383rd Auction

1841, entire letter from Calcutta to Bordeaux, showing on reverse framed red "STEAM POSTAGE/INLAND Do./TOTAL" with manuscript "9-14- 1/7"

1848, cover from Cochin during the first Afghan war to Ootcamund, with full contents relating to the war. 

1851, "BENARES 18 DEC. 1851/ Bearing  ", clear strike on reverse of small envelope from London Park Terrace, endorsed "via Marseilles", addressed to the Rajah of Sattara

1854, "BOMBAY/ OC 7 1854 /STR.POSTAGE(8)/ INLD. DO“ on entire letter from London to Almorah, very fine

1862, "INDIA PAID/BY BATAVIA", good strike on front of envelope with adjacent red "PROBOLINGO FRANCO" and "INDIA PAID", to England, endorsed "Per overlandmail via Southampton"; on reverse transit mark of Singapore and arrival marks.

1788, official engraved ticket for the trial of Warren Hastings, former Governor-General of India (sixth day), signed by the first Baron Heathfield, the defender of Gibraltar. Usual light folds and top left corner removed when entering the premises. Very fine and rare.

1854, 1 a. deep vermilion with 9½ arches, prepared for use but not issued, upper right sheet corner originating from the last sheet of the triple sheet (unique example), nice deep colour and large margins, unused without gum. Unobstrusive horizontal crease and some minor toning, still fine. A rare stamp. Certificate BPA (2015) (SG 5000£ for normal copy)

1854, unissued ½ a. red, Sperati forgery as die proof on ungummed paper, with his signature in the margin, fine and rare

1853, envelope with red "CALCUTTA G.P.O. SHIPLETTER .." on reverse, to c/o address at London, re-directed to Yorkshire, franked with 1841, 1 d. red.

1854, ½ a. vermilion, proof on watermarked paper, ungummed, very fine

½ a. blue, Die I, horizontal strip of four, good to large margins, cancelled by diamond of dots, very

Die I, ½ a. blue, horizontal strip of 4, good to large margins, used by diamond of bars, very fine

Die I, ½ a. blue, good to large margins, tied by diamond of dots to native envelope, with red dispatch "ASSEERGURH Paid (4 4 55)", very fine

½ a. blue, Die I, just touched at lower left, otherwise good to large margins, tied by "158" to entire letter from Lahore to Jullunder

Die I, ½ a. blue, clear at top, otherwise good margins, used with diamond of dots, to small native envelope from Allalabad with red cds. on reverse, fine

Die I, ½ a. blue, large margins, tied by diamond of dots, to small native envelope from Tellicherry 28.8.55, very fine

Die I, ½ a. blue, good to large margins, tied by diamond of dots to small native envelope with contens, with red boxed "ALLEPPY Paid", very fine

1854, Die I, ½ a. blue, six used examples with major flaws/retouches in the printing stone; on old exhibition page

½ a. pale blue, Die I, cut to shape, tied to reverse of small envelope from Poona to Panwell with adjacent "TOO LATE"

Die I, ½ a. deep blue, clear to large margins, tied by diamond of bars to native envelope from Bombay to Calcutta, very fine

Die I,  ½ a. deep blue, large margins, tied by numeral “1” to small native envelope from Bombay to Madras, very fine

Die I, ½ a. indigo, horizontal pair, good to large margins, tied by octogonal handstamp to small piece, very fine

Die I, ½ a. indigo, good to large margins, cancelled by pen strokes and tied by diamond of bars, to entire folded up native letter with adjacent greenish blue cds. "LAHORE 8 SEP. 1857" to Mooltau, very fine

Die II, ½ a. blue, horizontal strip of 4, good to large margins, used by diamond of dots, very fine (2 tiny scissors cuts not affecting the design)

Die II, ½ a. blue, two blocks of four, making up a vertical block of 8, ample to mostly large margins and fresh color, showing large part of central watermark (sideways), neatly cancelled by new type Bombay circle numeral “244”. Very fine and scarce (watermark on reverse highlighted in pencil)

Die II, ½ a. blue, good to large margins, tied by numeral "75" to native envelope, with red dispatch "NAGPORE Paid 1856 JAN 6", very fine

Die II, ½ a. deep blue, large margins, tied by diamond of dots to small native envelope, with red cds."RAWALPINDEE 21 APR 1856" on reverse, very fine

Die II, ½ a. blue, good to large margins, tied by numeral "27" to small native envelope from Kaira, with red boxed handstamp on reverse, to Madras, very fine

Die II, ½ a. blue, just clear at lower left, otherwise good to large margins, tied by diamond of dots to small native envelope with adjacent red "COCHIN PAID" of 10.11.54 to Madras, very fine

Die II, ½ a. indigo, marginal block of 4 with inscription “SIX POSTAGE STAMPS”, nice fresh colour and large margins, unused. Very fine.

½ a. deep blue, die II, used with numeral "75" on small envelope from Nagpore to Jubbulpore with Nagpore despatch hand-stamp in red on the reverse; very fine

½ a. blue, Die II, 10 used copies with different retouches in frames resp. chignon

½ a. blue, die III, Chignon completely redrawn and major retouch to the bottom label, neatly cancelled

Die III, ½ a. blue, horizontal pair with large margins, tied by numeral "36" and arrival mark, to reverse of cover with adjacent red "NASSICS Paid (21 7 56)" to Ahmednagar, very fine

Die III, ½ a. blue, clear to large margins, used as 'seal' and tied by numeral "1" reverse of  lettersheet from Bombay to Ahmednagar, very fine

½ a. greenish blue, Die III, horizontal pair with close margins,  right stamp with large retouche in left frame, used on letter sheet from Jaulnah to Hydrabad, fine and very scarce.