366. Auktion März 2018

1769, Entire sealed letter, dated May 5, 1769, sent from Jacob Eisenberg (Todnas Prastegaard) and transported by the Skyds Post to the farmer Jacob Bodelsen at Gasadalur. This is the earliest recorded local letter of the Faeroe Islands and the only recorded item of the 18th century. One of the most important items of Faroery-Philately, certificate Wowern (1989) Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)

1815, Small entire official Skyds mail letter dated 15 September from commander Løbner in Thorshavn to Sysselmand Ole Ewensen at Kvalbo, endorsed "KT" on front; on reverse nice red seal with royal cypher. This is the earliest recorded offical Skyds mail letter

1818, Entire letter from Commander Løbner to Surgeon Amysen (died in 1819) within Thorshavn with nice red wax seal on reverse, very fine

1825, Official entire letter of January 24 from Vestmanhavn to Sandevaag, endorsed at lower left "To be forwarded without delay", at top "K.T." (Kongelig Tjaeneste). The earliest of 6 recorded official express Skyds letters Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)

1835, Entire private Skyds letter dated 23 October from Jansagerdi rectory near Midvaag to Sandevaag, endorsed "pr Exp.", requiring express service. One of only four recorded private express letters of Skyds post

1837, Official cover sheet with original letter enclosed, dated "Faero Amtshuus i Thorshavn den 20 de Septbr 1837" from Marshal Christian Plöyen to Sergen Vithusen, showing on reverse fine red "FAERÖE AMTS SEGL" with sheep in center; slight vertical fold in the cover sheet of minor importance; fine and scarce, certificate C.A. Möller Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)

1839, Entire private letter dated 9 October from Kvalbo to Thorshavn, small tear at top, otherwise very fine and fresh

1850, Small entire letter dated 31 January from Skaale to Bø, endorsed "Bedes sendt med förste Leilighed" (please forward at earliest occasion), requiring express service; very light vertical fold, still very fine and scarce, one of only four recorded private express letters of Skyds post

1850 (ca.), parcel accompanying letter for an insured parcel to Factor J.D. Nolsøe in Trangisvaag for 500 rb. in a sealed pouch, private seal on reverse; very fine and rare, certificate Möller AIEP

1860 (ca.), Moneyorder lettersheet for 49 rigsdaler and 34 skilling to Thorshavn. The earliest money letter recorded from the Faroe Island and the only registered example before 1870

1860 (ca.), Poverty rate mail, lettersheet endorsed "fattig sag" and sent free of charge to Thorshavn. One of four recorded poverty rate Skyds letters

1876, Entire letter from Vagar island to Tvoroyri; a fine and scarce late usage of Skyds mail

1907, Church Skyds letter (cover with original contents) from Vaag to Bø. The latest recorded use of Skyds mail Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)

1751, Lettersheet, dated inside "Thorshavn 13 September 1751" addressed to the Ministry of Finances at Copenhagen. Earliest cover recorded from the Faroe Islands outside of museums and government archives and one of only five 18th century covers from the Faroes sent abroad. A great rarity in wonderful condition, certificate Nielsen (1991) Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)

1758, Lettersheet, dated inside "Thorshavn 25 Sep 1758" addressed to the Ministry of Finance at Copenhagen with 9 line address; a rare and very attractive item, certificate Nielsen (1995) Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)

1846, Entire official letter from Thorshavn April 6, 1846 to the City Council of Copenhagen, endorsed "KT" for official mail and card number "Nr 1". A fine and rare example of early official mail to Denmark, only two further pre 1856 items are recorded

1852, Entire letter dated Thorshavn January 5, 1852, franked with 1851, FIRE R.B.S., cancelled by ink gutter, sent via Lerwick, Shetland Islands, London and Hamburg to Aeroskobing, Schleswig, Denmark. The stamp covers the postage from Hamburg to Aeroskobing; the recipient was charged with a total of 23½ shilling including the British share of 8 d. inward shipletter charge + 10 d. Thames packet rate. Without doubt this is the most important item of Faroe Islands postal history; it is not only the earliest recorded franked letter from the Faroes but also one of the earliest recorded letters bearing FIRE R.B.S. passing a foreign country and the only recorded use of "Lerwick Ship Letter" on Faroes mail. A wonderful exhibition item of greatest importance, certificates Wowern (1997), Vagn Jensen (1998) and C.A. Möller (2003) Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)  

1853, Entire letter dated "Thorshavn d 12te Januar 1853", to Copenhagen, posted at Lerwick, Shetland Islands, endorsed at upper left "over ½ oz." and transported via London and Altona. The recipient was charged with a total of "45" skilling incl. 6 d. British share. A very fine and rare letter with well preserved red wax seal "FAERÖE AMTS SEGL." on reverse, one of three recorded at the 45 sk. rate

1854, Entire letter from Thorshavn, dated September 12, to Copenhagen, posted in Norway with clear blue "KRAGERO 10/10 1854" and taxed with "24" skilling; very fine and rare letter, only two letters are recorded having been transported via Norway

1854, Entire letter dated inside "Thorshavn 13 d Decbr. 1854" to Faaborg with Copenhagen transit mark on front, franked with FIRE R.B.S. brown, plate II, with "Kranhold"-retouch, full to wide margins and tied by numeral "1" in transit. An extremely fine letter and one of two recorded letters from the Faroe Islands with the 4 RBS rate; 2 certificates Nielsen (2000 and 2003) Provenance: Peer Lorentzen

1855, Lettersheet with reverse side nice red seal "FAERÖE AMTS SEGL", posted at "LERWICK JA 16 1855" to Copenhagen, transported via London, Belgium and Hamburg, showing GPO accountancy mark "3½ GROSCHEN" on front. At Hamburg "7" sgr. were charged, incl. 3½ sgr. each for GB and GPU, equivalent to "9½" schilling = 31 skilling to which 9 skilling Danish share was added. One of three recorded letters at the 40 skilling rate, small tear at top and faint crease, otherwise fine

1856, Entire letter dated "Thorshavn 23. Mai 1856" to Copenhagen with compass receipt postmark and delivered by foot post with clear "F:P:17/6 56", charged in red crayon with "2" skilling for local delivery, extremely fine. Only 7 letters from the Faroes are recorded delivered by foot post, of which only 2 show this rate; certificate Nielsen (2010)

1856, Lettersheet addressed to the Captain of the ship 'Fortuna' (the first ship that carried mail between the Faroes and Shetland after the end of the Royal Trade Monopoly January 1858) to Copenhagen, posted at "LERWICK AU 11 1856" and sent via London, Prussian closed mail and Hamburg, prepaid with "10½" d. incl.4 d. British share, 4 d. (=3½ sgr.) for Belgium and Prussia and 2½ d. Danish share. A very rare and interesting letter and the only recorded at this rate from the Faroe Islands, opinion C.A. Möller (2005) Provenance: Christian Andersen (2004)

FROM DENMARK: 1800 (ca.), Small lettersheet addressed to the Royal Trademaster Søren Egtved at Thorshavn, endorsed "over Sønderhoe paa Farøe", on reverse well preserved red wax seal "KONG:GRØNL:Handl og Fiskerf:Segl"; extremely fine and very rare cover, the earliest know incoming cover recorded. Certificate C.A. Möller (2014) Søren Egtved living on the Faroe Islands is recorded between 1790 and Summer 1805

1825, Entire letter from Copenhagen to Thorshavn

1839, Entire parcel accompanying letter with long contents from Copenhagen to Zacharias Heinsen in Bø; the outer sheet slightly damaged at left, otherwise fine. The earliest recorded incoming parcel letter to the Faroes

1849, Entire parcel accompanying letter dated 12 June for a parce with 40 riksdaler in silver to Pastor Jörgensen at Naes with registration number "No. 11"; little smudge at top, otherwise very fine; a very rare parcel letter

1854, Entire letter from "SKANDERBORG 1 10 1854" to Thorshavn, franked with "FIRE R.B.S." olive-brown with clear to ample margins, neatly cancelled "63". A beautiful cover of greatest rarity, only 3 FIRE R.B.S.-covers to the Faroes are recorded. Certificates C.A. Möller (2000) and Nielsen (2004) The 4 R.B.S. covered the postage from Skanderborg to Copenhagen; from Copenhagen letters were sent free of charge to the Faroe Islands Provenance: Peer Lorentzen (2004)

1853, Double rate lettersheet from "FAABORG 15/8 1853" to Bø, franked with vertical pair FIRE R.B.S., plate 1, cut along the frame line at top, otherwise wide margins, tied by numeral "15". A very fine and extremely rare letter, one out of 3 recorded FIRE R.B.S. covers to the Faroe Islands and the only one recorded with double rate Provenance: Chris Mc.Gregor (1995), Peer Lorentzen (2004)

1854, Entire letter from "KJØBENHAVN 17 12 1854" via Lübeck, Ostende, London, Aberdeen and Lerwick to Thorshavn, prepaid with 39 skilling incl. 9 skilling Danish share and 30 skilling (= 7 sgr.) foreign share which was split: 3 sgr. each for Germany and Great Britain and 1 sgr. Belgium transit; very fine and rare, only 4 letters recorded with this rate

1854, Entire letter from "KJØBENHAVN 16 12 1854" to Pastor Krog on Suderø, sent via Wismar, London and Aberdeen to Lerwick and from here to the Faroes. The letter was prepaid with "43" skilling (= 10 sgr.) for a single rate letter. Since the letter was overweight this amount paid just the Danish and German share (2 x 2 sgr. + 2 x 3 sgr.) and the cover was endorsed "fr. Gr." (franco Grenze), England taxed an additional "4" d. of which Belgium received ½ d.; a fine and rare item of incoming mail Provenance: Christian Andersen (2004)

1869, Lettersheet (somewhat damaged on reverse) from Copenhagen, franked with Coat of Arms 3 sk. in horizontal pair and 8 sk., tied by numeral "1", to Leith and forwarded by private ship to the Faroes, Edinburgh transit mark of 7.8.1869; light horizontal bend through the pair, otherwise fine; 5 covers recorded at this rate, opinion Möller BPP (2003) Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)

FROOM NORWAY: 1851, Entire letter dated 14 May from Kragero, sent privately to Thorshavn endorsed "t Capt Koldbjörndsen". This is the earliest recorded example of foreign mail exchanged between the Faroe Islands and any country other than Denmark; very fine

1854, Entire letter from "KRAGEO 20/10 1854" to Copenhagen and taxed "24" skilling; complete original contents concerning Faroe Islands trade monopoly business

2 sk. blue/grey (defective at upper right), tied by cds. "THORSHAVN 6/6" to envelope with original contents to Tveraa, Suderø; cover opened at two sides; an attractive and very rare skilling-cover, certificate C.A. Möller (2004) Provenance: Roland King-Farlow (1971), Christian Andersen (2004)

Bicoloured issue 2 sk. blue/grey with 'frame inverted', tied by numeral "238" with adjacent "THORSHAVN 22/8" (date inverted) to entire letter to Tveraa; a light horizontal cover crease affecting the stamp slightly, otherwise very fine and fresh. Only few local skilling covers are recorded and just 3 with the numeral cancellation, of which this is the best and most attractive one; certificates JKE (1992), Nielsen (1992) and C.A. Möller (1992) Provenance: Per Erik Knudsen (2003)