Great Britain and British Commonwealth Postal History
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 494
Symbol: C
Cat No: 29
1850 (Dec 13) cover with superb Sydney View Plate III (Single-Lined Bale & No Dots in the Stars) 2d ultramarine SG 29 (Cat £250 x2+ on cover) tied by very fine BN '24' of 'CAMPBELL TOWN' (large-part b/s), to "Picton" with faint/poor arrival b/s, repaired opening tear at L/R well clear of the stamp. Very attractive.
1859 town entire to the "Victoria Theatre" with Imperf Diadems 1d orange-red SG 109 (good even margins except where just touched at U/L; internal split) tied by superb Sydney duplex. A very attractive town letter.
1867 (Aug 24) unusual 'Riverina' combination franking with NSW DLR 2d strip of 5 on the reverse plus Victoria Laureates 2d (one defective) & 6d all cancelled with Rays '50' of 'ALBURY' (b/s), mourning cover to the Isle of Wight "via Marseilles" with superb Melbourne transit b/s & large-part 'COWES/OC14/67' arrival b/s, insignificant blemishes & repaired tear across the flap. Carried per 'Bombay' ex Melbourne 28.8.1867; 'Mongolia' Galle-Suez; 'Bangalore' Alexandria-Malta-Marseilles arrived 12.10.1867. [Only one other NSW/Victoria combination franking with stamps on the reverse has been recorded]
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 497
Symbol: PS
Cat No: Collection
POSTAL CARDS - SCENIC: Used group comprising 1898 issue Arms 1d 'Greetings from ...' Queen Victoria Market (scarce view), General Post Office used as a formular postcard to France "via San Francisco" with New Zealand Pictorials ½d & 1d, Wentworth Falls used to Melbourne and another to Germany with ½d added, Katoomba Falls and Mosman's Bay, plus 1½d Numeral 'With Christmas Greetings' Town Hall and 'With New Year Greetings' Town Hall, General Post Office and Katoomba Falls, also 1906 issue Arms 1d Iron Cove Bridge used locally by BB Nicol & Co representative, condition fine to very fine and well above-average for used examples of these.
(Qty 11)
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 499
Symbol: CPS
Cat No: Collection
TRAVELLING POST OFFICES: Unusual group that would enhance most collections comprising scarce oval 'TRAVELLING POST WEST/JU18/ U 83 2 /NSW' d/s on Victorian OHMS lettersheet; 'TRAVELLING PO No2 NORTH B/ D /FE15/88/NSW' (rated 8, of 10) large-part cancel on 1d Postal Card Tamworth-Sydney; machine 'TPO 1 NORTH/SP13 - UP A ' (rated 9) on PPC from Emmaville to Sydney & '.../SP6 - UP B ' (rated 9) on cover from Dalby (Qld) to Sydney; 1905-12 PPCs carried on various lines with all-different 'LATE FEE/ 1D ' x3, 'MORE TO PAY/ 1D ' (a bit light) or double-oval 'TRAIN LETTER/ 1D /LATE FEE'; and 'POSTED ON TRAIN/12JY39/ALBURY NSW' on Business Paid envelope endorsed "Late fee" with Queen 1d green affixed; condition a bit mixed but the strikes are generally fine to very fine.
(Qty 10) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Mar-24-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 529
Symbol: C
1867 (Sep 17) Chinese merchant's cover to Sydney with Small Chalons 6d & 'REGITERED' tied by Rays '201' & with very fine 'REGISTERED/ROCKHAMPTON' h/s in red, central stain from the wax seal that is still present; 1882 cover to Sussex with First Sidefaces 6d & redirected on arrival; plus four very tatty items that remarkably include an 1871 front to London at the rare 1/1d via Brindisi rate.
(Qty 6)
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 530
Symbol: S=C
Cat No: Collection
TRAVELLING POST OFFICES: Extensive annotated collection with a good range of early types including capsule cancels on stamps, 'GN RAILWAY' x4, superb 'BUNDABERG RLY [1]', large cds Colonial types on cover, many uses on registered covers including several with 2-line TPO registration handstamps, good range of the large cds Commonwealth types (most of which are very scarce) including a few with inscriptional errors & '___/TPO 5 R' with the upper inscription excised), Barred Numerals allocated to TPOs, strong postal history content including "Toolooa" RO manuscript cancel, etc etc, condition variable. An excellent basis for development and further research.
(Qty few 100) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,800.00
Sold...AU$ 3,800.00
Closed..Mar-24-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 3800
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 567
Symbol: C
1862 water-damaged cover to Scotland with the stamp washed-off but complete 'WOODSIDE/OC23/62/S.A' cds at L/L & Adelaide b/s in blue, superb strike on the reverse of the boxed 'Saved from the wreck of/the Colombo' (Type IV, with curved tail on 'd' of 'Saved': the scarcest of the four sub-types), 'PENRITH/FE6/63' arrival b/s & a very fine strike of the 'PENRITH/[crown]' mailbag seal affixed in red wax sealing the flap. A new discovery, not included in Brian Peace's Census of only 10 covers from South Australia.
1838 entire headed "Great Swan Port 14th Sepr 1838" & signed "Geo Meredith", to Hobart rated "6" with small boxed '19SE19/1838' arrival b/s, "6" scored-through & re-rated "1" because the addressee, Sgt Killion, was a soldier. A significant rarity: believed to be the only recorded inland Soldier's Rate letter from the pre-stamp period. [Offered with a promissory note - rejoined (?) or repaired along central split - also signed by Meredith. Great Swanport on the NE coast, was renamed Swansea c.1863. George Meredith was granted land on Oyster Bay in 1821]
(Qty 2 items)
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 602
Symbol: S=C
Cat No: Collection
TRAVELLING POST OFFICES: Collection with a batch of 19th century Letter Bills with early TPO types & some with mailbag seals impressed in wax, duplicated selection of TML Ry & TPO cancels including 'TML RY - No 3' cancels on advertising cover, two very fine 'QUE TPO' on small pieces, etc, also four Tasmanian Railways pseudo-parcels & a couple of parcel tags. Handy lot. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-24-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 659
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
1849 entire headed "Geelong/3rd Jany 1849" but with a very fine strike of the rare 3-line 'GEELONG/JANY 1/1849' provisional datestamp in red, to Ireland rated "3" in red for prepaid shipletter, British transits & very fine 'ATHL[ONE]/AP2[6 ?]/1849/ A ' arrival b/s, rated "8" in black for internal carriage, minor blemishes. One of the great items of the Port Phillip District. [The Geelong d/s was absent from Max Watson's collection. This example is superior to the only other example in red, on entire dated 31.12.1848, Ex Brian Peace. A third example, in black on entire dated 28.12.1848, Ex Hugh Freeman and Michael Silvasich, sold at our auction of 22.4.2006 for $6990. It's a small sample but all three examples are dated JANY 1/1849, and with this entire being dated after 1.1.1849, we are confident that the date on the handstamp was fixed]
1856 (Apr 14) cover endorsed "Via Eenland [sic]" to "Concord NH/US" with Woodblock 6d (3½ margins) tied by BN '9' of 'BEECHWORTH' (oval b/s), British 'AUSTRALIAN/LIVERPOOL/JY16/56/PACKET' arrival b/s & superb strikes of the 'ART - 2' handstamp (recorded by Ben Palmer on only 7 covers from Victoria) & the boxed 'B' h/s in red & 'd5' h/s on the face overstruck with American '31' rate h/s (not recorded by Ben Palmer) & light 'BOSTON/BR PKT' b/s, some mostly peripheral blemishes. Carried per Clipper 'Earl of Sefton' ex Melbourne 26.4.1856; per Cunard Line 'Arabia' ex Liverpool 19.7.1856 & arriving Boston 30.7.1856. Not listed in Ben Palmer's Census. A marvellous array of instructional handstamps, likely to be of interest to the collector of Trans-Atlantic Mails. Ex Dale Forster.
The enclosed 3pp letter - totally devoid of punctuation! - headed "Three Mile Creek Beechworth/Ovens diggins March 30 1856" & signed "David L Sanders" to his wife states "...it has now been three years since I left home...my luck has been varied...if I can gratify my pockets I will go home We have now commenced something like California mining we are now sluicing...the population on the ovens is nothing so large as the lower diggins the pay is so small that most are not satisfied with it...". Also a short note similarly headed & dated "April 6 1856"
(Qty 3 items)
1859 (Dec 2) cover to Switzerland with rare franking of Shilling Octagonal horizontal strip of 3 [35-37] and Queen-on-Throne 6d tied by poor to fine BN '25' of 'HEPBURN' (poor oval b/s), registration markings including the sender's signature on the flap as required by the Regulations, numerous transit markings including '[crown]/ REGISTERED' & 'PD'-in-circle h/s of London both in red, French 'CHARGE' h/s & 'ANGL/AMB CALAIS B' cds, Swiss 'BASEL' & 'BIASCA' (?) & octagonal postage due calculation h/s all on the reverse, minor blemishes on the face & a bit stained on the reverse. Ex Dr Geoff Kellow RDP & Michael Silvasich: acquired at the Prestige auction of 25.1.2003 for $7280. RPSofV Certificate (2016). [Switzerland No 111 in Ben Palmer's Census]
The Shilling strip is a unique and technically important franking. The first unit has the Major Retouch to 'SHILLING' with 'IN' Largely Obliterated, Smaller 'G' & Deformed '+' Ornament at Right, which was apparently an attempt to correct a Severely Creased Transfer. Our vendor, who really knows his stuff, has no record of any other cover bearing the Retouch or the original Creased Transfer.
1860 (Aug 21) entire letter to Melbourne (b/s) with almost superb strike of the large & impressive 'VICTORIA EXPRESS/S.COLLOU & Co/STATIONERS/News & Letter Agents/&c/INGLEWOOD' h/s & mss "1" (signifying that the express fee of 1/- had been paid; partly obscured by the flap) in red both on the reverse, placed into the postal system at 'NEW INGLEWOOD' (oval b/s) where Beaded Oval 4d was tied by an indistinct numeral cancel, ironed-out filing creases are less prominent on the reverse. Ex Michael Silvasich: sold at the Prestige auction of 22.4.2006 for $6990. RPSofV Certificate (2008). [The Goldfields Expresses operated without official sanction and were suppressed late in 1860 to protect the postal monopoly. Only one other letter with the Collou & Co handstamp is recorded. Also Ex Michael Silvasich, it sold for $9902. The Goldfields Expresses are an important element of development of postal services in Victoria, akin to the situation in Western Australia with the Goldfields Cycle Expresses of the 1890s]
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 663
Symbol: S=C
Cat No: Collection
TRAVELLING POST OFFICES: Annotated collection remainders with many scarce to rare items including 22mm Octagon 'DOWN TRAIN/MG5' (rated RRRR), 'DOWN TRAIN/MG14 - TPO/14' duplex (RRRRR), 25mm Octagon 'DOWN TRAIN/MG14' (RRRR), 'TPO/ 17 '-in-Bars, etc, good range of Commonwealth types including 'TPO 15/DOWN...' (RRR), English Mail TPO section including duplex on covers to Canada & GB both paid 2½d + 6d late fee, very fine machine b/s on cover from Austrian Levant (!), 'POSTED MELBOURNE/DOWN EXPRESS', half-strike of 'TPO E' & two part-strikes of the double circle 'GT STHRN UP TRAIN' relief cds; also two strikes of 'RMSS/HOBSONS BAY' datehead only; condition variable. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Mar-24-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 707
Symbol: =C
Extracted from John Dibiase's 8-frame exhibit including a few fair prestamp postmarks, 1860 part-entire with an enormous marginal 4d tied by 15-bar '8' of 'FREEMANTLE' (the stamp torn-off and replaced), 1867 to Victoria with defective 6d, 1881 stained local cover with Perf 14 1d yellow-bistre, 1890 to GB with 6d & 1890 to Perth with 2d both tied by 'ALBANY/WA - KGS' duplex, 1892 double-rate to USA with 'ALBANY - A ' duplex, 1893 philatelic with 'ONE PENNY' on 3d x4, 1894 badly stained with 1/- cutout from a telegram form, 1895 quintuple-rate oversize to NSW with 2d 3d & 4d + Postal Fiscal 1d block of 4, 1900 to Guernsey, 1901 to Albany with 'COOKERNUP/W.A - PO' duplex, 1904 registered with superb 'TOWN HALL/FREMANTLE' cds, 1913 with Fremantle Chamber of Commerce crest on the flap locally used with 'ONE PENNY' on 2d yellow, etc, very mixed condition.
(Qty 31 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$800
Opening AU$ 1,600.00
Sold...AU$ 2,100.00
Closed..Mar-24-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 2100
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 708
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
1898 cover to a Trappist Mission in "East Griqualand" with DLR ½d green & 2d grey tied by 'K'-in-Bars cancels of 'KOJONUP' (cds at L/L) both in violet, transit b/s of Albany Cape Town & 'KOKSTAD/CGH' transits & 'SNEEZEWOOD/ NO25/98/CGH' arrival b/s, stained & repaired corner at L/L. The Pope & Reynolds Census has no record of covers with the 'K' cancellation. A recent & significant find.
The Griquas were a mixed-race group who were effectively refugees, being forced to move from the Orange Free State, through what became Basutoland, across the Drakenberg Range into what was essentially northern Natal. Between the early-1860s & late-1870s, East Griqualand was one of four short-lived Griqua states. After a further move into what had become known as Nomansland, the Griquas established their capital at Kokstad, named after their leader, Adam Kok III. They issued currency but no stamps. Despite proximity to Natal, in 1874 the area was subsumed into the Cape Province. On 1.11.1913, the area was ceded to Natal.
1902 (July 22) issue of ½d Postal Card with 1d tied by 'KOJONUP' cds, to a Catholic Mission in "East Griqualand" with transits of Perth, 'DURBAN/NATAL' & 'KOKSTAD/CGH' and arrival b/s of 'NEW AMALFI//6SP/02', rather soiled/aged but a terrific usage item for a Postal Stationery collector. [The Maria Telgte Catholic Mission at New Amalfi was established by Trappist monks in 1895]
TRANS-AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY: '634 MILE TAR/3AP37/WA' three very fine strikes on philatelic but correctly rated cover to California, with plain provisional registration label tied by one of the strikes. PO 1.4.1935; TO 2.6.1937; closed ? [This is the only registered cover recorded by us]
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 711
Symbol: S=C
Cat No: Collection
TRAVELLING POST OFFICES: Useful group of mostly part-strikes but including fine to very fine 'TPO -EG' x4 (one on the face of a PPC from Victoria), 'GOLDFIELDS/TPO', 'EG TPO' etc, condition variable. Inspection recommended.
(Qty 14 + 8 covers) (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 500.00
Sold...AU$ 500.00
Closed..Mar-24-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 500
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 712
Symbol: C
TRAVELLING POST OFFICES: 'PERTH-ALBANY/WA/ 1 /OC18/90/TRAVELLING POST OFFICE' (all slugs inverted) largely fine transit b/s of the Great Southern Railway on cover from Adealide to Perth. [Far superior to the part-strike - with the slugs upright - on John Booker's 1892 cover that sold at our auction of 1.12.2019 for $407]
Hand-painted covers comprising 1) c.1875 of a happy sailor on shore leave waving a banner into which a 1d Plate '86' has been incorporated, addressed to Hertfordshire but apparently not posted as the stamp is uncancelled & there are no backstamps, repaired opening tear across the flap suggests the cover was privately carried & delivered by hand; and 2) 1901 of a row of tents & a uniformed soldier pointing to the address "HMS Magnificent/Channel Fleet/Beerhaven" (in Ireland) with 1d lilac tied by London cds, a further illustration of crossed rifles on the reverse & 'BANTRY' arrival cds, minor blemishes, with the original enclosure bearing watercolour illustration of a sailor on the first page and pen & ink of a criminal on the 4th page. A charming trio. Ex Gerald Ellott, the first being the frontispiece for his Grand Prix Royal Navy exhibit. (3 items)
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1060
Symbol: CPS
Cat No: Collection
Bundle of covers with a group of pre-WWII commercial airmails including 1932 envelope 'front' used as a postcard with KGV 6d endorsed "via Karachi", 1932 to British Cameroons at 11d rate with 'VICTORIA' arrival b/s, 1934 to Adelaide with 2/6d Seahorse, 1935 to Singapore with KGV 6d single, 1935 to Thailand x2 both endorsed "via Holland" at single & double 1/- rates with 'BANGKOK' arrivals, 1936 PPC to NSW at 6d rate, also 1931 First & Second Experimental airmails x3, Registration Envelopes x3, 1954 Guinness advertising folder with Australia 'CUSTOMS DUTY' ½d, etc, 1935 Silver Jubilee 1½d on two illustrated FDCs, and a bundle of picture postcards (60+) mostly topographicals used including to Australia with KEVII 1½d solo x8 (printed matter; SG £50 each 'on cover') and 2½d single x4 (letter rate), one with Fremantle (WA) with 'PAQUEBOT' cachet, plus a few 'nudes', condition quite mixed but many fine. Weighs 1¼kg.
(Qty 200 approx) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 150.00
Closed..Mar-25-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1061
Symbol: CPS
Cat No: Collection
Bakewell (Derby) collection with several pre-stamp items including 1766 with 'BAKE/WELL' h/s & London Bishop Mark arrival, 1815 with 'BAKEWELL/ 132 ' h/s in red & 1838 with undated circular h/s, early datestamps, 'thimble' on 1920 KGV 3½d blue Registration Envelope, 1922 'skeleton' cds, etc, several going abroad including 1864 entire to Canada, also a good range of PPCs of the town & local villages of Baslow, Calver Sough, Edensor & Monsal Dale with some better subjects, generally fine to very fine.
(Qty 150+) (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 75.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-25-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1062
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
Pre-stamp extensively annotated collection in three expensive 'Devon' 2-peg albums commencing with very fine letters of 1668 & 1676 both from "Whitehall" to Royal officials in Scotland, many 18th Century items including a couple with poor Dockwras & a few with very fine Bishop marks, 1796 with straight-line 'LINCOLN' h/s & 1804 with straight-line 'AMERSHAM' mileage mark, a range of circular & boxed town markings, fronts with free franks of Lords "Melbourne" & "Carrington", etc etc, the condition is rather mixed & the markings generally are less than fine, however many of the articles themselves are fine to very fine & many have interesting contents.
(Qty 94 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 95.00
Sold...AU$ 525.00
Closed..Mar-25-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 525
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1063
Symbol: CPS
Cat No: Collection
Accumulation from 1800s to modern including a few pre-stamp entires noted 1815 with boxed 'KILMARNOCK' h/s and another with very fine 'RYE/Penny Post', four 1845 entires to Haddington from Rome x2 Genoa or Geneva, 1859 to Burma with 1d red (faults) & 1/- green via Bombay-Aden Sea Post Office, range of domestic Penny Reds covers, advertising, WWI military & censored mail, 1920s-modern airmails including higher value usages, special services, etc, plus a batch of used PPCs with plenty of postmark interest including squared circles, also a substantial section of Postal Stationery with many used including Postal Cards, Wrappers, Envelopes & Registration Envelopes, etc, condition quite variable but many fine to very fine. Weighs 13kg.
(Qty 100s) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 60.00
Sold...AU$ 600.00
Closed..Mar-25-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 600
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1064
Symbol: PS
Cat No: ME2
1840 Mulready Envelopes 1d black SG ME2 Stereo 'A172' & 2d blue SG ME4 Stereo 'a201', both and especially the Penny unusually fine unused, Cat £775.
(Qty 2)
1855 (Sep 10) James Baines & Co entire being a printed advice headed 'PACKET OF THE 5th OCTOBER/ROYAL MAIL SHIP/SCHOMBERG', Stars 1d tied by very fine 'LIVERPOOL/ R 1 ' spoon-duplex, 'WIGAN' arrival b/s in green, some soiling & file-punched away from the address flap. [The notice states '...our new Aberdeen-built Clipper Schomberg, the largest ever built in the United Kingdom...& is allowed to be the masterpiece of British skill & workmanship...Captain James Nicol Forbes will command...& we anticipate his making a rapid voyage...at the head of his profession as a skilled navigator...'. On 27.12.1855, Schomberg, on her maiden voyage, was wrecked off Cape Otway (Victoria)]
1948 (April) The Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd oversized cover (375x250mm) registered airmail from their London office to their Chief General Manager in Melbourne, Australia with the remarkable franking of Royal Silver Wedding 2½d x24 plus £1 irregular block of 3 tied by rather indistinct London cds cancels, a couple of ironed-out edge creases which affect a few of the 2½d values but the £1 values are very fine. The rate of £3/5/- comprised 1/6d per ½oz airmail rate x43 + 3d registration + 1d late fee (or convenience overpayment). Although indistinct, the date is clearly either '26' or '28' April: if the former, that would make this the most impressive commercial First Day Cover we have ever seen! [A similar but smaller cover with £1 strip of 3 sold at a Melbourne auction in 2014 for $2500+]
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1067
Symbol: CPS
Cat No: Collection
FIRST DAY COVERS: 1930s-2000s accumulation in 20+ albums as well as loose, noted 1953 Coronation, 1955 Waterlow Castles 2/6d & 5/- covers x2, 1957 Scout Jamboree two different official covers plus Francis Field multi-coloured covers, batch of Wildings including Regionals, modern Commemoratives & Machins including range of complete booklet panes, etc, also some registered, a little commercial mail scattered throughout, mostly fine to very fine. Weighs 40kg.
(Qty 100s) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 340.00
Sold...AU$ 200.00
Closed..Mar-25-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 200
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1068
Symbol:
FIRST DAY COVERS: Three cartons with Post Office, Cotswold, Philart, Wessex and other private issuers to 2010, some unaddresssed, some toning on earlier covers. Weighs 25kg.
(Qty 100s) (Image1)
Estimate AU$120
Opening AU$ 115.00
Sold...AU$ 60.00
Closed..Mar-25-2021, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 60
Sale No: 243
Lot No: 1069
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
FIRST DAY COVERS: 1978-2007 Collection in nine albums, apparently complete including M/Ss, se-tenant strips and booklet panes, some with both SG-listed postmarks, lots of thematic interest. Weighs 24kg.
(Qty 100s)
1889-1902 Registration Envelopes with various 'REGISTERED' datestamps of Melbourne used within Victoria, to NSW, to Germany x2, or to the Netherlands Indies, fine to very fine used. An unusual lot.
(Qty 5)
1881 usage of 2d pink Envelope uprated with scarce franking of Laureates 4d & Bell 1/-, BN '1' killer cancels & double-oval 'REGISTERED/AP9/81/MELBOURNE' d/s, to Surrey with London transit of 23MY81 in red on the face & 'CROYDON' arrival b/s, minor blemishes.
1881 cover to New Brunswick "Via Sanfrancisco" with Laureates 6d & Naish 2d brown x3 tied by BN '1' killer cancels, double-oval 'REGISTERED/JL12/81/MELBOURNE' datestamp, Canadian transit b/s of 'WINDSOR', 'MONTREAL' & 'McALPINE/NB' plus 'NARROWS/NB' arrival b/s. Ben Palmer's Census Canada #75. [Despite the endorsement, this was sent via London for which the rate was 8d + 4d registration fee, reduced from 6d on 1.7.1881]
1881 (Aug 1) very early usage of Embossed 4d lilac Registration Envelope size a to Ireland where redirected to England with GB 1d lilac added & tied by 'WICKLOW - 449' duplex, octagonal ' 5 /REGISTERED/DUBLIN' b/s in red & 'NORWICH' arrival cds, small closed flap tear. [Private correspondence between David Hill, the 'father' of Victorian philately & Capt (later Major) EB Evans, one of the original 20 signatories to the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists]
1881 cover with 'DEUTSCHER VEREIN/[eagle]/TALBOT, VICTORIA' to Hanover "pr Chimborazo" with scarce Three-Issue Four-Colour franking of Laureates 8d brown/pink, Bell 1d green & 1/- indigo/blue and Naish 2d brown tied by 'TALBOT/OC31/81/VICTORIA - 244' duplex, superb boxed 'REGISTERED' h/s at L/L (a rare marking from a small goldmining town), transit b/s framed 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE', Italian TPO cds, 'AUSG' & superb 'FRANKFURT a MAIN/12 12/81' plus miscut German 'vom Ausland/uber Frankfurt a M 1' R label. Very attractive. Ben Palmer's Census Germany #37. The rate was 8½d per ½oz x2 + 6d registration fee for mail sent via Brindisi. [This is a very significant cover. Only this & one other to Italy are recorded paying the 6d registration fee via Brindisi that applied 1881-86 only]
1881 correctly rated cover to Melbourne with Laureates 4d tied by 'WEDDERBURN' duplex, apparently contained money so endorsed "d6 Officially registered" but on arrival with '("8d")/MORE TO PAY' h/s, resized & repaired at U/L. Ex Charles Lathrop Pack and Max Watson. RPSofV Certificate (2008).
1882 (Feb 14; Valentine's Day) usage of 4d lilac Registration Envelope size b with Double Embossing One Albino to a Melbourne pharmacist with Naish 2d brown x2, poor BN cancels & 'PORTSEA' cds below plus oval '("4D")/MORE TO PAY' h/s. [The rate was 2d per ½oz, so the article must have weighed between 1 & 1½oz]
1882 cover to Italy with scarce Three-Issue franking of Laureates 6d blue, Bell 1d green & Naish 4d rosine tied by BN '120' with 'WEDDERBURN' cds alongside, 'TALBOT/OC31/81/VICTORIA - 244' duplex, boxed 'REGISTERED' h/s at L/L (a rare marking from a small goldmining town) & Italian rubber 'R'-in-octagon h/s in violet, transit b/s framed 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE' & 'BRINDISI/20/MAO/82' and 'NAPOLI' arrival b/s, minor stains mostly at L/R. [The rate was 7d + 4d registration]
1882 (June 28) cover apparently posted in New South Wales with Albury b/s, to Yackandandah with Naish 2d brown & endorsed "Vic stamp" in red, sent to Sydney (b/s of JU30) where marked 'ILLEGALLY/STAMPED' in violet & forwarded - probably in a sealed bag - to Melbourne where officially registered - probably because it contained a coin - & the stamp cancelled with the 'REGISTERED'-in-oval h/s, octagonal 'DLB/JY3/82/VICTORIA' b/s & rare 'DLB/REGISTERED' h/s both in red, opening faults at the base. Most unusual. The cover was probably forwarded in a DLO envelope & the addressee charged 2d postage + 2d fine + 4d registration = 8d. RPSofV Certificate (2008).
1882 (Sep 25) cover with Italian Consul's h/s across the flap, to Rome "Via Brindisi" with scarce franking of Bell 1d green & 1/- blue/blue x4 + Naish 2d brown x2 tied by '1' killer cancels, double-oval 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE' d/s below, 'ROMA' arrival b/s & rubber 'R'-in-octagon struck in violet, minor faults & a little truncated at both ends. Ex Guy Linfield. Ben Palmer's Census Italy #19. [The rate was 7d per ½oz x7 + 4d registration = 53d or 4/5d]
1883 (June 27) cover with 'S de BEERS & Co/SHIPBROKERS, MELBOURNE' cachet in blue across the flap, to France with scarce franking of Laureates 3d orange x3 & Bell 1d green tied by '1' killer cancels, double-oval 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE' d/s below, Italian rubber 'R'-in-octagon struck in violet in transit, French 'CHAMBERY A MACON' TPO cds & redirected on arrival, part-flap removed on opening. Ben Palmer's Census France #220. [The rate was 6d + 4d registration]
1883 large-part entire to Switzerland endorsed "Registered" with Laureates 6d pair & Bell ½d pink tied by poor BN of 'HEPBURN' (cds unusually on the face), transit b/s of Daylesford & Melbourne diverted to Venice where disinfected, Swiss 'AMBULANT/13VIII83/No 39' TPO transit & 'LOCARNO' arrival b/s, minor blemishes. Ben Palmer's Census Switzerland #289. [The rate was 8½d + 4d registration]
1883 (July 27) cover to France "per S Pekin" with Laureate 6d + Naish 4d carmine for the registration fee tied by '1' killers & oval 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE' d/s below, Italian 'R'-in-octagon h/s in purple, 'MODANE A PARIS' TPO transit cds in red, redirected with 'PARIS A RENNES' TPO b/s & fine 'ST PHILBERT DE GD LIEU/LOIRE INFRE' arrival b/s, minor toning/soiling. Ex Trevor Davis. Ben Palmer's Census France #222. [Per 'Pekin' to Aden via Colombo, & 'Venetia' non-stop to Venice as required during the Egyptian Cholera Epidemic]
1883 (Aug 27) Pfaff Pinschof & Co cover to Germany "per SS Australia" with Bell ½d rosine & 1/- blue/blue tied by '1' killers with oval 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE' d/s alongside, Italian 'R'-in-octagon h/s in purple & TPO b/s, three disinfection slits, superb 'AUSG' b/s. Ben Palmer's Census Germany #45. [Per 'Australia' ex Melbourne 28.8.1883, 'Kaiser-i-Hind' ex Colombo 19.8.1883; & 'Venetia' ex Aden 28.8.1883 non-stop to Venice where it was disinfected]
1884 (Apr 18) cover with superb 'Ro CONSOLATO D'ITALIA IN MELBOURNE/[arms]' cachet across the flap, to Italy "per Sorata" with scarce Three Issue franking of Laureates 6d blue, Bell 1/- blue/blue pair & Naish 2d brown tied by oval 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE' d/s, Italian 'BRINDISI/24/MAO/84' transit & 'R'-in-octagon h/s in purple, Rome arrival b/s, minor faults & repaired flap. Ben Palmer's Census Italy #32. Carried per Orient 'Sorata' ex Melbourne 19.4.1884; 'Tanjore' ex Suez 21.5.1884, arrived Brindisi 24.5.1884. [The rate was 7d per ½oz via Brindisi x4 + 4d registration = 32d = 2/8d]
1884 (Nov 5) usage of 4d lilac Registration Envelope size b to Germany with Three Colour franking of Bell ½d rosine &1d green + Large Stamp Duty 2/- blue/green - rarely seen on cover - tied by double-oval 'REGISTERED/ MELBOURNE' d/s, Brindisi transit b/s of 15.12.1884 & Italian 'R'-in-octagon h/s on the face, very fine Hannover arrival b/s, the addressee's surname neatly erased. Ben Palmer's Census Germany #51. [The rate was 8½d x3 + 4d registration]
1885 (Mar 25) usage of 4d lilac Registration Envelope size b to Germany with Four Colour franking of Naish 1d green & 2d lilac + Large Stamp Duty 1d bistre x2 & 6d ultramarine x2 all cancelled with 'REGISTERED'-in-oval h/s & an unusually fine strike of the double-oval 'REGISTERED/MELBOURNE' d/s alongside, Brindisi transit b/s of 3.5.1885 & Italian 'R'-in-octagon h/s unusually in blue, very fine Hannover arrival b/s. A really beautiful item. Ben Palmer's Census Germany #57.
