383rd Auction

1912, 10bit red and 40bit red & grey Friedrich VIII, tied to registered cover by St. Thomas c.d.s. (21 Oct), to Seattle, Washington, redirected within the city, with New York (29 Oct), Seattle (2 Nov) and Seattle Sta F (4 Nov) backstamps, typical light wrinkles, fine.

1912, 15bit, tied to bilingual Avis de Reception, postmarked St. Thomas (25 May), to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, with May 31 c.d.s. receiver, signed by recipient and returned, with St. Thomas c.d.s. arrival backstamp (15 Jun), filing folds and trivial edge tears do not detract, a rare postal form; with 2001 Moller certificate.

1913, parcel card franked with two 1fr & blue Harbour Issue, 20bit green & blue and 30bit red-brown and bluish-black Friedrich VIII, postmarked St. Thomas (6 Dec), in payment for shipment of 1.9kg to Copenhagen, with c.d.s. receiver (26 Dec) struck on front, Hamburg and Copenhagen backstamps, a rare usage; with 1988 Moller certificate.

1915, cover franked with 50bit grey & yellow Christian IX, 30bit red brown & blue-grey Frederik VIII, tied to registered cover to Chicago by St. Thomas c.d.s. (16 Aug), with multiple strikes of c.d.s. arrival backstamps (30 Aug), some light creasing and horizontal fold, a scarce mixed franking of two of the more elusive denominations of these issues.

1917, two GRATIS POSTBEVIS (fee receipts) for registered mail, both from Christiansted, one example in purple with “95” bit value in manuscript, the other in blue with “50” bit value, a scarce duo.

1902, 1c to 10c blue Postage Dues, overprinted SPECIMEN in black, diagonally, descending, most with part original gum, each adhesive toned to some degree, quite scarce; with 1983 British Philatelic Association certificate.

Postage Dues, 1905, 5bit to 5bit compound proof in black, with two of each value, never hinged, very fine.

Postage Dues, 1905, 5bit to 5bit compound proof in black, with two of each value, hinged original gum, fine and unusual.

1905-15, 5bit, 20bit, 30bit, and 50bit red & grey, imperforate composite pane of forty, on ungummed paper, approximately 230mm x 145mm, showing imprint of plate border near edge, each denomination in a block of ten, separated from other denominations by approximately 5mm gutter, with cutting guidelines within, left and right sides showing notch cut into margin, well clear of designs, very minor paper wrinkling around edges, sheet has been folded through vertical gutter, a remarkable item and significant rarity.

1878, 6c lilac postal stationery card, postmarked with Frederiksted c.d.s. (25 May), to Germany via the United Kingdom, with London PAID c.d.s. transit in red, adhesion remnants on reverse from prior mounting, else a fine and rare usage.

1887, 3c postal stationery cover, postmarked Christiansted (1 Feb), carried as soldier’s mail to Copenhagen, Denmark, countersigned at lower left, stained at lower right, but a rare example of this concessionary rate.

The typical letter rate to Denmark at this time was 10c; military mail could be sent at the preferred rate of 3c.

1891-5, 3c red, Type III, cancelled with neatly-struck St. Jan c.d.s. (21 Jul), to St. Croix, with St. Thomas (21 Jul) and next-day Christiansted c.d.s. backstamps, some light edge toning, else fine, the St. Jan c.d.s. being quite scarce. (Facit FK8)

1895, 3c red Coat of Arms, postmarked with St. Thomas c.d.s. (25 Nov), to a Lieutenant on board the S.M.S. Prinzess Wilhelm “Chefoo, Japan”, crossed-out in blue crayon and readdressed to Amoy, with “c/o German Consulate…” at top, Singapore (7 Jan) and Shanghai (25 Jan) transit markings, light edge wear of no importance given the rarity of this unusual destination.

The S.M.S. Prinzess Wilhelm was in Irene-class cruiser, which was sent to reinforce the East Asia Squadron in January, 1895.  She often served as flagship of the East Asia Cruiser Division, and participated in the seizure of Kiautschou in 1898.

1896, 2c blue postal stationery card, uprated with 1c green & violet-purple, tied by Christiansted c.d.s. (21 Oct), circular “T” due marking and manuscript “5 ctms” adjacent franking, St. Thomas transit c.d.s. (26 Oct) and Oppeln c.d.s. receiver (13 Nov) all struck on front, light corner bumps, a philatelically-inspired but nevertheless a visually striking and unusual franking.

1898, 3c light blue & carmine and 5c green & gray, both with inverted frameline, uprating 2c 1877/8 Type postal stationery cover to Rastede, Germany, postmarked with neatly-struck St. Thomas c.d.s. (10 Jan), with c.d.s. arrival backstamp (29 Jan), a fine and colourful cover.

1909, 3c postal stationery card, uprated with 20b green & ultramarine, tied by crisp St. Thomas c.d.s. (7 Jul), registered to Helsinki, Finland, with neat c.d.s. receiver (27 Jul) on front, a very fine and unusual registered stationery usage.

1910, 10bit red postal stationery card, postmarked with neatly-struck KINGSHILL c.d.s. (2 Jul), day slug inverted, to Lokstedt, Hamburg, light corner bumps, a choice example of this elusive town cancel.

1856, folded entire from Paris to Arequipa, Peru, franked with 1853 10c bistre, 20c deep blue, 40c orange, 80c carmine single and horizontal strip of six, margins typically large but touched in places, all tied by 'pointilles' roller, Paris despatch cds above (Aug 15), endorsed “voie de Panama”, carried by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. ship "Magdalena" from Southampton to St. Thomas, the "Dee" to Colon and Pacific Steam Navigation Co. steamer from Panama to Arequipa, filing fold through 80c strip and 40c single, but a remarkable and visually-appealing franking; ex Santos.

1856, folded letter, with black St. Thomas double-arc despatch backstamp (1 Oct), carried via London, with red c.d.s. transit backstamp (18 Oct), thence across the Channel  with ANGL AMB CALAIS c.d.s. (18 Oct) and boxed red “COLONIES / ART - 18” on front, “15” (decimes) in black due marking, backstamped Paris A Bordeaux (19 Oct) and Bordeaux (20 Oct), typical filing folds and light wrinkles, an unusual usage to France via London.

The “COLONIES / ART-18” marking is scarce, and is recorded as used only between 1 January and 31 December 1856.

1857, cover struck on reverse with St. Thomas double split-ring despatch (Jun 30), to Corsica, rated 1/2 in black, postmarked on front with PAID AT ST THOMAS Crown Circle in red, adjacent PD in circle and London “PAID” in red (17 Jul), ANGL AMB CALAIS entry mark (17 Jul), multiple French transit backstamps including Paris (18 Jul) and Paris A Lyon TPO (18 Jul), Corsica arrival c.d.s. (21 Jul), small edge faults.

1858, folded letter datelined St. Croix, to Copenhagen, Denmark, reverse with dual Danish St. Thomas c.d.s. and British St. Thomas double-arc despatch (30 Mar), rated 1/4-1/2 in manuscript, prepaid and struck with crisp PAID AT ST. THOMAS Crown Circle in red, endorsed “via Ostende”, London PAID split-ring (19 Apr) and Hamburg (21 Apr) transit backstamps, Christiansted transit (23 Apr) c.d.s. on front and partial arrival backstamp, typical filing folds, else fine.

1859, folded cover to Copenhagen, Denmark, sent from the Danish post office in St. Thomas, with 3c rate paid in cash, struck with circular FRANCO to denote prepayment, conveyed to the British Post Office and struck with PAID AT ST THOMAS Crown Circle in red, with both St. Thomas c.d.s. and St. Thomas double-arc datestamps on reverse (22 Mar), onwards via London (14 Apr) and Hamburg (16 Apr), with transit markings of each, Danish c.d.s. arrival backstamp, wax seal cut from reverse, slight toning spots around edges, else a pleasing and scarce cover.

1860, cover struck on reverse with St. Thomas double arc despatch (28 Jun), PAID AT ST. THOMAS Crown Circle on front, to Basel, Switzerland, rated 1/2 in back, endorsed “via Southampton” and postmarked with London PAID (13 Jul) and ANGL. AMB. CALAIS F. entry c.d.s. (13 Jul), next-day Paris transit backstamp and partial c.d.s. receiver (15 Jul), opening tears to flap, the odd toning spot, but a scarce destination.

1860, folded letter from Paris to Guayaquil, Ecuador, franked with 1853 20 c blue horizontal pair, shaved to huge margins with portions of adjoining stamps at top and base, and 80c carmine horizontal strip of four with margins all round, Paris despatch c.d.s. (31 Jul),  'London / Paid' transit in red (1 Aug), endorsed "Voie de Panama" with blue straight-line,  carried on the Royal Mail Steam Packet ship "Shannon" to St. Thomas, thence via the "Solent" to Colon, struck with "PANAMA" double arc cds in black (22 Aug) and thence via Pacific Steam Navigation Co. steamer from to Guayaquil, large portion torn from upper portion of reverse of outer sheet, light fold clear of adhesives, an attractive and scarce entire, with 1997 Von der Weid certificate; ex Santos, “Mont Blanc.”

1860, folded letter from the firm of G. Nunes & Gommez, datelined St. Thomas, 14 September, reverse with St. Thomas double-arc despatch  (15 Sep), struck on front with fine “PAID AT ST. THOMAS” Crown Circle, to Port Au Prince, Haiti, rated “1/-“ in red manuscript, horizontal filing fold, a fine entire to an uncommon destination.

1863, folded letter struck with fine red PAID AT ST. THOMAS Crown Circle, corresponding double-arc datestamp on reverse, rated “1” in red manuscript, endorsed “per Steamer” and carried via the Royal Mail Steam Packet vessel to Port au Prince, Haiti, fine.

1863, stampless cover postmarked with red ST THOMAS PAID “A” c.d.s. (14 Dec), rated 1/- in manuscript, paying the single ounce rate to London, with split-ring receiver on front (31 Dec), a few small edge tears, else fine.

1864, folded letter dated 23 July, franked with Trinidad 1863 1d lake, paying the inland rate, tied by circular black grid, postmarked with Trinidad double-arc despatch, to Ragged Islands, Nova Scotia, endorsed in manuscript “via St. Thomas & Bermuda”, with double-arc transit backstamp (29 Jul), “4” in manuscript denoting Caribbean transit amount due, received in Halifax on August 10, partial Ragged Island receiver backstamp (13 Aug), a desirable routing.

1865, cover from Barcelona to Lima, Peru franked with two 1864 2r blue horizontal pairs, large margins, cancelled with barred numeral in black, Barcelona double-circle despatch c.d.s. at right (15 Dec), endorsed "Via de Inglaterra", with 'London / Paid' split-ring transit in red (19 Dec), carried from there by the Royal Mail Steam Packet ship "Seine" from Southampton to St. Thomas, thence by the "Tyne" to, Colon with British Post Office in PANAMA double arc (24 Jan) on obverse and Pacific Steam Navigation Co. steamer to Callao, Lima c.d.s. arrival backstamp (2 Feb) filing fold clear of adhesives, else scarce and fine, with 1992 Graus certificate; ex Santos.

1865, folded letter, struck with oval “Segond & Laferriere / St. Thomas” commercial oval, to Marseille, France, without St. Thomas postal markings, endorsed “per Shannon” (of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co.), rated “8” in manuscript and struck with circular “PD” in red, postmarked with London split-ring (28 Feb), same-day “ANGL / AMB CALAIS A” entry c.d.s. backstamped with Lyon A Marseille “A” TPO (1 Mar), same-day Marseille arrival c.d.s., horizontal fold, else fine.

1866, folded cover to Nantes, France, reverse with St. Thomas double-arc despatch of the British Post Office (13 Jul), carried by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to London (30 Jul), “GB / 1F60c” British-French accountancy mark and 10 (decimes) due marking struck on front, ANGL / AMB CALAIS entry c.d.s., backstamped “Paris a Nantes” (30 Jul), with next-day arrival c.d.s., fine. 

1866, folded letter datelined Paris, March 30, to Cobija, Bolivia, franked with perforated Napoleon 20c blue, 40c orange, 80c rose singles and 80c pair, paying the 3fr rate, steamship and “via Panama” endorsement partially obscured by franking, cancelled by Paris “4” star and Paris (R. D'Enghien) double-circle c.d.s. (31 Mar), via London (2 Apr) and British Post Office in Panama (22 Apr), blue c.d.s. Cobija receiver on front (9 May), filing fold through 20c adhesive, a few small wormholes at top, but a striking franking to a desirable destination.

1866, cover to Berlin, franked with 1d. red, plate 88 horizontal pair and 9d straw, horizontal strip of three issues of Great Britain, cancelled with C35 Type 4 numeral used in Panama (Colombia), with 10c Colon, margins close to touching, cut into on left side, uncancelled but affixed at upper right, likely from an aborted plan to dispatch the cover from Chile, struck with Panama (20 Nov) and London Paid (16 Dec) datestamps, blue Berlin arrival backstamp (17 Dec), one 1d red adhesive faulty, one 9d straw with straight edge, small piece torn from back flap, light overall wrinkling, a most unusual and scarce franking; signed Holcombe, with his 1991 certificate.

Provenance:

Collection Georg D. Mehrtens, 2006. 

1866, stampless cover postmarked with blue oval Hamburg datestamp (29 Apr), fully prepaid to St. Thomas and rated “19” (shillings) in red, endorsed “p. R.M. Steamer” and struck with London PAID transit c.d.s. (1 May), the British Post Office noting the converted rate as 1/2, St. Thomas c.d.s. arrival backstamp (16 May), scattered light toning spots, else a fine incoming cover.

1868, folded letter datelined Puerto Rico, 11 December, franked with strip of four 1867 10d red brown, paying the triple rate to Cadiz, Spain, tied by horizontal oval C51 numeral, and St. Thomas PAID c.d.s. in red (13 Dec), manuscript endorsed “via Inglaterra”, with London PAID transit c.d.s. (28 Dec), manuscript “6” (reales) in red denoting Spanish inland rate, Cadiz c.d.s. arrival backstamp, trivial light wrinkles, a scarce and most impressive franking.

Provenance:

Robson Lowe, 12 January 1955, lot 23.

1870, folded letter datelined St. Thomas, July 28, to Hamburg, Germany, franked with two 1864 1d rose red , plate 125, an horizontal strip of four 3d rose, plate 5, all cancelled with C51 oval obliterator of St. Thomas, 1d reds also partially tied by red St. Thomas PAID c.d.s. (29 Jul) and London transit, Hamburg machine arrival backstamp (8 Aug), horizontal fold clear of adhesives, an impressive double rate letter, fine.

Provenance:

Collection André Bollen, Heinrich Köhler, Wiesbaden, 8 Feb 1983, lot 653