2295 Indochina PO Mongtze: 1903 opt P&C set 1c-5Fr (ex 25c black & 50c brown), ea with violet SPECIMEN h/s as used by Natal on their UPU archive collection. Affixed to album page as used by Natal (8 tied to page by h/s), with parts of Yunnansen opts on reverse cut through when the Mongtze were cut out. Mostly F-VF UN. SG ex 1-16 cat £1300, Maury 1-14 cat €1100 -both as normals, plus large premium for UNIQUE Specimen opts. (14). (P) $1200 $1700
2296 Indochina PO Tchongking: 1903-04 opt P&C set 1c-5Fr (ex 25c black & 50c brown), ea with violet SPECIMEN h/s as used by Natal on their UPU archive collection. Affixed to album page as used by Natal (4c, 5c & 5Fr tied to page by h/s), with parts of Dahomey postage dues on reverse cut through when the Tchongking were cut out. Mostly F-VF UN. SG ex 1-16 cat £650, Maury ex 32-46 cat €718 - both as normals, plus large premium for UNIQUE Specimen opts. (14). (P) $1000 $1500
2297USA POs: 1919 "Shanghai China opt set 2c/1c - $2/$1, plus 1922 set 2c/1c & 4c/2c. F-VF M/MLH. SG 1-18 cat £2080, Scott K1-18 cat US$2245. (18). (P) $900$1200
2298USA POs: 1932 cover franked 2c tied by rare "U.S.N. Purchasing Office, Shanghai, China" duplex pmk with "Shanghai" between bars at right. VF & rare. (P) $100$200
CHINA - IMPERIAL
2299 1878-83 Large Dragon set 1ca-5ca, thin paper, wide margins, 1ca with variety break in frame UL cnr. F-VF M/MLH, probably regummed & small expert repairs but superb appearance. Chan 4-6, SG 4-6 cat £20,500. (3) (P) $3500 $5000
23001878-83 Large Dragon set 1ca-5ca, thin paper, wide margins, 1ca with variety broken frame UL cnr. F-VFU, sl imperfections, 5a superb appearance. Chan 4-6, SG 4-6 cat £3300. (3). (P) $900$1300
CHINA - REPUBLIC
23011933 cover franked Tan Yen-Kai 25c, tied by "Shanghai 8 2 33" cds. To Italy "per SS Gange", with Genova arrival pmk, plus b/s of Trieste machine & cds. SG 442, Chan 353. $90$150
23021934 Express cover franked on reverse Junk 1c/2c (5), SYS 5c (2) & Martyr 10c, tied by Shanghai cds, with part express label & "Visit Italy" label. To Honan with arrival cds. SG 366, 398 & 415, Chan 286, 322 & 338. $100$150
23031934 Registered cover franked SYS 25c pr tied by Shanghai 7 8 34" cds, with reg label. To Italy with Lloyd Triestino ship label on reverse with b/s of Brindisi & Genoa arrival. SG 402, Chan 316. $80$120
23041935 Cathay Hotel Shanghai airmail cover (rust stain), franked SYS 5c & 25c, tied by "Shanghai 30 5 35" cds. To Nanchang with arrival b/s. SG 398 & 402, Chan 322 & 325. $90$150
23061936 (Aug-Nov) airmail covers Swatow or Shanghai to New Zealand via Imperial Airways Singapore-Australia service, latter also via Hong Kong Feeder Service -note endorsement "Via Hong Kong & By IAL", b/s Sydney or Hong Kong, respectively. Minor blemishes, very scarce origin/destination items in this early period. (2). $95$150
CHINA - LIBERATED AREAS
2307 East China -Jiangsu/Anhui: 1946-47 Train set 25c-$10 imperf, inc unissued 75c. Superb fresh UN as issued, all 4 large margins. Yang EC322-28, SG EC277A-82A cat £1800++. Very rare genuine set. Certificates can be obtained on request. (P) $2500 $3500
CHINA - PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
2308 1979 Study Science from Childhood 2Y M/Sheet. Superb fresh MUH. Yang T41 M, SG MS2900 cat £2500. (P) $1300 $1800
23091981 Year of the Cock booklet. VF fresh MUH. SG SB12 cat £375 $100$200
23101977 Registered cover franked 1964 Peonies 10f (2), tied by "Shanghai 1977 5 30" cds, with reg label. To USA Liaison Office Peking, with arrival cachet & b/s. SG 2077-78, Yang S344-45. $180$275
23111977 Invitation card from USA Liaison Office for Bicentennial Reception franked 1964 Labour Day 8f tied by "Peking 1977 7 4" cds, plus with Liaison Office USA cachet. VF. SG 2167, Yang C342. $160$250
23121977 cover franked Chou En-lai death Anniv 8f, tied by "Yan'an City Shanxi 1977 5 17 17" cds. To USA Liaison Office Peking, with arrival cachet & b/s. SG 2685, Yang J51. $110$170
CHRISTMAS ISLANDS
23132011 Christmas $1.50 International Post, error perfs misplaced 5mm down resulting in Santa Claus totally decapitated & value now at base of stamp instead of at the top (with normal for comparison). Superb fresh MUH. Rare, only 1 sheet of 50 recorded of which 15 used as postage before error was spotted! (P) $130$200
23141918 cover franked Central Pacific Cocoanut Plantations 5c 1st issue, tied by "Christmas Island Local Postage APR 1 1918" sm cds. Sent locally & rare thus. RL1. (P) $300$500
2315 1926 cover franked Central Pacific Cocoanut Plantations 10c with red values, plus USA 2c pr all tied by large palm tree cancel, plus 10c Airmail pr tied by San Francisco May 14 1926 duplex pmks, to pay 24c air fee across the USA to New Jersey. Carried under the scheme where internal US airmail could be prepaid from overseas destinations with USA stamps. Only example we’ve seen from Christmas Island! (P) $1000 $1500
COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
23161969 Definitives 1c-$1 comp set of 12 affixed, to three PO publicity cards. Superb fresh. Very rare. A set of AAT 1966 sold in our October 2013 sale for $1057. (P) $500$800
23171990-91 Provisional opt set inc Official Paid. VF fresh MUH, Official CTO as always. SG 234-9 & O1 cat £132, retail $250. (7) (P) $100$150
2318 1964 OHMS Airmail cover to India, addressed to the Colaba Observatory Bombay from the Meteorological Office, franked 1963 3d Copra pair, 1/- Palm & 2/3 Bird blk of 4 tied by no.3 cds, arrival b/s. Possibly the only known example of correctly used 2/3 franking paying 3½oz Airmail rate (1/6 x 7 = 10/6). A must have for the serious Territory collector. (P) $4000 $5000
COLOMBIA
23191861 New Granada Arms 20c red, horiz pr plus 1863 Colombia Arms 5c orange & 1P mauve, all on piece, with oval "Pie Ceesta" pmk twice. VFU. SG 14, 26, 30 cat £335 for pen cancelled singles. Yv 13, 23, 27 cat €1080 as pmk singles, plus huge premium forexceptionally rare piece. (4). (P) $500$1000
COOK ISLANDS
23201932 Maori Canoe 2d black & brown, error centre INVERTED, no wmk. VF fresh MUH. SG 101(var) footnote cat £500 for M, should be at least double, £1000 MUH. Very rare as only 1 or 2 sheets printed. 1969 SG guarantee letter. (P) $700$1000
23211932 Natives Working Cargo 2½d black & deep blue, error centre INVERTED, no wmk. VF fresh MUH. SG 102(var) footnote cat£300 for M, should be at least double, £600 MUH. Very rare as only 1 or 2 sheets printed. 1969 SG guarantee letter. (P) $700$1000
23221943-54 opt Arms £3 green mult wmk inverted. VF fresh MLH. SG 135w cat £70. (P) $40$60
23251917 Registered cover (edge wear) franked Pict½d, 1½d, 2d, 5d, 6d, 10d & 1/-, tied by "Rarotonga 23 AU 17" cds with reg label. To USA with San Francisco & Augusta b/s. SG cat £290 & "from x4" on cover. (P) $200$400
2326Penrhyn: 1917 KGV opt set 2½d to 1/- in 2 perf se-tenant vert prs. VF fresh MLH/MUH. SG 24b-27b cat £270+. (4 prs). (P) $220$300
COVERS - CRASH, WRECK, DISASTER
2327Australia: 1935-36 London to Sydney & Melbourne (2) involved in Imperial Airways incidents in Dutch East Indies. [1] 1935 (Jan 25) carried on IE309 “Athena” force-landed 4 Feb at Surabaya due to broken exhaust pipe, Sydney b/s of 9 Feb confirms. [2] 1936 (Apr 17) IE437 “Canberra” burst tyre on landing at Surabaya, sm cnr flt, 2 May Melbourne b/s confirmation. [3] 1936 (May 27) IE449 “Brisbane” force-landing at Waingapoe 9 Jun, reverse damage has removed b/s, 8pm London duplex confirms too late for IE448. (3). $120$180
2328Covers: Italy 1934-40 mostly interrupted/delayed airmail covers carried by Imperial Airways to Aust (details pencilled on rev), some confirmed by transit or Aust b/s, earliest (3 Feb 1934 reg at Querceta) carried on eventful IE254 Singapore service, delayed at Brindisi due to adverse weather, mails unusually went by rail from Alexandria to Cairo, & delayed at Rutbah & Basra due to engine trouble. 1940 (censored) delayed by mechanical problems at Batavia, others inc delays due to adverse weather etc. odd fault. F-VF. Some scarcer frankings. (10). $160$250
2329Great Britain: 1935 (Jan 3) Cleckheaton to Melbourne with typed "Via Imperial Airways" carried on the eventful IE303 which in turn experienced [1] “Sylvanus” force-landing 8 Jan at Mirabella (Italy) with engine trouble, [2] “Arethusa” delayed 12 Jan with engine trouble, & [3] “Athena” blown off course at night 16 Jan from Koepang (Dutch East Indies), landing on a beach about 60 miles east of Darwin. "Athena" was refuelled by a Qantas DH61, which itself was damaged on takeoff. Confirmed by Melbourne arrival 20 Jan. Very few covers from this multi-interrupted flight recorded. $120$180
2330Netherlands Indies: 1935 (Jan 31) commercial airmail incident cover Modjoagoeng to Sydney carried on Imperial IE309 which force-landed at Sourabaya 4 Feb owing to broken exhaust pipe, confirmed by Lindfield b/s (9 Feb). $160$250
2331New Zealand - USA. 1930 Shipwreck cover from New Zealand with Wellington cds (stamp floated away), with 3-line cachet "Salvaged from S.S. Tahiti Lost at sea", to USA, with "San Francisco SEP 1 1930" cds. Typical "wrecked" condition. (P) $350$500
2333Iceland: 1931 Zeppelin Iceland Flight cover franked Zeppelin opt 2Kr tied by "Reykjavik 30 VI 31" cds, with special cachet in green, to Berlin with Friedrichshafen b/s. VF. SG 181 cat £85 as loose stamp, Sieger 114c retail €350. (P) $150$250
2334New Zealand: 1934 (Jul 31) “Nord Deutscher Lloyd Bremen” cover to Palmerston North endorsed "By Catapult - Ship-to-shore SS Bremen to New York", with special cachet & boxed "Mit Vorausflug nach New-York" h/s in red to indicate article to be expedited beyond catapult flight, flown within USA & placed on steamer connection to NZ. Correct 25pf + 50pf Catapult airmail fee, 1 other cover to NZ recorded. (P) $200$300
2335USA: 1930 South America Zeppelin flight use of Zeppelin $2.60 on long 5c Airmail envelope, tied by "Philadelphia MAY 30 1930" duplex pmk & s/l "Lakehurst NJ" h/s, with South America & Europe Pan- America cachets, to Germany. Reverse damaged in transit, with USPS resealing tape & 1½ "Officially Sealed" labels. VF appearance. Sc C15 cat US$550, SG A689 cat £650 -both as loose stamp alone. (P) $400$600
2336 1938 Printed "Howard Hughes, New York World Fair 1939" cover addressed to "Mr Earl Daley, Hughes Aircraft Co, Hollywood, California" carried on the Around the World record breaking flight piloted by Howard Hughes from New York to Paris, Moscow, Omsk, Yakuysk, Fairbanks, Minneapolis & back to New York City with "Flown Around The World By Howard Hughes" cachet & cachets of each landing place, signed by the five crew, Howard Hughes, Dick Stoddart, Harry Connor, Edward Lund & Tommy Thurlow. Franked USA 6c airmail (2 diff) tied at New York on the day of departure, July 10th & return on July 14th, also France 85c tied July 11 at Le Bourget, & Russia 40k precancelled Moscow July 12th. Only a small number of covers were carried on the flight & were only given to people associated with the flight, furthermore very few of the flown covers were signed by Howard Hughes. (Also a 1938 photograph of Howard Hughes & the other four crew, & a letter from Hughes signed on his behalf by his secretary Nadine Henley). A very rare & important air mail cover carried by the Lockhead Super Electra piloted by Howard Hughes, setting an around the world flight record of just 91 hours. (P) $7000 $10000
CROATIA
23371995 Olympic Committee Obligatory Tax 50L ESSAY set in double strip of 5 IMPERF & only printed in 2 shades of brown. Issued set was in black with diff colour backgrounds, Olympic logo in colour etc & diff font for lettering. With issued strip to compare. VF fresh MUH. SG 339-43(e), Mi Z58-62(e). Rare specialist item. $120$200
CUBA
23381902 use of Envelope 1c to Tasmania uprated with 2c & 5c (2) tied by "Santa Spiritus" cds, 4-line "Receipt Demanded…." h/s in violet, "A.R." in m/s, London transit registered cancel, chamfered frame "Registered 1752 Launceston" in blue, b/s Launceston & Forth. Exotic origin. (P) $250$350
CYPRUS
23391881 QV ½pi emerald-green, wmk crown CC, die I. VF fresh M. SG 11 cat £180. (P) $120$160
23401881 QV 1Pi rose, wmk crown CC, die I. VF fresh M. SG 12 cat £375. (P) $250$350
2341 1924-28 KGV £5 black on yellow, top value. F-VF fresh MUH with pristine original gum. SG 117a cat £3750 as M, should be at least double, £7500+ MUH. Key British Empire KGV stamp & particularly desirable MUH. 2013 Roumet photo-cert. (P) $4000 $7000
23471934 National Anthem Music 1Kc & 2Kc M/Sheets of 15, printed on card, with original folder. F-VF UN as issued. Mi 330-31xSB, SG MS 334a cat £1300. Rare & impressive large format M/Sheets! (2M/S). (P) $600$900
23481919 Newspaper wrapper franked "Postovne hotove zaplaceno" red in blue frame postage paid label, tied by "Ceskoslovenska Polni Posta 4 1 1919" field post cds. Rare usage. (P) $100$200
DENMARK
23491939 (Nov 7) censored airmail cover (edge flts) Aalborg to India, carried on Imperial Airways flight SE194, the “Coriolanus” leg of which experienced engine trouble at Athens, necessitating transfer of mail to “Cordelia” (departed Athens 17 Nov), confirmed by Bombay arrival (23 Nov), redirected to Mangalagiri. $120$180
2350Local Posts: Collection 1872-90 of Town Bypost issues on pgs. Aalborg 1885 Numeral set 3o & 5o plus shades, 1886 Surch range to 5o, 1886 Town Arms to 5o, plus 1o-5o imperf, 1886 Arms to 50o, 1886 Dated Surch set. Aarhus 1885 Numeral 5o. Horsens 1883 Large numeral 3o, 1886-87 Numerals to 10o inc thin & thick numerals. Randers 1887 Knight vals to 8o, opt Holte 1872 Numeral 2s. Svendborg 1887 Arms set to 10o. Veile 1887 Pigeon set to 10o. Viborg 1887-88 Arms set to 10o. Kolding 1887 Castle 3o. Copenhagen 1880-83 Arms to 10o. 1885 Arms 15o. Odense 1886 to 2o. Mostly diff inc shades. Most F-VF M/U. Very scarce offering. (127). $500$800
DOMINICA
23511923-33 KGV Ship £1 black & purple on red. VF fresh MUH. SG 91 cat £225 for M, should be at least double, £450 MUH. (P) $400$600
DUBAI
23521944 censored printed Merchant's cover franked on reverse India KGVI 1a3p pr, tied by indistinct "Dubai 20 JAN 1944" pmk. To Bombay & endorsed "By airmail" & "Iranian Language" with censor tape & h/s, plus part arrival cds. $275$400
23531944 censored use of India 1a Envelope (roughly opened) uprated KGVI 1a on reverse, tied by weak "Dubai" cds. Endorsed "By airmail" & "Iranian Language" with censor tape & h/s. Bombay arrival cds $250$400
23541945 censored printed Merchant's cover (edge flts) franked on reverse India KGVI ½a & 2a, tied by "Dubai 15 JAN 1945" pmk. To Bombay & endorsed "By Air Mail" & "Iranian Language" with censor tape & h/s plus "Bombay 20 JAN 45" arrival cds. $275$400
2356 1926 PORT FOUAD opt set 5m-50Pi. VF fresh M. SG 141-44 cat £2500. Rare genuine as only 1500 sets printed. All exp Ela while certificates can be obtained on request. (P) $1800 $2500
23571929 Prince Farouk's Ninth Birthday set 5m-20m special 1st printing with brownish centres (5m centre in black). VF MLH. SG 178a-181a cat £520. (4). (P) $275$400
23591934 UPU Congress 50p sepia & £E1 greenish blue, top 2 values both left marginal with control no.A/34. F-VF fresh MLH. SG 231-32 cat £700, plus premium for scarce control. (2). (P) $600$900
2362British Forces: 1882 use of GB ½d green & 1d lilac pr (flts), tied to piece by "British Army Post Office Egypt SP 29 82" cds. SG ZA2 & 4 cat £650. The ½d green is extremely rare used in Egypt. (P) $300$500
2363British Forces: 1932-33 Postal Seal 1pi IMPERF. VF fresh MUH, 4 margins. SG A1(var) cat £95 for perf hinged, should be £190+ MUH, imperf unlisted & must be worth more. (P) $100$150
2364British Forces: 1935 Jubilee opt 1Pi ultramarine. VFU. SG A10 cat £180. Very scarce as sold out in 3 days. (P) $150$250
2365British Forces: 1939 Army Post King set 3m & 10m LR cnr marginal blks of 6 with control A/39. VF fresh MLH/MUH. SG A14-15 cat £96 for singles, plus premium for rare control blks. (2 blks of 6). (P) $150$250
ESTONIA
23661918-19 1st issue 5k-15k & 35p-70p prs, triples & blks of 4 with range of provisional m/s, cds or s/l pmks, with cds Tartu, Nuustaku, Pernau, Risti, Haapsalu & Tallinn-Sudam, s/l inc Tallinn, Kose, Kuresaar, Nuustaku, Antslam Tartu & Parnu. VFU. SG 1-4 cat £87, Mi 1-4 cat €111 -both for basic U. Fantastic pmk range for the specialist. (15 prs, 10 triples & 5 blks of 4 -total 110). $350$500
23671918-19 15k greenish-blue, rough perf 11½, from trial issue. VFU. SG 2a cat £250, Mi 2A cat €450. Very rare genuine example. 2014 Ceremuga photo-cert. (P) $350$500
23681918-19 15k blue provisional roul 10. VF fresh MUH with "Baltiski" violet h/s. SG 2(var), Mi 2(var). Exp Mikulski. (P) $100$200
23701921-22 Red Cross set 2½Mk & 5Mk in marginal blks of 6, central pr imperf horiz. VF fresh MUH. SG 31 & 32Bba cat £96 for M, should be at least £192 MUH, Mi 29 & 30Auw cat €240+, plus premium for blks. (2 blks) (P) $150$250
23711923 Airmail opt set 5Mk-45Mk/5Mk, inc 20Mk both colour opts. VF fresh MLH/MUH, usual patchy gum. SG 44-48 cat £150, Mi 41-45 cat €350. (6). (P) $150$200
23731923 "Aita hadalist" opt set 2½-3½ & 5-7Mk imperf. VFM, both 4 large margins. SG 49-50A cat £135, Mi 46-7B cat €300. Exp. (2) (P) $120$180
23741940 Stamp Anniv 15s on white paper (both sides). VFU. SG 158, Mi 162x cat €300. 2014 Ceremuga photo-cert. (P) $200$300
23751940 Arms 1s grey on white paper (both sides). VFU. SG 160(var), Mi 164x cat £500. 1994 Wassmann & 2014 Ceremuga photo-certs. (P) $350$500
23761939 Registered cover franked Relief Fund & Parnu M/Sheets, tied by "Vosu 25 VIII 39" cds, with h/s reg label/cachet. SG MS147a & 151a cat £205++, Mi Blk 3 & 4 cat €330++, plus premium on cover. Extremely rare use of 2 M/S on 1 cover. (P) $350$500
2377Postal History collection 1919-43 mostly Registered, inc 1st issue 1919 mixed franking to Germany, 1919 4 diff values, 6 diff values to Tartu, Tallinn or Dorpat, 1920 War Victims (7) in prs or strip on 1 cover, 1920 1Mk/15p blk of 30, 1920 Air covers with Air triangle stamp, 1920 War Victims surch set to Germany, another set to Sweden, 5 diff stamps to Sweden, 1922 Blacksmith 10Mk perf & imperf to Switzerland, 1924 Air set perf to Czechoslovakia, 1925 FFC London-Estonia, 1932 University set, 1933 Choral Festival set on Festival PPC, 1936 Air to Czechoslovakia with 9 diff stamps, 1940 Philatelic Exhib pmks to Sweden, 1939 Meter franking, German Occup Ostland opt 12pf to Austria censored, & finally Ostland 80pf 1pf(2) & 3pf(2) to Poland. Purchased by vendor individually in the 1990s for total of DM2500 = A$1900. (35). $900$1500
ETHIOPIA
23781911 Dire Daoua Provisional set ¼g-16g opt "Aff Excep Faute Timb". VF fresh M/MLH. SG 154-60 cat £770; Mi A-G46 cat €1600; Yv 93-99 cat €1750. Rare, only 600 sets printed & vast majority used. Certificate can be obtained on request. (7) (P) $700$1000
23791930 Coronation "Lion" set 1g-5T imperf presentation M/Sheet on card 247x310mm, with "Couronnement de S.M. Haile Sellace I" & "Emission Speciale de Timbres-Post" imprint at base. VF UN as made. SG 278-84(var). Very rare & impressive (P) $500$800