385th Auction

1854/55, 8a. blue/red, 4th printing, head die III, cut two shape, tied by numeral “1” folded letter with adjacent red boxed “INDIA PAID” and desptach cds. “BOMBAY SE 7 1858” to Scotland with transit- and arrival mark, minor soliing, otherwise fine and scarce, certificate RPSL (2023) 

1854, 2 a. green, horizontal strip of four with ample to mostly large margins, with four strikes of diamond of dots on entire to Shanghai, showing on reverse red boxed dispatch mark "CALCUTTA G.P.O. SHIP LETTER 18 NO 1854" and transit "HONG-KONG 8 DE 1854". A very fine and rare letter with a most unusual destination.

1854, 2 a. green, good to large margins, tied by octagonal "B/127" to letter sheet to Rangoon, showing on reverse red Moulmein GPO cds. A fine and scarce entire.

1854, 2 a. green, ample to large margins, tied by octagonal "B/5" to letter sheet to Rangoon, showing on reverse red boxed "AKYAB  SHIP LETTER /1859 JU 1/PAID" and oval "FORWARDED BY JOHN OGILVY HAY & Co./AKYAB". Very fine and scarce.

1865, 8 p. lilac and 1866/78,  4 a. green in pair, tied by duplex "BOMBAY 2 OCT 70" to envelope to London (14.11.) with clear adjacent framed "INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID / FOR BRINDISI ROUTE / DEFICIENT POSTAGE 3d.", which was used for a short period during the closure of the route via Marseille due to the Franco-Prussian war. PROFI has recorded only one further entire with India franking showing this handstamp.

1866, fiscal stamp 6 a. with overprint "POSTAGE", with 8 p. purple, tied by Bombay duplex of 29.12.1866 to blue cover via France and forwarder to Edinburgh. A very fine and rare entire. Certificate Holcombe (1987)

1948, Gandhi 1½ a.-10 r. with special first day cancel on two illustrated envelopes, cover with small values very minor aging, very scarce, certificates RPSL (2023)

1992, Bird of Prey 100r. instead of 200r. and wrong nomenclature "Shahin Kohila" instead of "Macchhlimar", mint never hinged, very fine and rare

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£)

1866, fiscal stamps with overprint "SERVICE/POSTAGE" in green, 2 a., neatly cancelled, very fine. Signed Pfenninger

1866, 4 a. fiscal stamp with overprint "SERVICE/POSTAGE" in green, government imitation, unused with original gum. Certificate RPSL (1978)

“FIRST AERIAL POST U.P. EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD 1911”, good strike in magenta on Postal stationery envelope 1a. on 2a6p. orange, addressed locally with despatch and arrival mark on reverse, fine, very rare and attractive, certificate RPSL (2023) (H&G 7)

“FIRST AERIAL POST U.P. EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD 1911”, good strike in magenta on Postal stationery envelope Edward ½ a. green to Calcutta, reverse with despatch and arrival mark, minor toning, otherwise fine, very rare and attractive, certificate RPSL (2023) (H&G 8a)

“FIRST AERIAL POST U.P. EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD 1911”, three good strikes on two horizontal pairs and block of four Edward 3p. gray and two singles ½a. green on front and reverse of registered cover with boxed registration mark “R U.P. EXHIBITION CAMP ALLAHABAD” alongside to Coimbatore, stamps on reverse tied by arrival cds., adhesives minor imperfections, some aging, yet attractive and very rare, certificiate RPSL (2023)

“FIRST AERIAL POST U.P. EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD 1911”, good strike in magenta on Edward ½ a. green on local envelope with despatch and arrival mark on reverse, the stamp small imperfections, the envelope few faults, yet and attractive and scarce entire, certificate RPSL (2023)

“FIRST AERIAL POST U.P. EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD 1911”, good strike in magenta on Edward ½ a. green on envelope to Bombay with “ALLAHABAD 18 FE 11” despatch and Bombay arrival on reverse, the latter one enhanced, small tear in the backflap closed with scotch tape, minor toning, otherwise fine and scarce, certificate RPSL (2023)

"FORWARDED BY / GILLANDERS / ARBUTHNOT & Co. / CALCUTTA" , blue handstamp on lettersheet to France with blue "CALCUTTA INDIA UNPAID SE 3 72" on reverse; adjacent blue accountancy mark "GB 1F.66c."

"FIELD FORCE PERSIA 5 AU 57" with manuscript "4 as" on envelope to Bombay, with arrival mark. Very fine.

1904, 1/2a pale blue, Type 1, Stone IB, position 4, without gap between “Half” and “Anna”,  tied to native cover by intaglio seal on black, Jaipur (23 Aug) c.d.s. at lower left, typical small imperfections, else a fine and scarce single franking; with 2021 I.S.E.S. certificate.

1904, 1/2a, Type I, Stone IB, redrawn state, partial plate reconstruction of nine, with examples in pale blue or ultramarine, including positions 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, the last showing the variety “double umbrella,” most with part original gum and of fresh colour, typical small thins or imperfections, difficult to assemble, overall fine.

1904, 1⁄2a pale slate-blue, imperforate plate proof from Stone IA, position 5, unwatermarked, without gum as prepared, with left sheet margin, some light bends/creases as commonly found, else scarce and very fine; with 2018 B.P.A. certificate. 

1904, 1/2a trio of covers, with single weight cover to Nizamat Sambher and double weight cover to Jaipur, each with adhesives cancelled by circular intaglio seal, and single franking on reverse of 1/2a Edward VII postal stationery envelope, indicia cancelled by Amru/Moradabad c.d.s. (31 Oct 04) and adhesive by Jeypore/Dak Shan Sadar (2 Nov) c.d.s., mixed condition, the single weight cover roughly opened at bottom, a useful group.

1904, 1/2a, Stone III, group of seven unused multiples, part to large part original gum, displaying both thin and thick paper types in a range of shades including ultramarine, grey blue, deep blue, blue, and pale blue, usual light wrinkles and imperfections, else a fine and most attractive group.

1904, 1/2a, Stone III, reconstructed sheet of 24, most examples being unused, with part original gum, several others struck with intaglio seals or c.d.s. markings in black, displaying the range of shades from pale to deep blue found on these printings, usual small flaws, a difficult group to assemble.

1904, 1/2a deep blue, Type II, Stone III, sheet of 24 with stamps 1 to 2mm apart, unused with unmounted original gum, typical small red control number notation at upper left, else a fine early printing of pleasing fresh colour.

1904, 1/2a deep blue, Type II, Stone III, sheet of 24 with stamps 1 to 2mm apart, unused with unmounted original gum, typical small red control number notation at upper left, pre-printing paper crease at lower left, some water staining to left margin well clear of stamps, else fine. 

1904, ½ a. deep blue, Plate III, 1 a. dull red (2), and 2 a. emerald green, each tied to cover by Jaipur intaglio seal, paying the registered letter rate with acknowledgement of receipt fee, usual flaws, but a striking and scarce franking, being one of only five recorded three-colour frankings of the first issue of Jaipur; ex Hasse Brockenhuus von Lowenheilm Collection, with 2021 I.S.E.S. certificate.

1904, 1a dull red, two sheets of twelve, one each in orange red and brick red, unused, with large part original gum, slightly disturbed on places, showing distinctive clear and worn printings, both with red control numbers at upper left, the brick red sheet with some water staining in lower selvedge, well clear of stamps, offered with a reconstructed sheet of twelve comprised of a mix of unused and used examples, usual imperfections, else fine.

1905, 1a. dull red, tied to native cover by “Mandavari” negative seal, a few small central flaws, light wrinkles, else a fine and scarce double weight cover, believed one of only three recorded single frankings of this printing.

2 a. pale green, 2 copies, tied  by native c.d.s. to registered envelope, fine and scarce

1904, 2a. pale green, two complete sheets of twelve, each with red ink control number in upper left corner, one sheet each showing the “1” in “12” in top margin reversed and corrected, the sheet with the reversed example with large part original gum, ex Hasse Brockenhuus von Lowenheilm Collection, the corrected sheet part original gum, with central column of perforations reinforced, offered with an upper right sheet corner pair with reversed “1” in emerald green shade, hinged in selvedge only, central perfs partially separated, a fine group.

1904/8, 1 a. study, noting 1904 Recess printing by Perkins Bacon brown colour trial block of four on thin paper, two singles of the scarce perf. 12 ½ brown-red, perf. 12 in carmine unused block of nine showing the “broken frame line above ‘State’ variety", 1906 printings with singles and multiples in varying shades of brown and bright red, 1906 1 a. strip of four in combination with ½ a. blue on triple weight registered cover to Malpura, and 1908 1 a. bright red single usages on mixed franking with 1 a. Edward VII on uprated stationery card to Sweden, and 1907 double-weight “Too Late” wrapper, usual imperfections but much is fine.

1904, 1 a. carmine on unwatermarked paper, imperforate between vertical pair, unused, with part original gum, paper somewhat toned, but a scarce and otherwise fine variety.

1906, Perkins Bacon, ¼ a. imperforate colour trial proofs on thick card, with horizontal pair in green, blocks of four in red and sepia, each with large margins all around, fresh and very fine.

1931, Investiture of Maharaja ½a.-5r., cpl. set, mint never hinged, very fine, certificate RPSL (2023; for SG#50-51)

1931 (11 February), 8 a. bright violet, overprinted SERVICE in black, Type O2 with thick letters, unused, without gum as issued, typical irregular perforations, fine and scarce; ex Harell.