1878 cover to London with Queensland Chalons 6d apple-green pair tied by Indian-pattern 'B/172' cancel & a second very fine strike at L/L obliterating a 'SINGAPORE/UNPAID' cds that was applied in error, rectified with 'SINGAPORE/ D /AP18/78/PAID' cds in red with a better strike on the reverse plus a superb '1'-in-circle h/s also in red, roughly opened at the base with a professionally repaired tear that intrudes on the address but is almost imperceptible from the face, light vertical stain. A wonderful cover, being the only recorded Queensland loose letter cancelled with a Bengal Circle numeral. Ben Palmer's Census at page 235.
The enclosed 6pp octavo social letter is headed "Townsville/30 March 1878". Presumably the cover was posted shipside & carried per 'Bowen' ex Brisbane 28.3.1878, arrived Singapore 15.4.1878. Without a British arrival datestamp, it is uncertain if it was forwarded per 'Geelong', which departed Singapore 18.4.1878, or if it was held unril 11.5.1878 & carried per 'Nizam'.
Ted Proud recorded three similar B/172 cancels. This is his type K6, with straight top serif on the '1'. He states that K6 was transferred to Penang by 1874. This cover suggests that to be an error, or that the numeral had been returned from Penang to Singapore. The '1'-in-circle h/s on the reverse is not recorded by Proud for Singapore or Penang: it's significance or purpose is not clear to us.
BOWEN: 1894 cover to Brisbane with Lined Background 1d & 2d tied by badly worn 'QLD'-in-Rays cancels & straight-line 'LATE FEE' h/s with 'BOWEN/ A /AP30/94/QUEENSLAND' cds alongside, very fine strike of the 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER' h/s (not recorded by Hosking) & Brisbane arrival cds of MY3/94 all on the face, minor spotting. An interesting cover. Dale Forster believes this is the only recorded usage of a 19th century Loose Ship Letter marking at Bowen. However, the placement of the h/s close to the Brisbane cds suggests it may have been applied on arrival.
BRISBANE: 1869 double-rate cover to America with Chalons 6d green strip of 3 tied by light but obvious strikes of the 'Brunswick Star' cancel of Brisbane & very fine strike of the chamfered-boxed 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s alongside & 'BRISBANE/ b /SP10/69/QUEENSLAND' b/s, London transit cds of 29NO69, New York arrival cds of DE/11 & '2/CENTS' h/s all in red. An important and beautiful cover, believed to be the earliest usage of a Queensland Loose Ship Letter marking. Ex Needham, Wise, Bernhard Forster and Hugh Campbell: sold at our auction of 14.9.2002 for $8120. Ben Palmer's Census at page 278. [The rate was 6d x2 + 6d late fee]
BRISBANE: 1871 cover with Bank of New South Wales (Maryborough) imprint on the flap, to Toowoomba per coastal steamer with very fine 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-oval h/s (Hosking #5802 with large circular 'O's; recorded 1872 only), Chalons 2d blue tied by poor 'QL'-in-Rays cancel & part-Brisbane cds of OC4/1871 alongside, very fine 'TOOWOOMBA/OC7/18(--)/=QUEENSLAND=' arrival b/s (year omitted), minor imperfections. Possibly the earliest recorded usage of this type. Ben Palmer's Census at page 72. [Hugh Campbell's listing is simplistic & incomplete. Similar markings were used at several different ports]
BRISBANE: 1873 cover with illustrated advertising for S Hoffnung & Co Merchants (Sydney) in violet on the reverse, to Maryborough with NSW Diadems 3d yellow-green x2 tied by separate very fine strikes of the chamfered-boxed 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s, 'MARYBOROUGH/OC31/1873/QUEENSLAND' cds alongside, some mostly minor toning & the flap damaged. It is presumed that the cover originated from Sydney & it is expected that the Loose Ship Letter markings were applied at Brisbane. However, the absence of backstamps throws up the possibility that the handstamp was applied on arrival. That would suggest transfer of the h/s from Brisbane to Maryborough or, possibly, that this was a generic type issued to multiple ports.
Sigmond Hoffnung, a Jewish merchant of Polish descent, arrived in Sydney in 1852 where he was active in Jewish community matters including the building of Sydney's Great Synagogue. In 1870, the firm moved into new premises (illustrated on the back of this cover) & in 1871, opened a branch in Brisbane. The addressee, Henry Walker, migrated from England in 1868 and became prominent in local affairs in Maryborough, including as a member of the Anglican Synod.
BRISBANE: 1895 cover to Brisbane from an unknown port with largely very fine 'LOOSE/SHIP/ LETTER'-in-oval h/s (Hosking #5802 with large circular 'O's), 'LATE FEE' (40x8mm) & large '1D' h/s, Sidefaces with Lined Background 1d pair with badly worn 'GPO' cancels & 'BRISBANE/ K /MY31/95/QUEENSLAND' cds at L/L, some staining. [Hosking records #5802 in 1892 only: this is three years later. The Late Fee & Tax markings are both recorded by Hugh Campbell in 1895 only. We expect both were referring to this cover]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1119
Symbol: CL
Cat No: Collection
BRISBANE: 1903 cover to Tasmania with large merchant's 'chop' in red & Hong Kong QV 10c blue x2 tied by largely very fine 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-oval h/s (Hosking #5802 with large circular 'O's), 'BRISBANE/ 1B /JE24/03/QUEENSLAND' cds at L/L, Launceston arrival b/s of JE29/1903, very minor soiling. Ex Ryohei Ishikawa [Even in the early 20th century, Tasmanian inwards mail from any source other than the Tatts hoard is very scarce. Hosking records #5802 in 1892 only: this is 11 years later]
BUNDABERG: 1884 cover to Sydney with First Sidefaces 2d blue tied by an indistinct numeral cancel, light but fine strikes of 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-oval (Hosking #1358) & 'BUNDABERG/NO20/84/QUEENSLAND' cds, Brisbane transit b/s of NO22/84 & faint Sydney arrival b/s, minor toning & opened a bit roughly. Ben Palmer's Census at page 115. [This and the next lot may be the only 19th century Loose Letters recorded from Bundaberg]
BUNDABERG: 1891 (Feb 23) usage of 1d Postal Card with illustrated advertising for Smellie & Co (Brisbane) on the reverse, to Gympie with very fine strike of the 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-oval (Hosking #1358) & 'BUNDABERG/FE25/91/QUEENSLAND - 148' duplex, light stain at L/R. Ex Roger Hosking: sold for £190. Absent from Ben Palmer's Census. [This and the previous lot may be the only 19th century Loose Letters recorded from Bundaberg]
CAIRNS: 1907 Douglas Shire Council cover advertising 'PORT DOUGLAS AND MOSSMAN/TRAMWAY' presumably posted shipside at Port Douglas, to Tattersalls in Hobart with largely very fine strike of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-Oval h/s (Hosking #1375; serifs on 'SHIP'), Four Corners 1d & 2d tied by Cairns cds of 11SE07, partial Townsville duplex transit & Hobart arrival b/s, characteritic filled spike-hole.
GLADSTONE: 1906 Japanese PPC ('Admiral Togo & his Flag-Ship Mikasa') presumably posted aboard a Japanese ship with largely very fine strike of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER' h/s (Hosking #1413; ERD by 4 years) struck on arrival with Queensland ½d & 1d tied by a further two light strikes, very fine 'GLADSTONE/16MY06/ QUEENSLAND' cds alongside, minor imperfections.
GLADSTONE: 1910 ship's PPC 'Cricket on the SS Wyreema' with superb 'SS WYREEMA' cachet & the message headed "Bowen Sept 5", to Sydney with largely very fine strike of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER' h/s (Hosking #1413) struck on Four Numerals 1d, very fine 'GLADSTONE/7SE10/QUEENSLAND' cds alongside, mss "1d" in blue-pencil & CofA Postage Due 1d tied by mss initials, a couple of very minor blemishes. [Very scarce usage from aboard an identified coastal ship. Also a terrific cricket PPC of a matting-covered promenade deck with a gentleman 'chucking' the ball at a lady taking strike in her full-length dress & bonnet! Charming, socially illuminating...and ridiculous!]
MACKAY: 1904 Clarence Series Undivided Back PPC ('Glass House Mountain') to Victoria with Four Corners 1d tied by largely very fine strike of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-Oval h/s (unlisted by Hosking; probably Campbell's 'unidentified' h/s) with Mackay cds of 25FE04 alongside, stained. This & the next lot are believed to be the only recorded examples. [The message appears to have been written by a child]
MACKAY: 1904 Clarence Series Undivided Back PPC ('Yachting, Bulimba Reach...') to Victoria with Four Corners 1d tied by largely very fine strike of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-Oval h/s (unlisted by Hosking; probably Campbell's 'unidentified' h/s) with Mackay cds of 25FE04 alongside, stained. This & the previous lot are believed to be the only recorded examples. [The message appears to have been written by a child]
MARYBOROUGH: 1883 usage of Chalon 1d Postal Card with advertising cachet for GJ Young Tobacconists etc (Bundaberg) on the reverse, to a Brisbane firm with superb strikes of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/ LETTER'-in-Oval h/s (Hosking #1358) & 'MARYBOROUGH/FE1/83/QUEENSLAND' cds (with diamond separators) alongside, minor blemishes & horizontal fold well clear of the markings. Ben Palmer's Census at page 82. [The brief message requests a "multigraph 4to size with ink etc". According to Wikipedia, the multigraph duplicating machine was invented in America in 1902. The addressee Watson Ferguson & Co is Queensland's oldest printing firm. John Watson was trained as a printer & engineer. Despite a lack of confirming evidence, it is tempting to speculate that the multigraph was actually his invention]
MARYBOROUGH: 1894 cover to Armidale (NSW) with a largely very fine strike of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/ LETTER'-in-Oval h/s (as Hosking #1358 but with larger 'LOOSE'), superb 'LATE FEE' h/s & mss "1d", Lined Background 1d & 2d tied by Maryborough duplex of SP19/94, part of the flap removed affecting a QLD TPO transit & the Armidale arrival b/s, NSW Postage Due 1d with blue-pencil cancel, overall aging. Believed to be the only recorded example on cover.
NORMANTON: 1903 Tatts cover with largely very fine strike of the rare 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-circle (Hosking #1453) just tying Four Numerals 2d x2 with BN '632' alongside & light 'NORMANTON/AU7/1903/ QUEENSLAND' cds to L, Brisbane transit & Hobart arrival b/s, light staining & filled central spike-hole. The only handstamp of this pattern, from what was then the only port on the Gulf of Carpentaria, serving the Croydon Gold Fields. [Only three examples on cover recorded]
ROCKHAMPTON: 1875 cover from an unidentified Queensland port with almost superb strike of the rare 2-line 'LOOSE/SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking #1489) struck on arrival with Chalon 2d blue tied by BN '201' with very fine 'ROCKHAMPTON/ f /NO27/75/QUEENSLAND' cds alongside, minor stain at L/R, minor & hidden silverfish damage. The only example recorded on cover: this is the cover referred to by Hugh Campbell at page 231, & Ben Palmer's Census at page 77.
ROCKHAMPTON: 1886 Macartney cover from an unidentified Queensland port with largely very fine strike of the rare straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking #1490; ERD by 8 years) struck on arrival with Lined Background 2d tied by largely very fine 'ROCKHAMPTON/ 4 /AU21/86/=QUEENSLAND=' duplex, very fine 'MARLBOROUGH/AU25/86/+QUEENSLAND+' arrival b/s minor stain at L/R, minor & hidden silverfish damage. This is the cover referred to by Hugh Campbell at page 231, and the only one known to him, and Ben Palmer's Census at page 84.
THURSDAY ISLAND: 1896 usage of Netherlands Indies 7½c Postal Card to "Austria Fiume" apparently posted aboard ship with Queensland Lined Background 1d vermilion & 2d blue added & tied by Rays '148' with 'THURSDAY ISLAND/MY8/96/QUEENSLAND' cds below. Great origin/destination item. At this time, the island had no Loose Ship or Paquebot marking. Under UPU Paquebot Regulations, the stamps of any member country on ship-board mail were accepted without additional charge. The payment of the UPU postcard rate of 1½d + 1½d late fee (?) suggests that this item was not treated as a loose ship letter. An intriguing Thursday Island usage & a most unusual combination franking.
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1133
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
THURSDAY ISLAND: 1905 Japanese postcard with a handpainted family group & endorsed "Moji/27.7.05", to Adelaide with Japanese 2s pair tied by two very fine strikes of the unframed-oval 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER' h/s (Hosking #1513), very fine 'THURSDAY ISLAND/AU27/05/QUEENSLAND' cds alongside, light overall soiling. [Illustrated in 'Japanese Philately' of October 2005 where it is stated "It is the only recorded example [on cover] of a [Queensland] Loose Ship Letter marking applied to Japanese stamps..."]
TOWNSVILLE: 1882 cover endorsed "Per Gunga" to Townsville from an unidentified port with First Sideface 1d scarlet pair tied by a largely very fine strike of the extraordinary 54mm !! 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER/16MAY82/ TOWNSVILLE' cds (unlisted by Hosking; see Campbell at page 231), flap removed, light soiling. We have recorded only two part-strikes on piece: this is believed to be the only recorded example on cover. An amazing cds that was surely manufactured to this size in error. ILLUSTRATED AT ACTUAL SIZE! [The 'Gunga' was owned by the Queensland Steam Shipping Co. In August 1882 it was quarantined after arriving at Sydney from Fiji with two cases of variola (= smallpox) on board]
TOWNSVILLE: 1889 (Feb) cover to German Silesia with Lined Background 1d 2d & 6d tied by indistinct Townsville duplex, largely very fine strike of the rare two-line 'LOOSE/SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking #1522, recorded 1894-95 only), 'P.D.' h/s (applied in Europe?), 'BRINDISI/5/APR/89' transit & superb 'NEISSE/7.4/89' arrival b/s, vertical fold clear of the stamps. Absent from Ben Palmer's Census. [If carried per Orient Line 'Liguria' ex Sydney 28.2.1889, it would have arrived at Naples 3.4.1889 but there is no Naples b/s. It seems more likely to have gone via the Torres Strait per Queensland Royal Mail 'Merkara' ex Townsville 23.2.1889, & 'Shannon' from Aden to Brindisi where Colin Tabeart says it arrived 6.5.1889 but a day earlier is not out of the question]
TOWNSVILLE: 1894 (Mar 17) cover to Brisbane with Lined Background 2d tied by Townsville duplex, very fine strike of the rare two-line 'LOOSE/SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking #1522), superb 'LATE FEE' h/s & mss "1d", Brisbane arrival b/s of MR22/94, toning/staining but presentable.
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1137
Symbol: CL
Cat No: 1524)
TOWNSVILLE: 1900 OHMS cover with 'INSPECTOR OF POLICE/ [crown]/CAIRNS' ccaahet in violet at L/L, to Brisbane with largely very fine strike of the 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-Oval h/s (Hosking #1524), Four Figures 1d red & 4d yellow tied by Townsville duplex of JU25/00, Brisbane arrival b/s of JU28/00, minor soiling/toning mostly on the reverse. One of the most interesting covers from this well-known Commissioner of Police correspondence.
TOWNSVILLE: 1905 cover with 'CASTLE BROS - WOLF AND SONS/MANILA' imprint at U/L, to Sydney with largely very fine strike of the 'LOOSE/SHIP/LETTER'-in-Oval h/s (Hosking #1524) and 'PHILIPPINES' Overprint on USA 5c Lincoln tied by Townsville duplex of AU14/(0)5, Sydney arrival b/s of AUG8/1905.
TOWNSVILLE: 1909 NSW PPC from Townsville, to Victoria with Four Figures 1d pair tied by very fine strike of the rare two-line 'LOOSE SHIP/LETTER' h/s (Hosking #5822), minor blemishes. This and the next lot are believed to be the only recorded usages on cover. ['Wollowra' (aboriginal for 'eagle') was a vessel of the Adelaide Stamship Co. The sender, FH Harris, was likely an employee (ship's captain?) of the company. The addressees Verey & Cross were a husband & wife tailoring partnership that was hugely successful. Alfred Cross was a founding father of Collingwood Football Club &, in 1901, was made the club's first Life Member]
TOWNSVILLE: 1910 PPC of Townsville Harbour from a ship's passenger at Cairns, to Victoria with Four Figures 1d tied by very fine strike of the rare two-line 'LOOSE SHIP/LETTER' h/s (Hosking #5822), poor cds of --AU10 alongside. This and the previous lot are believed to be the only recorded usages on cover. [Based on the trailing '...N' on the partial cds, Dale Forster concluded that the h/s was applied at Rockhampton. Given that coastal ships would have called at Townsville before reaching Rockhampton - some 700km further SE - we consider that to be highly unlikely]
