383rd Auction

1854/55, 4 a. blue and red, 2nd printing, two copies, cut square, the right stamp close at base, otherwise with full margins, cancelled by diamond of dots and tied by boxed red ´´INDIA PAID´´ to letter sheet (2 side flaps missing) from Akyab, Burma to Amsterdam, endorsed "Per Overland mail via Triest", Amsterdam arrival mark of 1.5.1855. A fine and very rare letter from Burma. Certificate BPA (2011)

4 a. blue and red, cut to shape, together with pair 1 a. red, tied by "95" to cover from Karachi via Bombay 1858 to London

4 a., 1890 reprint with Essay Head, lithographic transfer, sheet with 3 rows of four, including one stamp with 'head inverted', without the outer  wavy lines and rosettes, on yellowish wove paper (218x170mm.) with "SPECIMEN" on reverse, very fine (Spence 57/58R)

4 a., 1891 reprint with issued head, lithographic transfer, sheet with 3 rows of four, including one stamp with 'head inverted', with blue wavy lines and rosettes, little stained, one stamp with pinhole and two small thins, in the margins only.  (Spence 20)

4 a., 1894 reprint in sheet of 24 on pelure paper, inscribed "FACSIMILE COPY – 1894", faint notation in the lower margin and vertical folds in the outer margins at left and right, still fine. (Spence 40)

4 a., 1894 reprint in sheet of 12 with outer framelines and rosettes, inscribed "FACSIMILE COPY – 1894", minor marginal creasing, still fine. (Spence 65)

4 a. 1894 reprint with Essay Head, lithographic transfer, horizontal corner block of six on yellowish paper with watermark, one vertical fold not affecting the dies, little toned in the outer right margin, otherwise very fine. (Spence 62)

4 a., 1894 reprint with issued head, lithographic transfer, with red wavy lines and rosettes, corner block of four and horizontal strip of four, with "SPECIMEN" on reverse, very fine (Spence 15)

1854, 2 a. green, tied by diamond of dots to letter sheet from Calcutta 1856 to Akyab, with boxed "AKYAB  Bearing", endorsed " Via 'Naiad' proceeding down Kedgeree". The stamp slightly defective at upper right, otherwise fine and scarce ship mail. Certificate BPA (2020)

1854, 2 a. green, good large margins, tied by "B/75" to entire letter from Dinapore via Patna to Calcutta, very fine

1854, 2 a. green with full framelines on 3 sides, in combination with DLR 4 a. black, tied by clear ´´85´´ to small envelope 1858 from Belgaum via Poona to Scotland. Very fne and most attractive.

1855, 4 a. black on bluish and 1856/64, 2 a. orange in pair (one stamp small fault) tied by "B1" of Calcutta with adjacent " FORWARDED BY …RIER & Co, CALCUTTA" (not listed at Rowe) to lettersheet endorsed "pr. 'Alma' steamer via Marseille", to London

1856/64, ½ a. blue, tied by numeral "66", with matching red boxed "AURUNGABAD Paid (18 10 57)", to mourning cover with full contens to Camp Mhow with red boxed "MHOW Paid" on front. 

1856/64, DLR 1 a. brown, with vertical perforation strongly shifted, tied by barred "212" on re-directed cover unpaid from England to Roorkee and further to Mussoorie. On reverse "CALCUTTA STEAM LETTER" with charge "6a". Fine and very scarce.

1860, DLR 8 p. purple, tied by Umballa duplex to soldier's letter 1861 to England.

1865, DLR 8 p. purple, 2 a. orange and 4 a. green, tied by bungalore duplex, to envelope via London to New Brunswick. Scarce destination.

1 a. brown and 2 a. orange, tied by Calcutta duplex to entire letter 1881 from Chittagong "VIA BOMBAY + Aden" to Port Louis, Mauritius

1865, 2 a. orange and 4 a. green (tear at base), tied by duplex "BOMBAY PAID .." to unsufficiently prepaid morning cover to Scotland, showing on front clear boxed "DEFFICIENT d/ POSTAGE – 1/FINE – 8" and British "MORE TO PAY". Very scarce and fine.

1866, thick POSTAGE overprint, reconstruction of the setting of 20 different types, according to Hausburg 'The Postage and Telegraph stamps of British India', with 34 stamps, covering 17 types, inclueding some duplicates, mounted on 5 album pages. Ex Jochen Heddergott.

1868, 8 a. pale rose, Die II, and two copies 8 p. purple, tied to envelope from Calcutta to Boston, United States, showing on front scarce red accountancy mark "s 1/1d". Few short purse, otherwise fine and fresh.

1882/90, ½ a. green and 1 a. plum, tied by c.d.s. "RANGOON 7 JUL 99" to cover to France, underpaid and franked with gutterpair postage due 10 c. brown. Small faults

1882/90, 2 a., Die Proof in black on glazed card, marked "BEFORE HARDENING" and "10 MAY 81", very fine

1892, 2 a. 6 p., Die Proof in black on glazed card, marked "AFTER HARDENING" and "23 JUL 91", very fine

1892, 1 r., Die Proof of the centre in black on glazed card, marked "AFTER HARDENING", "23 JUL 91" and manuscript "1 Rupee Postage", very fine

1895, Portrait by von Angelis 2 r., 16 different colour proofs in the issued design, also die proof in black of the centre part in slightly smaller size, fixed on small presentation card. Die stamps with small faults, generally fine/very fine. A rare group.

1r. composite essay, comprising a die proof of the frame in black, photo head inserted, printed crown, handpainted lettering and surround to the head, and simulated perforations in pencil, inset on card, marked "Head die only regd´ , initialled and dated "July 22nd. 01.". Unique. Certificate BPA (2021)

1902/11, 1 r., Die Proof of the centre in black on glazed card, marked "BEFORE HARDENING" and "19 DEC. 02", very fine

1902/11, Edward 10r., composite essay, with die proof of the vignette in green and frame in red, inset on card (minor staining), dated "July 21st. 08". Very fine. Unique and highly attractive. Certificate BPA (2021)

1902/11, 15 r., Die Proof of the frame in black on glazed card, marked "BEFORE HARDENING" and "9 SEP 08", changed in manuscript in "10", very fine

1902/11, Edward 25 r. , unused with original gum, very fine and fresh

1902/11, Edward 25 r. , unused with original gum, very fine and fresh

1906/07, 1 a., Die Proof in black on part of glazed card

1937/40, George VI. 15 r., sheet of 20 stamps with margins all around, unmounted mint, very fine (SG 3600£ for singles)

Incoming mail: 1853, envelope from Brighton to Calcutta. with full contents, franked with 1847/54, 1 sh. green, cut octogonally

SERVICE: 1866/72, 8 a. carmine, horizontal strip of eight from the upper right sheet corner with marginal inscription and plate number "5", unused with toned original gum, perforation at top partly separated (SG for singles 440£)

1867/73, 4 a. pale green, die II, part sheet of 40 stamps with sheet margins on 3 sides, unused with original gum, about 40 stamps unmounted mint. Margins and few stamps some mostly light toning and minor creasing. A rare multiple. (SG for hinged singles 1600£)