386th Auction

1912, Edward 3 a. orange-brown, tied by cds. "BAHRAIN 18 FE. 12" to reverse of registered envelope with provisional registration label to Bombay with adjacent arrival mark; cover opened on 2 sides, very fine and rare early registered mail

1 r. with 3 p. (12) and George VI 1 a. (2), used on reverse of airmail cover from "BAHRAIN PERSIAN GULF 27 NOV 39" to Copenhagen, Denmark with white label "OPENED BY CENSOR", fixed with staples and tied by the cds., leaving 4 stamps underneath the label uncancelled. A most attractive and very rare censored letter

2 r., tied by cds. "BAHRAIN 2..AUG 34" to registered airmail cover via Cairo to germany with transit- and arrival marks. A fine and rare cover.

5 r., horizontal marginal pair tied to commercial airmail cover from "BAHRAIN 17 NOV. 45" to San Francisco with adjacent red "O.A.T." (Onward Air Transport). A very rare usage of these stamps and highest recorded franking of this issue

½ a., 4 copies, tied to reverse of cover to Tchahbahar, underpaid by ½ a. and taxed on arrival, franked with 2 copies Iran 1938, 50 d., tied by Tchahbahar cds.; a very rare combination cover

1948/49, ½ a. (2), 1 a., 1½ a. and 2½ a., tied by 3 strikes of cds. "EXPERIMENTAL P.O. K-121" (Muharraq post office) to airmail cover to England; one ½ a. slight transportation marks, otherwise fine. The experimentals K121-postmark is the rarest postmark of Bahrain, according to Donaldson just one further cover has been reported

1934, Registered envelope 3 a. + 1 a. 3 p. used abroad with cds. "C-POST OFFICE 2 .. JUN 47" (Basra Margil) with adjacent violet "R No. "c" base P.O." to England, little roughly opened, very rare

1893, handstamp “40 PARAS” on ½ d. vermillion tied by cds. “BRITISH POST OFFICE STAMBOUL c FEB.28.93” to cover to London with arrival mark. The cover is vertically folded, the stamp is in fine condition, signed Pavoille, Paris

1883, TWO CENTS on 32 C. pale red, wide S, unused without gum, very fine and fresh. A rare stamp. Certificate BPA (2025)

1857, Victoria 7½ d. green, unused (regummed), rich color and strong impression, ample margins to clear at right, otherwise fine; a scarce stamp. Certificate Greene Foundation (2016) (Scott 9)

1956/57, wm "St. Edward"s crown" 1½ a. on 1½ d. In horizontal pair (separated at base) with 1952/54, ½ a. on ½ d., used on commercial airmail cover from "BAHRAIN .. FE 57" to Doha, Qatar. The envelope with some marginal transportation faults, the pair in very fine condition (partly lifted for inspection of watermark). One of the greatest rarities of the British agencies in Arabia; only one further copy of this rare stamp has been recorded used at Bahrain (also on cover). Certificates David Brandon (1997) and RPSL (2025)

1851, 1 s. reddish mauve on blued paper, fresh color and ample to mostly good margins all around, used with blue oval of bars, a fine and very rare stamp, certificate BPA (2009)

1873, LARNACA DI CIPRO datestamp (Tchilinghiran fig. 3 ) in brown, excellent impression on entire letter from Larnaca via Smirne to Savona, manuscript rated ‘8’ in red and again noted '7' (for 70 c.) in ink on arrival to pay. Reverse with transit LLOYD AGENZIE SMIRNE 22/2 c.d.s. and BRINDISI 26/FEB/73. At arrival Italy postage due 60 c. and vertical pair 5 c. affixed and tied by “SAVONA 1/MAR/73” c.d.s. File folds, otherwise fine. A superb and rare Austria Levant entire

1860, envelope to Colchester, England, with red despatch cds “HONG KONG PAID C JY 7 60” (Webb type 14) and manuscript “6” (pence) prepayment, with reverse transit and arrival cds, fine, in addition a second cover from the same correspondence with similar red “HONG KONG PAID C JA 29 60” with reverse transit and arrival cds, the envelope a little tatty. A scarce duo

1880, new colours with wm. CC, 2 c.-48 c., all 4 values with nice fresh colours, unused with part o.g., very fine

1879, postcards with postcard stamps 3 c. and 5 c., unused, very fine

1852, Scinde Dawk ½ a. white, nice clear embossing and large margins, lightly cancelled, very fine. Signed Heddergott 

1852, Scinde Dawk ½ a. blue, nice fresh colour and good margins, lightly cancelled by diamond of dots. Very fine and choice. Signed Heddergott with certificate (1995)
   

1854, Die I, ½ a. blue, horizontal block of eight from the upper left sheet corner, with corner ornament  and inscription "HALF ANNA each Stamp-", unused without gum. Very fine and rare. Signed Heddergott 

 

Die I, ½ a. blue, dry print, vertical strip of 4, good to large margins, each stamp with clear numeral "1" and additional manuscript "Stamped", light pre-fold between third and fourth stamp, otherwise very fine. Scarce multiple.
 

Die I, ½ a. blue, clear to large margins, tied by Madras type "C 143" to entire letter, showing on reverse two strikes of red boxed "COMBACONUM 1856 6 May/ PAID". Very fine.

 

Die I, ½ a. blue, ample margins, tied by dotted "39" two envelope with reverse side red boxed "ONGOLE" with manuscript date "16-2 57" two envelope to Secunderabad, with red arrival mark and adjacent delivery mark "2d D"

 

Die I, ½ a. blue, good to large margins, used with gutter of ink lines on entire letter with adjacent red boxed "SIRMOOR" with manuscript date "10-12-54", to Ahmednagar

 

Die I, ½ a. blue, good to large margins, tied by diamond of dots to slightly reduced entire letter with adjacent red c.d.s. "UMBALLA 10 FEB. 1856", to Jullundur, with arrival mark
 

Die I, ½ a. pale blue, good to large margins, tied by Northern circle "147" to small native cover, showing on reverse red Phagwara dispatch mark. Very fine.

 

Die I, ½ a. deep blue, block of 4 with underinking at right, good to large margins, each stamp with clear diamond of dots and the right stamps with additional part of red handstamp. A very fine and rare block. Signed Georg Bühler with certificate (1968)

 

1854, Die II, ½ a. indigo, block of 4 with left sheet margin with inscription "GE STAMPS  Price THREE ", good to large margins, unused without gum. Very fine.
 

1854, Die II, ½ a. indigo, block of 4 with right sheet margin with inscription "affixed towards the  RI", good to large margins, unused without gum. Very fine. Signed Brun and Alberto Diena
 

1854, Die II, ½ a. indigo, horizontal block of eight with  left sheet margin with inscription "ANNAS per Row, or ", clear to large margins, unused without gum. Very fine.
 

Die I, 1 a. red, horizontal block of six (pos. 44/54), nice fresh colour and good to large even margins, neatly cancelled by octagonal "B1" of Calcutta. A very fine and extremely rare multiple. Certificate Heddergott BPP (1992)

 

Die II, 1 a. deep red, horizontal pair from the lower left sheet corner with ornament and small part of marginal inscription, fresh colour and large margins, unused without gum, very fine and very rare. Signed Heddergott BPP 

 

Die II, 1 a. deep red, horizontal strip of seven, nice fresh colour and good to large even margins, each stamp neatly cancelled by diamond of bars. Small scissors cut between the first and second stamp, otherwise very fine and fresh. A very rare multiple. Signed Roumet

 

Die II, 1 a. deep red, two single copies in nice deep shade and with good to large margins, tied to lettersheet (one backflap missing) to Seconderabad. A fine and scarce franking.

 

Die II, 1 a. dull red, horizontal pair, fresh colour and large margins, unused without gum, very fine. Certificate Heddergott BPP (1992)

 

Die II, 1 a. dull red, horizontal pair from the right sheet margin with small part of inscription, fresh colour and large margins, unused without gum, very fine. Signed Heddergott BPP 
 

Die III, 1 a. red, horizontal strip of four, the right stamp slightly touched, otherwise ample margins, neatly cancelled by octagonal "B1". A fine and very rare strip.