ADELAIDE: 1908 Ceylon PPC with message headed "RMS Britannia/P&O Adelaide/...16.5.08" to Plaistowe Railway Station in England with South Australian 1d pink tied by small straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking 1343, 45x2mm).
ADELAIDE: 1905 social cover to Victoria "per SS Sydney" with Western Australian 2d tied by 'FREMANTLE RAILWAY STATION/WA - PO' duplex &, peculiarly, with a small 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s irregularly applied in transit at Adelaide (?), Melbourne arrival b/s, a bit knocked-about. The Loose Ship Letter marking is of an unlisted type, similar to Hosking #1343 of Adelaide but only 37x3mm & with oval 'O's. Believed to be the only recorded example.
LARGS BAY: 1907 Gibraltar PPC to England with Western Australian 1d pink tied by medium straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking 1424, 48x4mm), largely superb 'LARGS BAY/DE9/07/S.A' squared-circle alongside.
LARGS BAY: 1907 P&O cover with delightful illustrated flap - a bit damaged on opening - to England with Western Australian 2d yellow tied by medium straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking 1424, 48x4mm), superb 'LARGS BAY/DE14/07/S.A' squared-circle alongside, 'GPO ADELAIDE' & 'PORTSMOUTH' transit b/s
LARGS BAY: 1907 Orient Royal Mail Line PPC (artist card of SS 'Ortona') with message headed "Ortona/Adelaide/25.11.07", to New Zealand with Queensland 1d tied by superb 'LOOSE SHIP LETTE[R]' h/s (Hosking #1424) & 'LARGS BAY/NO25/07/S.A' squared-circle alongside. [It was only from late-1910 that the stamps of the various States were valid in the other States. However, the UPU Regulations mandated acceptance of the stamps of any member country on paquebot mail]
SEMAPHORE: 1909 Ceylon PPC with superb strike of the large straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTER' h/s (Hosking 1496, 52x5mm) & very fine 'SEMAPHORE/MY12/09/S.A' squared-circle, to France with French Sower 10c tied to the view-side by boxed 'PAQUEBOT' h/s, 'BEAUCOURT' arrival cds.
