Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 1 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION

Lot 39 39 C C : 1896 cover from Sussex to "WG Housom/HM /No 6/Gibraltar or elsewhere", redirected on a tour of the Mediterranean to HMS "Hawke", "Hibernia", "Ramillies" & "Vulcan" with various not known endorsements, three Greek b/s & several cds including the "we give up" 'RETD LETTER BRANCH/JA14/97/GPO MALTA' (Proud #D2) & very fine strike of the rare 'NOT KNOWN' h/s (#I17; recorded 21/8/1902 only), central fold & soiling. A marvellous item of great character. 1,000T

Lot 43 43 C B GREECE: 1861 cover endorsed "From Thos Dempsey/HM Ship Caeser" & countersigned "Commanding Officer ArthurJDay", to London with 1d Stars tied by 'A/MALTA/NO18/61 - A25' duplex, repaired flap fault; with the enclosed letter headed "HM Ship Caeser/Athens Nov 7th 61". [The writer states "...[a spar] come right across my stomach and very near crushed me to atoms...I have got 2 steps higher which is 2nd Class Petty Officer...I got your letter at Beyrout on the Coast of Syria..."] 1,250T

Lot 52 52 C B MALTA: 1833 entire letter headed "Malta November 1st 1833" endorsed "from T Walker Seaman on board HM/Ship Rover Malta" & countersigned "HMS Rover/Malta Oct 31st Jas R Dacres Comdg officer", to Kent with superb 'PAID/18NO18/1833' in red & 'FPO' dotted-circle b/s. Carried per Admiralty Steam Packet HMS "Firefly" that departed Malta 31/10/1833, so the sender got his date wrong. Ex George Coates. [The writer states "...we came down to Malta to get hose down on account of us getting on shore in Alexandria..."] 750T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 2 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 53 53 C B MALTA: 1834 entire from the same correspondence, similarly endorsed & countersigned "HM Sloop Rover Malta/March 5th 1834/JF Birch Commanding officer", to Kent with fine paid cds in red & 'FPO' dotted-circle b/s, minor soiling. 500T

Lot 54 54 C B MALTA: 1836 entire endorsed "From William Walker boy/On board HM Ship Barham" & countersigned "Fredk Hutton Senr Lieut HMS/Barham Malta Feby 10th 1836", on the reverse there is clear evidence of a penny coin having been stitched to the paper, to Kent with London cds in red & 'FPO' dotted circle b/s, some staining. Carried per Admiralty Packet HMS "African" departed Malta 10/2/1836; arrived Falmouth 28/2/1836. [The writer states "...there as been a very serious affair on board here and I have wrote 7 letters but I do not know how many you have received as the pennys have been cut off & the letters thrown away as Great numbers have been pickt up at sea"] 1,500T

Lot 55 55 C B MALTA: 1842 large-part outer endorsed "From William Lacy Private on board/of Her Majestys Ship Ganges Malta Harbour 16th Jany 1842" & countersigned "C Fegan Capt Commanding Officer/Royal Marines", to Hampshire with largely fine strike of the scarce 'FALMOUTH/1d/PAID' h/s in red, unframed 'WINCHESTER' & 'ALRESFORD' b/s. Ex Disraeli & Gosling. Carried per Admiralty Packet HMS "Polyphemus" departed Malta 18/1/1842; & P&O "Margaret" departed Gibraltar 27/1/1842; arrived Falmouth 6/2/1842. [Our vendor paid £1400 at auction in 2005] 800T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 3 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 56 56 C A- MALTA: 1858 cover from England endorsed "Marseilles by French Packet" with undated 'SURBITON/SW' & 'KINGSTON- ON-THAMES' b/s, 1d Stars & 4d rose x2 tied by 'LONDON SW - SW/16' duplex, to "Commander Whyte RN/HMS Centurion/Malta" with ' A /MALTA/DE1/58' arrival b/s. Carried per "Ganges" departed Marseilles 27/11/1858; arrived Malta 1/12/1858. [Effective 1/6/1857, the officer's rate was 6d per ½oz + 3d per ¼oz for French transit] 250T

Lot 57 57 C C MALTA: 1859 cover endorsed "From John Corlett seman on board HMS London" & countersigned "Chas W Manthrop Commanding officer", to "Ballacry Ballaugh/Isle of Man" with 1d Stars (defective) tied by A25 duplex, Liverpool transit & 'RAMSEY/DE9/59' arrival b/s, overall soiling. Carried per P&O "Indus" departed Malta 25/11/1859; arrived Southampton 5/12/1859. 300T

Lot 58 58 C B MALTA: 1860 cover endorsed "From John Smith On board HMS/Neptune Malta" & countersigned "Commanding Officer J Palmer", to Wales with 1d Stars tied by A25 duplex, 'CARDIFF/AP4/69' arrival b/s, repaired tears on the reverse. Carried per P&O "Ripon" departed Malta 23/3/1860; arrived Southampton 3/4/1860. [Seaman John Smith was discharged 21/3/1862 as a military prisoner at Corfu] The illustration is above Lot 57. 350T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 4 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 59 59 C B MALTA: 1860 cover endorsed "From Hy Hamier [?] Ships Corprl/HM Ship Caeser Malta" & countersigned "TM Nicholl Commanding Officer/Novr 29th", to London with rare franking of 1d Stars single & pair tied by poor but discernible strikes of the 'A81' mailboat cancel (possibly the earliest recorded usage) applied on P&O "Vectis", London arrival cds of DE15/60 in red on the face. "Vectis" departed Malta 9/12/1860; arrived Marseilles 13/12/1860.

Underpayment of postage on letters sent via a foreign country was common. The French transit rate was 3d per ¼oz, payable in addition to the standard 1d. This cover was thus underpaid 1d but was not taxed. 1,250T

Lot 60 60 C B MALTA: 1860 cover endorsed "From James Stewart Seaman/HM Ship Orion" & countersigned "GLG Commanding Officer" (Lt George Graves), to "Queens town/Ireland" with 1d Stars tied by A25 duplex, repaired flap fault. 400T

Lot 61 61 C (B) MALTA: 1868 cover endorsed "JH Good Ships Steward/HMS Hibernia Malta" & countersigned "G Santo [?] Comg Officer", to London with 1d tied by ' C /MALTA/JU9/68 - A25' duplex, London arrival cds of 19JU68 in red, a couple of repaired tears. [From March 1868, Malta was bypassed by the P&O steamers] 300T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 5 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 62 62 C B MALTA: 1868 cover endorsed "G Cullingford Boy HMS Arethusa" & countersigned "JCole Commanding Officer", to London with 1d Plate '98' tied by ' E /MALTA/NO17/68 - A25' duplex, London arrival b/s of NO28/68. 400T

Lot 63 63 C B MALTA: 1875 cover to "M Sullivan Chief Carptrs Mate/HMS Lord Warden/Malta or Elsewhere", with 1d Plate '152' (knocked-about) tied by bold 'BIRMINGHAM/ Z* /JY29/74 - 75' duplex, no arrival b/s, renovated flap. Michael Sullivan Fig 1: the earliest cover in Gerald Ellott's census, and the only cover to Sullivan. Inwards letters to sailors (as distinct from officers) are rare] 400T

Lot 64 64 C B MALTA: 1874 cover endorsed "From M Sullivan Chief Carps [= Carpernter's] Mate/HMS Lord Warden Malta" and countersigned (Midshipman) "RG Fraser", with 1d Plate '134' (rounded corner) tied by 'A/MALTA/AU1/74 - [A25]' duplex, 'BIRMINGHAM/ 1 3 /AU11/74/ P ' arrival b/s, repaired flap. Carried per P&O "Zambesi", departed Malta 1/8/1874, arrived Southampton 10/8/1874. Michael Sullivan Fig 2: the earliest cover from Sullivan in Gerald Ellott's census. [The illustration is above Lot 63] 500T

Lot 65 65 C (B) MALTA: a similar 1874 Sullivan cover countersigned "WSM" (?), with 1d Plate '134' (fault) tied by '11'-in-diamond of the London Foreign Branch, 'BIRMINGHAM/ 1 3 /AU31/74/ P ' arrival b/s, repaired flap & opening tear at . Not included in Gerald Ellott's census. 300T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 6 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 66 66 C C MALTA: 1880 cover endorsed "AE Williams HMS Condor/Malta" & countersigned "ATC" (= Lt Archibald T Carter), to "Post Master General/Haverstock Hill Post Office" with 1d Venetian red tied by ' E /MALTA/AU28/80 - A25' duplex, endorsed on the reverse "Left at Haverstock Hill Branch office opened by Clerk on duty returned 2.9.80" overall toning. [Adolphus Edward Williams was ship's bugler. "Condor" was recommissioned at Malta 20/8/1880. She proceeded to the Albanian coast for a Joint Naval Demonstration (= a show of force) with ships from France Russia Austria & Italy]

Although Malta issued the ½d buff in 1860, GB stamps continued to be used on soldiers' and sailors' mail. The practice ceased on 27/12/1884, in anticipation of the issue on 1/1/1885 of the new Maltese issue of 1d to 1/- denominations. 400T

Lot 67 67 C A- MALTA: 1882 cover endorsed "Via Italy", to "Commander/AAC Parr RN/HMS Inconstant/Detached Squadron/ Malta/or Elsewhere" with 2½d blue Plate '23' tied by 'BROMLEY/13JY/82/KENT - 144' duplex. Ex Geoffrey Osborn: illustrated by him at page 121. [HMS "Inconstant", "Carysfort" & "Tourmaline" were detached from the round-the-world Flying Squadron & returned from Hong Kong to GB. However, at Madeira, orders were received to make haste for Egypt where an insurrection had broken-out. The "Inconstant" was used to ferry troops & supplies between Malta & Egypt] 300T

Lot 68 68 C (B) MALTA: 1885 cover endorsed "From M Sullivan Skilled Shipwt [= shipwright]/HMS Thunderer Malta" and countersigned "MM", with Malta 1d tied by 'MALTA/ E /JU3/85 - A25' duplex, 'BROMSGROVE/JU8/85' arrival b/s, opening tears repaired. Michael Sullivan Fig 30: the only HMS "Thunderer" cover in the census. [Sullivan was assigned to HMS "Thunderer" 26/4/1885 until 15/8/1886. From 1/4/1886, he was re-classified "Skilled Carpernter's Mate"] 250T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 7 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 69 69 C B MALTA: 1890 cover endorsed "From G Stevens HMS Landrail Malta" & countersigned "GSH" (= Lt George S Hockin), to Herefordshire with Malta 1d tied by A25 duplex, superb 'ROSS' arrival b/s. [ Stevens was a sickbay attendant] 250T

Lot 70 70 C B MALTA: a very similar cover from the same correspondence. 250T

Lot 71 71 C B MALTA: 1890 cover endorsed "From J Kingston stoker HMS Camperdown Malta" & countersigned "HET" (= Lt Hugh Evan Thomas), to Kent with Malta 1d tied by 'A25' duplex, 'CHATHAM/MY6/90' arrival b/s, overall soiling. Carried direct to Brindisi, taking only 5 days in transit! [On 22/6/1893, "Camperdown" rammed & sank HMS "Victoria" with the loss of 360 officers & crew, including Admiral Sir George Tryon, who had ordered the manoeuvre] 300T

Lot 72 72 C A MALTA: 1890 cover endorsed "From Sergt E Samport RM HMS Hibernia Malta" & countersigned "JF" (= ?), to London with Malta 1d & 2d tied by a superb strike of the 'MALTA'-in-five-bars cancel, oval 'REGISTERED/ D /4NO90/ MALTA' d/s & 'R'-in-oval h/s, hooded 'REGISTERED/LONDON' arrival d/s & oval 'REGISTERED/SEDO' b/s. An exceptional item, stated to be the only registered cover recorded by Gerald Ellott from a sailor or marine. 2,000T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 8 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 73 73 C A MALTA: 1894 cover endorsed "From AE Harris PCIC [?] HMS Vulcan/Malta" & countersigned "WH" (= ?), to England with Malta 1d tied by A25 duplex, 'PORTSMOUTH' arrival b/s. 250T

Lot 74 74 C B MALTA: 1894 cover endorsed "From Pte F Trott HM Ship Edgar Medderanean" & countersigned "DJK" (Marines Major Douglas J Kysh), to England with Malta 1d tied by 'MALTA/AU22/94 - A25' duplex, 'BRISTOL/ J1 /AU27/94' arrival b/s in red, vertical fold. Carried per P&O "Britannia", departed Malta 18/8/1894; arrived London 25/8/1894. [HMS "Edgar" was en route to the China Station] 250T

Lot 75 75 C A- MALTA: 1896 cover endorsed "From HE Morrison HMS Ramillies Malta" & countersigned "AW" (= ?), to England with Malta 1d tied by A25 duplex, 'BIRMINGHAM' arrival b/s. [Another 5-day transit] 200T

Lot 76 76 C A- MALTA: 1897 cover endorsed "From AG Lobb Master At Arms/HMS Ramillies Malta" & countersigned with indistinct initials, to London with Malta 1d tied by Valletta cds, part-Bedford Street arrival b/s, flap fault otherwise superb. 300T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 9 THE MEDITERRANEAN STATION (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 77 77 C B MALTA: 1897 cover endorsed "From A Taulhel [?] Ldg Sigm [Leading Signalman]/HMS Gibraltar Malta" & countersigned with indistinct initials, to Hampshire with Malta 1d only tied by Valletta cds, superb strikes of the Maltese ' T - CENTIMES ("40")' duplex h/s (Proud #UP17) & London Foreign Branch '8D/FB' h/s, 'PORTSMOUTH' arrival b/s. [Because there was no longer a direct packet service between Malta & the UK, the 1d rate was valid only if carried by the occasional direct ship. Mail generally went via either Brindisi or Marseilles, requiring payment of additional postage. 600T

Lot 78 78 C B MALTA: a very similar cover but with seriffed 'T' h/s (Proud #UP1; LRD by two years). [The letter rate was 5d for 1oz, less 1d paid = 4d deficiency x2 = 8d] 600T

Lot 81 81 C A- TURKEY: 1876 cover endorsed "From W Townsend Seaman HMS Sultan/Bayska Bay/Turkey" & countersigned "RF Britten", to London with 1d Plate '187' tied by Malta A25 duplex of JU26/76, two London b/s. Carried Per P&O "Hindoostan" departed Malta 2/7/1876; arrived Southampton 11/7/1876. [Being endorsed & addressed in blue, this cover well demonstrates the convention whereby the sender would also inscribe the words "Commanding Officer", thus requiring the officer to merely sign his name. Besika Bay was named in ancient times, being part of Troy. It is situated at the mouth of the Hellespont (aka the Dardenelles)] 750T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 10 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD THE CRIMEAN WAR

Lot 96 96 C B CRIMEAN PENINSULA: 1855 officer's cover endorsed "Black Sea/Fleet Letter" & "Via Marseilles", to Hampshire with 1d Stars strip of 3 uncancelled apart from a bold black line across the first unit, 'MALTA/JA24/1855' b/s, London transit & very fine 'PORTSMOUTH/FE 9/1855/ A ' arrival b/s in blue, rated "6" in black. [The sender was Lieut Edward Franklin, designated "Agent for Transport Afloat". Beneath the flap he wrote "...send me a Dozen 1d & 2d Heads [= postage stamps] write on thinnest paper & it wont be an Extra Charge..." This would have comforted the addressee who had to pay 6d for this letter, apparently because it was carried privately to Malta where it was placed in the post, and treated as wholly unpaid] 1,000T MISCELLANEOUS LOTS

Ex Lot 328 328 CPS The "strays" comprising 1864 cover from Uruguay endorsed "From Wm Wiggett HMS Bombay SAmerica" which looks as if it was rescued from the fire that destroyed the ship!; 1866 large-part officer's front endorsed "Via Panama" with 1d & 6d and docketed "written at Vancouver/Febry 1866"; 1898 defective cover endorsed "From AE Ballard ERA HMS Surprise" with Malta ½d green pair; 1895 German 5pf Postal Card to an English sailor from HMS "Endymion" at Kiel, redirected to HMS "Tamar" in England with 'KIEL-MARINE-AKADEMIE/KANAL/[ ? ]' cds, small tear; 1904 PPC from Victoria, known to be from Gunner Alfred Lefevre, aboard HMS "Katoomba" (plus an unused PPC of the ship); & 1907 internal PPC to "19 Mess/HMS New Zealand" with 'FORTUNESWELL/PORTSMOUTH' arrival cds. (7 items) 300T