See "BUY THE BEST" for records of postmarks, scans of covers with text, provenance, maintained over 45 years. BUY YOUR OWN DIGITAL PDF FILE ................... Knowledge puts you ahead in the game
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;) | ST. LUCIA TEXT ONLY DESCRIPTIONS PRE-STAMP and ADHESIVE COVERS (482) 1779-1904. PRICE £175 A "work-in-progress" file (meaning that I am constantly adding information). You can now order and pay for your own DIGITAL pdf copy (no refunds, but you are entitled to TWO free updates as and when requested). Suitable for carrying around in your tablet or laptop. This pdf has descriptions of 482 entires inter-mingled with social history, provenance, mentions of shipping disasters. Price £175 (no discounts to either trade or collectors as packed with information) payable by PayPal or WISE transfer (ignore Barclays mention at check out as account now closed, and I cannot change that page, this web shop 22 years old!). Many great rarities in this pdf. £175 |
;) | ST. CHRISTOPHER TEXT ONLY DESCRIPTIONS (640) PRE-STAMP + GB USED IN PERIOD 1663-1869. PRICE £140 This really is a "work-in-progress" file (meaning that I am constantly adding information). You can now order and pay for your own DIGITAL pdf copy (no refunds, but you are entitled to TWO free updates as and when requested). Suitable for carrying around in your tablet or laptop. This period has details of 640 entires inter-mingled with social history, provenance, with mentions of wrecks in places. Price £140 (no discounts) payable by PayPal or WISE transfer (ignore Barclays mention at check out as account now closed, and I cannot change that page, this web shop 22 years old!). £140 |
;) | NEVIS PRESTAMP + GB USED IN ILLUSTRATED COVERS (110) PERIOD 1661-1862. PRICE £32 Buy with confidence as I have been trading full time since 1978. This too is a "work-in-progress" file (meaning that I add more covers as and when I see them). You can now order and pay for your own DIGITAL pdf copy (no refunds, but you are entitled to TWO free updates as and when requested). Suitable for carrying around in your tablet or laptop. 110 covers illustrated mainly in b/w with text descriptions arranged in chronological sequence spanning period 1661-1862. Provenance given when known. Price £32 (no discounts) payable by PayPal or WISE transfer (ignore Barclays mention at check out as account now closed, and I cannot change that page, this web shop 22 years old!). Knowing what to buy saves a lot of wasted funds. £32 |
;) | MONTSERRAT illustrated PRE-STAMP + ADHESIVE COVERS 1763-1890. Price £70 You can now order from the "BUY THE BEST" section of my shop and pay for your own "work-in-progress" DIGITAL pdf copy (no refunds, but you are entitled to two free updates when requested). 200 covers (62 pages A4), in chronological sequence with descriptions and provenance when known, many of the illustrated being full or part scans in b/w. For such a small island a remarkable selection of handstruck markings for the pre-stamp period. Price £70 (no discount to trade or collectors) payable by PayPal or WISE transfer (both Barclays and Santander accounts closed). £70 |
;) | TURKS + CAICOS ISLANDS illustrated PRE-STAMP + ADHESIVE COVERS 1804-1911. Price £60 You can now order from the "BUY THE BEST" section of my shop and pay for your own "work-in-progress" DIGITAL pdf copy (no refunds, but you are entitled to two free updates when requested). 160 covers (59 pages A4), in chronological sequence with descriptions and provenance when known, Many of the full or part scans are in b/w. Price £60 (no discount to trade or collectors) payable by PayPal or WISE transfer (both Barclays and Santander accounts closed). An area not heavily collected. £60 |
;) | BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS PRE-STAMP ENTIRES PERIOD 1770-1864. Price £60 You can now order from the "BUY THE BEST" section of my shop and pay for your own "work in progress" DIGITAL pdf copy (no refunds, but you are allowed two free updates as and when requested). 155 entires (45 A4 pages long), some part illustrated in b/w, some text only. Predominantly the single line and 2-line handstruck "TORTOLA", with inclusion of the seldom encountered TORTOLA broken dbl-arc datestamp, plus the rarest from the B.W.I. group PAID AT TORTOLA Crowned Circle (fetched £17,000 in auction). Price £60 payable by PayPal or WISE transfer (Barclays + Santander bank accounts closed). Makes planning your buying easy. £60 |
;) | OFFICERS 6d CONCESSION RATE cover (1 of 2 known), BRITISH HONDURAS postal history 1869 wrapper marked "Officers Letter, via New Orleans" to Mrs. Langford, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, Ireland countersigned "(Thos.) Edwards, Captain 4th W. I, Regiment, Commanding Left Wing" showing red BELIZE A/AP 7 69 PAID, red crayon "6", Liverpool Paid Br. Packet 27 AP 69, Rathangan O/AP 28 69. Small portion missing lower left. The civilian rate was increased from 6d to 1/- per half ounce on AP 1 1863 until UPU entry AP 1 79, and the Officers concession rate of 6d was introduced FE 1 1869 and withdrawn DE 31 1869 (23 months) allowing a savings of 6d. From the same correspondence only one other similar Officers Letter is recorded to Mrs Langford countersigned Thos. Edwards dated DE 7 68, and a civilian rate cover to Miss Alice Langford, via New Orleans, rated red crayon 1/1 is dated AU 9 67. £1750 |
;) ;) | "On board ye Hector of Montserratt" landed ANTIGUA straight line 1792 cover headed "On board ye Hector of Montserratt Nov.22 1792" to Mrs. Cockin in Bristol rated 1/2 changed 1/5 landed after lengthy journey with Capt. Ronaldson with ANTIGUA str. line, JA 2 1793 arrival. £525 |
;) ;) ;) ;) | WRECK of the Private Ship "ROBERT" at Egg Island, Bahamas, journey continued by "Lord Eldon" A newly discovered wreck entire written "Nassau 11 Dec 1816" marked "Robert" changed "Lord Eldon" to Glasgow landed with PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LETTER rated 1/4 and 1/6 with poor boxed Scottish wheel tax "½", two chisel slits, rarely found on Private Ship Letters from the BWI, struck from reverse (about 1½ inches or 1 6/16th inches or 17mm) with (London) 13 FE 13 1817 b/stamp, Glasgow 16 FEB receiver above address panel. Robert entered Lloyd's Register in 1815 as an American prize. Until 1822 the brig was a West Indiaman based in Liverpool and sailing to the Bahamas or Havana. Lloyd's List reported (FE 2 1817) that the "Robert", Wilkes, master, had been sailing from New Providence to Liverpool when she struck a reef off Egg Island, Bahamas, and had to put back for repairs. £2000 |
;) ;) | BERBICE dbl-arc, British Guiana postal history 1841 wrapper to the Revd A. Tidman, London with BERBICE DE 31 1841 seriffed dbl-arc (T.6, ERD, showing inverted figure "1" in year) rated 1/- (last date of quarter ounce rate, introduced JA 1 1840) unpaid with FE 18 1842 arrival and docketted "acknowledged 1 March 1842". Exhibition quality (the only example dated 1841) and possibly the only example carried by the old Falmouth sailing packets. The last old sailing packet "Seagull" landed mail fom Jamaica at Falmouth on 3 March 1842. The packet rate was reduced to 1/- per half ounce on 1 January 1842. £325 |
;) | CAPE OF GOOD HOPE postal history 1839 lengthy cross-written entire headed "Bedford Wednesday Feb'y 6th 1839" and marked "Post paid March 8th" to Mrs Maclear, Royal Observatory, Cape Town with red ink PAID-SHIP LETTER/(crown) 9 MR 9 1839/LONDON and black SHIP LETTER/(crown)/CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. £150 |
;) ;) ;) ;) | Proofed/unrecorded ERRONEOUSLY APPLIED unique TRINCOMALEE/RETURNED FOR POSTAGE,CEYLON postal history 1845 wrapper from C. Brun fils, Port Louis pmk'd red MAURITIUS POST OFFICE d/ring dated NO 05 1845 marked "via Ceylon" to Veillon Freres, Bordeaux, France with "Paid 1/8" in dark black ink most unusually landed on Ceylon's north east coast (instead of the southern port of Galle) showing prepared for application TRINCOMALEE/RETURNED FOR POSTAGE datestamp for NO 22 1845 erroneously applied, crossed through, and TRINCOMALEE/STEAMER LETTER added for the next day in the same coloured ink. Carried via ALEXANDRIA (JA 7 1846) with 25mm chisels slits and large part PURIFIE AU LAZERET/MALTE handstamp added showing red PAQ. ANG. MARSEILLES (16 JANV 46) on address panel and Bordeaux (10 JANV 46) arrival backstamp with 96 decimes to be collected. Exhibition item collecting cancellations from five different countries. Similar RETURNED FOR POSTAGE datestamps were proofed for other Ceylon towns but none are known used. This remarkable example only exists due being wrongly applied. £7250 |
;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) | THE UNIQUE B.W.I. "DOUBLE COUNTRY" JAMAICA and BAHAMAS SAILOR'S CONCESSIONARY RATE ENTIRE 1835 entire "From Alexander Spain on board His Majestys Brig Wasp" to his sister Charlotte Spain in Southampton countersigned on face by J.N. Syke, Lt. Acting Commanding Officer with "Paid 1" in horizontal oval and matching red ink LIVERPOOL AP 14 1835 arrival backstamp. Written at Port Royal, Jamaica 12th February, travelled with him to Belize, with cross-written finish at Nassau, Bahamas 12th March with "since writing the first part we have been with troops to Honduras in New Spain and thence to this place on the same errand". Opening tear into address panel hardly detracts, some small internal splits but clean with delightful content including mention of fond memories of picking buttercups and daisies on their way to school. No privilege rate countersigned pre-stamp Sailor's letters are currently recorded from Jamaica (which is quite extraordinary for such a large island) or the Bahamas, and the only two recorded entires as such for the B.W.I. group, are from Antigua (HMS Pique MY 26 1845) with rate paid by attached sewn 1d coin, and 1d paid from Alexander to his sister Charlotte Spain on the Wasp while again at Belize 30 June landed Dartmouth 29 August 1835. The "Wasp" was built during 1811-12 and at this time was on duty on the North America and West Indies station with 85 officers and men, 24 boys, 20 marines. Alexander Spain was a first class boy waiting to be rated. He mentions homecoming in about 20 months - the Wasp arrived Portsmouth 15 April 1837 having left Jamaica 11 February but during a gale on 4 April she lost her foremast and straps plus her bowsprit during a mid-Atlantic collision with the Elizabeth due poor visibility. £2800 |
;) ;) ;) | The unique HIGINBOTHOM & HUMPHRYS forwarding agents cachet, ANTIGUA postal history 1851 mourning band entire headed "St. Martin 2nd March 1851" marked "Particular care of R. Higginbothom Esq., U.S. Consul, Antigua" with "FORWARDED BY/HIGINBOTHOM & HUMPHRYS/ANTIGUA" double lined oval cachet posted with ANTIGUA MR 11 1851 dbl-arc to St. James Street, London locally directed Stratford Place rated 2/-. £1750 |
;) ;) ;) | VICTORIOUS "PORTLAND" RAN AGROUND in RIVER SHANNON and STRANDED, ANTIGUA INTERRUPTED PACKET MAIL This entire is headed “Antigua 28th Octr 1796” and marked “by Portland packet” from the Tudway correspondence to Wells, Somersetshire with handstruck S:KITTS rated 2/- changed 3/2. The “Portland” had left Falmouth with the mails for the Leeward Islands on AU 29 1796 and when off Barbados was attacked by a French privateer in which she beat off the attacker and preserved the mails. The Cook, William Thomson, lost a leg during the fighting and subsequently died of his injuries. In calm seas, near Guadeloupe, another armed privateer, the “Temeraire”, of much superior force gave chase. At daylight on October 18th the enemy hoisted her French colours and came alongside to board. The Master, Nathaniel Taylor, organised the passengers to open their musquetry upon her killing or wounding 41 of 68 on board. Captain Taylor was killed in the moment of victory. The “Temeraire” was taken into Montserrat as a prize, and the “Portland” left St. Kitts on 30th October bound Falmouth. Due a shortage of fresh water she put into the River Shannon on the west coast of Ireland on 6th January 1797. Sailing shortly after she had to put back because of bad weather, and whilst sheltering she was driven from her moorings and higher up the river ran aground. Stranded and waiting to be refloated on the Spring Tides she eventually arrived at Falmouth on 25th March. In the interim the Mate, Richard Leonard, personally took the mails from Limerick to London and they were placed in the post JA 14 97 per backstamp. This is the first recorded “Portland” interrupted mail entire clearly documenting its journey. The full story can be found in “The History of the Sailing Packets to the West Indies” by Len Britnor Pages 72-73 published by the BWI Study Circle 1973. £2250 |
;) ;) ;) | SAILOR'S LETTER WITH CONCESSION RATE PAID BY 1d COIN, Antigua postal history 1845 entire headed May 26th 1845 from John King, Master at Arms on board Her Majesty's Ship Pique, Antigua (a naval soldier responsible for discipline and law enforcement aboard a ship) countersigned Horace Baker (Lieutenant & Commanding Officer) to his wife in Devonshire Buildings in Bath without the customary manuscript "1d paid" in red ink (as applied on land) but with his last ("my last") GB QV 1d coin sewn alongside the address panel confirmed by London PAID JU 20 1845 transit (not deemed overweight or subject to additional charge). Although a few dozen Soldier's Letters are recorded for the prestamp period this seems to be the only recorded accepted stampless Sailor's Letter from the BWI prior 1850. Contents include mention of discovery that the Foremast is so rotten, and a portion sent to the Admiralty with expectation of being ordered Home by September unless the mast is ordered to be built at Halifax or Port Royal "which I do not think they will do now the ship is three years in Commission". (Between 1841 and 1846 Pique, a sailing frigate with 36 guns, served on the North America and West Indies Station, on 10 March 1842 the Illustrious (see David Pitts lots 39, 159), with the Pique, Fair Rosamond and Spitfire departed Barbados for Antigua and Jamaica). A scan of the entire has been mounted on card and an actual 1845 1d coin has been sewn on with hemp, using the original 7 in and 7 out needle holes, to simulate how it could have looked, although it was on reverse in actual transit. Only one other BWI prepayment by sewn 1d coin entire is known written January 24th 1847 and posted on land with ANTIGUA double arc JA 27 1847 on a Soldiers Letter (ex Gerald Sattin) to a shoe maker in Edinburgh, the coin evidently was also sewn to the reverse as the circumference of the sewing holes obscure the frontal addressing. £6500 |
;) | BERMUDA postal history 1852 wrapper, no side flaps, to George Clerk, Ireland Island with red HAMILTON+BERMUDA (PM4) dated JA 1 1852 (day slug inverted) struck on face due being a locally addressed letter. Ex TUCKER, ULRICH, "LONGTAIL". The Forand/Freeland handbook only records two red PM4 entires to Ireland Island (other dated OC 4 1854). £375 |
;) ;) | POSITIONING VOYAGE of TWEED - PRIOR START R.M.S.P. SAILINGS FROM FALMOUTH 3rd JANUARY 1842 1841 business entire from Messrs. Stewart & Westmoreland, London to Alexander Logan, May Hill P.O., Manchester, Jamaica initially marked “Paid” and rated “8” with red PAID SHIP LETTER/(crown)/17 DE 17/1841/LONDON, but with the “Tweed” leaving for her West Indies station the following day the entire changed to “p. packet” and duly rated 1/- (unpaid) prior precise inscription of “By Ship” (no R.M.S. prefix as the R.M.S.P.Co not officially up and running) and “Steamer Tweed” arriving as a “ship letter” as handstamped KINGSTON SHIP LETTER (SL3) dated JA 17 1842. An exceptional first page item of R.M.S.P. Co. postal history showing all the intricate detail of “first ever” mail carried by the company to the West Indies. The R.M.S.P. handbook by Kenton & Parsons notes on Page 10 that the Tweed “carried some Ship letter mail to Jamaica and Arr. 17/1” £5250 |