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

Lot 104 104 C B CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1863 stampless unpaid cover endorsed "Ship Letter per Bahama", to Kent with part-'SHIP LETTER/AU18/63/LONDON' & 'TUNBRDIGE-WELLS' b/s, rated "6" & readdressed to Surbiton, flap & part of the back panels missing; with the enclosed 4pp letter headed "Narcissus/Simons Bay/July 10th" and signed "WR Kennedy" (= Lieut William R Kennedy). Carried per "Bahama" departed Simon's Bay 11/7/1863. [The letter states "The Bahama has just arrived from China...and sails tomorrow...That loss of the Anglo-Saxon [at Cape Race, Newfoundland] is a bad job...I don't think there is much chance of an American war..."] 400T

Ex Lot 105 105 C B/C CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1868-69 covers to "Captain The Honble Ernest Cochrane/HMS Peterel/Cape of Good Hope" (or similar), four with Irish ' N /DERRY - 172' duplex & & 'CAPE-PACKET/DEVONPORT' transit b/s (two are superb strikes), the other from London, three at 6d - two with 1d block of 6 folded over the top of the envelope - & two double-rate at 1/-, condition variable. (5) 750T

Lot 106 106 C (B) CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1869 officer's cover to County Donegal with 1d Plate '78' x6 (single, pair & strip of 3, some faults) tied by BN '466' cancels of Liverpool, light 'PAID/LIVERPOOL/BR PACKET/25OC69/ 2B ' cds (2-letter month) in red & part-Derry arrival b/s of OC26/69, Captain Ernest Cochrane's signet ring impressed in wax on the flap, ironed-out crumpling & the flap renovated. 250T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 2 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 107 107 C A- CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1874 cover to "F O'Neill/HMS Basilisk/Cape of Good Hope/To await arrival" with 1/- green Plate '9' tied by bold 'DEVONPORT/JY24/74 - 250' duplex, no arrival b/s but endorsed on the face "Recd/13 Sept 74/Simons Bay" in red. 250T

Lot 108 108 C A- CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1877 cover with handpainted illustration of a signaller on a barrel inscribed 'TOURMALINE/HMS', to "Commodore F Sullivan/Simons Town" with CofGH 4d incorporated into the design & tied by bold '4'-in-bars of 'KING WILLIAMS TOWN' (cds at upper-right), 'CAPE TOWN/CAPE COLONY' transit cds at upper-left & 'SIMONS TOWN/FE19/77/CAPE COLONY' arrival b/s. Delightful & whimsical. [In 1876, the addressee was appointed Commander-in-Chief Cape of Good Hope & West Africa Station. He retired as Admiral Sir Francis William Sullivan KCB] 850T

Lot 109 109 C A- CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1881 cover to "Commander/AAC Parr RN/HMS Inconstant/Cape of Good Hope" with superb 'BICKLEY- STATION/MR23/81' b/s & 6d grey Plate '17' tied by superb 'BROMLEY/KENT - 144' duplex, minor discolouration at right. Ex Geoffrey Osborn: illustrated by him at page 117. [See illustration on our website] 200T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 3 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 110 110 C B CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1881 cover endorsed "From W Gibbs Seaman HM Ship Carysfort Flying/Squadron Simons Bay Cape of Good Hope" & countersigned (Staff Surgeon) "R Bird", to London with 1d Venetian red tied by 'PLYMOUTH TO BRISTOL TPO/MY2/81' cds (affected by repaired opening tear), three different London b/s all in red. Carried per Union SS "Durban", departed Cape Town 12/4/1881, arrived Plymouth 2/5/1882. [HMS "Carysfort" was one of 5 ships comprising the round-the-world Flying Squadron. It was at Simon's Bay between 16/2/1881 & 9/4/1881] 1,000T

Lot 111 111 C B CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: a similar 1881 cover from the same correspondence, to London with 1d Venetian red tied by superb 'B16' h/s used aboard to Plymouth-Bristol TPO, 'LONDON-SE/ V7 /MY16/81' arrival b/s in red. Carried per Union SS "Arab", departed Cape Town 26/4/1881, arrived Plymouth 15/5/1882. [The 'B16' - Harold Wilson #353 - was originally used aboard the P&O Mediterranean Packet "China". It was allocated to the TPO by 1874 & Wilson at page 116 states "I have it used in 1881"] 1,500T

Lot 112 112 C B CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1881 cover with 'HMS TOURMALINE' embossed imprint in blue on the flap, to Hampshire with 1d Venetian red x6 (two strips of 3) tied by 'PLYMOUTH TO BRISTOL TPO/MR20/81' cds (Harold Wilson #354 without code letter), light 'WINCHESTER' arrival b/s, minor flap fault. Ex Geoffrey Osborn: illustrated by him at page 51. Carried per Union "Teuton", arrived Plymouth 20/3/1881.

On 16/2/1881, HMS "Tourmaline" arrived at Simons Town with the Detached Squadron to support actions in the First Anglo-Boer War. The enclosed letter with matching imprint headed "Simons Bay/March 6th 1881" & signed (First Lieut) "GW Russell" states "...we hope to play cricket against the Carysfort...on cocoa nut matting..." and "...a rumour we hear that Laing's Nek has been taken [by the Boers] is true...they ought to account for the Boers satisfactorily tho I dare say resistance would be prolonged for some time...". In fact, hostilities ended 6/3/1881, the very day this letter was written. 1,000T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 4 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 113 113 C C CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1894 cover endorsed "From Frank C White HMS Penelope/Cape Town Cape of Good Hope South Africa" & countersigned "RW", to Kent with "Hope" 1d tied by poor numeral of 'ALFRED DOCKS/CAPE TOWN' (cds alongside), 'HIGH ST/ GC*A /TUNBRIDGE WELLS' arrival b/s, damp-spotting. A very scarce item, having been sent through the civilian postal system. 1,500T

Lot 114 114 C B CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1894 cover to a seaman aboard "HMS Penelope/Simons Bay" with 1d lilac tied by very fine 'HAMPTON-HILL/ JU28/94 - G74' duplex, superb 'SIMONS-TOWN' hooded d/s on the face, redirected to Cape Town with '1D' h/s & 'ALFRED DOCKS/CAPE TOWN' arrival b/s, repaired flap. 300T

Lot 115 115 C B CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: an essentially identical cover from a month later. 300T

Lot 116 116 PS A- CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: 1896 usage of COGH 1d Postal Card to Germany with the message headed "HMS Magpie/Simons Town/14.12.96" & with pen & ink drawing of the ship at upper-left, hooded 'SIMONS TOWN/15DE96' d/s, 'CAPE TOWN/CAPE COLONY' transit b/s & 'SIEGBURG' arrival cds on the face. The message states "...It's blowing gales here at present, making landing almost impossible...manage to get a little tennis now & then..." [In February 1897, HMS "Magpie" was part of a squadron that landed a Naval Brigade in what is now Dahomey where the "city" of Benin was captured. The British suffered almost 3000 casualties, mostly from "fever"] 250T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 5 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 117 117 C B EGYPT: 1875 cover endorsed "Jas Rossey/IS [= Indian Ship] Jumna" & "Comng Officer" but not countersigned, to Hampshire with 1d Plate '181' x3 tied by 'BO2' cancels of 'SUEZ' (cds at left), 'PORTSMOUTH/NO29/75' arrival b/s affected by flap fault. Ex Gerald Sattin (private transaction). Carried per Italian Packet arriving Brindisi 24/11/1875; mails arrived London 29/11/1875. [Her Majesty's Indian Troopships made three round-trips each year. WG Stitt-Dibden stated that the concessional rate for sailors' letters from the East sent via Brindisi was reduced from 4d to 3d from -/1/1871. However, Gerald Ellott found no GPO notice that confirms this. It seems that this cover was sent at the UPU letter rate of 2½d, overpaid 1d because the ship's purser probably had only 1d stamps available] 750T

Lot 118 118 C A- EGYPT: 1881 cover to an army officer aboard "HMS Malabar/Suez" with 1d Venetian red x3 tied by fine 'POOLE/JA20/81 - 624' duplex, 'PARKSTONE' & 'ALEXANDRIE' transits & 'SUEZ/28JA81/ARRIVEE' b/s, minor flap fault. The rate was the UPU letter rate of 2½d, which was overpaid ½d. [The illustration is above Lot 117] 200T

Lot 119 119 C B EGYPT: 1882 cover with 'BICKLEY STATION' b/s, to "Commander/AAC Parr RN/HMS Inconstant/Alexandria" with 2½d blue Plate '23' tied by 'BROMLEY/11AU/82/KENT - 144' duplex, repaired flap. Ex Geoffrey Osborn. [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 a insurrection had broken-out. The "Inconstant" was used to ferry troops & supplies between Malta & Egypt] 250T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 6 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 120 120 C B EGYPT: 1882 cover endorsed "From W Gibbs Seaman HM Ship Carysfort/Ismailia Suez Canal Egypt" and countersigned (Staff Surgeon) "R Bird", to London with 1d lilac tied by '1'-in-diamond of the London Foreign Branch, two London b/s of AU11/82 both in red. [On its return with the Detached Squadron from the round-the-world cruise of the Flying Squadron, HMS "Carysfort" was ordered to join the Mediterranean Fleet. Involved in the Red Sea Littoral Campaign. On 20/8/1882 "Carysfort" was involved in the capture of the key town of Ismailia, situated half-way along the Suez Canal] 500T

Lot 121 121 C C EGYPT: 1882 cover endorsed "From M Sullivan Skilled Carp [= Carpenter's] Mate/HMS Seagull Suez Canal" and countersigned "ER" (Lieut Ebenezer Rae), with 1d lilac x2 tied by poor numeral-in-diamond of the London Foreign Branch, superb 'BIRMINGHAM/ 20J /AU31/82' arrival b/s, faults. Carried per P&O "Khedive", departed Suez 20/8/1882; "Malwa", from Port Said, arrived Brindisi 28/8/1882; mail arrived London 31/8/1882. Michael Sullivan Fig 6: Sullivan's service record shows no service aboard HMS "Seagull". [On 20/8/1882, a force from HMS Euryalus" & "Seagull", under Lieut Rae, landed at Chalouf & defeated an enemy force 600 strong. 168 Egyptians were killed. British losses were two soldiers drowned & two sailors wounded] 250T

Lot 122 122 C B EGYPT: 1882 cover endorsed "From M Sullivan Skilled Carp Mate/HMS EURYALUS Suez" and countersigned (Commander) 'ERolfe' (h/s), with 1d lilac pair tied by ' I O /LONDON/SP13/82 - 87' duplex of the London Foreign Branch, flap removed. Carried per P&O "Poonah", arrived Brindisi 11/9/1882; mail arrived London 13/9/1882. Michael Sullivan Fig 7: Sullivan served on HMS "Euryalus" - flagship of the East Indies Squadron - 1/9/1882 to 3/12/1882 only. 400T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 7 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 123 123 C (B) EGYPT: a similarly endorsed 1882 cover with 'HMS EURYALUS' imprint on the flap, with 2d rose (badly faded) tied by bold '10'-in-diamond of the London Foreign Branch, 'BIRMINGHAM/ K1 /OC20/82' arrival b/s, flap repaired. Carried per Orient "John Elder", arrived Plymouth 19/10/1882. Michael Sullivan Fig 9. 300T

Lot 124 124 C B EGYPT: 1884 use of printed envelope for HMS "London" amended by hand to "Humber", endorsed "From M Sullivan Skilled Ship [= shipwright]/Suez" & countersigned (Lieut) "HC Sayce", with 2d rose tied by bold 'F.B'-in-circle-&-bars of the London Foreign Branch, light London b/s in red & 'BIRMINGHAM/ 30E /AP7/84' arrival b/s, the flap damaged. Michael Sullivan Fig 24.

On 19/3/1884, Sullivan was "dismissed" from HMS "Euryalus" & transferred to HMS "Humber" for return to England to serve 6 months hard labour at Lewes Gaol. [The "Humber" had been heavily engaged in operations in the Red Sea & the Sudan. The ship's log states "23 March: Embarked prisoners for passage to Suez & Malta". After completing his sentence, Sullivan was assigned to HMS "Asia", again as a Skilled Shipwright] 1,000T

Lot 125 125 C C EGYPT: 1884 cover with '[crown]/M' of HMS "Monarch" embossed in blue on the flap, endorsed "From M Sullivan Skilled Shipwt/HMS Monarch Alexandria" and countersigned "JH" (Lieut John A Horne), with 1d lilac tied by bold 'F.B'-in-circle-&-bars of the London Foreign Branch, no backstamps, opening tears repaired, some spotting. Carried per P&O "Chusan", departed Alexandria 10/12/1884, arrived London 25/12/1884 (Christmas Day). Michael Sullivan Fig 29. [Sullivan served on HMS "Monarch" 19/11/1884 until 25/4/1885] 400T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 8 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 126 126 C B EGYPT: a similarly endorsed & countersigned 1885 cover, with 1d lilac tied by 'F.B'-in-circle-&-bars of the London Foreign Branch, poor Birmingham arrival b/s of FE19/85, part of the flap missing. Carried per P&O "Thames", departed Alexandria 2/1/1885, arrived London 19/2/1885. Absent from Gerald Ellott's Michael Sullivan census. 400T

Lot 127 127 C B EGYPT: a similarly endorsed & countersigned 1885 cover but unusually with Egyptian 20pa rose tied by 'ALEXANDRIE/ 24JA85/DEPART' bilingual cds, Birmingham & 'SPARKBROOK' b/s both of FE2/85. Carried per P&O "Tanjore", departed Alexandria 27/1/1885, arrived Brindisi 30/1/1885; mail arrived London 2/2/1885. Michael Sullivan No 26. 600T

Lot 128 128 C (B) EGYPT: a similarly endorsed & countersigned but larger (160x126mm) 1885 double-rate cover, with 1d lilac pair tied by 'F.B'-in-circle-&-bars of the London Foreign Branch, superb 'BIRMINGHAM/ 57 D /MR17/85' arrival b/s, vertical fold & repaired opening tears. Carried per P&O "Brindisi", departed Alexandria 2/3/1885, arrived London 17/3/1885. Michael Sullivan No 28. 500T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 9 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 129 129 C C EGYPT: 1885 stampless cover front endorsed "From AT Pritchard ERA [= Engine Room Artificer] Naval Brigade/Nile Expedition Metemmeh Upper Egypt" & countersigned in pencil "EE Hardy" (Sub-Lt Edward Ernest Hardy of HMS "Invincible"), also endorsed "On Active Service" & "Stamps not procurable", to Devon with boxed 'T' h/s & British '1d' h/s, superb 'DEVONPORT/ E /MR17/85' arrival cds, ironed-out folds & rather soiled but full of character. A highly significant naval engagement "cover" from the Gordon Relief Expedition. Ex Trevor Davis.

The Expedition set out in October 1884. The forces arrived on 28/1/1885 at Khartoum, two days after the defences had been overrun. All the defenders including General Robert Gordon were massacred. Alfred Pritchard was one of the ERAs who were sent on the "shortcut" across the Bayuda Desert, and was mentioned in despatches. The Naval Brigade evacuated Metemmeh on 14/2/1885. 2,500T

Lot 130 130 C C EGYPT: 1889 cover endorsed "From G Stevens SBA [= Sick Bay Attendant] HMS Landrail Alexandria" & countersigned "GGB" (?), to Herefordshire with Egyptian 5m tied by Alexandria cds, superb 'ROSS/DE27/89' arrival b/s, soiled & significant staining on the reverse. [From 1890, covers such as this were routinely endorsed "Army of Occupation, Egypt"] 250T

Lot 131 131 PS A- EGYPT: 1896 4d Envelope registered to "HM Ship Skipjack/Mediterranean Squadron/Port Said" uprated with ½d vermilion tied by 'REGISTERED/JERSEY' d/s, rubber hooded 'REGISTERED/LONDON' transit d/s in violet on the face. A lovely Postal Stationery usage. Ex Geoffrey Osborn (2007, Lot 75). [The addressee, Edward Cooper, was a naval surgeon. Sent to Egypt in a closed bag as per Admiralty Regulation 528a] 250T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 10 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 132 132 C B EGYPT: 1898 (May & July) covers endorsed "W Howe seaman/HMS Fearless/Suez" or "...Alexandria", only the first countersigned (with illegible initials), both to England with Egyptian 5m tied by 'SUEZ' or 'PORT SAID' cds, both with 'NORWOOD S-E' arrival b/s. The latter is Ex Richard Wilson. (2) 400T

Lot 133 133 C B GOLD COAST: 1868 cover with superb multicoloured crest of HMS "Jaseur" on the flap, endorsed "Naval Officers letter/Jaseur", to Ireland with GB 6d lilac Plate '6' just tied by BN '466' of Liverpool, light 'PAID/LIVERPOOL/BR PACKET/5AP68/ 2A ' cds in red at lower-left & 'H&K PACT' b/s. [According to the ship's log, the "Jaseur" reached Jellah Coffee 1/3/1868 & the mail steamer "Athenian" departed from there 2/3/1868] 750T

Lot 134 134 C B LIBERIA: 1893 cover endorsed "from F Wheeler Seaman HMS Thrush/Cavally WC Africa" & countersigned "HA Child", to England with 1d lilac tied by London cds of MY-/93 & superb 'BARNES SW' arrival b/s, redirected to Upper Holloway. [Cavally or cavalla is a type of fish. The Cavally River is the international boundary between Liberia & the Ivory Coast] 750T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 11 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 135 135 C A NATAL: 1899 stampless cover endorsed "Active Service No stamps obtainable/AEJ Murray RN" & - at lower-left - "Please forward at once to Berea", to Durban with very fine 'FRERE/DE25/99/NATAL' cds, superb GPO cds of the same date & 'DURBAN/26DE/99/NATAL' both on the reverse. Mail from the Boer War Naval Brigades is very scarce. [An excellent item for the Christmas collector: Christmas Day, from Natal!]

Engineer AEJ Murray served aboard HMS "Terrible" which landed a Naval Brigade to assist in the relief of Ladysmith. This force was among the first to enter the town when the siege was lifted. [On 15/11/1899, Frere was the sight of the famous incident in which the Boers derailed an armoured train & captured the young Winston Churchill] 500T

Ex Lot 136 136 L/C B/(C) NATAL: 1899 brief letter headed "31st Dec 1899/Ladysmith" that states "The line is not yet open ...but I trust this with the Army Post Office for safe keeping...I will send you news of our past doings when the posts are going, and I have better opportunities for writing, without shell falling! This is a long siege but it will soon end now..." With the stampless envelope - ripped open but with the tears repaired - endorsed "Stamps Unavailable" & countersigned (Midshipman) "JR Middleton/RN", to Hampshire with 'LADYSMITH/2JA/1900', Durban '10c' postage due h/s obliterated with 'FB'-in-bars h/s of the London Foreign Branch & 'LONDON/PAID/23MR00' cds on the face, 'CHRISTCHURCH/HANTS' arrival b/s. (2 items) 200T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 12 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 137 137 C B NATAL: 1900 cover with 'HMS POWERFUL' embossed on the flap, endorsed "Field Force Ladysmith/Stamps not obtainable" & "JR Middleton/RN" at lower-left, to London with 'LADYSMITH/2JA/1900', Durban '10d' postage due h/s obliterated with 'FB'-in-bars h/s of the London Foreign Branch & 'LONDON/PAID/25MR00' arrival cds on the face. [On 27/10/1899, HMS "Powerful" landed a Naval Brigade at Durban. They moved to Ladysmith, where they saw out the entire siege. A contemporary report stated "...this handful of sailors have been the saving of Ladysmith"]

With the last 8pp of a 16pp letter from Midshipman Middleton to his father: "...our men used their bayonets & had much the best of it. Total losses 6 killed 35 wounded but the Boers own already to a loss of 25 killed so on the whole it was a success...The Boers still fire into the town every day & usually manage to kill one or two. Yesterday with one shell they killed 4 Natal Carbineers wounded six, Killed 10 horses & a fragment killed an Artilleryman 150 yards away...on the whole they have fired about 100 shells for every man killed!...we have lost 5 Lt Gerton & one bluejacket from wounds 1 from peritonitis, 1 from dysentery & 1 from enteric fever, & we have 50 men in hospital all out of 270...we now hear that Buller has not been successful in taking Colenso...Dec 30th...the prices of things get more absurd every day...Vegetables are hardly obtainable...we have now 6 officers in hospital out of 16..." 1,000T

Lot 138 138 C (B) NATAL: a similar cover, to London with 'LADYSMITH/MR1/1900', Durban '10d' postage due h/s obliterated with 'FB'-in-bars h/s of the London Foreign Branch & 'LONDON/PAID/25MR00' arrival cds on the face, roughly opened & repaired.

With 8pp letter headed "Ladysmith/Feb 10th/100th day of siege", from Midshipman Middleton to his mother: "...Buller is outside still & occasionally backs us up by firing a gun. The official report says we have forty days provisions left but 2½ biscuits, 1oz of sugar, 1/6oz of tea & meat can hardly be called rations. They kill horses now & make sausage meat & chevril (bovril) out of them...all the men grumble like mad & the epithets applied to Buller would make him blush...Feb 23rd Buller seems to be getting very close now...26th Feb...We can hear Buller going at it outside nearly every day...but he seems as far off as ever...lots of cases [in hospital] are simply dying for want of stimulating food...March 1st Hurrah! Buller has at last relieved us...Yesterday...about 6pm two squadrons of Dundonald's horse came in...Genl Buller's staff arrived about 12am, & I was lucky enough to be there at the meeting of the Generals..." [The illustration is above Lot 137] 1,000T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 13 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 139 139 C A- NIGER COAST: 1897 cover endorsed "From WJ Sudlier CPO [= Chief Petty Officer] HMS Jackdaw Warrie/West Coast of Africa" & countersigned "FWM" (Paymaster Frederick W Mortimore), to London with Niger Coast 1d tied by very fine 'PAID/LIVERPOOL/BR PACKET/10DE97/ 4K ' cds unusually in black, London arrival b/s, repaired flap fault, most attractive. Ex Gerald Sattin (private transaction). Carried per BASN Co "Dahomby", departed Warri 11/11/1897; arrived Liverpool 10/12/1897. [Warri is a Nigerian port, at the mouth of the Niger River. Until the late-19th century, it was a base for slave traders] 2,000T

Lot 140 140 C (B) NIGER COAST: 1898 cover endorsed "From W Tolhurst Ldg Stkr [= Leading Stoker] HMS Heron WC of Africa" & countersigned "FWM" (Paymaster Frederick W Mortimore), to "No 4 Mess/HMS Victory/Portsmouth" with Niger Coast 1d tied by very fine 'PAID/LIVERPOOL/BR PACKET/31AUG98/ 1C ' cds (3-digit month) unusually in black, redirected to 'CHATHAM' & then to "Gunnery School/Sheerness" with 'SHEERNESS' arrival b/s, ironed-out vertical folds & soiled. [One of the few recorded seaman-to-seaman covers, this between brothers. HMS "Heron" was supporting the Illah Expedition against slave-traders] 1,500T

Lot 141 141 C B SIERRA LEONE: 1894 cover endorsed "From Mark Bate PO [= Petty Officer] 1st Class HMS Raleigh/Sierra Leone" and countersigned "HW" (Assistant Clerk [!] Harry J Wilson), to "William Bate/PO 1st Class/HMS Empress of India/Channel Fleet" at Devonport (arrival b/s & squared-circle on the face) with GB 1d lilac tied by very fine 'PAID/LIVERPOOL/BR PACKET/15AP94/ 3A ' cds (2-digit month) unusually in black, redirected to "FB" (= Foreign Branch) as the ship had sailed, minor spotting. Ex John Sacher: the only Sierra Leone sailor's letter in his collection. [One of the few recorded seaman-to-seaman covers, this between brothers of the same rank] 1,500T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 14 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 142 142 C B SUDAN: 1884 cover endorsed "From M Sullivan Skilled Shipwt [= shipwright]/HMS EURYALUS Suakim Red Sea" & countersigned "HA" (Sub-Lieut Henry Aplin), with 2d rose tied by bold 'F.B'-in-circle-&-bars of the London Foreign Branch, 'BIRMINGHAM/ 15 I /MR2/84' arrival b/s, the flap removed. Michael Sullivan Fig 23.

In early-February 1884, HMS "Euryalus" landed a Naval Brigade of 150 sailors and marines at Suakin. They marched inland to relieve Sinkat - which had already fallen, with all of the garrison killed - and Tokar. At El Teb they were confronted by a large Arab force, of whom some 1500 were killed by the British. Tokar was relieved on 30/2/1884. [The illustration is above Lot 141] 1,500T

Lot 143 143 C B SUDAN: 1884 cover endorsed "From W Gibbs Seaman HM Ship Carysfort" & countersigned "WF" ( Lieut CW Fowler), to London where 1d lilac tied by 'SE/2'-in-bars, 'LONDON-SE/ AP /MR25/84', rounded corners. [On 14/2/1884, HMS "Carysfort" landed a force of 332 sailors & marines at Suakin. She was recommissioned at Malta on 15/4/1884] 1,000T

Lot 144 144 C B WEST AFRICA (LOCATION UNSPECIFIED): 1863 cover endorsed "From John Vincent HMS Gorgon" and countersigned "RARoss", to Lincolnshire with GB 1d Stars (rubbed at upper-right) tied by very fine '26'-in-diamond cancel of the London Foreign Branch, London transit & 'GRANTHAM' arrival b/s. [HMS "Gorgon" was a paddle sloop] 500T Dec 16, 2011 Prestige Philately - Auction No 170 Page: 15 AFRICA (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 145 145 C B ZULULAND: 1879 stampless cover with embossed imprint of 'HMS SHAH' on the flap, endorsed "Stamps not procurable", to Somerset with light double-circle 'DURBAN/18 4/1879/NATAL' b/s & faint 'BRISTOL/MY21/79' arrival b/s in red, carried free of charge, opening faults professionally repaired. [From Commander John W Brackenburg to his fiancée Miss Frances Mary Francklyn. On 7/3/1879, HMS "Shah" landed a Naval Brigade of 16 officers & 378 men. Under Commander Brackenburg, they were conspicuous at the Battle of Gingindlovu & took part in the relief of Eshowe]

In January 1879, a British force, without government authorisation and using border disputes as a pretext, invaded Zululand. Initial British arrogance resulted in large casualties, the destruction of the main column, and the besieging of Colonel Evelyn Wood's column at Eshowe. The British rushed 7 regiments to Natal. On 29/3/1879, the second invasion began. On 2/4/1879, the Battle of Gingindlovu took place. The British lost only 2 men killed: the Zulus losses were estimated at 1200! The next day Eshowe was relieved & evacuated. 1,000T

Lot 146 146 C B ZULULAND: 1879 cover endorsed "Via Plymouth & Madeira" to "Commander JW Brackenburg/HMS Shah/Natal" with 6d grey Plate '16' tied by 'BRISTOL/ 19D /JU12/79 - 134' duplex, 'DARTMOUTH' transit & 'DURBAN/[crown]/JUL12/1879/ NATAL' arrival b/s, minor opening tears at top repaired. [The sender was Brackenburg's fiancée Miss Frances Mary Francklyn] 400T

Lot 147 147 C A- ZULULAND: 1879 cover with embossed 'HMS BOADICEA' imprint on the flap, endorsed "officer on Active Service/in Zulu Land" & "Stamps not/obtainable", to London with superb '6d'-in-circle h/s applied at Durban, light 'DURBAN/15 7/1879/NATAL' transit & 'LONDON SW/ SC /AU12/79' arrival b/s, light vertical fold. Carried per Union SS "Arab", arrived London 12/8/1879. Ex Geoffrey Osborn (private acquisition). [The sender was Midshipman the Hon SCJ Colville. On 6/8/1879, the Naval Brigade re-embarked HMS "Boadicea" at Simon's Town] 2,500T