Great Britain - Day 4

William Spooner envelope No. 5, addressed to Vermont in the United States, obverse showing red London Paid ´tombstone´ datestamp of 3(?) March 1841 and red Boston Paid c.d.s. with ink manuscript “1/2” and “39” adjacent, the reverse with ink manuscript “p Royal Mail Steamer from L´pool to Boston Via Halifax”; some defects and creasing though still most attractive and an extremely rare overseas usage; ex Meroni (1952), ex Grunin (2004).

1841 Fores’s Hunting Envelope, No.4, hand-coloured and sent from Jersey to Guernsey, rated ‘1’ in red, ‘Jersey JA 21 1841’’ backstamp, a little minor creasing and small peripheral defects do not detract from this superb item; a very rare inter-island usage. Cert. Brandon (2018). Ex E.E. Yates 1949), Ex Meroni 1952, Ex Grunin 2004.

1840 Menzies' caricature envelope, State 1b (small imprint), bearing 1840 1d pl.1a IG, good margins, tied by fine strike of the red Maltese Cross, addressed to Mount Mellick, the reverse with fine strikes of the red Dublin diamond and blue Mountmellick double-arc date stamps of 16 and 17 July 1840; some light creasing and minor perimeter faults a small portion of the upper flap has been skilfully restored since the Grunin auction, still fine...

1840 Fores’s Musical Envelope, No.2, from Darlington to Bath, with ‘’Heighington Penny Post’’ handstamp on front, bearing 1d black (defective lower right) tied red MC, some soiling and peripheral faults but a very scarce item; cert. Brandon (2018). Ex Grunin 2004.

1840 (Jun 15) Mulready Caricature by Menzies sent from Edinburgh to Oxford, with "CASTLE STREET" hs, "1" hs and "Paid at Edinburgh" cds in red, Oxford arrival bs, a very fine and very scarce usage.

1892 2 1/2d Postal stationery envelope colour trials, three examples in purple on different sizes of envelope, 138x77mm, 120x93mm and 139x110mm; very fine and possibly the only examples in private hands, ex Lady Mairi Bury

1840 (May 6) lettersheet from London to Birmingham with 1840 1d black pl.1a BH, with good to large margins all round, sent on the 6th May 1840, the first official day of use, the top flap showing a clear strike of the "MAY-6/1840" c.d.s. in black which opens perfectly for display, cover has been cleaned to improve the appearance, a great example of the world's first postage stamp used on the first official day of issue.

Note: Listed in...

1840 (May 13) entire letter dated in manuscript "13 May 1840" from London to Glasgow with 1840 1d black pl.1a GE/HH block of eight (4x2) in a grey-black shade showing moderate plate wear, a little close or just touched at top, large to very margins other sides and showing portions of three adjoining stamps at foot, tied by orange-red Maltese Cross cancellations, with dated markings of 14 and 15 May in red and black on reverse, light pressed...

1840 (May 22) printed freight circular for Wheat, Barley and Oats, sent from London to Cork with 1840 1d grey-black pl.2 IA with part sheet margin at left and otherwise close to good margins, neatly tied by a crisp red MC and backstamped accordingly, a lovely quality "May date" cover which opens out well for display, most attractive (S.G. from £2'500).

1840 (May 24) entire from Gloucester to Bradbury and Evans, printers in London, bearing 1840 1d black pl.1a QL (worn impression), with good to very large margins, neatly cancelled by red Maltese cross, a rare Sunday usage; cert. Brandon (2022) and E. Diena (1978).

1840 1d black, a magnificent used "set" of the 12 plates from 1a -11, each stamp a carefully selected marginal inscription example with good margins on other sides, all except three cancelled by red Maltese crosses, only AD with small repair at right, a stunning set which would be incredibly difficult to replicate, and a superb intro page to any high class exhibit. Certs for all impressions.

1840 (May 23) entire used to Edinburgh, bearing an 1840 1d black pl.1a AL, close to very large margins all round, neatly tied by a fine strike of the red Maltese cross, a nice clean and fresh May date cover.