10 6 December 2012 James G. Robertson James G. Robertson 1935–2012 James G. ‘Jim’ Robertson was born in March 1935 and died in March 2012. His collecting began in the days when you could still buy a mixed packet for 6d in ‘Woolies’, a regular Saturday afternoon haunt. It was after he finished university and National Service and started ‘real’ work, though, that his love for the hobby intensified into a passion. Jim graduated as a Bachelor of Science from the Glasgow Royal College of Science & Technology and had worked for the Goodyear Tyre Company as a Development Manager, later becoming a Science teacher. National Service had taken Jim to Cyprus, an experience that inspired a lifetime love. After demob he pursued this interest through historical research as well as collecting the stamps, postcards and, in due course, the cancellations of the Rural Posts of the island. The attractive stamps and first day covers from Nauru also appealed, as did those of the Channel Islands with their bright and inventive designs. Pursuing thematic lines of approach he sought out stamps that featured bowling, another great enthusiasm. A love of penguins, about which he was immensely knowledgeable, led him to study and collect the Falkland Islands and Antarctica. The exploits of Antarctic explorers further drove this passion which developed into a consuming interest in the history of the Southern Atlantic regions. He was a proud member of the Falkland Islands Philatelic Study Group, an early recruit (member no. 70), and eagerly anticipated the arrival of each “Upland Goose”. His collection of the postcards of the Falkland Islands, here presented, was quite exceptional, one of the most comprehensive ever formed. Despite dialysis taking a heavy toll on his body, Jim continued to expand his collection to the end, attempting to complete the various sections of his large collection and gathering much fine and unusual material to study, compare and enjoy. 6 December 2012 (First Session, Lots 2001–2441) Falkland Islands & Antarctica 11 First Session, Lots 2001 – 2441 Thursday 6th December at 11 am Falkland Islands & Antarctica including the collection of the late James G. ‘Jim’ Robertson of Glasgow Falkland Islands Early Mail 2001 ▲ THE EARLIEST KNOWN LETTER ADDRESSED TO THE FALKLANDS 1843, part lettersheet headed “On Her Majesty’s Service.–Pursuant to Act of Parliament.” sent from London addressed to “Lieut. R C Moody, R.E./Falkland Islands”, the first civil Governor of the Islands, with red crowned datestamp “PAID/4 FE 4/1843” and transit datestamp “RIO-JANEIRO/MR31/43”, carried by the Sarah Anne from Rio to Port Louis, arriving on Apr. 16. Copy of original contents enclosed. An exceptional, very important item. Heijtz certificate (2011). Photo. £4,000-£5,000 2002 ✉ THE BLACK FRANK 1872 (Apr. 3) envelope to Southampton with clear strikes of the Black Frank and Falkland Islands “AP 3/1872” despatch c.d.s., red London Paid May 27 transit and backstamped May 27 arrival, “1/-” ms. marking indicating pre-payment of double rate, slight creasing. Carried by the Foam to Montevideo and the John Elder to Liverpool. Barnes 7/72 (featured on front cover). Bühler certificate (1983). Ex Baker. Photo. £5,000-£8,000 12 6 December 2012 (First Session, Lots 2001–2441) Falkland Islands & Antarctica Falkland Islands: Early Mail continued 2003 ✉ THE BLACK FRANK 1875 (Apr. 2) registered cover to Tobago with clear strikes of the Black Frank, the “(crown)/REGISTERED” marking and Falkland Islands “AP 2/1875” despatch c.d.s., with ms. markings incl. “paid 4/-” in purple, “2d” in red, the left half of the top edge of the envelope repaired. Sent by George Travis, the Falkland Islands Postmaster, to his predecessor Henry Byng and carried by the Black Hawk. An important item, the only recorded registered Frank cover not addressed to Great Britain. Barnes 4/75. Heijtz certificate (2012). Ex Earl Spencer. Photo. £10,000-£12,000 2004 ▲ THE BLACK FRANK, a strike on contemporary (1870s) piece also showing small parts of ms. rate marking and ‘tied’ by red London transit marking, scarce. Heijtz certificate (2012). Photo. £80-£100 2005 ✉ THE RED FRANK, FIRST RECORDED USAGE 1876 (Nov. 15) envelope to Hampshire with clear strike of the Red Frank and Falkland Islands “NO 15/1876” despatch c.d.s., ms. rating “6” in purple and with Alresford Jan. 1 1877 arrival backstamp, carried on the Black Hawk to Montevideo and the Mondago to Southampton. The first recorded usage and the only example found from the year 1876. Barnes 1/76 (featured on front cover). Photo on front cover. £10,000-£12,000 2006 2004 2006 ▲ Late 1880s (?) undated folded sheet, slightly toned, with five verses of the popular song While London’s fast asleep by Harry Dacre (1860-1922), copyrighted in 1896 but believed sung in music halls before this date, addressed locally to “Mrs J. A. Pitaluga/Saunders Island/West Falkland”, possibly the wife of James Pitaluga (born in 1846). No postal markings so probably handcarried, either before or after 1891, when a local mail service was introduced. A remarkable early item. Photo. £300-£400 6 December 2012 (First Session, Lots 2001–2441) Falkland Islands & Antarctica 13 Queen Victoria Proofs and Specimens Ex 2007 2008 2007 P Bradbury, Wilkinson & Co. 6d. imperf. colour trial in blue on unwatermarked wove paper, an example from the foot of the sheet, fine. Photo. £180-£200 2008 P - 6d. imperf. colour trial in green on unwatermarked wove paper, an example from the foot of the sheet, fine. Photo. £180-£200 Ex 2009 Ex 2010 2009 + ½d. blue-green, Nov. 1891 printing, ½d. green, May 1892 printing, 1d. reddish chestnut, Oct. 1891 printing, 2½d. pale ultramarine, June 1898 printing, colour trials without Specimen overprint, each in a matching upper right corner marginal block of four, without gum, mainly fine and scarce. (16) Photo. £500-£600 2010 + S ½d. blue-green, 2½d. dull blue and 6d. orange-yellow, watermark reversed, Nov. 1891 printings, each in a block of four marginal from the top of the sheet, without gum, each stamp overprinted “SPECIMEN” (Samuel type B2) in black, fine and scarce. (12) Photo. £400-£500 2011 + S ½d. blue-green, Nov. 1891 printing, 1d. orange red-brown, Oct. 1891 printing, 2½d. very pale chalky ultramarine, May 1891 printing, each in a block of four marginal from the top of the sheet, affixed to card, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” (16.5 x 2mm.) in red, mainly fine and scarce. (12) Photo on page 14. £700-£800 2012 + S ½d. deep dull green, Apr. 1896 printing, ½d. deep yellow-green, July 1894 and Nov. 1895 printings, ½d. yellow- green, June 1899 printing, ½d. dull yellowish green, Jan. 1902 printing, each in a block of four without gum, upper marginal except the first, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. (20) Photo on page 14. £1,500-£1,800 2013 + S 1d. orange-brown (watermark reversed), Jan. 1894 printing, 1d. claret, July 1894 printing, 1d. Venetian red (watermark reversed), Nov. 1895 printing, 1d. Venetian claret, Apr. 1896 printing, 1d. pale red, June 1899 printing, 1d. orange-red, Jan. 1902 printing, each in a block of four without gum, marginal from the top of the sheet, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. (24) Photo on page 14. £1,700-£1,900 2014 + S 2d. deep purple, Nov. 1895 printing, and 2d. reddish purple, Apr. 1896 printing, both in a block of four without gum, marginal from the top of the sheet, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. (8) Photo on page 14. £600-£700 14 6 December 2012 (First Session, Lots 2001–2441) Falkland Islands & Antarctica Falkland Islands: Queen Victoria Proofs and Specimens continued Ex 2011 Ex 2012 Ex 2013 Ex 2014 Ex 2015 Ex 2016 2017 Ex 2018 Ex 2019 2015 + S 2½d. Prussian blue, Jan. 1894 printing, 2½d. ultramarine, Apr. 1896 printing, 2½d. bright ultramarine (watermark reversed), July 1894 printing, 2½d. deep ultramarine, Sept. 1901 printing, each in a block of four without gum, marginal from the top of the sheet, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. (16) Photo. £1,200-£1,500 2016 + S 4d. brownish black (watermark reversed), Jan. 1894 printing, 4d. olive-black, May 1895 printing, both in a block of four without gum, the former with slight adhesions on reverse, the latter marginal from the top of the sheet, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. (8) Photo. £600-£700 6 December 2012 (First Session, Lots 2001–2441) Falkland Islands & Antarctica 15 2017 + S 6d. yellow, Apr. 1896 printing, in a block of four without gum, marginal from the top of the sheet, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. Photo. £300-£350 2018 + S 9d. pale reddish orange, Nov. 1895 printing, 9d. salmon, Apr. 1896 printing, both in a block of four without gum, marginal from the top of the sheet, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. (8) Photo. £600-£700 2019 + S 1s. grey-brown, Nov. 1895 printing, 1s. yellow-brown, Apr. 1896 printing, both in a block of four without gum, marginal from the top of the sheet, each stamp handstamped “SPECIMEN” in violet or black (12.5 x 1.5mm.), mainly fine. (8) Photo. £600-£700 1878 – 79 No Watermark 2021 Ex 2022 2023 2020 ★ 1d.