Postal History of the World

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India

India Pre-philately

India

India Pre-philately

India

Lot 2068

90.00 CAD

Live

1944 (November 6), illustrated Christmas air letter from a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force in India, to Toronto, with multicolour

1944 (November 6), illustrated Christmas air letter from a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force in India, to Toronto, with multicolour illustration depicting soldiers boarding a troopship captioned "They say there's a troopship just leaving Bombay," printed R.A.F. Postal Services / Air Command / South East Asia / Postage Free / Xmas 1944 text tied by R.A.F. Post / 3 / India c.d.s. (6 Nov), sent by L.A.C. George A. Jenkinson (R-100685), RCAF India Command, edge wear and small separations at folds, most attractive. Jenkinson writes to his aunt in Toronto describing the anticipation of Christmas while noting he is "anxiously looking for my ticket out of this country in the new year," and mentions that while the holidays will be "quiet" they hope for a good dinner and a dance.

India Pre-philately

Lot 2104

150.00 CAD

Live

1843 (September 8), the elusive "Empresa Indias" datestamp, in blue, neatly-struck on piece of incoming letter to Havana, further struck

1843 (September 8), the elusive "Empresa Indias" datestamp, in blue, neatly-struck on piece of incoming letter to Havana, further struck with a matching blue numeral 3 due marking, a choice example of this difficult strike, from the final decade of the company's operations, one of only a small number of examples of this postmark recorded in blue. Established in 1827 by a group of Havana merchants, the Empresa Mercantil de Correos Marítimos ("La Empresa") was a private company authorized to modernize the mail service between Spain, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Operating a dedicated fleet of numbered vessels, the company held a semi-monopoly on maritime mail and taxed incoming foreign letters, until it was outcompeted by British steamships and closed in 1851.

India

Lot 2183

80.00 CAD

Live

1839 (July 12), stampless folded letter from Calcutta to Dundee, Scotland, with red boxed India handstamp and manuscript routing "pr Water

1839 (July 12), stampless folded letter from Calcutta to Dundee, Scotland, with red boxed India handstamp and manuscript routing "pr Water Witch," manuscript "2/8" overland rate via Marseille and small circular "1/2" Scottish tax handstamp, reverse with red boxed G.P.O. transit (18 Jul), red circular London c.d.s. (30 Oct), black circular receiver (30 Oct), circular transit (1 Nov), and two-line British / Foreign handstamp, horizontal fold, some soiling, edges reinforced with archival tape, else fine. The letter is from Bagshaw & Co. to W. Davidson, confirming that the ship Selina is being laden with a Dundee cargo and recording the procurement of 300 tons of jute described as of the "very best quality procurable in our market."

Lot 2184

40.00 CAD

Live

1848 (10 April) folded letter to England via Madras, fully prepaid 4a rate to Madras (Apr 14), on to England with 1/- rate in manuscript,

1848 (10 April) folded letter to England via Madras, fully prepaid 4a rate to Madras (Apr 14), on to England with 1/- rate in manuscript, handstamped red crescent "INDIA PAID", carried by the P&O Overland Route via Suez & Alexandria, endorsed "via Southampton / via Madras" at lower left, to the saddlers H&T Peat, Picadilly, London, portion trimmed from back, else fine appearance.

Lot 2185

40.00 CAD

Live

1849 (15 December) Salisbury to 14th Native Infantry, Bingapore, stampless folded letter, struck on front with PAID DE 16 and DE

1849 (15 December) Salisbury to 14th Native Infantry, Bingapore, stampless folded letter, struck on front with PAID DE 16 and DE 17 datestamps, to James Graham with the 14 Native Infantry, Bingapore, received on 20 Feb 1850 via Bombay (30 January), forwarded to Titalyah, with undated arrival backstamp, vertical filing fold, attractive and fine.

Lot 2186

50.00 CAD

Live

1855, 4a grey black and 8p purple horizontal pair, tied to folded cover by "1" numeral of Bombay (lines ascending from left to right), to

1855, 4a grey black and 8p purple horizontal pair, tied to folded cover by "1" numeral of Bombay (lines ascending from left to right), to Bordeaux, France, endorsed "via Marseilles", blue "Jules Siegfried & Co Bombay" merchant mark, "Cette a Bordeaux" (5 Apr) TPO and same-day Bordeaux arrival backstamp. (S.G. 46, 52)

Lot 2187

60.00 CAD

Live

1859 (March 18), cover from Rajmehal to Leighlinbridge, Ireland, franked with 2a orange Queen Victoria horizontal pair, tied by two strikes

1859 (March 18), cover from Rajmehal to Leighlinbridge, Ireland, franked with 2a orange Queen Victoria horizontal pair, tied by two strikes of the octagonal concentric "#147" numeral obliterator, paying the 4a single rate for a letter under ½oz, manuscript "Via Southampton" route directive at upper left and red boxed India Paid handstamp at lower left, reverse with red double-circle Rajmehal c.d.s. (18 Mar), red double-circle G.P.O. / Ex Calcutta transit (21 Mar), and additional India Paid strike, blue Dublin transit (3 May) and Leighlinbridge arrival c.d.s. (3 May), some imperfections, fine.

Lot 2188

50.00 CAD

Live

1859, 4a black, 2a orange, and 8a carmine, tied to folded cover by octagonal "B/1", boxed INDIA PAID in red, to London, endorsed

1859, 4a black, 2a orange, and 8a carmine, tied to folded cover by octagonal "B/1", boxed INDIA PAID in red, to London, endorsed "Per Steamer via Marseilles", CDS receiver on front (28 Jan), faint indistinct transit backstamp, filing folds, one through 4a, else fine.

Lot 2189

50.00 CAD

Live

1860 (February 14), 4a grey black and 2a orange,tied to cover by "97" diamond of bars, Ghazeepore c.d.s., to Bangor, Wales, boxed red INDIA

1860 (February 14), 4a grey black and 2a orange,tied to cover by "97" diamond of bars, Ghazeepore c.d.s., to Bangor, Wales, boxed red INDIA PAID and LONDON PAID c.d.s., endorsed "via Bombay & Marseilles / Paid 6as" in manuscript, partial red Bombay transit and Bangor (23 Mar) arrival backstamp, fine.

Lot 2190

110.00 CAD

Live

1860 (May 28), cover from Fyzabad to London, England, franked with 1856 2a orange and 4a grey-black Queen Victoria issues tied by strikes

1860 (May 28), cover from Fyzabad to London, England, franked with 1856 2a orange and 4a grey-black Queen Victoria issues tied by strikes of the diamond-shaped "#177" numeral obliterator (Cooper Type 5a, "Extremely Rare"), correctly paying the 6a single rate, manuscript "Via Marseilles" directive at top, red boxed India Paid handstamp, and red circular Paid / London arrival (9 Jul), reverse with red double-circle Fyzabad c.d.s. (28 May) and red unrimmed Bombay transit (31 May), some light edge toning, else a fine example of this difficult cancellation.

Lot 2191

50.00 CAD

Live

1861, 2a yellow buff and 4a black, on Gladstone Wyllie & Co forwarding agent cover, adhesives tied by Calcutta "1" duplex (Cooper Type 9a)

1861, 2a yellow buff and 4a black, on Gladstone Wyllie & Co forwarding agent cover, adhesives tied by Calcutta "1" duplex (Cooper Type 9a) and oval GLADSTONE WYLLIE & CO forwarding agent handstamp, boxed red INDIA PAID, "EX Bombay OC 28 61" b/s, endorsed "Per Overland / via Bombay & Marseiles", with Liverpool arrival (21 Nov) backstamp, partial wrapper only.

Lot 2192

50.00 CAD

Live

1862, 2a orange and 4a black, tied to cover by "Calcutta '1'" duplex, to London, handstruck "INDIA / PAID" in red, manuscript "via

1862, 2a orange and 4a black, tied to cover by "Calcutta '1'" duplex, to London, handstruck "INDIA / PAID" in red, manuscript "via Marseilles / Stamped 6a", c.d.s. arrival backstamp (28 Jul), fine.

Lot 2193

50.00 CAD

Live

1862 (January 14), 2a orange and 4a black, tied to folded letter from Madras to London by indistinct diamond grid cancel and oval Madras

1862 (January 14), 2a orange and 4a black, tied to folded letter from Madras to London by indistinct diamond grid cancel and oval Madras cancellation, double split-ring despatch backstamp, endorsed in manuscript "Via Marseilles / Stamped 6 Annas", handstruck INDIA PAID crescent and red "London EC / XB / FE 14 62 / PAID" receiver on front, fine.

Lot 2194

50.00 CAD

Live

1865 (December 13), 2a orange, 4a green, and 8p mauve, tied to cover from Bombay to Dover by "BOMBAY / INDIA PAID" c.d.s.,

1865 (December 13), 2a orange, 4a green, and 8p mauve, tied to cover from Bombay to Dover by "BOMBAY / INDIA PAID" c.d.s., further cancelled in manuscript, endorsed "via Marseilles", with 7 Jan c.d.s. arrival backstamp, includes contents datelined "Byculla Club, Bombay", some edge creasing, still a lovely three-colour franking.

Lot 2195

60.00 CAD

Live

1865 (October 7), cover from Allahabad to Basingstoke, England, franked with a 1860 8p mauve, 1865 2a yellow, and 1866 4a green Queen

1865 (October 7), cover from Allahabad to Basingstoke, England, franked with a 1860 8p mauve, 1865 2a yellow, and 1866 4a green Queen Victoria, tied by Allahabad duplex cancellation, manuscript "Via Bombay & Marseille" directive at upper left, two black Basingstoke arrival c.d.s. (6 Nov) on front, reverse with faint brown octagonal Agra transit (8 Oct), faint brown Railway / Agra Post Office transit (8 Oct), and red Ex Bombay departure mark (12 Oct), black-inked "AS" monogram on flap, some uniform aging, ele a fine cover to the daughter of the well-known William Henry Chichele Plowden, Director of the East India Company and Fellow of the Royal Society, and sister of William Chichele Plowden, at the time Secretary of the Board of Revenue for the North-Western Provinces, later rising to become Census Commissioner for all of India.

Lot 2196

60.00 CAD

Live

1866 (April 4), 2a orange, 4a green, and 8p mauve on cover from Nyneetall to Basingstoke, tied by Nyneetall duplex, endorsed "Via Bombay

1866 (April 4), 2a orange, 4a green, and 8p mauve on cover from Nyneetall to Basingstoke, tied by Nyneetall duplex, endorsed "Via Bombay and Marseilles" overtop of franking, red boxed "INDIA / PAID" and May 6 c.d.s. receiver on font, Bombay (11 Apr) transit backstamp, a lovely cover with tremendous eye-appeal.

Lot 2197

80.00 CAD

Live

1866, cover from Udipi to Knutsford, England, franked with a 4a green Queen Victoria, tied by District Post triangular obliterator (Cooper

1866, cover from Udipi to Knutsford, England, franked with a 4a green Queen Victoria, tied by District Post triangular obliterator (Cooper Type 29), dots within an equilateral triangle enclosing "D" above numeral 218, manuscript "Via Madras & Southampton" route directive at upper left, typical wear, file fold through adhesive, else fine, a scarce example of this postmark, particularly on mail to a foreign destination.

Lot 2198

60.00 CAD

Live

1867, 2a orange, 4a green, and 8p mauve, tied to cover by "48" diamond cancel, INDIA PAID crescent handstamp, Manuntoddy double split-ring

1867, 2a orange, 4a green, and 8p mauve, tied to cover by "48" diamond cancel, INDIA PAID crescent handstamp, Manuntoddy double split-ring despatch backstamp, Bombay (4 Apr) transit, to London, with 6 May receiver on front, embossed red "VIA MARSEILLES" endorsement, an appealing cover with a scarce printed route directive, some edge creasing, else fine.