386th Auction

1853, Cape triangle (6x) 4d deep blue/ blue on lightly blued paper (SG. nos 4 and 4a), fine/very fine, all signed Dr Knopke

1874/79, a mostly used collection on stock pages, comprising over seventy stamps, with a used and unused 1874 1d on 4p blue overprinted in manuscript (both with faults),  examples of the 1877 “G.W.” overprints, range of “G” overprints on stamps of the Cape of Good Hope, identified by the collector by Type (I through VI), note 1sh with Type I overprint in black, 4d and 6d with Type 7 or 8 overprints in black, a few fantasy creations included, some flaws to be expected, but a useful group with many fine stamps, ideal for the specialist; owner's Michel catalogue value exceeds €6,300.

1901 (March 20-April 3): Pietersburg Emergency Issues, Type-set by De Zoutpansberg Wachter Press in Pietersburg, the phenomenal collection unused/mint never hinged and used of these issues, produced by the Transvaal Government whilst under Siege by the British forces, all issued stamps having the initialled signature of the Controller of Posts, J.T. de V. Smit in black or occasionally red ink; the collection formed by two exceptional purchases - complete sheets of 12 (6 x 2) both imperforate and perforated 11½ with different printings represented from Allan Leverton in July 1993 and the complete collection formed by Erik F. Hurt (1890-1952) who wrote 'Local Postage Stamps of the World' in conjunction with the Williams brothers. Beginning with a Die Proof of the unadopted ½ d. value imperforate in blue on pale brown paper, thereafter with sheets of 1 d. (upper and lower) imperf. and perf., a cto Pietersburg used sheet (April 3), 2nd. printing sheets of 24 of the 1 d., sheets of 12 cancelled at Houtboschdorf (April 4), 2 d. orange sheet imperf., and perf. (2), 2 d. sheet of 24 half of the stamps cancelled (April 3), 4 d. in an unused block of 22, 6 d. upper and lower sheets of 12, thereafter with singles, pairs, blocks unused and 'used' with all the plate varieties noted throughout. A marvellous collection formed by three outstanding and knowledgeable students of classic philately

1899/1902, Boer War, group of 6 better covers and cards, including a rare combination of both Boer and British seals with “Gdeopend onder Krijgswet. (P.no.30.)” censor seal on rose paper (Type 3) on a franked mourning envelope from “BULTFONTEIN AP 13 (1900)” to Green Point in Cape Colony with two additional British paper seals applied (Type 2 A+B),  also “ELANDSLAAGTE 8 - FEB. 1900” violet truncated oval field post office cancellation on a ½ d. postal stationery card to Johannesburg, “VELDPOST Z.A.R. GLENCOE, 25 DEC. 1899.” superb strike of the violet three-line cancellation on Natal ½ d. postal stationery card to Hattingspruit, “BLOEMFONTEIN JU 28 (19)01” on mail addressed to “Dr. Martinius, M(edical) O(fficer) Refugee Camp Brandfort” (small faults), a particularly rare incoming mail to that camp, which was infamous for having one of the highest mortality rate, etc., a delightful specialist assembly

1900/02, Boer War British Censors, group of 9 covers showing better censor handstamps, including “BETHULIE” single line in purple with ornaments at top and bottom on franked envelope from “BETHULIE OC 7 (1900)” to the Green Point camp in Cape Colony, also very rare “CENSORED G.B.BEAK” straight-line on franked envelope from “FICKSBURG 27 AU (19)00” to a prisoner of war in Cape Colony, along with “Censored Com(missioner) at Luckhoff” in manuscript on franked envelope from “LUCKHOFF JU 30 00” to England, transit via Bloemfontein and arrival “BRIGHTON JY 27 00” on reverse, etc., some occasional faults as to be expected, not detracting from the scarcity of the assembly

1913/45 (ca.), large accumulation of 177 covers, cards and postal stationeries, including military mail, registered overseas, etc., except for the occasional fault, in rather overall good condition, an interesting specialist assembly

1861/1935, approval booklet with some better material

1861/1881, Large Hermes Heads, postal history group of sixteen items, wide range of frankings and printings represented, typical mixed margins, with single frankings of the 20 l. (x6) and 40 l. (x2), three-colour franking on 1875 cover to Trieste, appealing four and five colour frankings, 1 l. strip of five (on stamp torn) on newspaper, etc, condition varies, but a useful group.

1861/1895, Hermes Head study, mint and used, organized in a stockbook, over three hundred stamps, with the vast majority of the emphasis being on the Large Hermes Heads, beginning with 1861 Paris Print and progressing through subsequent printings, these later printings with more duplication within denominations, some slightly mixed condition but a much fresher lot overall than typically found in such holdings, largely fine or better, with potential for postmark interest, ideal for further study of these complex classic issues.

1850/64, small holding forerunners and first issues, including Mi. 1(4), 2(2), 4(3), 5(7) and 6(4)

1870/1970 (ca.), unused/mnh and used accumulation in large box, with also better issues and miniature sheets

1871/1944, used collection, in the main numbers complete, Cover with figure and Turul specialised, also service and postage due, telegraph and newspaper stamps, also partly unused occupied territories (Arad, Banat, Baranya, Debrecen, Temesvar) and Western Hungary

1871/2020, extensive, mostly used duplicate stock with many complete issues, in seven thick stockbooks, plus a small lot in bags and an album with modern machine labels and some Europe Michel catalogues

1872/1943, used and unused collection on album leaves 

1945/46, exhibition collection “The stamps during the 1945-46 Hyperinflation Period” with stamps and around 210 covers, cards and postal stationeries, many interesting usages with registered parcel cards, postal stationery with additional frankings, mail paid in cash, large frankings and other specialities, in two albums

1953/78, mint never hinged collection “imperforated issues” with many better and complete issues, with a.o. Mi.-No. 1387-94B, 1542-48B, 1633-39B, 1718-25B, 1881-88B, 1954-62B, 2000-07B, 2044-51B, 2071-77B, 2280-90B, 2315-16B (!), 2398-2405B, 2423-31B and 3209-12B (stripe of four), very fine condition

1962/75, in the beginning mostly mint never hinged, later mostly used Collection including early souvenir sheets on covers, etc., good condition, on hingless Album pages

1880/1960 (ca.), about 400 covers/postal stationery with a.o. better Airmail and fdc's

1890/1960 (ca.), approx. 140 cover/postal stationery

1914/18, exhibition collection “Field and censored mail in World War I” with over 300 covers, cards and postal stationeries, including registered mail, prisoner of war covers, an abundance of different types of censorship, as well as other specialities, in three albums

1916(ca.), small group of 17 parcel cards to Switzerland, mostly good quality

1873/1995, unused(without gum and used collection with many better values starting from Mi.-Nr. 2-5, 6A, 3B, Officials Mi.-Nr. 44-59 unused, later many better and only few missing, later also mostly mint never hinged, some better with problematic cancellations as often found, slightly different condition

1873/1930, small collection on self-designed sheets with overprint issues, few reference forgeries of first issues, etc. in folder

1876/1964, unused and used collection, containing some better items like Mi.-Nr. 28A unused (regummed) with certificate Debo BPP, different condition

1928/52 (ca.), mint never hinged and unused accumulation, some better sets throughout, overall in very fine condition