Lot n°
Symbol(s)
Estimate (£)
172 | Great Britain & British Empire
50725
F DFE L
1854 Lithograph postal history group with six complete Half Anna covers, one damaged part entire
and a four margined pair on part entire, 1a envelope and content including a colour map of the
Cantonment of Dera Ismail Khan (stamp damaged), two further entires and another with two singles
on outer letter sheet to Calcutta endorsed “per Fire Queen”, 4a cut-to-shape on large part entire
Meerut to London, two cut-to-shape singles on part cover to Ireland and an outer letter sheet with
two cut-to-shape but missing a stamp.
400 - 600
50726
F
1854-55 group of 10 covers to a soldier in the 71st Regiment N.I., six of which are complete with their
letter with fascinating social contents, incl. mentions of being in a howdah on an elephant, marching
and being a poor shot, etc., with origins incl. Delhi, Amritsar, Kangra, Cawnpore, Allahabad and “Camp
Kablana”, with either 1854 1/2a or 1a frankings, mixed condition, an interesting group.
800 - 1’200
50727
F / 170
Anglo-Persian War: 1857 (Jan 14) entire lettersheet sent from a soldier to England with 1854 4a
cut-square, fine to good margins, cancelled by slightly indistinct “55” numeral of Khandalla (Poona)
and further datelined inside, with Bombay transit and London arrival, including important contents
about the mobilisation of the British Expeditionary force to Bushire, Persia (see extract below), a very
fine and historical cover.
Extract: “...we should have been on board ship by this time had it not been for the delay of the commissariat
who have not yet provisioned the ships, as it is we expect to leave here on the 18th to proceed by railway
from Campoolee...to Bombay where we shall embark for Bushire or Bussrah at present it is said the
former...Where we are now they are making a railway up the Ghat mountain and it is I should say one
of the most difficult undertakings even ahead in some places they are tunnelling through solid rock for
several hundred yards and by having three charges of workmen for 24 hours they only get through one
foot a day...The rumour is that there are fifteen thousand of the enemy before Bushire and they expect to
be attacked so there is now a larger force going the 26thLI and 14th Lt Dragoons with ourselves forming
a brigade under Col Hamilton of our Regt besides two other brigades one of which comes from Bengal
under Col Havelock however as yet it is just as likely that we shall never embark as there is no knowing
soon the Shah of Persia shall give in”.
2’000 - 3’000
50728
F
S.G. 22
1857 (Dec 23) large folded entire to Glasgow franked two 4a Head Die II, frame Die II each cut
to shape cancelled by ‘52’ barred diamonds, the stamp at left tied London Paid (Fe 2/58) red cds,
framed INDIA PAID handstamp to left, reverse with red Poona Paid cds and red Bombay double arc
(DE 24), blue Glasgow arrival of FE 2; tear at top of entire and a repair to it at back, neither affecting
stamps of strong colour.
400 - 500