United States. (France). 1855. stamp-less envelope addressed to France cancelled by Troy/ N.Y. date stamp '16th Oct 55' with scroll 'Paid' in red and endorsed '21c' ,routed via New York with 'New York/ Am. Packet, charged with hand-struck '5' erased with bar obliterator in red on face, endorsed 'via Liverpool' with transit 'Oc 29' , French entry cachet '30/10/ and rated '8' and '16' tax on arrival with Charollers receiver. ' Very fine.
Switzerland. (Ivory Coast). 1903. Picture post card of 'Rue de Mont Blanc, Geneva' addressed to 'Afrique Occidental Francaise bearing Switzerland Yvert 66, 5c green (pair) tied by Geneva date stamp '21st Mai 05', endorsed via Bordeaux' routed via Grand Bassam '19/6' and Tiassale/ Cote D'Ivoire '5th July' and forwarded to Toumodi. Superb item of destination mail from Switzerland to French West Africa.
Luxembourg. (French Morocco). 1939. Air Mail envelope addressed to Oujda, French Maroc bearing Luxembourg Air Mail Yvert 6, 3f grey tied by Luxembourg Ville date stamp '27th Dec 1939' with 'Par Avion/ Durch Flugpost' label in blue with 'Controle Postal Militaire' censor label tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par L' Autorite Militaire/ WX 462' and circular 'Controle Postal/ Commission 0' in red on face, underpaid with hand-struck 'T' 13 1/2 endorsed 'Insuffisannant Affanchisment' and bearing French Maroc postage dues Yvert 29, 10c brown, Yvert 31, 10c carmine (2) and Yvert 54,2f violet applied and tied by Oujda/ Maroc receiver. Lovely item of underpaid Air Post from Luxembourg.
Liberia. (Bermuda). 1942. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to 'The Liberian Consulate, London' bearing Liberia Air Mail Yvert 13, 20c lilac, Yvert 14, 30c grey and Yvert 15, 50c sepia tied by Monrovia date stamp '29th Oct 42' with framed hand-struck 'R/Monrovia', routed via Bermuda with 'Opened by Examiner/ I.C./ 1400' with Miami and New York '23/11' transit. Lovely item of mail from Liberia routed via Bermuda.
Netherlands West Indies. (Surinam). 1946. Air Mail letter card headed 'Internee Mail' written from Paramaribo dated '25th November 1946' with oval 'Convention Postale/ Universelle/ Franchise/ De Taxes' bearing Suriname SG 342, 12 1/2c blue tied by Parmaribo date stamp with hand-stamp 'Censuur/ Interneerings Dienst/ Surinam' in violet on face with 'AFZ/ Exp. G.J. HAmmer c/o Censuur Intereeringsdienst/ Parmaribo-Surinam/ Dutch Guiana'. on face and reverse. Superb item of internee mail from Suriname. Very rare.
Japan. (Philippines - Burma). 1901. Picture post card of 'View from Kanaya Hotel Garden, Nikko' addressed to Toungoo, Burma bearing Japan 'Koban' SG 113, 1s green (pair) and SG 124, 2s carmine tied by Yokohama/ Japan date stamp '12th Mar 01' routed via Kobe and Hong Kong 'Mr 19' with instructional 'Missent To Manila, P.I.' in blue on face and Manila receiver 'Mar 24' with Singapore 'Ap 6' and Toungoo arrival 'April 14' on face. Superb item of 'Missent' mail. Exhibition item.
Netherlands East Indies. (H.M.S. Griffon - East Indies). 1889. Envelope addressed to England endorsed 'From M. Sullivan (skilled Shipright) H.M.S. "Griffon" East Indies bearing Great Britain SG 200, 2d green and vermilion tied by 'FB' (Foreign Branch) obliterator. Very fine 2d military rate Concessionary envelope written from HMS Griffon in the East Indies.
Palestine. (Express Mail). 1945. Air Mail envelope addressed to Glasgow bearing SG 97, 10m slate (strip of four) tied by Haifa-Express double ring '19th Jan 45' with 'Air Mail' label. Scarce Express mail.
Spanish Colonies. (Cuba - Netherlands West Indies). 1906. Cuba postal stationery envelope 5 cents blue cancelled by Santa Lucia/ Cuba date stamp '23rd Aug 06' addressed to Parammaribo, Dutch Guiana with Cibara transit Paramaribo squared circle arrival '29th Sept' on reverse. Very nice item of mail from Spanish Cuba to the Netherlands Guiana.
Spanish Colonies. (Cuba). 1877. Envelope addressed to New York bearing Cuba SG 70, 25p deep green tied by Santiago de Cuba date stamp, underpaid with 'T' hand-stamp and circular 'New York/ Due 5 Cts.' on face. Very fine.
Japan. (H.M.S. Astraea - Japan). 1902. Picture post card addressed to London written from 'In Dock, Yokohama' and dated '21st April 02' bearing Great Britain SG 172, 1d lilac tied by London receiver 'June 28' . scarce postcard sent in Navy Bag paying the 1d Navy concessionary rate written from HMS Astraea at Yokohama. (Note on card - Japanese Fleet came in yesterday).
Japan. (Ireland). Circa 1940. Air Mail envelope addressed to Dublin bearing Japan SG 325, 20s blue tied by vernacular date stamp with Gaelic 'Opened by Censor' label in pink. Nice item of censored mail from Japan to Ireland.
Japan. (Ireland). Circa 1940. Air Mail envelope addressed to Dublin bearing Japan SG 317, 4s emerald, SG 322, 10s deep carmine, SG 340, 2s yellow-orange and SG 341,4a olive-green tied by vernacular date stamp with Gaelic 'Opened by Censor' label in pink. Very attractive item of censored mail from Japan to Ireland.
Japan. (Sweden). 1894. Japan postal stationery card 3 stationery card 3 sen green cancelled by Tokio vernacular date stamp with adjacent 'Tokio-Japan/ Miji-27' in brown-red on face '5th Jan 1894' addressed to Sweden with Yokohama/ Meiji transit, London 'Deb 5th' and Stockholm arrival '8/2' on face. Very attractive item.
Italian Colonies. (Eritrea). 1916. Registered illustrated advertising envelope addressed to to France bearing Eritrea Yvert 40, 25c blue (pair) tied by Asmare Raccomande double ring '20th Juil 16' with matching registration label and 'Colonia Eritrea/ Censura No 1' hand-stamp on face with Marseille receiver. Very attractive item.
Liechtenstein. (Austria Imperial Post). 1857. Stamp-less Registration receipt written from Bregenz dated '18th Jan 1857' with hand-struck Vadutz/ 19 Jan' on face (Tranmer Fig 7). Very fine.
Greece. (H.M.S. Revenge - Crete). 1898. Envelope (H.M.S. Revenge on backflap) addressed to England bearing Great Britain SG 172, 1d lilac (2) and SG 197, 1/2d orange tied by London date stamp 'No 19 98' with arrival on reverse. H.M.S. Revenge arrived with Rear Admiral Noel on Sept 12th 1898 in Crete and patrolled the northern coast of Crete during the Greco-Turkish War. Very fine item.
Germany. (British East Africa). 1938. Air Mail mourning envelope addressed to Nanyuki East Africa bearing Germany Yvert 453, 25pf blue and SG 459, 60pf lilac endorsed 'via Alexandria-Cairo-Khartoum-Juba-Kisumu' with Wien transit and Nanyuki arrival and forwarded to Nairobi. Nice destination.
Germany. (Netherlands East Indies). 1906. Picture post card of 'Painted view' addressed to the Netherlands East Indies bearing Germany Yvert 54, 10pf red tied by Berlin date stamp '8th Aout 06' , underpaid with circular 'T' hand-stamp and bearing Netherlands East Indies postage due SG D102, 2 1/2c carmine and black and SG D104, 10c carmine and black tied by Soerabaja double ring '5th Sep' on face. Nice combination.
French Morocco . (Nigeria). 1943. Air France Air Mail envelope addressed to Argentina bearing French Maroc Yvert 193, 3f brown, Yvert 223, 1f50 blue and Air Mail Yvert 49, 10f turquoise (pair) tied by Rabat Residence date stamp '19/8' with 'Controle' censor tape tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par Les Autorite du Controle/ YB' on face and reverse (applied in Rabat), endorsed 'via New York' routed via Nigeria with 'Opened by Examiner' tape tied framed 'Crown/ Passed/ PP/ 25' on face, Rio, Brazil transit '15 Sept' with circular '25/26' censor and Buenos Aires receiver '22nd Sept'. Nice item of censored mail.
Germany. (Netherlands East Indies). 1906. Picture post card of 'Painted view' addressed to the Netherlands East Indies bearing Germany Yvert 54, 10pf red tied by Rixdorf date stamp '24th Aout 06', underpaid with circular 'T' hand-stamp and bearing Netherlands Indies postage due SG D102, 2 1/2 carmine and black and SG D104, 10c carmine and black tied by Soerabaja double ring '18 Sept' on face. Nice combination.
Germany. (British East Africa). 1938. Air Mail mourning envelope addressed to Nanyuki, East Africa bearing Germany Yvert 444, 5pf yellow-green and SG 460, 80pf blue and grey endorsed 'via Alexandria-Wadihaifa-Khartoum-Kisumu' with Wien transit and Nanyuki arrival and forwarded to Nairobi. Nice destination.
French Algeria. (Nigeria). 1944. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to Argentina bearing Algeria Yvert 201, 20f green and Yvert 216, 3f violet (pair) tied by Bureau Central Militaire/ B.C.M.A. date stamp '7th Aug 44' with provisional 'R/ B.C.M.A.' registration label with 'Controle' censor tape tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par Les Autorite Controle/ T.A. 316' routed via Nigeria with 'Opened by Examiner' label tied by framed 'PP/ZZ' with oval Registered/ Lagos, Nigeria '1/9' and Buenos Aires 'Certificados' arrival on reverse. Very fine cover from the French Forces in Algeria routed via Nigeria.
French Colonies. (Guyane - Trinidad - Guadeloupe). 1942. Registered Air Mail envelope addressed to Guadeloupe bearing Guyane Francaise Yvert 120, 50c blue and grey, Yvert 129, 3f red-brown and lilac and Yvert 130, 5f green and lilac tied by Cayenne date stamp '23rd Dec' with matching registration label and circular 'Controle Postal/ Guyane Francaise' on reverse, routed via Trinidad with 'Opened by Examiner/ 8043/ Form 167' label with hand-stamp 'I.E./-' in violet with Pointe A Pitre arrival '26 Dec' and 'Controle Postal/ Commission B/ Guadeloupe' censor on face. Nice item triple censored in the Caribbean.
French Colonies. (Madagascar - Netherlands East Indies). 1936. air mail envelope addressed to Batavia, Netherlands East Indies bearing Madagascar Air Mail Yvert 9, 8f50 turquoise tied by Tamatava double ring '17th Feb' , routed via Rhodesia with Broken Hills transit '21st Feb' with 'KLM/ Service/By Airmail/ Par Avion' red label, underpaid with 'T' hand-stamp in blue and bearing Netherlands East Indies postage due SG D227, 2 1/2c salmon, SG D236, 30c salmon (strip of three) and SG D239, 50c salmon (pair) tied by Batavia-C date stamp '3rd Mar 36' on reverse. Very nice combination.
Ex Bulterman.
Egypt. (H.M.S. Euryalus - Egypt). 1882. Envelope addressed to England written 'From M. Sullivan (Skilled Shipright H.M.S. "Euryalus , Egypt' bearing Great Britain SG 172, 1d lilac tied by London obliteration signed by the 'Commanding Officer' with Birmingham arrival 'Mr 20 82' on reverse. Nice item from Egypt paying the 1d military concessionary rate.
Egypt. (British Post Offices In Alexandria). 1872. Envelope addressed to Bridgenorth bearing Great Britain SG 94, 4d vermilion plate 12 (pair) tied by 'B/01' obliterator with adjacent Alexandria date stamp 'Aug 9' , endorsed 'via Brindisi', forwarded on arrival to Liverpool bearing great Britain SG 48, 1/2d rose-red (2) tied by Bridgenorth duplex 'Au 28 72' with Liverpool receiver. Nice combination.
Danish West Indies. (Porto Rico). 1872. Stamp-less envelope written from Guayanilla (Porto Rica) dated 'Jan 22' routed via St. Thomas with British Post Office transit 'Ja 28' on reverse, endorsed 'via Southampton' with London receiver 'Mr 12' and hand-struck '2/' on face. Very fine.
Denmark. (Guadeloupe). 1938. Air Mail envelope addressed to Guadeloupe bearing Denmark Yvert 210, 5o yellow-green, Yvert 213a, 10o brown, Yvert 219, 30o blue, Yvert 223, 60o turquoise and Yvert 224, 1k bistre (pair) tied by Kobenhavn date stamp '15th July 38' , endorsed 'via Dakar - Natal' with Pointe-A-Pitre receiver '23rd Juil' on reverse. Lovely item of destination mail from Denmark.
British West Indies. (Leeward Islands - St Thomas). 1827. Stamp-less envelope written from St. Thomas dated '6th March 1827' addressed to Liverpool, endorsed 'P. Packet' routed via the Leeward Island Falmouth packet with 'Leeward Island/ F' in green on reverse and rated '2/3' in m/s and received 'April 14'. Scarce item.
China. (Yunnan). 1933. Envelope addressed to Paris, France bearing Yunnan Province SG 2, 1c orange (2), SG 7, 5c rosy-mauve, SG 10, 8c orange-red and Yvert 11, 10c blue tied by vernacular Luliang date stamp routed via Hokow and Hai-Phong/Tonkin '8/4' with Paris arrival '14th May 33' on reverse. Lovely item of mail from Yunnan Province.
China. (Manchuria). 1938. Registered envelope addressed to Sweden bearing Manchuria SG 68, 8f ochre (2) and SG 95, 20f brown tied by vernacular date stamp with matching registered label, endorsed 'via Siberia', with oval Stockholm arrival. Nice item of registered mail from Manchuria to Sweden.
China. (French Missionary Mail). 1928. Envelope written from 'Mission de Kiang-Tcheou' date '27th Jan 1928' addressed to Loire, France bearing SG 316, 5c mauve (pair) tied by Tungokwanyun date stamp '31st Jan 28', routed via Yunnanfu '3rd Feb 1928'. Very nice item from a French Missionary in Shaanxi Province. with full text about his travels to Tchen-Son and sickness.
China. (Manchuria - Postage Dues). 1932. Express mail envelope addressed to Shanghai bearing Manchuria SG 2, 1f brown-red (pair), SG 6, 4f olive and SG 7, 5f emerald (pair) tied by Pinkiang/ Harbin date stamp, endorsed 'Express' with 'Express Delivery' applied underpaid with triangular 'T' hand-stamp and bearing China postage dues SG D 336, 4c blue and SG D340, 30c blue applied and tied in Shanghai to pay the Express postage. A very rare usage/ combination. Exhibition item.
China. (Manchuria - Postage Dues). 1932. Registered envelope addressed to Shanghai bearing Japan SG 231, 1s orange, SG 233, 3s carmine and SG 243, 10s blue tied by Moukden/ I.J.P.O. date stamp in violet '18th Aug 32' with registration label, underpaid with triangular 'T' hand-stamp and bearing China postage dues SG D335, 2c blue, SG D433, 1c orange mixed with China 'Junk' SG 277, 10c blue (paying the postage due) applied and tied in Shanghai '24/8'. The Japanese stamps have not been recognized as payment by the Chinese and so 13 cents postage due applied in Shanghai. a very rare usage/ combination. Exhibition item.
Madagascar. (British). 1895. Envelope addressed to 'The Manager au Comtoir National d' Escompte de Paris a Tamatave' bearing 'British Inland Mail' Madagascar SG 58, 4d rose tied by 'British Mail/ Antananarivo/ 23, Aug. 95' in violet with adjacent cachet, underpaid with triangular 'T' hand-stamp and endorsed '0,15' in m/s red crayon. No Madagascar internal Tax covers have been recorded. Wonderful Exhibition item.
Belgian Congo. (Nigeria - Togo). 1943. Air Mail envelope addressed to French Togo bearing Belgian Congo 3f50 olive and 6f blue tied by Basdoko date stamp '8th Oct 43' with 'Congo Belge' censor tape, endorsed 'Par Avion B.O.A.C.' routed via Nigeria with 'Crown/ P.P./ 13' censor cachet and circular 'Controle Postal/ Commission A/ Afrique Occidentale Francaise' on face with Lome and Anecho Togo Francaise arrival '15th Nov' on reverse. Very nice item of internal African mail.
China. (German China - Egypt). 1895. New-Band wrapper endorsed 'Circular' addressed to Cairo bearing Germany Yvert 46, 5pf green tied by Shanghai date stamp '21st Dec 95'. A very nice item from German China to Egypt, North Africa.
China. (Air Mail). 1947. Air Mail envelope bearing SG 313, 3c green and SG 352, 15c black and blue-green (type 1) tied by Chengchow date stamp with bilingual hand-stamp 'By Air Mail Service' on face. Scarce item.
China. (German China). 1899. German China picture post card 'Gruss Aus, Kiautschou' addressed to Hamburg bearing German China SG 23, 5pf green tied by Tsintao/ Kiautschou date stamp '9th Nov' with Hamburg arrival '18/12' on face. Lovely card with 'Dragon' impression in Gold.
China. (Inflation Mail). 1947. Air Mail envelope addressed to Dublin bearing SG 861, $200 on $4 blue and SG 868, $100 on $20 carmine (9) tied by Peiping (26) date stamp. Very attractive cover sent during the Post War Inflation period.
Japan surrendered to the Allies in August 1945 and a race ensued between the Nationalists and Communists to seize control of the former Japanese Occupied areas until the Communist victory at the battle of Hwai-Hai in January 1949. During this period inflation increased rapidly until the introduction of the Silver Yuan in May 1949.
Belgian Congo. (Bermuda). 1943. Air Mail envelope addressed to England bearing Belgian Congo 50c purple, 5f orange and 10f brown (pair) tied by Djugu date stamp '17th Feb 43' with 'Congo Belge Censure' censor tape, routed via Irumu and Leopoldville' '2nd Mars' with Bermuda 'Opened by Examiner/ 6168' censor tape endorsed 'I.C.' and British 'Opened by Examiner/ 2558' censor tape. lovely item routed over the Atlantic and back.
Belgian Congo. (Nigeria). 1944. Air Mail envelope addressed to France bearing Belgian Congo 2f orange and 10f brown and 20f brown and grey tied by Stanley date stamp '28th Oct 44' with 'Congo Belge Censure' censor tape, routed via Nigeria with 'Opened by Examiner' censor tape tied by framed 'Crown/ P.P./ 12' censor cachet in carmine on face. Very fine.
Cambodia. (French Indo China). 1905. Registered envelope addressed to Paris, France bearing French Indo China SG 24, 10c rose and SG 35, 15c brown/azure (2) tied by Krauchmar/ Cambodge double ring '29th Juil 05' with framed hand-struck 'R' on face. Registered mail on cover from this small Mekong village is scarce.
Uruguay. (Belgian Congo). 1910. Uruguay postal stationery card 2 cents red cancelled by Montevideo date stamp '6th Deb 1910' addressed to Boma, Congo Belge, Africa' , endorsed 'vap. Magellan' Missent to Roma with arrival '16th March' and forwarded to the Congo with Boma arrival '12th Avril' on face. Great item of Mis-sent mail.
Jamaica. 1942. Air Mail envelope addressed to Canada bearing Jamaica SG 130, 1s brown and green tied by Kingston date stamp with 'Help the War Blinded/ Jamaica B.W.I.' label tied on face, endorsed 'via Air Mail with 'Opened by Examiner/ D/ 846' label applied on arrival in Manitoba.
Jamaica. 1940. Envelope headed 'O.H.M.S.' addressed to Oakland, CA bearing Jamaica SG 97, 4d brown and green tied by Kingston date stamp with oval 'Military Censor/ The Winnipeg Grenadiers (M.G.) in blue on face and signed by the Captain. Very fine.
Trinidad. (Guadeloupe). 1942. Air Mail envelope addressed to Guadeloupe bearing Trinidad SG 251, 8c green and orange and SG 252, 12c black and purple tied by Port of Spain double ring 'May 19 42' with Guadeloupe censor tape tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par/ L' Autorite Militaire' and circular 'Controle Postal/ Commission B/ Guadeloupe' on reverse with 'B/1' censor cachet on face. Very fine.
British Guiana. (Netherlands & French Guyana). 1849. Stamp-less envelope addressed to France written from Cayenne dated '6th Oct 49' endorsed 'Par Surinam' with Demerara transit 'Oct 10' on reverse with French accountancy 'Colonies/ & Art. 13' in carmine on face, London '26th Nov' and French entry cachet with Bordeaux arrival '1st Dec' and rated '15' in m/s tax on arrival. Very fine.
Bermuda. (Ireland). 1914. Envelope addressed to Dublin bearing SG 46, 1d red tied by St. George/ Bermuda date stamp '17th Aug 14' with 'Passed T.W./ Censor, Bermuda/ 191' in mauve on face. Nice item of WW1 censorship from Bermuda.
Its a real pleasure to add a magnificent selection of French Colonies from Africa, Asia, The Caribbean and Oceania. Very fine pre-stamp, British Post Office, Charged Mail, Advice of Receipt, Printed Matter and postage due mail. A lovely selection of censor mail, some with five or six censor cachets and labels, routed Trans-Africa, two Ocean or over the Atlantic with some unusual destinations.
A few items from the Dr. Edward Grabowski collection, this amazing sale sold in three parts by Spink. Also interesting Tahiti and New Caledonia from Tony Eastgate's life time work.
Over the next few months we hope to add many items to grace the finest collections.
A strong area of stock is our China from Imperial to WW2 with many fine censor covers and Air Transits. A good selection of the overseas Post Offices, Austrian, British, French, Japanese and Russian with offices in Manchuria. Many mixed combinations, I.P.O's .
Coming soon the John Marc Sitarek accumulation of China, French Post Office and Indo-China with magnificent French Detachment in the Boxer Campaign covers.
John Marc also had a fine selection of the Chinese Labour Force which are not often seen, he built this selection over thirty years. One of the darker aspects of World War One was the plight of 12,000 Chinese workers who were recruited by the British Army from the North of China in 1916 to serve on the battle front in France as labourers, trench diggers, munitions carriers, mine disarmers and corpse bearers under often inhumane conditions. A large number were also struck down by the devastating Spanish flue of 1918.