1917-21 ‘G.E.A.‘ 20r black and purple/red, well-centred. brilliant o.g. Very fine.

1915 (May) stampless front (slightly trimmed) of commercial cover from Mafia to Zanzibar, with mostly very fine strike of the 'G R/POST/6 CENTS/MAFIA' handstamp in violet at upper right, and Zanzibar squared circle (MY 24 15) alongside. The front with creases but fine appearance and showing fragment of grey censor label at top. An important and rare early usage of this handstruck mark, with traces of the circular rim of the handstamp.

1916 (17 AU) registered O.H.M.S. cover from Capt. A. A. Reid on Mafia to 'S. N. Faulkner, Audit Office, Nairobi', franked by 1915 (Sept) set of 10 to 1r, type M4 handstamp in dull blue, tied by five strikes of MAFIA cds in same colour. Mombasa (AU 27) and Nairobi (AU 29) backstamps. Cover creases (just affecting 2½a value) and 1r value creased, nevertheless highly attractive and very rare. Only 159 issued of 1r, 160 of 12a, 200 of 8a.

1915 (Sep) ½a light green, type M4 Mafia handstamp in dull blue, c.t.o. on small piece with part 'MA(FIA)' cds in same colour. Slight wrinkling but fine appearance. Acquired from SG in 1960 by the previous owner. (cat £90)

1916 (Feb) part commercial cover (left half) from Mafia to Zanzibar, Khaja Kassam Kanji correspondence, franked on reverse by 1915 (Sep) ½a light green 'I.E.F.' with fine strike of type M4 'G R/POST/MAFIA' H/S in dull blue, tied on arrival by part Zanzibar squared circle dated 'FE 2? 16'. A tragedy that it is only half of a cover, otherwise really fine condition and an important and desirable usage of the type M4 'postmark-cum-overprint' period, prior to the introduction of the Mafia cds in early July 1916. Such dated examples are rare.

1915 (Sept) ½a light green, type M4 Mafia handstamp in dull blue, fine o.g. 3712 issued.

1915 (Sept) ½a light green, type M4 Mafia handstamp in green, vertical pair with part interpane margin at top, brilliant unmounted o.g. Crease at right, still an attractive and very scarce multiple. (cat £110+)

1915 (Sept) 1a aniline carmine, type M4 Mafia handstamp in greenish black, applied diagonally as a postmark-cum-overprint in the pre-July 1916 period. Scarce.

1915 (Sept) 2½a ultramarine, type M4 Mafia handstamp in green, fresh large part o.g. Only 384 issued.