NEWCASTLE: 1877 cover from New Zealand with First Sidefaces 2d rose tied by superb Rays '55' & 'NEWCASTLE/AU30/1877=NSW=' b/s plus Sydney arrival of the next day, endorsed "Loose Shipletter" & rated "3d" for an inwards shipletter, parts of the flap missing otherwise very fine. The only such manuscript endorsement we have seen. Ex Tony Rigo de Righi.
SYDNEY: 1873 coastal cover with Queensland Chalons 1d pale orange-vermilion & 2d pale blue pairs cancelled with large 'NSW'-in-concentric-ovals and very fine oval 'LOOSE SHIP/LETTER' h/s (35x20mm & 'L' to 'L' =4½mm; Hosking unrecorded; White et al #SL15) alongside, unframed 'SHIP-LE[TTER]/ L / JY31/1873/=SYDNEY=' b/s (#SL11; used 1868-76), very fine 'WEST-MAITLAND/AU1/1873/=NSW=' transit & part 'WOLLOMBI' arrival b/s, the flap removed. The inter-colonial rate was 3d + shipletter fee of 3d. Ben Palmer's Census at p110. [Sold at our auction of 20.6.2002 for $1230]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1103
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
SYDNEY: 1875 coastal cover with Morehead & Co Stock & Station Agents (Brisbane) embossing in blue on the flap, Queensland Chalons 2d blue & 3d brown tied by vertical-duplex 'NSW/ K /OC14/1875/ 2 /SYDNEY' (White et al unrecorded; Tobin & Orchard #125) and superb oval 'LOOSE SHIP/LETTER' h/s (35x20mm & 'L' to 'L' = 4½mm; Hosking unrecorded; White et al #SL15) alongside, no backstamps & redirected to "Brs", a couple of very minor blemishes. From 1.1.1874, the inter-colonial rate was reduced from 3d to 2d + shipletter fee of 3d. Absent from Ben Palmer's Census.
SYDNEY: 1875 cover with Tasmania Perf 12 6d tied by part-Sydney duplex & largely very fine oval 'LOOSE SHIP/LETTER' h/s (35x20mm & 'L' to 'L' =4½mm; Hosking unrecorded; White et al #SL15) alongside, 'SHIP LETTER/ A /JY30/1875/=SYDNEY=' b/s, roughly opened behind with repaired tears, overall soiling.
SYDNEY: 1876 cover "via Sydney" by coastal ship with Queensland Chalons 3d brown & 1/- violet tied by very fine vertical-duplex 'NSW - / A /SP21/1876/SYDNEY' & largely very fine oval 'LOOSE SHIP/ . LETTER . ' h/s (35x21mm & 'L' to 'L' = 4mm; Hosking unrecorded; White et al #SL16 - ERD) alongside, 'LONDON-W/ F 11 /PAID/NO7/76' arrival cds in red on the face, minor stain. Carried trans-Pacific per 'Australia' ex Sydney 21.9.1876 & 'City of Sydney' ex Auckland 25.9.1876, arrived San Francisco 18.10.1876; by rail to New York; then 'City of Chester' ex New York 28.10.1876, arrived Queenstown 6.11.1876. [The rate was NSW inwards shipletter 3d + Empire rate 6d + late fee 6d = 1/3d. Absent from Ben Palmer's Census.
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1106
Symbol: C
Cat No: SL16) at L/L
SYDNEY: 1880 cover to Italy "per SS Zealandia/Via Brindisi" with New Zealand First Sidefaces 2d x12 tied by 'NSW/ C /OC23/1880/ 3 /SYDNEY' vertical-duplex & very fine oval 'LOOSE SHIP/ . LETTER . ' h/s (35x21mm & 'L' to 'L' = 4mm; Hosking unrecorded; White et al #SL16) at L/L, 'BRINDISI/5/DEC/80/(A)' transit & 'MODENA' arrival b/s, minor blemishes. A very scarce destination from New Zealand. Carried per 'Hydaspes' ex Sydney 23.10.1880 & Melbourne 29.10.1880; 'Nepaul' ex Galle 17.11.1880; and 'Tanjore' ex Alexandria 2.12.1880, arrived Brindisi 5.12.1880.
SYDNEY: 1882 cover endorsed "via Melbourne/per SS Hydaspes/via Brindisi/or per first steamer" by coastal ship with scarce Two Issue franking of Queensland Chalons 3d brown & First Sidefaces 1d x5 tied by 'SYDNEY/ A /JU5/82/ 3 ' duplex & very fine oval 'LOOSE SHIP/ . LETTER . ' h/s (35x21mm & 'L' to 'L' = 4mm; Hosking unrecorded; White et al #SL16) alongside, three different London b/s all of JY24/82, minor blemishes. A very attractive cover. Ben Palmer's Cansus at p250.
SYDNEY: 1887 cover to Victoria "Per Katoomba" with Queensland 2d blue tied by 'SYDNEY/ D /DE1/87/ 16 ' duplex & superb strike of the worn oval 'LOOSE SHIP/ . LETTER . ' h/s (35x21mm & 'L' to 'L' = 4mm; Hosking unrecorded; White et al #SL16 - LRD) at right, superb tax h/s '2D' of Sydney & '2D/TO PAY'-in-oval of Melbourne (b/s of DE2/87) & 'FITZROY NORTH' arrival b/s of the next day, a few repaired edge-tears & overall soiling/toning. Absent from Ben Palmer's Census. [The Sydney-Melbourne rail service opened in 1883, making one-day transits possible]
SYDNEY: 1895 cover to GB with New Zealand 2½d blue x2 tied by 'SYDNEY/SP22/ U /95/ 9 ' duplex & large-part superb strike of the oval 'LOOSE SHIP/ . LETTER . ' h/s (34x21mm & 'L' to 'L' = 3½mm; Hosking #1499; White et al #SL17) alongside, 'SHEFFIELD/ E*P /OC26/95/ 13 ' arrival b/s, a couple of insignificant blemishes.
SYDNEY: 1896 cover endorsed "Via Sydney Sanfrancisco/per SS Monowai", to New Brunswick with rounded-boxed 'PAQUEBOT' h/s (Hosking #1500; ERD by 7 years) at L/L and Victorian ½d 1d & 2d tied by 'SYDNEY/SP28/96/ 18 ' duplex, 'WINDSOR/OC27/96/ONT' transit b/s, light soiling & minor spotting.
SYDNEY: 1901 commercial usage of German Samoa 10pf(+10pf) message-half of Reply Card to Sydney with message headed "Apia/Jan 5 01", cancelled on arrival with 'SYDNEY/JA18/01/ 19 ' cds, very fine large-part strike of the oval 'LOOSE SHIP/ + LETTER + ' h/s (35½x24½mm & 'L' to 'L' = 7½mm; Hosking #1501; White et al #SL18) below, faint soiling. An additional 10pf late fee should have been paid but the card wasn't taxed at either end.
SYDNEY: 1901 USA 5c Envelope to Tattersalls in Hobart with remarkable combination of markings 'SHIP LETTER/AP24/01/SYDNEY - NSW' duplex (Hosking #1498; White et al #SL14) overstruck with cds No 4 plus very fine strike of the oval 'LOOSE SHIP/ + LETTER + ' h/s (35½x24½mm & 'L' to 'L' = 7½mm; Hosking #1501; White et al #SL18) & the rounded-boxed 'PAQUEBOT' h/s (Hosking #1500; White et al #SL19), Hobart arrival b/s of AP27/1901, characteristic filled spikeholes.
PORT DARWIN: 1898 stampless cover to Sydney "On Meninui" (?) with very fine to superb strikes of the 'PT DARWIN/JA14/98/S-A' squared-circle, 'T'-in-circle h/s - and manuscript "5d" in blue - and the rare & idiosyncratic straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTERS' handstamp (Hosking #1383), Sydney arrival b/s of JA27/98 with NSW Postage Due 1d & 4d tied by blue-pencil "X" markings, The deficiancy was 2d for an inter-colonial letter x2 + 1d late fee, insignificant blemishes. An outstanding Northern Territory cover: neither the 'T' h/s nor the Loose Ship Letters h/s was recorded by Ed Williams. Ex 'Zacchaeus' - sold at Gary Watson's auction of 5.3.1990 for $2900 - and Roger Hosking: sold in 2014 for £476. [This is the only Australian Loose Ship Letter marking to be pluralised]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1148
Symbol: PS
Cat No: 1383)
PORT DARWIN: 1902 social usage of 'PROVINCIA DE MACAU E TIMOR' '5 avos' in Red on 30r Postal Card with message headed "Timor Oct 10", to NSW with very fine to superb strikes of the 'PT DARWIN/OC12/02/S-A' squared-circle and and the rare & idiosyncratic straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTERS' handstamp (Hosking #1383), superlative 'NORTH SYDNEY/OC22/02/NSW' arrival b/s, small & inconsequential closed tear at U/R otherwise superb! An exceptional origin/destination item.
PORT DARWIN: 1911 cover "Per SS Eastern" to a ship's passenger en route from Sydney to Shanghai per SS 'St Albans' at "Port Darwin" with Hong Kong KEVII 4c tied by partial 'DARWIN NT/29SE11/STH AUST' cds (plus a superior strike on the reverse), roughly opened along the flap. [Darwin was officially named Palmerston but was always called Port Darwin. With the transfer of the Northern Territory from South Australia to the Commonwealth in 1911, the town's name was officially changed to Darwin]
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]
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.
HOBART: 1852 British Ackerman & Co illustrated Universal Penny Postage propaganda envelope to Hobart Town "pr Tasman" carried privately without postage paid, 'SHIPLETTER/2OC2/1852' arrival b/s & rated "4" payable by the addressee. A most unusual usage
