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1920/81 (ca.), group of unused and mostly used Perfins, together with a few covers, including some normal incoming mail to Ireland

1837/1990 (ca.), Postage Due on Foreign Incoming & Outgoing Mail, research collection of over 145 covers and cards,  illustrating a wide range of Postage Due stamp and marking usages, and showing the treatment of underpaid correspondence with an abundance of foreign destinations, including USA, Greenland, Denmark, Egypt or Temganyka, as well as incoming mail from India, Gold Coast, Austria, Jamaica, Germany, etc. Better items with 1869 underfranked envelope bearing 4 d. orange tied by Belfast “62” duplex cancel (1 July 1869) with "INSUFFICIENTLY STAMPED" handstamp to Dresden, Saxony; 1906 ½ d. green postal stationery card used with “CORK JU 2 06” to Tokyo, Japan, taxed and returned to sender, and more. Except for the occasional fault, overall in good condition, neatly mounted and expertly described on exhibit pages, in 2 albums.

1846/2003 (ca.), Irish Postage Due Domestic Mail, extensive research collection of over 125 covers and cards, illustrating a wide range of Postage Due stamp and marking usages, including on request and telegraph forms, on parcel labels, together with a fine group of “POSTED OUT OF COURSE” and “LIABLE TO LETTER” due markings, among many others. Some better items throughout with 1922 Civil War envelope to Limerick, bearing Postage Due 1 d. and 2 d., with blue crayon "6d-unpaid" and endorsement at foot ”IRA raids in POs - NO stamps available"; 1923 underfranked envelope to Liverpool bearing a superb strike of the very rare “Hammer-Head” experimental circular datestamp of Dundealgan; also an attractive selection of mail sent during the Interim Period, and much more. Except for the occasional fault, overall in good condition, neatly mounted and expertly described on exhibit pages, in 2 albums. A remarkable assembly.

1767/1851, Irish Stampless Mail, superb collection of 39 covers, showing a remarkable range of fine mail and postmarks, commencing with Bishops´ marks (1767 and 1774); 1845 entire letter bearing scarce blue “PAID at OMAGH” dotted frame handstamp (SG-Nr. PL5/135); 1801 entire letter with Belfast “POST PAID” scroll handstamp to Edinburgh; 1830 registered entire letter bearing red “T-OFF NOT PAID POSTAGE TO DUBLIN” framed handstamp, from New Town Mount Kennedy to Dublin, forwarded to Armagh, and more. An attractive assembly, neatly mounted and expertly described on exhibit album pages. 

1844/79, Irish to Foreign Destinations Before the UPU, collection of over 45 covers, including four covers to Latin America, among them 1876 entire letter bearing 1 sh. green tied Belfast “62” duplex cancel to Vera Cruz, and 1851 entire letter via Panama to Lima; also 1861 entire letter bearing 1856/58 1 d. red-brown, Die II, perf. 14 on white paper (SG-Nr. 36), horizontal strip of three and 5 single, paying the more expensive route via Ostend and Belgium, tied by Belfast duplex (3 August 1861) to Holland; a scarce duo of covers to Gibraltar, dated 1844 and 1873 respectively; also including destinations France, Malta, Argentina, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria with Triest, Mauritius, New South Wales, USA and the Cape of Good Hope. A marvellous selection, in somewhat mixed condition, almost all neatly mounted and expertly described on exhibit album pages. 

1840/78, Irish Mail to India, collection of 10 covers, with examples of mail routed via Marseilles and Bombay or Brindisi, some better items including 1840 entire letter endorsed “Overland via Falmouth”, sent to Assam and subsequently redirected to a Lieutenant in Allahabad; scarce 1843 small envelope from Limerick, carried as British Closed Mail via Marseilles; a scarce duo of envelopes sent via Marseilles to Dum Dum, Bengal, both correctly franked at the 10 d. rate, in 1866 (bearing 6 d. and 4 d.) and 1867 (bearing 6 d. and four single 1 d.), respectively, and more. A charming assembly, slightly mixed condition, as to be expected, neatly mounted and expertly described on exhibit album pages. 

1844/65, Irish Mail to Canada, collection of 9 covers, showing a vairiety of rates, due markings, forwarding, mail carried by Cunard Line steamships, etc. A fine assembly in slighlty mixed condition, expertly described on exhibit album pages.

1850/84, Irish Mail to Australia and the Australian States, collection of 19 covers, including a rare 1863 envelope bearing 3 d. rose (horizontal pair) tied by scarce Waterford “445” spoon duplex cancel, paying the 6 d. rate, to Tasmania; 1850 entire letter to Melbourne; 1878 registered envelope bearing 2 d. blue and 6 d. lilac, tied by Cork “156” duplex (10 September 1878) to New South Wales, also some insufficiently paid mail, combination frankings, and more. A colourful group in slightly mixed condition, expertly described on exhibit album pages. 

1838/73, Irish Mail to Germany and the German States, collection of 16 covers, showing a fine range of rates and routes, including 1840 entire letter via Belgium and Prussia to Mecklenburg-Schwerin, rare 1853 envelope via Belgium and Aachen to Kingdom of Hannover, very scarce 1873 printed matter to Saxony bearing 1 d. rose-red correctly paying the one penny rate, 1866 entire letter bearing 1d. rose-red (two horizontal strips of three) and 1865 envelope bearing 1d. rose-red (horizontal strip of four), illustrating both fully prepaid and insufficiently paid postage, and more. A delightful assembly, expertly described on exhibit album pages. 

“POSTAGE TO DUBLIN NOT PAID”, three-line handstamp, clear strike applied on second-weight step entire letter from Liverpool with matching despatch (5 November 1839) datestamp to Dublin, rated “8” (pence). The entire with vertical archival fold, fine. A very rare Irish marking. 

1854, Queen Victoria ½ d. blue, Die I, vertical pair, slightly cut into in places, otherwise clear to good margins all round, neatly tied by barred lozenge obliterators to entire letter to Dublin, Ireland, bearing “BOMBAY JY 29 1855” despatch handstamp with matching red “INDIA” handstamp, endorsed via Bombay & Southampton. Rated “4” (pence) due (postage partly paid) with arrival datestamp on reverse (7 September). A fine usage to Ireland. 

“MORE TO PAY”, clear strike on 1 d. rose postal stationery envelope used with black Maltese Cross to Celbridge, “2” due  for overweight letter. The envelope opened for display, small tear shaving the indicium and some peripheral toning. A rare usage.

1841, 1 d. red-brown on blue paper, Die 1, Small Crown watermark, used on underpaid entire letter to Down Patrick, bearing “DRUMCONDRA MR 18 1842” despatch and “MORE TO PAY” handstamps. The adhesive with small faults, nevertheless a fine and unusual usage.

1840, Mulready Letter Sheet 1 d. black, stereo A35, used with red Maltese Cross, adjacent datestamp “PAID JY 10 1840” to London, bearing straightline “EDGEWORTHSTOWN” despatch handstamp on reverse, endorsed “above ½” (oz.) and adjacent framed “MORE TO PAY”. Two vertical archival folds mostly clear of the postmarks, some minor reinforcements, otherwise fine. Very scarce combination of a Mulready used in Ireland and the postage due marking.

1840, entire letter from Chekowah, Upper Assam, India, via Ireland to Mannheim, Duchy of Baden, endorsed “per overland mail Bombay”, bearing Sudaya (5 March) despatch, and Marseille, London (8 may), Dublin (9 May) and Moville (10 May) transit handstamps. Rated 4 sh. postage to Kehl comprising “2 (sh.)/8 (d.)” due to Moville and “½ d.” from Morville to Kehl. As the Baden postage could not be calculated, the London Exchange Office retained the letter, applying red “N° 6666 Detained for Postage” and “Returned for 4/. Postage” markings. Following payment by the addressee, black “4” deleted in red ink and letter released, with Calais transit (3 June), red manuscript “28” (Kreuzer) due, comprising “20” (Kreuzer) to Kehl and “8” to Mannheim, with two-line arrival datestamp (6 June). A spectacular and rare entire, and an outsanding example of Overland mail.

1862, entire letter to Jakobstadt, Finland, bearing “QUEENSTOWN MR 1 1862” despatch datestamp, endorsed “via Ostende & St Petersburg”, with transit via London (3 March), Aachen (4 March) and arrival datestamp (25 February, Old Style) on reverse; two vertical archival folds, fine. A very rare destination for Irish mail.

1864/79, 1 d. rose-red, plate 138, Die 2, Large Crown watermark, together with 1865/79 4 d. vermilion, plate 12, Large Garter watermark, tied by Belfast “62” duplex cancel (8 March 1873) to entire letter to Pernau, Russia, endorsed via Ostende, bearing oval “FRANKED” handstamp, red "W(eiter)" F(ranco) 1½" (silbergroschen) credit to Prussia, with Russian travelling post office, transit Riga and arrival (6 March 1873, Old Style) on reverse. A fine entire to a rare destination.

1862/64, Small Corner Letters 4 d. red (one short perf), plate 3, together with 6 d. lilac, plate 3, both of fresh colours, neatly tied by clear Belfast “62” duplex cancel to entire letter to St Petersburg, Russia, bearing Prussian blue “3” (silbergroschen) weiterfranco, red “PD” handstamp, transit and arrival datestamp (23 April 1864, Old Style) on reverse. A fresh and attractive Irish entire to a rare destination.

“CORK SHIP LETTER”, fine strike on lettersheet dated inside “Philadelphia 1840”, sent via New York to London, bearing “CORK FE 21 1840” datestamp, fine; together with 1840 entire letter from New York to Dublin, with two-line “LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER” on reverse, “8” due marking and showing the fastest transport on land from Cork to Dublin. 

1862/64, Small Corner Letters 4 d. pale red, plate 4, together with 1 sh. green, plate 2, tied by Kingstown “289” duplex cancel (23 January 1885) correctly paying the 1 sh. 4 d. rate to registered envelope to Auckland, New Zealand, bearing Crown Registered, London Registered (24 January 1865) and “REGISTERED AUCKLAND MR 24 1865” arrival handstamps; small tear at top and some pressed perforation, still fine. Also a normal first-weight step envelope to Wellington, New Zealand, bearing 6 d. (faulty) tied by Dublin “186” duplex cancel (9 August 1859) with adjacent arrival datestamp (18 October 1858), showing an error in the year slug. Rare.

1873/80, 1 sh. green, plate 12, perf 14, tied by Belfast “62” duplex cancel (30 december 1876) to entire letter via Southampton to Santa Ana, San Salvador, insufficiently prepaid and intercepted in transit with red “RETURNED FOR DEFICIENT POSTAGE" handstamp and manuscript ”6" (pence) deficiency, the penalty of 1 shilling only partly paid on reverse with 1864/79 1 d. rose-red, plate 182, Die 2, Large Crown watermark in block of six (LK/NL) separated in half upon opening and obliterated in black ink. The 1 shilling with corner missing, the 1d. adhesives with minor faults, otherwise fine. A very rare cover, combining a rare due marking with a most elusive destination.

1857, 1 sh. green, perf 14, neatly tied by clear Cork “156” duplex cancel (17 April 1857) to envelope via Belgium, Aachen and Trieste to Corfu, Ionian Islands, bearing “8” (pence) total postage due, with “3¼” (silbergroschen) credit for Prussia, circular “P” marking showing postage paid to the port of arrival, and red “3” (pence) credit for onward inland conveyence. Arrival datestamp on reverse (27 April). The cover with some minor peripheral weaknesses, still fine. A most charming usage to a rare destination.

1855/57, No Corner Letters 4 d. rose-carmine, Large Garter watermark, tied by clear Dublin “186” duplex cancel (6 December 1861) to entire letter to Lisbon, Portugal, bearing London transit (7 December) and framed “LISBOA 14 12 61” arrival handstamp on reverse. Postage prepaid to the Portuguese port of call, with “80” (reis) due marking for onward inland conveyence, very fine. A rare destination for Irish mail.

1855/57, No Corner Letters 4 d. rose-carmine, Large Garter watermark, horizontal pair (faulty) tied by maritime H&K PACT “186” duplex cancel (27 July 1861) to a small envelope readdressed to Eaux-Bonnes, France, bearing 1853 Napoléon 40 c. orange with PC “2071” (Montbrison) and originally addressed via Calais to Tara, Meath county, insufficiently prepaid with matching “AFFRANCHISSEMENT INSUFISANT” and “MORE TO PAY” handstamps, manuscript “12” due. Minor transportation traces, otherwise fine. An unusual usage.