380th Auction

8 a. pale carmine, block of 4, cancelled by the rare hollow "1", top right stamp small faults

1866, fiscal stamp 6 a. with overprint POSTAGE in large capitals, together with 8 p., tied by blue octagonal "B1" to mourning cover via France to England. A very fine and scarce entire. Certificate Robson Lowe expert service (1986)

1866, fiscal stamp 6 a. with overprint POSTAGE in narrow capitals, horizontal pair together with horizontal pair 8 p. (one stamp corner squeezed when applied), tied by duplex cancels to letter sheet via France to England. The entire with light age or transportation marks, otherwise very fine. The largest recorded multiple of this stamp and one of only few recorded multiple frankings . Certificate BPA (2011)

1866, fiscal stamp 6 a. with overprint POSTAGE in narrow capitals, together with 8 p., tied by duplex cancel to letter sheet via France to England. 6 a. very light crease at base, otherwise very fine and scarce. Certificate Robson Lowe expert service (1986)

1868, 8 a. pale rose, 3 copies with 2 a. orange, tied by barred "C" to cover with declared value of 500 rupees from Calcutta to Secunderabad with arrival mark. Very fine and scarce.

1882/90, ½ a. blue-green, 5 copies, tied by cds. "ELGIN-MILLS CAWNPORE MY 1 94" two cover to Wiesbaden, here franked with two copies 1889/1900, 10 pfg. and re-directed to Lamu, East Africa; small faults, part of backflap and envelope front missing, still fine

½ a. blue-green, horizontal pair, tied by cds. "INTALLY CALCUTTA 15 MA 00" to cover to Cairo, re-directed to Alexandria and again to Port Said, with postage due stamps applied in both cities

1882/90, ½ a. blue-green with clearly shifted double print, unused with o.g., some minor toning, still very fine, certificate BPA (2012)

¼ on ½ a. blue-green with clear double surcharge, vertical pair. unused with o.g,, the lower stamp unmounted mint, very fine

¼ on ½ a. blue-green with clear double print, unused with o.g, very fine, certificate BPA 1950

1948, Mahatma Gandhi 1½ a.-10 r., unmounted mint, very fine

1948, Mahatma Gandhi 1½ a.-10 r., unmounted mint, very fine

1948, Mahatma Gandhi 1½ a.-10 r., unmounted mint, very fine

1948, Mahatma Gandhi 1½ a.-10 r., unmounted mint, very fine

1948, Mahatma Gandhi 1½ a.-10 r., unmounted mint, very fine

1860 (ca.), FOREIGN BILL  2 a., 4 a. and 8 a. Die Proofs, cut close and mounted on thick card, some minor toning. Fine and very scarce set.

1866, SERVICE POSTAGE ½ a mauve lilac, with "152" in diamond of bars and matching reverse side red "TRANQUEBAR 1869 SE 16" on O.H.M.S. "Money Order Advice" printed form to Madras with arrival mark. Very fine and rare; only few examples recorded on cover. BPA certificate (2011)

Same receipt stamp without overprint, with clear octagonal "B5" and manuscript "stamped" on cover from "AKYAB 19 Oct. 1861" to Calcutta with arrival mark; on reverse manuscript notation "receipt stamp not recognised for postage" with manuscript "2a." alongside. Stamp little damaged at upper right, otherwise fine and fresh. Very rare item. Certificate BPA 2020    

Provenance: Gerald Davis (Robson Lowe, 1990)   

1867/73, 6 a. 8 p. In horizontal marginal pair, fresh colour, unused with full fresh original gum, never hinged. Very fine and rare pair in this condition.

1874/82, ½ a. blue with overprint in blue-black, block of 4, nice fresh colour, light creasing in the upper pair, unused with o.g.; a fine and very rare multiple. The blue-black overprint stamps are practically unobtainable with original gum. Certificate RPSL (2010)

1 a. brown with overprint in blue-black, nice fresh colour, tiny irregular perforation, unused with o.g.; a very fine copy of this rare stamp. Certificate BPA (1950)

1883/1900, 1 a. brown-purple with overprint inverted, marginal copy, unused with o.g., Very fine and scarce, certificate BPA (2003)

1881, envelope 4 a. 6 p. orange, with duplex "SIMLA MAR. 11" (1882) to London and redirected to the Isle of White, additionally franked with 1881, 1 d. lilac

BURMA: R" in circle with adjacent "PORT BLAIR DEC 22" (1886) on service card via Rangoon to Moulmein. Supposed to be unique. 

Provenance: Gerald Davies (Robson Lowe, 1990)

"DUBAI PERSIAN GULF 24 DE 13" on Edward ½ a. on reverse of commercial cover to Bombay, very scarce

"FF" in bars, 5 good to clear strikes on 1860/64, 8p lilac, horizontal strip of five, partly split perforation, strengthened by hinges and left stamp with pulled perf, an attractive and very scarce multiple

"BAHRAIN 30 JU 09" on postal stationery envelope 4 a. 6 p. to Germany, little roughly opened, still fine

PONDICHERRY: "C111", for clear strikes on 1856/64, 1 a. brown in strip off four, on lettersheet, endorsed "Per steamer via Aden" to Réunion with transit and arrival marks

"LINGA DE.3 01", squared circle, on Victoria ½ a. green, block of six and pair, on reverse of open out registered envelope to Muscat

"B147" PENANG on 1855, Fourth printing, 4 a. blue and red, good margins, nice colour. Very fine. 

"B172" SINGAPORE, on 1854, ½ a. blue and 2 a. green, each in horizontal pair, and single 1 a. red , very fine. 

"B172", 4 clear strikes, tying 1854, 1 a. red, Die II, horizontal strip of 4, to lettersheet endorsed "P Malta" 1856 to Canton with red "SINGAPORE P.O." and Hong Kong arrival mark. The entire slightly folded back at left; vertical cover crease affecting the right stamp slightly in the left margin, otherwise very fine. A very rare letter to China.

"B172" SINGAPORE, clear central strike on 1854, 1 a. red, very fine. 

"B172" SINGAPORE, clear central strike on 1855, Fourth printing, 4 a. blue and red, good margins, nice colour. Very fine. 

"B172" SINGAPORE on 1855/64, 4a. black on blue glazed paper, diagonal bisect, lower left half, on piece; few short perfs, still very fine and fresh. A rare bisect. Certificate Robson Lowe Expert Service (1985)

Provenance: Christie's Robson Lowe (June 1985)

"B172" SINGAPORE on 1 a. brown, eight copies, on front and reverse of cover, endorsed "Via Marseille" and "Per Steamer Armenian, March 23, 1863", to England with faint Singapore dispatch and arrival marks on reverse. Stamps on reverse damaged, otherwise fine. Very unusual cover, endorsed on front "Six annas", franked with 8 annas, the rate via Southampton, and supposed for the route via Marseille with a rate of 10 annas. Certificate BPA (2020)