GREAT BRITAIN: Interesting group of Queen Victoria 1884 Lilac & Green values on covers (13), most sent to overseas destinations, comprising:  

6d dull green on 1885 cover to a solicitor in "Colac, Melbourne", Australia cancelled with a Sidmouth 'JY 22 85' squared circle. Geelong 'AU 31 85 and Colac 'AU 31 85'  cds's on reverse.  The stamp with very good colour but has some toned perfs.  A scarce franking. SG cat £380.

4d dull green cancelled by 'MR 9 86' London hooded circle on banker's cover to Veracruz, Mexico. Veracruz backstamp. Light strike of red 'Aynard & Ruffer, Lombard Street, London' handstamp on front. The adhesive with excellent colour. SG cat £350. A scarcer destination.

3d lilac & ½d slate blue tied by 'L1/Lombard Street/JA 4 86' duplexes on banker's cover to Barcelona, Spain. Full strike of pale red 'Aynard & Ruffer, Lombard Street, London' handstamp on front. Indistinct back stamp. SG cat £200+.

1885 envelope from Ireland to Canada bearing pair of 1884 2½d lilac to Ontario, cancelled neatly by Cork hooded circles dated '17 JY 85.' Light part Hamilton and '11.30 JY 27' backstamps. The envelope is addressed to Doctor Carbury (James Joseph Carbery), Bishop of Hamilton. He served as the third bishop of the diocese from his installation in 1884 until his death in 1887. Clean and attractive

1½d lilac on cover to Dublin tied by London hooded circle dated '17 JU 85/ D.'.  Full double ring H&K Packet cds on reverse dated 'A/JU 18/9/85.' Some cover creasing but the stamp is fine with strong colour.

2½d lilac on commercial envelope to New Hampshire, USA cancelled London WC11 duplex 'XA/JY 19/84'. Neat, full strike of black oval 'Forwarded by Mr Burr London, 11 Queen Square WC' on top left of front. On reverse 'New York JU 29' cds alongside 'Paid B All' circular mark and purple Hopkinton  'JUL 30 1884 NH' double ring cds. Very attractive.

2½d lilac on mourning cover from Bedford to Reverend Robert G. Livingstone at the Slavyansky Bazar Hotel in Moscow, Russia.  On reverse a Turvey village transit cds dated 'SP 5 85' and an indistinct Russian mark. Couple small tears at top of cover, otherwise fine. Reverend Livingstone was an English clergyman and academic at Pembroke College, who often corresponded with and visited English communities in Russia during the late 19th century.

1½d lilac used to uprate 1d pink envelope to Berlin, Germany, cancelled by London hooded circles dated 'JY 13 85.' SG cat £120.

2½d lilac on commercial entire to Bergen, Norway cancelled London hooded circle 'H/27 SP 86/Z' from Watts & Ward shipping company. Light, complete strike of purple 'Watts, Ward & Co, London' oval handstamp on top left of front.

 2½d lilac on cover to Dresden, Germany, cancelled by neat Liverpool '28 MY 86' square circle. On back, Dresden receiving mark '30 5 86.'

 2½d lilac on entire to Austria cancelled London hooded circle '23 MY 85'. Couple of Austrian circular backstamps.

 2½d lilac on entire to Nice, France cancelled London 'MR 85' cds

All stamps with excellent colour. With many interesting transit and instructional marks and destinations, in addition to the huge SG cat value alone for simple usage on cover (£1400+), this is a great value lot for the GB postal history collector.