Great Britain Specialised
153-157 London Rd, Derby DE1 2SY, UK
| Lot | THE GEORGE LANE COLLECTION | Estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | MERCANTILE PAPERS - ORIGINAL "THE POST CIRCULAR" 4-PAGE NEWSPAPER, ISSUE "No.2": Very fine and complete 21 Mar. 1838 issue of "The Post Circular" (folded neatly to fit on an album page - ex binding) which was the pivotal weapon in Henry Cole's arsenal of 'Mercantile Papers' propaganda. Cole even managed to register this as a 'real' newspaper and so it had to be carried for free by the P.O.(!), so there is a fine red "POST/CIRCULAR/NEWSPAPER" 1d Tax Stampon the back page (folded neatly to display it beside the mast-head). The contents start with a 1½-page report on Wallace's important 9 May 1837 motion in the Commons "That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire and report what alterations and reductions may be made in the present [postal] rates, and under the present mode of charging postage, or by the adoption of the principle and mode proposed in a pamphlet by Mr. Rowland Hill...". That is followed by lists of recent "PETITIONS FOR REDUCTION OF POSTAGE" from around the country inc. the City of London, news of sittings of the Select Committee on Postage, a letter about crazy high local rates in Somerset, and news of the P.O. wrongly charging some 600 'Post Circulars' (correctly posted free). There is also a small amount of non-postal news (to justify it being a newspaper), and a full back-page advert for various school books and publications of "F. de Porquet". This is MCP2/02b (see JG-T's 'International Postal Reforms', p.338); only three other examples are recorded in private hands. Highly Important Exhibition Item. [Ex the George Moffatt set of Mercantile Papers, 1988.] [The similar Post Circulars, Nos. 5 & 11, sold in Cavendish's Mar. 2024 auction, lots 1245 & 1248, for £1,736 & £1,984 inc. BP respectively.] |  | $1,300 |
| 2002 | MERCANTILE PAPERS - ORIGINAL "THE POST CIRCULAR" NEWSPAPER "No. 6" - THE 8-PAGE "DOUBLE NUMBER": Very fine and complete 4 May 1838 issue of "The Post Circular" (with Henry Cole's pencil number "9" at top of first page; folded neatly to fit on an album page - ex binding so LH margin slightly rough, but neatly folded under) with a fine red "POST/CIRCULAR/NEWSPAPER" 1d Tax Stampon an inside page. The contents start with a short summary of "The plan proposed by Mr. Hill" ending with an advert for his pamphlet. There are then 1½-pages of reports of pro-Cheap Postage public & other meetings held in Manchester, Greenock, Edinburgh & Gateshead, a page of extracts from the Select Committee on Postage's verbal evidence (ref. projected increases in Insurance Co. and Institution of Civil Engineers mailings if a 1d rate started), and a summary of "ancient rates of postage" (1635-1711). That is followed by lists of recent "PETITIONS FOR REDUCTION OF POSTAGE" from around the country, a summary of an article of the London & Wmr. Review, regional reactions to the Posta Circular itself, an open letter from Rowland Hill to the Chancellor about transport costs for increased mail sizes and ref. the growing support for (and number of petitions in favour of) "Post-office Reform", varied letters and comments on a whole host of other Postal Reform topics. There is also a full back-page advert for an Insurance Co. This is MCP2/06 (see JG-T's 'International Postal Reforms', p.338); only three other examples are recorded in private hands. Highly Important Exhibition Item. [Ex the John Dillon set of Mercantile Papers, 1998.] [The similar Post Circulars, Nos. 5 & 11, sold in Cavendish's Mar. 2024 auction, lots 1245 & 1248, for £1,736 & £1,984 inc. BP respectively.] Cross Reference: NEWSPAPER MAIL |  | $1,300 |
| 2003 | MERCANTILE PAPERS - RARE "HENRY COLE" CIRCULAR SEEKING SUPPORT FOR "UNIFORM PENNY POSTAGE": 24 May 1839 printed circular in the handwriting of and "signed" by Henry Cole himself; ideal size (126 x 206mm) for mounting on an album page and with Henry Cole's own pencil "31" in the top right corner; also exceptionally having a few words inked over in Cole's own manuscript ("13" & "London" in the heading, plus part of "successful" in the body of the text). It was sent to most British Chambers of Commerce (identified as such in Cole's own printed MCP listing) just as the campaign for Cheap postage reached the critical stage; "The London Mercantile Committee on Postage have directed me to request you to call the attention of your association to the Subscription for promoting the Uniform Penny Postage... to enable them to bring their labours hitherto successful to a triumphant issue...". Highly significant and rare Cheap Postage Committee circular from the man who was to become Rowland Hill's right-hand man in 1839/40 to oversee the introduction of postage stamps and Cheap Postage (JG-T's MPI/04). Attractive and highly significant Exhibition 'Page One' Item. One of only two examples recorded in private hands. [Ex George Moffatt's 'Mercantile Papers' set, Harmers Oct. 1988.] [The similar Mar. 1839 "Henry Hooper" 'signed' circular in Cavendish's Dec. 2022 auction, lot 891, realised £2,200+BP.] |  | $1,300 |
| 2004 | MERCANTILE PAPERS - RARE HENRY COLE "FRESH...POWERS" CIRCULAR REF. NEED "TO PROVIDE STAMPS", ETC.: c.10 July 1839 folded printed double-sheet (foolscap size; neatly folded to fit an album page) by Henry Cole entitled "WHAT FRESH LEGISLATIVE POWERS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE PENNY POSTAGE PLAN" designed to reassure people that existing laws were almost all that was needed, but identifying just three new powers were needed; "1st To provide Stamps, and make the issue of them legal; and the abuse, penal. 2nd To abolish Franking. 3rd And to clear up doubts about charging by weight." Fascinating and important document showing that there was very little remaining to be organised before Cheap Postage (and Postage Stamps) could come into being. One of the very last Mercantile Papers to be issued; the Act came into effect on 17 August 1839. (JG-T's MP8/18). Attractive and highly significant Exhibition 'Page One' Item. One of only three examples recorded in private hands. [Ex John Dillon's 'Mercantile Papers' set, Spink 1998.] |  | $1,000 |
| 2005 | MERCANTILE PAPERS - ORIGINAL GIANT "UNIFORM Penny Postage... A PETITION Lies here...ONLY ONE DAY" POSTER: [c.4] July 1839 wall poster (c.24 inches wide by 19½ inches high) produced by the 'Mercantile Committee on Postage' for the final stage of their campaign for Cheap Postage, encouraging Londoners to sign Petitions in favour of Uniform Penny Postage, just before the final crucial votes in Parliament. This is MP3/12 of which only two other examples have been recorded, and this is in much the best condition of the three. It has been carefully professionally rebacked with only two main folds; only small parts of a few letters of the text have been retouched in pencil. [See JG-T's 2020 "International Postal Reforms", pp.338-341, for listings of all recorded Mercantile Papers.] [Ex the John Dillon set of Mercantile Papers, 1998.] |  | $500 |
| 2006 | 10 JAN. 1840 - VERY RARE FIRST DAY BLACK EDINBURGH HANDSTRUCK "2" MARK ON UNPAID COVER: 10 Jan. 1840 local E sent unpaid within Edinburgh with a mainly very fine strike of Edinburgh's Handstruck "2" in black on the front - a First Day Usage on unpaid Uniform Penny Postage mail with a mainly fine Edinr. red "JAN/+ 1[0] F/1840" cds (light fold) nicely placed on the top flap. Fortunately the filing note is very clear - "10 January 1840, John Morrison SSC Ans[were]d. 10th" - which proves the date of the cover. If posted on Jan. 9th, the rate would have been 1d (the 2d rate had then been for unpaid Edinburgh country POs' mail). "SSC" stands for 'Solicitor to the Supreme Court' in Scotland. Arguably the most difficult U.P.P. First Day Cover to find; the Handstruck "2" in black used on this date is very seldom seen. [The similar Edinburgh FDC hs "2" cover in Cavendish's Jan. 2005 auction, lot 726, realised £1,300 + BP. We have not sold any other hs 10 Jan. FDCs in the last 25 years, except for two Catterick "2" fronts.] Cross Reference: FIRST DAY COVERS, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, SCOTLAND, UNIFORM 1d POSTAGE PERIOD |  | $500 |
| 2007 | JAMES CHALMERS - POSTAL REFORMER & TREASURY COMPETITION ENTRANT - CIRCULAR REF. MAIL COACHES: 1 June 1841 privately printed Anti-Sabbatarian circular entitled "REMARKS ON THE EFFECTS OF MAIL-COACH STOPPAGE ON THE SABBATH-DAY" (folds to fit album page) giving the texts of a 26 Mar. 1841 letter from Chalmers that appeared in the Aberdeen & Perthshire papers (being taken up by the London 'Sun' and other papers soon after). He added extra paragraphs for this circular version. This circular – the only example in private hands– was found in 1966, in the personal papers of Chalmers' friend George Duncan (1791-1878; an M.P. and wealthy Dundee merchant) with some original Chalmers Treasury Essays. He outlines his opinion that by stopping mail coaches on Sundays would hamper both trade and communications. An unusual pro-Sunday Working Propaganda item. [Ex 'Duncan Papers', Harmers 1966.] Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, TREASURY ESSAYS, ETC. |  | $130 |
| 2008 | MULREADY STATIONERY. c.1839 PROOF OF THE MULREADY FRONT FROM THE ORIGINAL BRASS ENGRAVING: An unused proof of the front design without value, on thin India paper (260 x 208 mm). Small tear well clear of the design at lower left. |  | $500 |
| 2009 | MULREADY STATIONERY. c.1839 PROOF OF THE MULREADY FRONT FROM THE ORIGINAL BRASS ENGRAVING: A fine example on green wove paper (223 x 141 mm). Very presentable and scarce. SG Spec. MP6 £4,000. |  | $500 |
| 2010 | MULREADY STATIONERY. c.1839 PROOF OF THE MULREADY FRONT WITHOUT VALUE TAKEN FROM THE BRASS ENGRAVING: A fine proof on wove paper (238 x 202 mm) folded down to 166 x 113 mm. Small faults. |  | $260 |
| 2011 | MULREADY STATIONERY. THOMPSON'S STEREOTYPE PROOFS ON INDIA PAPER: Three proofs of the front on India paper with the value tablet cut away from Thompson's State I (3) with various degrees of shading and one from State II. All mounted on thin card. Fine and scarce. |  2 | $340 |
| 2012 | MULREADY STATIONERY. THOMPSON STEREOTYPE PROOFS ON INDIA PAPER: Two proofs of Thompson's State II & State III on thin paper Both without face values. One with small faults, one fine. |  | $160 |
| 2013 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 20 Mar. 1840 ESSAY PROOF ON WOVE PAPER OF THOMPSON'S PLATE - WHITING'S ENGINE TURNED FRAME & UNADOPTED INFORMATION PANELS: Some folds which is normal on such essays. The inscriptions for "Thompson" and "Mulready at the foot of the design have not been engraved and there are distinctive marks both on the left and right of the design. An important Mulready proof. SG Spec. MP7 £25,000. |  | $3,400 |
| 2014 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1840 1d MULREADY ENVELOPE PROOF OF THE COMPLETED DESIGN: A complete proof of Stereo A133 with ms "PROOF" in ink over the value tablet. Also has portions of two further proofs inc. Stereo A132 which are attached but almost completely torn away. Some faults but scarce. |  | $200 |
| 2015 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1840 1d MULREADY ON GRANITE PAPER: An unused example on granite paper with unallocated Stereo A183. Small faults but scarce. |  | $95 |
| 2016 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1840 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET- "SPECIMEN": A front and part back Forme 1, Stereo A10 with ink ms "Specimen"over the value tablet. Fine. |  | $80 |
| 2017 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1840 2d MULREADY "Cancelled": 1840 2d env. Forme 1, Stereo a209 with vertical ms "Cancelled". Fine. |  | $80 |
| 2018 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET SENT AT THE QUADRUPLE RATE: 5 Apr. 1841 1d letter sheet with number covered by a wax seal used from Beverley to York with black MX cancellation and ms "P 3". Usual folds. |  | $95 |
| 2019 | MULREADY STATIONERY. RARE 1d MULREADY FRONT TO INDIA: 1 July 1840 1d Mulready front used from London with a very smudged red MX and "PAID" tombstone ds "via Marseilles" with ms "Paid 3/6½d" to "Robert N Campbell/Commanding Naer Brigade/Travancore/By Bombay". Displays well. |  | $65 |
| 2020 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET BEARING 1d BLACK: 3 Aug. 1840 with Stereo number removed used from Chippenham to The Strand, London (horizontal crease) bearing a centrally cancelled but untied 1d plate 2 KL (cut along frameline at top). A fine matching red MX cancelling Britannia. |  | $1,000 |
| 2021 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - FIRST DAY OF BLACK MALTESE CROSS BUT CANCELLED IN RED: A fine example with Stereo missing used from Watford to London with a fine 10 Feb. 1841 cds the 1st day of the black MX. Cancelled with a fine red MX. Contains "Family Endowment, Annuity Life Assurance & Reversionary Interest Society" blue advertisement (SG Spec. MA128a). Fine. |  | $200 |
| 2022 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET WITH STEREO NUMBER COVERED BY WAX SEAL: 8 July 1840 example cancelled with a very fine red MX contrary to regulations to right of Britannia, re-directed to Inverness with ms "to Pay 1D". Very fine. |  | $160 |
| 2023 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET: 16 Sept. 1841 example with Stereo number removed used from Kirkcudbright to Ayres with a good black MX cancellation. Light vertical bend. Cross Reference: SCOTLAND |  | $95 |
| 2024 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET: 20 Nov. 1842 with Stereo number removed. Used from Bletchingley to Kilburn with a good "BLETCHINGLEY" UDC on reverse. Horizontal fold does not detract. |  | $80 |
| 2025 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - UPRATED WITH 1841 1d RED: 31 Jan. 1843 1d letter sheet with Stereo removed used from Aberystwith to Haverfordwest uprated with 1842 1d red plate 28 NL (cut into at foot) tied by a fine black MX with another very fine strike cancelling Britannia at left. Contains printed report of the "Clerical, Medical and General Life Assurance Society" (SG Spec. MA113k). Fine. |  | $2,000 |
| 2026 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - MAY 1840 USE: 13 May 1840 1d letter sheet used to West Hackney with a very fine 13 May 1840 ds and red MX. Clearly dated 13 May 1840 on reverse and a lightly struck "Piccadilly" hs. Vertical fold and stereo obscured. |  | $240 |
| 2027 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET CANCELLED CONTRARY TO REGULATIONS: 21 July 1841 example with Stereo covered by a wax seal used from Shiffnal to Wolverhampton, Britannia cancelled with a complete red "SHIFFNAL" cds with a matching red MX towards upper right corner. Scarce. |  | $200 |
| 2028 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - SUPERB CANCELLATIONS: 2 Mar. 1842 1d Mulready letter sheet with Stereo covered by seal used from Clapham to Kentish Town with an exceptional black MX cancellation and step type blue "T.P./Clapham Rd" hs. Fine. |  | $120 |
| 2029 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY FRONT cancelled with a fine "930" numeral of York to Ryde, Isle of White. With ms "Written by/Sir James Walker/1st Bart" lower left. A little wrinkled. |  | $65 |
| 2030 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET WITH 1840 1d BLACK: 22 July 1840 Forme 1, Stereo A2 1d letter sheet uprated with 1d black plate 2 IG (lifted, rubbed to remove pen mark, and replaced with red MX cancellations with a further strike cancelling Britannia nearby. Used from London to Edinburgh. Some faults but scarce. Brandon Cert. (1982). |  | $340 |
| 2031 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - LATE USE: 4 Aug. 1844 1d Forme 1, Stereo A4 (light creasing) used from York to Bristol cancelled with a fine "930" numeral of "YORK". Scarce. |  | $200 |
| 2032 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1840 1d & 2d MULREADY LETTER SHEETS: 1d letter sheet Forme 1, Stereo A5 and 2d letter sheet Forme 1, Stereo a94. Fine unused examples. |  2 | $130 |
| 2033 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEETS: 24 Sept. 1840 Forme 1, Stereo A7 front & back containing a portion of the printed blue "Smith's Advertiser" used from Dalkeith to Nr Stroud Water, Gloucestershire with a good orange MX. 6 June 1840 letter sheet front to Edinburgh with a fine red MX and contains portion of "The Select Advertiser" No. 2. Another undated front with a superb red MX used to Crewkerne. (3 items) |  | $80 |
| 2034 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEETS: An undated example of Forme 1, Stereo A8 used to Carnarvon with a red MX cancellation. Also another Forme 3, Stereo A65 used from Distington to Liverpool dated 10 July 1840 with a red MX and blue "Distington/Penny Post" hs. Both are soiled and with small defects. (2 covers) |  | $110 |
| 2035 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET USED ON SECOND DAY OF ISSUE: 1d letter sheet Forme 1, Stereo A9 used from London to the G.P.O. dated on reverse 7 May 1840 the second day of use, cancelled with a fine red MX. A little soiled and roughly opened. Scarce. |  | $260 |
| 2036 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - UNDERPAID: 23 Aug. 1841 1d letter sheet Forme 1, Stereo A15 used from Rickmansworth to London cancelled with black MX, ms red "1" and "2" plus red "PAID" tombstone ds and double ring "MORE/TO/PAY" hs. Contains blue printed "Family Endowment, Annuity, Life Assurance, & Reversionary Interest Society"advertisement. (SG Spec. MA125a). A good item. |  | $180 |
| 2037 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET: 7 Jan. 1841 Forme 2, Stereo A19 used within Sheffield with a red MX cancellation. The contents comprise an order for "Pennsylvania Sickles" from the Marshes & Shepherds Ponds Works. |  | $80 |
| 2038 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET UPRATED WITH 1840 1d BLACK - MAY 1840 USE: 28 May 1840 Forme 1, Stereo A35 1d letter sheet used from Hereford to Leominster uprated with 1840 1d black plate 1a OL (shaved to close margins) tied by overlapping strikes of a red MX with another fine strike cancelling Britannia. A good example. |  | $1,100 |
| 2039 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET WITH A SUPERB MALTESE CROSS: 27 Aug. 1840 1d letter sheet Forme 3, Stereo A35 used from Hauston Mills Cambridge to London with a superb red MX. Light horizontal bend. Most attractive. |  | $120 |
| 2040 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET: 30 Mar. 1841 Forme 4, Stereo A44 used from Sheffield to London with a fine black MX. The letter is a quote for the supply of "Powder Flasks Etc". Light horizontal crease but fine appearance. |  | $95 |
| 2041 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET UPRATED WITH 1840 1d BLACK: 4 Sept. 1840 Forme 1, Stereo A47 (substituted Stereo) uprated with a fine 1840 1d plate 7 FB and used from Andover to The Strand, London. Cancelled with a red MX as is the adhesive. A rare item. BPA Cert. (1997). |  | $1,600 |
| 2042 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - A LATE USE: 19 Aug. 1869 Forme 4, Stereo A51 used from Belbroughton to Storrs, Windermere with hs "2" cancelled by a "750" barred numeral of Stourbridge at lower left and part "STOURBRIDGE" duplex at lower right. Fine and rare. |  | $160 |
| 2043 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET ADDRESSED TO U.S.A.: A lightly coloured Forme 3, Stereo A65 letter sheet addressed and privately carried to New York. |  | $180 |
| 2044 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET UPRATED WITH 1840 1d TO PAY FORWARDING COSTS - CONTAINS ADVERTISEMENT: 22 Nov. 1840 Forme 3, Stereo A67 1d letter sheet from Milford to Congleton forwarded to G.P.O. Congleton and franked with 1840 1d black plate 6 CA (closely cut along frameline) tied by a fine red MX with another stipe at left. Contains "Webb's Postage Advertiser - No 1". (SG MA34a). Some faults but scarce. BPA Cert. (2000). |  | $1,600 |
| 2045 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - REPLACEMENT STEREO: 22 Oct. 1841 Forme 3 replacement stereo A229 used from Bradford to London cancelled by a black MX with an additional strike alongside. The back flap has some damage but a scarce example. |  | $110 |
| 2046 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY LETTER SHEET - MUCH REDIRECTED: 1842 (Oct.) 1d letter sheet Forme 6, Stereo A238 used within London and redirected at least twice, Britannia with a crisp black MX, handstruck and "1" on the front. Various date stamps on the reverse in both black & red, plus ms note regarding non delivery. Contains printed "English and Scottish Law Fire and Life Assurance and Loan Association"advertisement. |  | $130 |
| 2047 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY ENV. SCARCE IRISH USE: 18 Aug. 1840 env. with part flaps including stereo number cut away used from Castlebellingham to Dublin with a red MX cancellation and on reverse "CASTLE BELLINGHAM" UDC. Small faults. Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY |  | $65 |
| 2048 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1840 1d & 2d MULREADY ENVELOPES: 1d env. Forme 1, Stereo A131 and 2d env. Forme 1, Stereo a208. Fine unused examples. |  2 | $130 |
| 2049 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY ENVELOPE: An unused pair from the lower left of Forme 1, Stereo A131 - A136, plus a small portion of A139 on toned paper. Some faults but presentable. |  | $95 |
| 2050 | MULREADY STATIONERY. 1d MULREADY ENVELOPE: An unused pair from the middle left of Forme 1, Stereos A132 & A135 on slightly toned paper. Some folds and a little stained at right. |  | $80 |
