386th Auction

3 p. (6) and ½ a. (4) tied to reverse of small envelope endorsed "OVERLAND MAIL" to Germany, adjacent double circle "BY AIR" cancelled by pen strokes

1933, George V 3 p., ½ a. (2), 9 p., 1 a. and 2 a. used on cover from "BAHRAIN 6 MAY 34" to England, endorsed in red ink "By overland mail "Bagdad-Haifa"", Basrah transit mark on reverse, very fine

1934/37, 2 a. vermilion and 3 a. carmine, tied cds. "BAHRAIN 21 MAR 36" to cover with violet "OVERLAND" to England with Basrah transit mark on reverse

2 a. vermilion, small die, horizontal pair with George VI 1a., tied by light Bahrain cds. to small envelope with adjacent "OVERLAND MAIL" to England with transit mark "BASRA 9 MAR 40"

1910, British India Edward 3 p. grey, 10 copies in multiples tied by cds. "BAHRAIN 31 DE 10" to reverse of commercial cover to Bombay with arrival mark; the envelope somewhat reduced in size at both sides and showing slight faults; a scarce franking

INCOMING MAIL: 1899, Newspaper wrapper 3 on 4 c. on 5 c. from "MAURITIUS DE 1 99" to Bahrain with transit mark of Bombay and arrival mark of December 31. A very rare and early item of incoming mail

Postal order George VI 1/- with overprint "B.P.O. AGENCIES PERSIAN GULF 2 ANNAS" with small "BAHRAIN 16 JU 50" ; creased and slight marginal faults. This is the only recorded George VI postal order from the Persian Gulf agencies

1854, 1 a. deep red (worn plate), imperforate cut-to-shape on two sides clear tied by "B/5" numeral obliterator of East India post office in AKYAB Burma to entire letter 1857 to Bordeaux. Struck in error initially with framed "India Paid" in red and altered with framed "India Unpaid" when clerk noticed cover was addressed to France. On top ms. “Via Suez & Marseille”, alongside later added “Pr. Cape of Good Hope”, "PAIS ETR. V. SUEZ AMB. 12 SEPT 1857" cds in red alongside. Reverse with Akyab c.d.s. in black (Jul 28), Calcutta c.d.s. in red (Aug 4), thence carried by French Ship and charged due on receipt with "8" decime charge, tiny shortened at bottom, part of flap missing, otherwise fine. Bordeaux arrival c.d.s. (Sep 18). A delightful and rare postal history cover

SINGAPORE: 1859, double rate entire letter, dated inside "Bangkok den 28. März 1859", showing on front red oval forwarding agent mark "PICKENPACK, THIES & Co. BANGKOK SIAM" and on reverse "BEHN, MEYER & Co. SINGAPORE". In Singapore correctly franked for the conveyance to Alexandria with 2 copies India 1856/64, 8 annas carmine, tied by somewhat indistinct "B172" of Singapore with matching red dispatch mark on reverse. The prepaid amount corresponding to "2/-" noted on front in red crayon, crossed out, and "40" kreuzer due (consisting of 22 kreuzer sea postage from Alexandria to Trieste and 18 kreuzer German postal union postage), which was to be paid by the recipient. One stamp some minor creasing without any importance. A very fine and rare early letter from Thailand to Europe. Certificate BPA (2023) stating an incorrect franking, which is nonsense.

1877, ¼ a. ultramarine, 14 copies (some with small faults), tied by square handstamp to reverse of registered native envelope.

 

1879, handstamped ½ a. carmine on thick horizontally laid paper, used with pearled quatrefoil handstamp in black on small native cover. Very fine and rare.

 

1896/1900, pin perf., 1877, ¼ a. slate-violet, tied by c.d.s. "ROHRU 10.OC.99" two reverse of small envelope (one corner clipped) to Rampur. Fine and very scarce.

 

1916, 2 a. brown and 1920, perf. 7, ½ a. dull red, three copies, all cut by scissors, tied by c.d.s. "DUTTIAH 27...20" two registered envelope. A fine and very scarce entire. Signed Holcombe.

 

1904, 1/2a deep blue, Type II, Stone III, sheet of 24 with stamps 1 to 2mm apart, unused with unmounted original gum, typical small red control number notation at upper left, else a fine early printing of pleasing fresh colour.

1904, 1/2a deep blue, Type II, Stone III, sheet of 24 with stamps 1 to 2mm apart, unused with unmounted original gum, typical small red control number notation at upper left, pre-printing paper crease at lower left, some water staining to left margin well clear of stamps, else fine. 

1904, 1a dull red, two sheets of twelve, one each in orange red and brick red, unused, with large part original gum, slightly disturbed on places, showing distinctive clear and worn printings, both with red control numbers at upper left, the brick red sheet with some water staining in lower selvedge, well clear of stamps, offered with a reconstructed sheet of twelve comprised of a mix of unused and used examples, usual imperfections, else fine.

1906, Perkins Bacon, ¼ a. imperforate colour trial proofs on thick card, with horizontal pair in green, blocks of four in red and sepia, each with large margins all around, fresh and very fine.

1878/79, 1 a. slate-purple and 1883/94, 2 a. red on yellow, in combination with British India DLR 2 a. orange and 1882/90, ½ a. green, all tied by "L" in bars, to reverse of postal stationery envelope ½ a. green, as registered letter from Kashmir to Peshawar. Wax seals removed, otherwise very fine and fresh.

 

1887/94. 2 a. black, vertical strip of four with sheet margin at base, tied to reverse of small registered envelope from Srinagar. Very fine. Signed A. Diena

 

1862, ½ d. buff, tied by "A25" in bared oval and "G Malta JY 11 /62" c.d.s. to legal-size folded cover to Valletta, fresh and fine, attractive, signed Pfenninger (SG 2)

“Auckland Garrison Artillery Division DEVONPORT ON ACTIVE SERVICE”, clear strike of military postage-free cachet on envelope with adjacent cds. “DEVONPORT 2-NO 14 10-AM N” to Wellington, 

Provenance: Len Jury (2015, Spink)

1857/63, no wm., 2 d. pale blue, horizontal strip of 3, nice colour, clear to good margins, lightly cancelled by barred "1". Very faint horizontal bend, otherwise fine and fresh. Signed Alcuri.

Unissued stamp: 1996, Children health 40 c. with Teddy bear, self-adhesive with orginal backing paper, very fine, rare, only 500 stamps were sold on the first three days

6d. on 50 pfg., vertical se-tenant pair with upper stamp showing variety "inverted 9 for 6", tied by cds. "APIA 12.9.14" to small piece, fine (Gibbs 8,8a)

1855/63, white paper 4 d. blue, horizontal strip of 4, clear to mostly large margins, neatly cancelled. Very fine. Signed Georg Bühler 

1900, Baden-Powell 3 d. deep blue/blue, small frame, fresh colours, tied by cds “MAFEKING AP 9 1900” to small piece, signed Roig, fine

1886, 1sh violet, May 21 tête-bêche horizontal pair on blue granite paper, with sheet margin at right, unused, with part original gum, hinge remnant overtop of thins, else fine. 

1869, (6d) Potchefstroom envelopes, two examples of the 30mm c.d.s., one struck on buff envelope, the other blue, this a particularly fine strike, each with value in manuscript, both unaddressed and with some imperfections, the buff cover repaired at left, an uncommon duo.

1887, 2d violet handstamp (4 January) on envelope, approximately 224 x 100mm, issued by the Administration of the New Republic, unaddressed, central vertical crease, else fine; signed Sismondo, with his certificate. (Higgins & Gage 1d; Robson Lowe #EP2d).

1889, Swazieland Overprints ½ d. grey, 1 d. carmine, 2 d. olive-bistre and 6 d. blue, fresh colours, tied by barred oval numeral “718” with adjacent cds “EMBEKELWENI 7 JY 90”, framed two-line “GEREGISTEREED Z.A.R.N°..” and red “Register” to registered envelope to Waterberg with reverse part of transit datestamp. Three adhesives with small crease or tear, the envelope with minor fault at top, still attractive and scarce

1917/21, G.E.A. on 1 c. – 50 r. including some shades and wm mult. Scipt 12 c. – 5 r., unused o.g., fine and scarce 

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in black: 7½h., fresh color and good perforation, unused, very fine, a scarce stamp with only about 20 printed in this color, certificate Ceremuga (2001) (Michel 3a)

Provenance: “Tatiana” (David Feldman, 2017)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in black: 20h., fresh color and good perforation, unused, very fine, a scarce stamp, certificate BPA (1982) (Michel 5a)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in black: 30h., fresh color, unused, one pulled perf at bottom, otherwise fine, a scarce stamp, signed Holcombe with opinion (1990) (Michel 6a)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in black: 45h., fresh color and good perforation, mint never hinged, very fine, a very scarce stamp with only about 20 printed, this being one of the nicest we have registered in ProFi, signed Hoffmann-Giesecke and certificate Ceremuga (2001) (Michel 7a)

Provenance: “Tatiana” (David Feldman, 2017)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in black: 3r., fresh color, unused, faint vertical crease at left, few shorter perfs, light tonin, very attractive. An exceptionally rare stamp with just 14 (David Field) issued, or 20 examples (Bob Gibbs) believed to have been issued regardless of the overprint colour, ProFi has registered 10 stamps, certificate Brandon (2004) (Michel 10a)

Provenance: “Tatiana” (David Feldman, 2017)