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Lagos

Catalogue 287: British West Africa – The ‘BESANÇON’ Collection (part I)
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  • Lot# : 5149 Lagos

    1860 (Oct 17-22): Printed appeal by Henry St. John Bullen on behalf of the 'late Mr. Campbell' who had been the British Consul at Lagos from 22 July 1853 until 17 April 1859, relating to a claim for payments in respect of the additional services undertaken by Benjamin Campbell, outside of his duties as Consul, for acting as both Postmaster and Packet Agent to the Colony; the printed appeal on two pages to the British Postmaster General is joined on the third page by a manuscript letter of appeal from Louisa Bullen, Campbell's daughter. Unusual and most interesting document with a valuable insight into the amount of Mail the Consul had dealt with on an annual basis.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 5150 Lagos

    1873: Prepaid mourning cover sent registered to Wolverhampton struck with superb "LAGOS" code A datestamp in black (June 19) and straight line "REGISTERED LETTER" in red at left. Prepaid '5d.' in red manuscript. "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" cds in red and double arc "REGISTERED / LIVERPOOL" cds on obverse (July 12); reverse with Wolverhampton arrival cds in black. Small envelope imperfections at base but a superb and rare cover.rnProvenance: Collection R.B. Sanderson, RL, London, 17 April 1980.
    Starting bid : 1,200 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,200 CHF

    Lot# : 5151 Lagos

    1873 (Nov 26): Registered cover to Wolverhampton struck with superb "REGISTERED LETTER" handstamp in black and equally fine "LAGOS" code A circular datestamp in red (Nov 28) of despatch (Sacher type 5, first recorded May 23, 1873). Manuscript docketing of sender at left and circular "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" cds in red (Dec 26) and double ring "REGISTERED / LIVERPOOL" cds of the same day in red. Wolverhampton arrival cds (Dec 27) in black on reverse. Rated "5+2=7 d." credit in red crayon. A sensational cover showing brilliant strikes of these rare markings, illustrated in "The Postal History and Handstamps of British West Africa" by Colin McCaig, a similar, but later cover, being illustrated in "The Postal Services of the British Nigeria Region" by Jack Ince & John Sacher on page 44. A rarity.rnProvenance: Harmers, London, 5 April 2005, lot 1262.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5152 Lagos

    1899: Cover from Jebba to Reading, Berkshire sent stampless and endorsed "No stamps available, J. Elkington, Commanding 1st W.A.F.F" (West African Frontier Force) and "Jebba 13.5.99" at top right. Reverse with transit of boxed "THE ROYAL NIGER COMPANY / CHARTERED  & LIMITED / 3 JUN. 1899 / POST OFFICE / BURUTU" in violet (Gi. Type 6). Taxed on arrival at "2d." in blue manuscript, altered to 1 d. with "1D. / 620" charge at Reading (July 10) on arrival. File fold and edge wear but very scarce.rnNote: Sent by Captain J. Elkington, Commanding Officer of the W.A.F.F. which was formed by Battalions from Lagos, Niger Coast and Sierra Leone detachments. Elkington serverd with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was with the W.A.F.F. from 11 March 1899 until 23 May 1900. He was promoted to Major on 10 April 1901. His First World War experiences were extraordinary, cashiered (wrongly) for cowardice from the British Army, he fought instead for the French forces and was awarded the Croix du Guerre and Palm and the Médaille Militaire.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 300 CHF

    Lot# : 5153 Lagos

    1874: De La Rue Master Die Proof with blank Duty Plate, printed in black on glazed white card and struck with "BEFORE HARDENING" and dated "Mar. 25, 1874" in black, lower right corner showing hand-painted Essay for "THREEPENCE" proposed Duty Plate in blue, manuscript notation above states "This is too small" and below "Mr. W.W.D. says larger" (William Warren De La Rue, 1847-1921). Mentioned in Ince & Sacher "The Postal Services of the British Nigeria Region" on page 67. Slight soiling but an important and extremely rare Proof.rnNote: The Colonel Danson collection contained a (faulty) Die Proof dated on the same day endorsed "Penny Halfpenny" in pencil manuscript and adated 1874, Sacher considered the date erroneous for 1879. According to Ince & Sacher just two dated Die Proofs are known.rnProvenance: Collection R.B. Yardley; Collection R.B. Sanderson, RL, London, 17 April 1980.rnrn 
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,500 CHF

    Lot# : 5154 Lagos

    1874: De La Rue Master Die Proof with Duty Plate, engraved in black on white glazed card, with AFTER HARDENING and dated "Mar. 26 1874" in black at left. Slight dust but fine and rare.rnProvenance: Harmers, London, 14 Feb 1995, lot 1194.
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 5155 Lagos

    1874: 1 d. bright lilac-mauve, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 12½, an unused example overprinted CANCELLED in black (Samuel Type D6), without gum. Extremely rare, between 1 and 6 examples are recorded of the first issue with the 'Cancelled' overprint, probably utilised as file copies by De La Rue: see "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP page 4509 for similar examples and lot 1510 of the Colonel Danson sale.rnProvenance: Collection H.G. Porter; Collection R.B. Sanderson, RL, London, 17 April 1980.rn                    
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 400 CHF

    Lot# : 5156 Lagos

    1874: 1 d. lilac-mauve, 2 d. blue, 4 d. carmine and 6 d. blue-green, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 12½, unused examples overprinted CANCELLED in black (Samuel Type D7), all adhered to card. Extremely rare, between 1 and 6 examples are recorded of the first issue with the 'Cancelled' overprints, probably utilised as file copies by De La Rue: see "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP page 4509 for similar examples.rn 
    Starting bid : 1,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,800 CHF

    Lot# : 5157 Lagos

    1874/75: 2 d. blue, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 12½, an unused block of four of rich colour, well centred, somewhat typical erratic perforations, large part og. A rare multiple Gi = £ 320+.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 900 CHF

    Lot# : 5158 Lagos

    1875 (Feb): 3 d. red-brown, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 12½, two examples used on 1875 cover to Wolverhamptontied by "LAGOS" code B datestamps in black (Oct 30). Manuscript credit '5d.' in red at right and "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" cds in red (Dec 5). Wolverhampton arrival cds on reverse (Dec 6). Minimal aging, a remarkable and very rare cover.rnProvenance: Collection William C. Hinde; Collection L. Du P. Chiappini.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,800 CHF

    Lot# : 5159 Lagos

    1874/75: 4 d. carmine and 6 d. blue-green, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 12½, used on registered 1875 cover to Wolverhampton, each tied by bold strikes of "LAGOS" code B circular datestamps (June 1) in black, with information strike below. Straight line "REGISTERED LETTER" in red at left, circular "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" cds in red (June 30) and double ring "REGISTERED / LIVERPOOL" cds of the same day in red. Rated "5+2=7 d." credit in red crayon. Birmingham and Wolverhampton arrival cds (June 30) in black on reverse of a wonderful cover, illustrated in the Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia on page 296. Rare.rnProvenance: Collection Maurice Burrus, RL, London, 10 March 1964, lot 149; W.E. Lea; Collection Sir John Marriott; Carmichael & Todd (1993).rn                      
    Starting bid : 1,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,400 CHF

    Lot# : 5160 Lagos

    1874: 6 d. blue-green, wmk. CC, perf. 12½, a used example on 1874 cover to Wolverhampton tied by two fine strikes of "LAGOS" code B datestamps (Dec 1) in black. Manuscript credit '5d.' in red at left and obscured "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR. PACKET" cds in red (Jan 2, 1875) with Wolverhampton arrival cds on reverse. Some minor aging around perforations but a most attractive and rare single franking.rnProvenance: Collection R.B. Sanderson, RL, London, 17 April 1980, lot 198.
    Starting bid : 1,200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5161 Lagos

    1875 (Feb): 1 s. orange with 15½ mm. Duty Plate, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 12½, an unused example of fine colour, typically slightly eratic perfs., large part og. A very rare and much under-catalogued stamp Gi = £ 700.
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 350 CHF

    Lot# : 5162 Lagos

    1883 (Aug 28): De La Rue Appendix sheet headed "Lagos Postage Stamps, Existing and proposed Scheme of Colours", with top sheet showing Colour Trials with blank Duty Plates perforated 14 in carmine (1 d.) "being that established by the International Postal Convention", 2 d. in greyish-blue, 4 d. in mauve and 6 d. in olive-green. The issued 3 d. red-brown and 1 s. orange each annotated in manuscript "This colour cannot be improved upon". Second sheet shows the original 1876/82 set of six values in issued colours, all perf. 12½. Partially illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton on page 4512. The colours were approved on April 7, 1884 and issued in December. A superb unique sheet for the connoisseur.
    Starting bid : 3,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,400 CHF

    Lot# : 5163 Lagos

    1 / 1
    1876/79: 1 s. orange, wmk. Crown CC, perf. 14, ONE SHILLING measuring 16½ mm., a fine unused example of excellent centering and colour, fresh and fine, large part og. A very rare and elusive stamp. Cert. Harmer Rooke (1951) Gi = £ 950.rnProvenance: Collection King Carol II of Romania, Harmer Rooke, New York, March 1951, lot 216; Collection Sir Gawaine Baillie, Sotheby's, London, 24 Nov 2005, lot 266.
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,300 CHF

    Lot# : 5164 Lagos

    1882 (June): 2 d. blue, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused horizontal strip of four, marginal from top of sheet, with Plate and Serial Number "1" in margin, folded between central stamps not affecting the delightful appearance, mounted in margin only with stamps unmounted og. A rare multiple Gi = £ 800+.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 5165 Lagos

    1885: De La Rue Die Proof, Imperforate in green with blank Duty Plate, applied to thin brown tracing paper with hand-painted red frame and HALFPENNY Duty painted in green below, dated at top "15 OCT 85". Supplied by De La Rue upon the request for the new ½ d. value and approved on Oct 20, 1885. Illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP on page 4513. Unique and splendid.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,500 CHF

    Lot# : 5166 Lagos

    1886/87: De La Rue Essay for the "Doubly Fugitive" inking process, ½ d. lilac (colour of the issued 4 d.) on unwatermarked paper, perf. 14, with Duty Plate showing HALF PENNY in black, fresh and very fine unused. For a similar example, and probably the only other example, of this Essay see "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP, page 4514. Rare.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 5167 Lagos

    1884/86: 4 d. pale violet, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused block of four, marginal from base of sheet, with Serial Number "1" in margin, of fine fresh colour, large part og. with lower pair unmounted og. A scarce stamp in a multiple Gi = £ 640+.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 480 CHF

    Lot# : 5168 Lagos

    1884/86: 1 s. orange, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused block of twelve (6 x 2), margins at sides, fresh bright colour, large part or unmounted og. A delightful and scarce multiple Gi = £ 275+.
    Starting bid : 140 CHF
    Hammer price : 240 CHF

    Lot# : 5169 Lagos

    1884/86: 1 s. orange, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused block of eighteen (6 x 3), marginal from top of the sheet with Plate number "1" and serial number "1" in margin, superbly fresh and fine, large part or unmounted og. A delightful and scarce multiple Gi = 400+.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 380 CHF

    Lot# : 5170 Lagos

    1884/86: 2 s. 6 d. olive-black, 5 s. blue, 10 s. purple-brown, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, the unused set of three each overprinted SPECIMEN in black, fresh and fine, the 2 s. 6 d. with slight adherence to gum otherwise all large part og. Rare - just 100 examples of each were sent to the Colony Gi = £ 425.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 260 CHF

    Lot# : 5171 Lagos

    1 / 1
    1884/86: 2 s. 6 d. olive-black, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused example o fine colour, trivial corner perf. bend, large part og. Signed F.B. Turpin/London. Cert. BPA (2022) Gi = £ 350.
    Starting bid : 140 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 5172 Lagos

    1884/86: 5 s. blue, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, an unused example, fresh and very fine, large part og. Scarce, just 600 sent to the Colony Gi = £ 700.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 360 CHF

    Lot# : 5173 Lagos

    1 / 1
    1884/86: 10 s. purple-brown, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, a used example cancelled by barred oval obliterator in black. Superb for this rarity. Signed Thier. Cert. BPA (1928) - the certificate is signed Houtzamer, Oliver and Pemberton Gi = £ 1'100.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,400 CHF

    Lot# : 5174 Lagos

    1884/86: Definitive set of twelve values unused, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, all overprinted SPECIMEN in black, fresh colours and fine, large part og. Scarce Gi = £ 325.
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : 180 CHF

    Lot# : 5175 Lagos

    1886/87: De La Rue Colour Trial for the proposed 2 s. 6 d. value: ½ d. value (unissued) in yellow-green & carmine, on gummed unwatermarked wove paper, line perf. 14. The describer believes this stamp was taken from a similar Appendix sheet as dated Augsut 28, 1886, illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP on page 4514. Rare and most unusual.rnProvenance: Collection Colonel J.R. Danson, RL, London, 10 March 1971, ex lot 1535.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 5176 Lagos

    1887/92: 1 s. yellow-green & black unused, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, with diagonal "Specimen" in ink manuscript, fresh and fine, large part og. Rare.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 360 CHF

    Lot# : 5177 Lagos

    1904 (Jan-Nov): Edward VII definitive set of twelve values, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, the unused set of ten values overprinted SPECIMEN in black (Samuel type D12), fresh and fine, large part og. Gi = £ 225.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 5178 Lagos

    1904 (Jan-Nov): Edward VII definitive set of twelve values, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, the unused set of ten values and the additional 2½ d. with smaller Duty Plate, fresh colours, large part og. A very rare set - just 720 of the 10 s. value were sent to the Colony Gi = £ 650.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 320 CHF

    Lot# : 5179 Lagos

    1903: De La Rue Appendix sheet dated "16th Jan 1903" at top, for the colour selections of the Edward VII definitives, showing Imperforate Colour Trial of the 1 d. value in dull green & green (as selected for ½ d.), purple & black on red (2 examples, one in a darker shade at base) as selected for the 1 d. value, dull purple & blue on blued paper (2 examples, one in a darker shade at base) as selected for the 2½ d. value, with annotations of values at left and "App'd" at right. Illustrated in "The De La Rue Collection" edited by Frank Walton RDP on page 4518. Slight scuff at top and at left where a Proof was removed but of great rarity and most attractive.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,800 CHF

    Lot# : 5180 Lagos

    1904 (Jan-Nov): Edward VII 2½ d. dull purple & blue in blue, a corner marginal block of four with Plate Number "1" at top, and 1904/06 2 s. 6 d. green & carmine in a block of four, each cancelled by "ABOH" Southern Nigeria datestamps in black, the 2½ d. (Nov 16, 1906) and the 2 s. 6 d. (Jan 16, 1907). Scarce and fine usages Gi = £ 280+.
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 5181 Lagos

    1904 (Nov): Edward VII definitive 10 s. green & brown, wmk. Crown CA, perf. 14, a fine used example cancelled by Lagos registered datestamp (Dec 1, 1904) in black. Scarce Gi = £ 375.
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 5182 Lagos

    1904/06: Edward VII definitive set, wmk. Multiple Crown CA, the unused collection on leaves with the set of nine on ordinary paper in blocks of four and the set of nine single values (excl. 2 d.), the complete set on chalk-surfaced paper (excl. one 2½ d.) and the 1 d., 2 d., 2½ d., 3 d. and 1 s. in blocks of four; generally fresh and very fine, large part or unmounted og. Gi = £ 1'500+.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 480 CHF

    Lot# : 5183 Lagos

    1904/06: 1 d. purple & black on red and 6 d. dull purple & mauve, used on 1907 registered cover to Bournemouth, cancelled by "Registered / Bonny" despatch (Feb 26), carried on the ill-fated S.S. Jebba of the African Steamship Co. which ran aground in fog at Bolt Tail on the South Devon Coast on March 18th. Struck with "SALVED FROM / S S JEBBA" in violet and also with smaller case "SALVED FROM / S.S. JEBBA" at left and re-registered with Plymouth label. Reverse with 'Bath' cds (March 20) and Bournemouth arrival of the same day. Some water staining as can be expected but a rare registered usage with two different cachets.rnProvenance: Collection L. Du P. Chiappini.rnrn 
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 360 CHF

    Lot# : 5184 Lagos

    1904/06: 2 s. 6 d. green & carmine, ordinary paper, wmk. Multiple Crown CA, an unused block of ten (5 x 2) from lower right corner of the sheet showing Plate Number "1" in margin, of fine colour, two vertical through perfs. only otherwise of very fresh and fine appearance, slightly browned unmounted og. An impressive multiple Gi = £ 280+. 
    Starting bid : 120 CHF
    Hammer price : 260 CHF

    Lot# : 5185 Lagos

    1874/1907: Cancellation collection on leaves (55 items) from first issue with LAGOS code A and B datestamps, oval of bars obliterators (both thick and thin), "L" in bars obliterator usages, ABEOKUTA usages (3), fine EBUTEMETIA cds on 1 d. carmine, EPE on 1 d. carmine pair, three different IBADAN types and datestamp usages on three postcards, Plymouth datestamps applied on arrival, German West Africa line with 9 examples and a card, and four pieces with Lagos and Southern Nigeria adhesives used in combination and five different unused postal stationery items.rn 
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 340 CHF
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