1670/78: Two entire letters mailed from London to Livorno (Venturini correspondence) with manuscript "3" and fine strikes of the extremely rare circulars "FRANCHES" (Van Der Linden fig. 1406) and "DE CROS FRANCHES" (Van Der Linden fig. 1407), respectively, applied in brown at right on front panels at the Foreign Branch in London. Magnificent and early entires in fine condition.
1840: Mulready 1 d. black envelope, stereo A155, a fine unused example with some minor wear and side flaps missing as usual, handstamped "SPECIMEN" (Type 2) in black. Very rare, with just 8 recorded examples-all have the side flaps removed and all are different stereo numbers. Complete listing of the known examples on Cert. Louis (2011) Gi spec. cat ME2s = £ 6'500.
1840: 1 d. black, plate 1A, lettered II, fine four margined used example cancelled by red Maltese Cross, also 1841 2 d. blue four margins, fine used Gi = £ 350.
1891 (Aug 21): Cover from Manchester to Tunis bearing 1 d. lilac (2) and Jubilee ½ d. vermilion tied by Manchester duplexes; found to be over-weight and taxed with "A Percevoir" italic handstamp in black and Tunisia, perforated, 6 Postage Dues 5 c. green and 15 c. blue pair and single, thus a charge of 50 centimes, double the deficiency. A few minor imperfections but unusual.
1884/90: 5 s. rose on white paper (not blued), a fine mint example of good colour, overprinted "Specimen" (Type 9) in black, line perforated 12 all round; a rare stamp with this perforation, fine and fresh, unused. Cert. Louis (2009) Gi = £ 1'200.
1883: 5 d. green, perforated 12 all round, overprinted "Specimen" (Type 9) in black, a slightly faded mint example, unused. Extremely scarce with very few known with this perforation in private hands. Cert. Louis (2009) Gi = £ 650.
1900 (Dec 4): Registered cover endorsed "Enclosed Photographs" to Virginia / USA franked by Jubilee 1887 2½ d. purple on blue and 1 s. green & carmine, neatly tied by oval "Registered / Liverpool" datestamps. A rare franking, the 1 s. being particularly rare on letter Gi = £ 850.
1899: Cover from USA to London franked by Grant 5 c. blue, forwarded to Hastings on arrival with GB 1887 3 d. purple on yellow tied by Paddington cds (March 12), paying the Express rate with "Post Office / Express" red label alongside. Attractive and scarce.
1912/24: ½ d. "Cyprus" green, a fine mint example of this exceptionally rare very yellow shade, most minor of gum bends on reverse but of excellent definitive colour and barely perceptible trace of hinge. Ex the Charles Nissen stock. Cert. RPS (2012) Gi Spec. Cat N14 (10) = £ 10'000.
1911/12: 1 d. pale carmine, a fine mint block of four with lower right stamp clearly showing "No Cross on Crown" variety, fresh and very fine, lower pair unmounted og Gi = £ 800.
1912: 1 d. aniline scarlet, the fine mint vertical pair with upper stamp showing "No Cross on Crown" variety, superb unmounted og. Rare. Cert. RPS (1974) Gi = £ 1'400.
1913: Watermarked Multiple Royal Cypher, the ½ d. bright green and 1 d. dull scarlet in fresh and fine vertical Coil Join pairs, the ½ d. with one tone spot on one perf. on reverse, otherwise superb unmounted og Gi = £ 750+.
1913: Waterlow Seahorse 5 s. rose-carmine, a superb mint example, marginal from top of sheet, well centred and of good strong colour. A rare stamp so fine, superb og Gi = £ 500.
1913: Waterlow Seahorse £ 1 deep blue green, Spec. N72 (2), a fresh mint example of excellent strong colour in a deep vivid shade, fine unmounted og. Cert BPA (1977) Gi = £ 3'500+.
1915: De la Rue Seahorse 2 s. 6 d. "Cinnamon" brown, Spec. N64 (9), a fresh mint example, marginal from right of sheet, of lovely delicate colour, superb og. Cert RPS (1977) Gi = £ 2'000.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 2 s. 6 d. bright yellow brown, Spec N64 (8), a superb mint example, marginal from left of sheet, fresh and fine, superb unmounted og. Cert. RPS (1977) Gi = £ 300+.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 2 s. 6 d. pale brown, worn plate, Spec N64 (3), a superb mint example, marginal from left of sheet, fresh and fine, superb og. Cert. RPS (1976) Gi = £ 350.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 2 s. 6 d. pale brown, a fine mint example showing the re-entry (Row 2, stamp 1), fresh and well centred example, large part og. Cert. RPS (1974) Gi = £ 1'800.
1915: De la Rue Seahorse 2 s. 6 d. "Blackish" brown, Spec. N64 (14), a fresh mint example, of fine deep colour, large part og. Cert RPS (1975) Gi = £ 1'200.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 5 s. (deep) carmine, a fresh and fine mint example, well centred, unmounted og. Cert RPS (1976) Gi Spec. cat N67 (2) = £ 425+.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 5 s. bright carmine, a superb mint top marginal example, of excellent colour and centering, mounted in margin only, unmounted og Gi = £ 425+.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 5 s. pale carmine, worn plate, a fresh and fine mint example, marginal from right of sheet, superbly centred, mounted in margin only, stamp unmounted og. Cert RPS (1976) Gi Spec. cat N67 (3) = £ 600+.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 10 s. bright "Cambridge" blue Spec. cat. N70 (3), a fine mint example of excellent colour, with sheet margin at right partly splitting, a superlative example of an extremely rare stamp, superb og. Cert. RPS (1978) Gi = £ 7'000.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 10 s. deep blue, worn plate, Spec. cat. N70 (8), a fine mint example of excellent colour, some barely nibbed perforations but an extremely rare stamp, large part og. Cert. RPS (1976) Gi = £ 3'250.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 10 s. blue, Spec. cat. N70 (1), a fine mint example of excellent fresh colour, minor horizontal bend not affecting appearance, large part og. Cert. RPS (1976) Gi = £ 2'500.
1915: De La Rue Seahorse 10 s. pale blue, Spec. cat. N70 (4), a fine mint example of excellent colour, fresh colour, scarce, large part og. Cert. RPS (1974) Gi = £ 2'800.