mm crowned 'FREE/SEP30/1805' cds in red. [On 21/10/1804, off Curacao, HMS "Blanche" captured the French ship "Gracieus", which was added to the Royal Navy. On 19/7/1805, off Puerto Rico, the French captured HMS "Blanche", which they burned and sank] |
Price: A$190.00 |
| 5 |
the home station |
CORNWALL: 1812 entire endorsed on the reverse "T Jarvis (Seaman) HM Sloop/Fantome Falmouth May 9th" & countersigned "HKent Lt & Commd Officer", to Norfolk with very fine 'FALMOUTH' h/s in red & London d/s, light vertical filing fold. [Jarvis writes "...we are bound to Lisbon with a Convoy". The French privateer "Le Fantome" was captured in May 1810 & put into Royal Navy service. It was wrecked off Nova Scotia 24/11/1814] |
Price: A$380.00 |
| 6 |
the home station |
DEVONSHIRE: 1795 entire headed "Plymouth Sound" & signed "Jn Robson" within & countersigned "HM Ship Marlborough Plymouth/Sound, August 25th 1795/Lieut GI Decaeurdoux", to Westmoreland with poor undated 'PLYMOUTH' b/s & fine double-circle 'PAID/AU28/1795' cds in red, minor overall soiling & some internal reinforcing. Ex Trevor Davis. An extremely significant item, believed to be the earliest recorded sailor's concession letter. |
Price: A$3,800.00 |
| 7 |
the home station |
DEVONSHIRE: 1799 entire headed "Torbay on Board the Queen/Charlotte Aug 21 1799", signed "Alles Duncan" & countersigned "HMS Queen Charlotte/Cochrane Lt", to Scotland with superb strike of the hooded 'PAID/ F /AUG24/99' cds (A&H #681; used only in 1799) & poor Edinburgh Bishop mark both in red, some soiling/staining but quite appealing. [The writer advises his parents "I have bin taken A Prisoner by the french which During my imprisonment I Wrote to you several Times & Got no ansers". On 16/3/1800, the "Queen Charlotte" accidentally caught fire off Livorno & exploded. 687 of the ship's total complement of 829 were lost] |
Price: A$750.00 |
| 8 |
the home station |
DEVONSHIRE: 1799 entire headed "Caw Sand Bay Plymouth August 29th", signed "Thomas Sheffield" & countersigned "HMS Bellona in Cawsand/Bay 29 Augt 1799/Delafons Lt", to Bishopsgate with fine undated 'PLYMOUTH/DOCK' b/s & light strike of the hooded 'PAID/ D /SEP 2/99' cds (A&H #681; used only in 1799), minor soiling. [A coffee house cover, addressed "to Be Left at the 3 Jolley Weavers/Angels Alley"] |
Price: A$460.00 |
| 9 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: 1797 entire headed "On Board the Piercer Portsmouth/Harbour Feb 6th 97", signed "C Belcher" & countersigned "Piercer Gun Vessel/Lieut Jn Fenton Commdg/5th February 1797", to Berkshire with 51mm curved 'PORTSMOUTH' h/s & fine double-circle 'PAID/FE/6/1797' cds in red. [The writer was the purser's clerk & tells of his duties. Remarkably, he was discharged only 6 months after enlisting] |
Price: A$460.00 |
| 10 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: a rather similar item of March 1797 from the same correspondence, a trifle soiled. |
Price: A$340.00 |
| 11 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: a rather similar item of April 1797 from the same correspondence but countersigned "Piercer Gun Vessel/Thos Hudson Master", 55mm curved 'PORTSMOUTH' h/s & poor Paid cds, minor concealed repair. [The writer speaks of the ship's company and armaments] |
Price: A$380.00 |
| 12 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: 1814 entire endorsed "From T Chamberlain on B HM Ship Warrior" & countersigned "Lt R Watts Comg Offr HMS Warrior", to London with 'PORTSMOUTH/23FE23/1814' b/s & light tombstone 'PAID/24FE24/1814' d/s in red on the face, badly soiled & some internal repairs. [The letter states "...there was 4 men run away at [?] from our ship and there was one man catch and got 4 dozen on his Back..."] See illustrations on our website. |
Price: A$115.00 |
| 13 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: 1835 entire signed "Willm Woods", endorsed "William Woods Seaman HMS Excellent Portsm Apl 12th 1835" & at the base "Paid one penny", countersigned "FD Hastings Lieut & Commdg Officer", to Ireland with unframed 'PORTSMOUTH' cds & Dublin diamond arrival both on the reverse, overall soiling & repaired tear at the top. [HMS "Excellent" was hulked - disabled for service at sea - in 1834 to become the gunnery training ship at Portsmouth. On 28/5/1835, Woods was transferred to HMS "Sapphire"] The illustration is above Lot 11. |
Price: A$260.00 |
| 14 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: 1848 stampless cover to "London/Canada West" with light strike of the straight-line 'NAVY-POST-OFFICE' h/s & 'PORTSMOUTH/JU24/1848/ C ' b/s, superb "tablet" ' L /JU25/ a of Liverpool, light 'LONDON/JUL19/1848/=UC=' arrival b/s in red, fancy '2' overstruck on Canadian '1s/3d Cy' h/s but both crossed through & rated "1/2" in black, addressee's docketing at upper-right. [The Navy Post Office at Portsmouth was situated at Cunninghams on the Point] |
Price: A$460.00 |
| 15 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: 1848 mourning cover with Imperf 1d (just cut-into at the base) & faint numeral cancel, very fine straight-line 'NAVY-POST-OFFICE' h/s, 'PORTSMOUTH/SP30/1848/ F ' transit & 'LEICESTER/OC2/1848' arrival b/s in blue. |
Price: A$300.00 |
| 16 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: 1853 cover with largely fine strikes of the undated circular 'NAVY-POST-OFFICE' h/s & 'PORTSMOUTH/OC26/ 1853/ E ' in red both on the reverse, b/s, Imperf 1d Red on Blued Paper (margins close to large) & poor BN '625' of Portsmouth, to Shropshire with London transit & poor 'LUDLOW' arrival b/s both in red. |
Price: A$230.00 |
| 17 |
the home station |
HAMPSHIRE: an 1854 cover from the same correspondence with 1d Stars (trimmed at left) tied by very fine 'PORTSMOUTH/ DE7/1854/ E -625' sideways duplex, undated circular 'NAVY-POST-OFFICE' b/s overstruck with London transit, fair 'LUDLOW/DE9/1854' arrival b/s. |
Price: A$190.00 |
| 18 |
the home station |
IRELAND: 1901 hand-painted envelope to "Chief Armourer/HMS Magnificent/Channel Fleet/Beerhaven" with 1d lilac tied by London cds, 'BANTRY' arrival b/s; with the enclosed letter bearing hand-painted pictures of a sailor (perhaps the addressee?) on the first page & a villain on the last, some splitting & rejoining. A delightful exhibit. Ex Ritchie Bodily. [Castletown Bearhaven is a small town on Bantry Bay, at the extreme SW of County Cork] |
Price: A$1,150.00 |
| 19 |
the home station |
ISLE OF WIGHT: 1797 (May) entire headed "Cowes Roads", signed "C Belcher" & countersigned "Piercer Gun Vessel/Lieut John Fenton Commg", to Berkshire with largely superb 'ISLE OF/WIGHT' h/s & light Paid cds in red, minor blemishes. A marvellous item for the Isle of Wight collector. [The writer tells his father "Gun Vessels are the most pleasant vessels in the Navy to be in as they are always in some Harbour or the other..."] |
Price: A$650.00 |
| 20 |
the home station |
KENT: 1813 entire headed "HMS Namur May 22 1813", signed & endorsed on the flap "R Wade Seaman", countersigned on the face "J Richards Lt" without the name of the ship, to London with 'SHEERNESS/51' mileage h/s in red & London d/s. |
Price: A$230.00 |
| 21 |
the home station |
KENT: 1832 entire signed & endorsed "From Robt Rodan Pt Royal Marines/on Board HMS Talavera Sheerness/22d Nov 1832", countersigned "Wm Griffin Lieut Commdg Officer" without the name of the ship, to Scotland with 'SHEERNESS' h/s ('51' mileage removed) in red on the flap & superb London d/s, 'DUMFRIES/25NOV1832/ M ' arrival b/s, vertical filing fold. [The writer states "...we struck a French 60 Gun Frigate - both received some injury - we made for the nearest port to repair damages and this day went into Dock"] |
Price: A$300.00 |
| 22 |
the home station |
NORFOLK: 1804 entire headed "Yarmouth Roads a board/of the Inspector Troop of War/19 Oct 1804", signed "Alexander Glen" & countersigned "HMShip Inspector Oct 15 1804/EHarris Lieut", to Edinburgh with largely fine 'YARMOUTH/124' mileage h/s & Edinburgh 'OCT/1804/19' Bishop mark arrival in red, minor soiling & internal reinforcing. [On 9/10/1804, Glen had been "impressed" - forced into service by one of the infamous press gangs - on his return to England from 19 months abroad: "I am sorry to inform you of my being Prest...the Press Gang came aboard and prest every man they could lay hold of and indeed none escaped but men unfit for their service"] |
Price: A$575.00 |
| 23 |
the home station |
NORFOLK: 1812 entire endorsed "Wm Chamberlain HMS Horatio N Yarmouth/Augt 23rd 1812" & countersigned "Lieut Geo Forder Comg Officer" on the flap, to London with faint tombstone Paid d/s in red on the face, badly soiled & some internal repairs. [The concessional rate of 1d represented a significant saving: normal postage from Yarmouth to London was 10d. The letter - fine condition - states "...Thank God I escaped all Danger...3 of our men Killed had their wives On Board at the time...our Wounded are all at the Hospital..."] See illustrations on our website. |
Price: A$115.00 |
| 24 |
the home station |
SUSSEX: 1805 entire headed "Seaford Bay Octr 27th", signed "Robert Thompson" & countersigned "HM Sloop Calypso Oct 29th 1805/W Napier Lieut", to Hull with faint curved 'SEAFORD' h/s & London paid d/s in red, rather aged & significant splitting repaired internally. [Robert Thompson was promoted Quartermaster 17/5/1805. He writes "...their is verry Great prepperations at pressant for War...the way they are going it cannot Last Long"] |
Price: A$230.00 |
| 25 |
the home station |
SUSSEX: 1806 entire headed "HM Sloop Calypso, Downs April 14/1806", signed "Robert Thompson" & countersigned "HM Sloop Calypso/April 14th 1806/JRussell Master", to Hull with very fine 'DEAL/74' (Kent) mileage mark & London paid d/s, heavily soiled. [From 1/8/1806, sailors' letters had to be endorsed with the name & rank of the sender, together with the ship's name & signed by the officer-in-command. Thompson writes "...we are going to our Old Station again to cruse for Russions. Instead of a peace I Expect we shall go to war with all Nations...there will be no Baltick Trade till things gets more Settled"] |
Price: A$230.00 |
| 26 |
the home station |
YORKSHIRE: 1795 entire headed "Scarboro 10th July" & signed "Danl Wheeler" within & countersigned "Jn Napier/Major General 89th", to London with very fine undated 'SCARBOROUGH' h/s & light double-circle 'PAID/JY13/1795' cds in red, docketed on the flap "July 10 1795", repaired tear clear of the markings & one flap repaired otherwise a very fine item. A very early soldier's letter, dated only two months after the 1d concession was introduced, on 5.5.1795. |
Price: A$380.00 |
| 27 |
the iberian peninsula |
PORTUGAL: 1837 part-entire signed "Wm Bargent", endorsed "From William Bargent Seaman/on board of his Majestys Ship Pembroke" & countersigned "Jno Wm Aldridge Comer/Lisbon 18th Feby 1837", carried by the Admiralty Packet that departed Lisbon 22/2/1837 & arrived Falmouth 25/2/1837 with a largely fine strike of the scarce 'FALMOUTH/ 1d /PAID' h/s in red, heavy soiling and other faults; also the detached second panel bearing a fine watercolour painting with caption "HM Squadron at General Quarters under the Command of Rear Admiral Sir C Bagot KCB", minor staining at left, the letter stating "...the like of this I never sent you before this I have had maid as a present from one of Richard's shipmates in the Presadent...I hope you will have this in a glass case to take care of it". A truly remarkable survivor of both historical and artistic value. Ex Martin Willcocks (2000). [With a brief article by James Grimwood-Taylor] |
Price: A$3,000.00 |
| 28 |
the iberian peninsula |
PORTUGAL: 1839 outer endorsed "From Geo Edw Stevens Seaman/HM Ship Donegal Lisbon", countersigned "Peter Duthy Commanding Officer", to Greenwich with London backstamp & superb strike of the scarce crowned-oval 'To be/delivered/FREE' h/s in red. Exceptional appearance. |
Price: A$1,500.00 |
| 29 |
the iberian peninsula |
PORTUGAL: 1853 part-East India Company printed entire to London endorsed "From Geo Vickers Sergt Royal Marines/Her MS Duke of Wellington Lisbon 19th Decr" & countersigned "A Anderson Commanding officer", two disinfection chisel-slits, Imperf 1d red (3 margins) with '37'-in-Diamond cancel of the Foreign Branch in London, the adjoining form - and part of this page - removed. Very attractive. Carried per P&O "Tagus" from Lisbon 19/12/1853; arrived Southampton 24/12/1853. [The contents concern the means of correctly identifying soldiers in the service of the East India Company] |
Price: A$750.00 |
| 30 |
the iberian peninsula |
PORTUGAL: 1876 cover with printed 'From Ship's Corporal L Leaney/HMS Resistance at ("Lisbon")' & 'Commanding Officer' countersigned "RF Britten" (apparently a smudged handstamp!), to Wiltshire with 1d Plate '140' (defective) tied by 'DEVONPORT/ K2 /JA18/76 - 250' duplex, superb 'BATH' transit & very fine 'TROWBRIDGE' arrival b/s. [Ship's Corporal was a naval rank equivalent to Petty Officer First Class] |
Price: A$750.00 |
| 31 |
the iberian peninsula |
SPAIN: 1837 entire endorsed "From Job Carpenter Private Royal Marines HM Ship/Talavera", countersigned "Barcelona 22 Sept 1837/E Nepean Lt RM", to "Chelsea College" (aka Chelsea Pensioners' Hospital) with double-circle 'LONDON/17/OCT/1837' b/s & light but very fine strike of the scarce crowned-oval 'To be/delivered/ FREE' h/s in red, soiled along vertical filing fold. [During the First Carlist War of 1834-37, Great Britain supported the claims of the infant Isabella II. Despite early defeat of the supporters of the pretender Carlos V, they held out for several years in the Basque region] |
Price: A$1,500.00 |
| 32 |
the mediterranean station |
FRANCE: 1813 entire letter headed "Caledonia off the Rhone 20th August 1813" & signed "Ed Pellew", to London with fine oval 'SHIP/[crown]/LETTER' h/s & superb arrival b/s in red, rated "1/7" to pay, two chisel slits & stained by the associated disinfection treatment. [At this date, officers were not entitled to concessional postage & thus their letters did not need to be endorsed & countersigned. The sender was Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Pellew, later Viscount Exmouth, who was involved in a blockade of Toulon. Despite his rank, Pellew's handwriting was worse than that of many an illiterate sailor] |
Price: A$380.00 |
| 33 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1842 entire endorsed "From James Risk Seaman/...HMS Malabar/Gibraltar", countersigned but crossed-through & Imperf 1d (3½ margins) tied by Maltese Cross in black suggesting private carriage to England, light 'TP/Deptford' h/s, to Scotland with London transit & boxed 'PORTGLASGOW' arrival b/s, some soiling. A most unusual irregular usage. [Risk writes to his "Cusin" stating "...we are still laying at the Rock". The "Malabar" was on guard against the activities of Moorish pirates] |
Price: A$750.00 |
| 34 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1843 (July) entire similarly endorsed & countersigned "W Hamley Commanding/Officer", stitch-marks at lower-left where a penny coin had been secured (more obvious from the reverse), to Scotland with fair strike of the scarce 'FALMOUTH/ 1d /PAID' h/s in red & superb boxed 'PORTGLASGOW' arrival b/s, vertical filing crease, one repaired flap & a bit soiled. Rare "paid by coin" letter. [The writer states "I am Sick & tired of the service...living in hopes one day to be Honourable discharged"] |
Price: A$1,150.00 |
| 35 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1860 cover endorsed "From J Cunniff Boy On Board/HMS James Watt Gibraltar" & countersigned "EJ Lawson Lt Commanding Officer", to the Duke of Norfolk in London, 1d Stars tied by diamond-numeral '30' cancel of the London Foreign Branch, 'BO/LONDON/MR20/60' arrival b/s in red, repaired flap fault. Carried per P&O "Ceylon" departed Gibraltar 14/3/1860; arrived Southampton 19/3/1860. A delightful cover. Ex Geoffrey Osborn (private transaction). [Boys aged between 14 & 18 could enlist. Boy 3rd Class was the lowest rank in the Royal Navy] |
Price: A$750.00 |
| 36 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1871 double-rate cover front endorsed "From J Battershill SB [= Sick Berth] Attendant/HMS Northumberland/ Gibraltar" & countersigned "Commanding Officer WF Lapidge" (who was actually the ship's paymaster), largely fine strike of boxed 'OVER ("½") OZ/MORE-TO-PAY' h/s presumably applied at the London GPO where 1d x2 tied by diamond-in-bars '35' cancel, also endorsed "coin" & compulsorily registered with '1/-' h/s amended by hand to 1/1d, oval 'REGISTERED/JU 25 71/DEVONPORT' arrival d/s in red, ironed-out crumpling (we can imagine the recipient being disgusted with the charges). A remarkable item, being the only compulsorily registered naval item recorded by Gerald Ellott. [The illustration is above Lot 35] |
Price: A$380.00 |
| 37 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1874 cover endorsed "From M Sullivan Chief Carp [= Carpenter's] Mate/HMS Lord Warden Gibraltar" & countersigned (Lieut) "PH Mayow", with 1d tied by magnificent strike of the rather crude '4'-in-bars of the London Foreign Branch, Birmingham arrival b/s of SP -/74, repaired flap. A very striking cover. Carried per P&O "Peshawar", departed Gibraltar 8/9/1874, arrived Southampton 12/9/1874. Michael Sullivan Fig 3: thought to be Sullivan's reply to the earlier inwards cover to Malta: see Lot 63. [On 7/11/1874, Sullivan was promoted to Warrant Officer. He was discharged 14/6/1878 but re-enlisted 6/10/1880] |
Price: A$950.00 |
| 38 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1896 cover with crest of HMS "Barfleur" on the flap (which has been detached & rejoined), endorsed "From I Foster stoker 47 mess HMS/Barfleur Mediterranean Station" & countersigned with illegible initials, to Durham with Gibraltar 10c tied by A26 duplex, 'SUNDERLAND' duplex, minor toning. Carried per P&O "Arcadia" departed Gibraltar 24/7/1895; arrived London 28/7/1895. [Illustrated on our website] |
Price: A$190.00 |
| 39 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1896 cover from Sussex to "WG Housom/HM Torpedo Boat/No 6/Gibraltar or elsewhere", redirected on a tour of the Mediterranean to HMS "Hawke", "Hibernia", "Ramillies" & "Vulcan" with various not known endorsements, three Greek b/s & several Malta cds including the "we give up" 'RETD LETTER BRANCH/JA14/97/GPO MALTA' (Proud #D2) & very fine strike of the rare 'NOT KNOWN' h/s (#I17; recorded 21/8/1902 only), central fold & soiling. A marvellous item of great character. |
Price: A$750.00 |
| 40 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1898 cover endorsed "John Young HMS Caesar Gibraltar or elsewhere" & countersigned "DWG" (= Midshipman Duncan W Grant), to Hampshire with invalid franking of GB 1d lilac uncancelled, 'GIBRALTAR/ C /MR1/98 - A[26]' duplex below & superb strike of worn 'T' h/s, the stamp cancelled at London where '1D/FB/ C ' h/s added, 'CHRISTCHURCH/HANTS' arrival cds on the face, repaired flap. Ex Geoffrey Osborn (private transaction). An unusual cover. [It seems that the GPO decided to accept that postage was paid but that Gibraltar needed to be credited 1d, claimed back from the addressee] |
Price: A$460.00 |
| 41 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1898 cover endorsed "From John Collymore captains Valet HMS Arrogant" & countersigned with illegible initials, to Devon with Gibraltar 10c tied by light A26 duplex, 'TEIGNMOUTH' arrival b/s, repaired flap fault. |
Price: A$190.00 |
| 42 |
the mediterranean station |
GIBRALTAR: 1899 (Nov 28 & Dec 30) covers with 'HMS EARNEST' on the flap, no sailor's endorsements, to 'LANARK' (Scotland) or 'CHRISTCHURCH/HANTS' each with Gibraltar 10c tied by A26 duplex (one poor), the latter with repaired flap fault. The Imperial Penny Post was introduced 25/12/1898, from which date the normal postage to England was the same as the sailors' concessional rate. Without the required endorsements, the earlier cover needed 2½d (25c) postage paid & should have been taxed. [See illustrations on our website] (Qty 2 items) |
Price: A$230.00 |
| 43 |
the mediterranean station |
GREECE: 1861 cover endorsed "From Thos Dempsey/HM Ship Caeser" & countersigned "Commanding Officer ArthurJDay", to London with 1d Stars tied by 'A/MALTA/NO18/61 - A25' duplex, repaired flap fault; with the enclosed letter headed "HM Ship Caeser/Athens Nov 7th 61". [The writer states "...[a spar] come right across my stomach and very near crushed me to atoms...I have got 2 steps higher which is 2nd Class Petty Officer...I got your letter at Beyrout on the Coast of Syria..."] |
Price: A$950.00 |
| 44 |
the mediterranean station |
GREECE: 1863 (April) cover endorsed "From W Thompson gunner RMA/On board HMS Foxhound" & countersigned "F Doughty Commanding Officer", to Scotland with 1d Stars tied by diamond-numeral '50' of the London Foreign Branch, French boxed 'PAQUEBOTS/DE LA/MEDITERANEE' h/s in red, Marseilles ('10/AVRIL'), Paris, London & superb 'CARLISLE' transit b/s, rated "6" in black for the unpaid 3d per ¼oz for transitting France. Probably carried from Piraeus by French Packet. [HMS "Foxhound" was at Volos 25/3/1863 & at Piraeus 8/4/1863. On 12/6/1863, Gunner Thompson drowned & was "discharged, dead"] |
Price: A$950.00 |
| 45 |
the mediterranean station |
GREECE: 1892 cover endorsed "From SH Couch SBS [= Sick Berth Steward] HMS Undaunted Phalerum Bay" & countersigned "RW" (= Lt Rosslyn E Wemyss), to Devon with 1d lilac tied by London transit cancel, 'DEVONPORT' arrival b/s (affected by flap fault). [Phaleron Bay is 8km SW of Athens] |
Price: A$575.00 |
| 46 |
the mediterranean station |
GREECE: a similar flapless cover from the same correspondence endorsed "...Thaso" & countersigned "HGKH" (= Lt Herbert G King Hall). [Thassos is the northernmost Greek island, close to the Thracian coast] |
Price: A$575.00 |
| 47 |
the mediterranean station |
IONIAN ISLANDS: 1836 large-part outer endorsed "From Peter Castell on board HM Ship/Thunderer" and countersigned "Arthur Wakefield 2Lt", to the East India Company in London with very fine tombstone arrival d/s in red. Carried per Admiralty Packet HMS "Hermes" which departed Zante 1/7/1836; arrived Falmouth 25/7/1836. Ex Geoffrey Osborn (private transaction). |
Price: A$1,150.00 |
| 48 |
the mediterranean station |
IONIAN ISLANDS: 1860 officer's concessional cover endorsed "via Belgium/and Trieste" with 6d violet x2 (one with tear in the wing-margin) tied by BN '320' of 'GOSPORT' (Hants, b/s), to "Captain J Pickard/HM Ship Hannibal/ Corfu", London transit b/s & 'P'-in-oval h/s, superb 'AUS ENGLAND PER AACHEN/FRANCO' cds in red, 'TRIEST' transit b/s, endorsed "Partito por [= "departed for"] Malta e Gibralterra" & on the flap "Gibraltar/28 March 1860" apparently in lieu of an arrival cds. Ex Geoffrey Osborn (2007): illustrated in "Naval Officers' Letters" at page 83. A "cracker"!ÞÞThe rate was 6d per ½oz + 3d per ¼oz x2 for transiting a foreign country, rated "8" in red for 4d credit each due to Belgium & Italy and "1" in black for the Ionian Islands local rate due. The "Hannibal" had departed Corfu on 18/3/1860 so the letter was sent to Malta from where carried per P&O "Ripon", departed Malta 23/3/1860, arrived Gibraltar 28/3/1860. |
Price: A$750.00 |
| 49 |
the mediterranean station |
IONIAN ISLANDS: 1861 flapless cover endorsed "From Joseph Irlam seaman HMS Marlborough/Corfu" & countersigned "T Brandreth Commanding Officer", to a soldier in the 57th Regiment in India but sent (missent?) via London where 1d Stars tied by 'LONDON EC/JA30/61 - 77' duplex, Indian b/s of Bombay, Calcutta & 'ALLAHABAD' arrival all in red. Ex Gerald Sattin (2008, the only sailor's letter in his "Soldier's Rates" collection). Wonderful origin/destination item. [Regulations required that soldiers letters be sent to London in a locked bag, even if the destination was in the opposite direction, as here. In any event, the letter was carried to GB, back to and across India for a mere penny. HMS "Marlborough" was flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet. The 57th Regiment had served throughout the Indian Mutiny including the crucial engagement at Lucknow. In January 1860, the Regiment moved to Allahabad] |
Price: A$1,500.00 |
| 50 |
the mediterranean station |
ITALY: 1859 cover from England "via Marseilles" with undated 'TEDDINGTON/SW' b/s, 1d Stars & 4d rose & 6d violet tied by 'LONDON SW - SW/15' duplex and 'PD'-in-oval h/s, to "Commander Whyte RN/HMS Centurion/ Naples/care of HM British Consul" with French 'ANGL/AMB CALAIS B' TPO cds, Paris & Marseilles transit b/s & Italian ' S /Franco'-in-oval paid h/s in red. Carried per French Packet "Simios" departed Marseilles 15/5/1859; arrived Naples 18/5/1859. [The officers' rate was 6d per ½oz + 3d per ¼oz for French transit. However the standard letter rate of 11d was paid] |
Price: A$300.00 |