BWISC Bulletin No 14 - July 1957


OUR PRESIDENT'S PARAGRAPH

Since writing my last paragraph we have held our Third Anniversary Meeting which took place on April 6th, a full report of which will be found elsewhere in this issue. The reports presented by our Hon. Secretary and Treasurer showed a continued increase in membership and a healthy balance sheet. The dinner at Lord's Tavern in the evening was well attended and, as on previous occasions, was very enjoyable. Once again the Circle had a remarkably good display of material at the Exhibition staged at the Harrogate Congress. One member of Congress remarked to me that he considered it to be the outstanding contribution to the exhibition. On May 29th I attended the sale at Robson Lowe's of Dr. Urwick's collection of Jamaica. The pre-adhesive covers comprised many unique items and the Mile Gully, type T3 (1839) sold for £10/10/-, and the very fine example of Morant Bay, type Tl (1773) and Salt Spring, type Tl (1790) realised £24 and £28 respectively. Ship Letters fetched good prices, up to £22 being paid for examples of the S1 type and the rare Morant Bay and St. Annes Bay went for £20 and £16 apiece. The so-called Postage Due 1844 entires with handstruck "4" & "8" realised the remarkable figure of £18. The G.B. used in Jamaica in almost every instance fetched more than the valuation. The l/- "A45" off cover sold for £29, a fine example of the 4d. "A48 ", Hope Bay, on cover. £21 and the 6d. "A69 ", Ramble, also on entire, £15. In Lot 577 I noted the 1d. pine cancelled "201" which the late Mr. Nicholson stated in the Handbook was never found on this stamp. Needless to say this is the first copy I have ever seen. The lovely Llandovery Falls 1d. die proof in ultramarine and black realised more than double the valuation at £26 and the two unissued 6d. depicting the Proclamation of Abolition of Slavery overprinted 'SPECIMEN' reached the high figure of £44. This was in many instances a truly unique collection and attracted exceptional prices from beginning to end.

G. W. COLLETT.

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