PRIVATE SECRETARY (to the GOVERNOR) Overprinted 'P.S.'
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 590
Symbol: F
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 1d deep yellow-green, rouletting on all sides, GPO cds of JU21/69. Rated RRR. The almost identical 'Besancon' example - remarkably dated 6½ months earlier, suggesting usage was very low - sold for SFr266. [Date range 20.6.1868 to 21.6.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 2d vermilion, rouletting on all sides, GPO cds of MY15/68. Superb. Underrated at R. Superior to the 'Tamiami' example, that sold for $455. [Date range 12.5.1868 to 4.1.1870]
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 2d vermilion, Grossly Misplaced Rouletting on all sides remarkably with no corrections or excisions to preserve the design & resulting in decent chunks of three adjoining units, GPO cds of JY9/68. Superb. Rated R+.
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ 4d deep dull purple, cut from the sheet at left well clear of the design otherwise superb, large-part o.g. Rated RRRR. The 'Besancon' example - cut from the sheet on three sides - & the very fine 'Tamiami' example sold for SFr2300 & $2396 respectively.
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ 4d deep dull purple, an enormous stamp with fragments of the adjoining unit at left, GPO cds of MY18/68. Superb. Rated RR. [Date range 18.5.1868 to 8.5.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 6d bright blue, rouletting except at right where cut from the sheet & just shaving the design, minor blemishes, GPO cds of 1868. Rated RR. [Date range 17.8.1868 to 21.12.1869]
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 1/- bright red-brown, rouletting on three sides & cut from the sheet to preserve the design at base & right and clear of the design at the top, tiny separation fault at lower-left, part o.g. Rated RRRR.
RED OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 1/- bright red-brown, rouletting on three sides & cut from the sheet to preserve the design at base & left and well clear of the design at the top, minor repaired tear at the top & some split & reinforced rouletting at the base, circle-in-bars cancel of the GPO. Rated RRRR.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 1d deep yellow-green, small separation faults at upper-right & lower-right, somewhat aged and with a couple of tiny black surface marks but apparently unused. Unrecorded thus and, if it is actually unused, the only recorded example so it should be rated RRRRRR. Offered "as is" because we expect that it would not receive a certificate as being 'unused'.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 1d deep yellow-green, irregular rouletting at right & 3mm closed tear, GPO cds of JU2-/70. Rated RRR. [Date range 2.2.1870 to 23.6.1870]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 10 1d deep yellow-green, horizontal perfs misplaced resulting in 'POSTAGE' at the Top & Base, one pulled perf at the top otherwise very fine, GPO cds of MR23/74. Rated R: unrecorded unused. [Date range 24.4.1871 to 16.7.1875]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ 1d green with Defective 'P', one pulled perf & coincident tiny tear at the base, GPO cds of 1873. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused by Ron Butler. The 'Besancon' example sold for SFr145. [Date range -.-.1873 to 2.1.1874]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk 2d dull orange, rouletting remarkably clear of the design on all sides, GPO cds of MY13/72. Rated RRR: unrecorded unused. Superior to the 'Besancon' example, that sold for SFr290. [Date range 16.3.1870 to 13.5.1872]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Rouletted 2d dull orange, rouletting remarkably clear of the design on all sides although a little irregular, very fine large-part strike of the unframed '[PORT] ELLIOTT/MR6/70/S.A' cds. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused.
During the 1870s Governor William Jervois had a summer residence, 'Heathfield House' at Port Elliot. This usage of a 'P.S.' Departmental at Port Elliot suggests that earlier governors may have also vacationed there. Note the spelling error in the datestamp: the town was named after Governor Charles Elliot of Bermuda.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on De La Rue Crown/SA Wmk Perf 10 2d red-orange, GPO cds of JU27/71. Superb. Rated R: unrecorded unused. [Date range 31.5.1871 to 3.7.1871 only, suggesting this stamp is underrated]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on De La Rue V/Crown Wmk Perf 10 2d deep red-orange, GPO cds of MY14/74. Superb. Rated R: unrecorded unused by Ron Butler. [Date range 16.12.1872 to 14.5.1874]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on De La Rue Perf 10 2d deep red-orange, a 'dwarf' stamp without 'TWO PENCE' at the base tied by GPO cds of JY6/72 to plain mourning cover with colourless embossing 'GOVERNMENT HOUSE/[arms]/SOUTH AUSTRALIA' on the flap, to "Captain Howard RN/Palmer Place/North Adelaide", minor repaired opening tears on the flap, light toning. The stamp is rated R. Number 2 in Anthony Presgrave's Census of seven 'P.S.' covers, only one other bearing a 2d. That cover, with Rouletted 2d & a few faults - Ex AE Fryar and 'Sir Humphrey' (Brian Farmer) - sold at our auction of 8.10.2005 for $3495.
The addressee, Captain (later Commander) F Howard, was engaged in marine surveys along the South Australian coast.
This is a delightful franking, demonstrating the practice of using up sheets with poorly placed separations by overprinting them for Departmental use, rather than having them destroyed. Considering the high proportion of stamps that have misplaced rouletting or perforating, the destruction level would have been significant, a fact that would not have pleased the bean-counters in government service.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 10 '3-PENCE' in Red on 4d dull ultramarine, minor aging on the surface, GPO cds of JA10/71. Rated RRR: unrecorded unused. The similar 'Tamiami' example sold for $215. [Date range 13.9.1870 to 2.11.1872]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 10 '3-PENCE' in Red on 4d grey-blue, most unusually cancelled with very fine 'MARINE PO/MY22/71/S AUSTRALIA' cds. Rated RRR+. RPSofL Certificate (1965). A most unusual shade & an extraordinary Marine Post Office usage, of which 'Sir Humphrey' also had an example, dated JY17/71.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ '3-PENCE' in Black on 4d ultramarine, minor blue-pencil line at lower-left, GPO cds of JA7/77. Underrated at RR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 28.3.1871 to 7.1.1877]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ 4d deep dull purple, unusually well centred, a couple of short perfs otherwise very fine, GPO cds of AP30/70. Rated RRRR. [Date range -.12.1869 to 23.5.1870 only]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 10 4d deep dull purple, traces of red ink from a London transit/arrival cds otherwise superb, GPO cds of JA31/74. Rated R. [Date range 13.8.1872 to 1.1.1876]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 613
Symbol: CL
Cat No: Collection
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 10 4d deep purple, a bit stained by the gum, tied by GPO cds of JU1/74 to OHMS cover with 'Surveyor General's Office' imprint at lower-left, to "Mount Gambier" with small-part 'GAMBIERTON' cds of JU4/74, endorsed "Try Wye" with largely very fine 'WYE/5JU/74/S-A' cds (rated RRR) on the reverse, further endorsed "Gone to/Victoria" & returned ro Gambierton with JU15/74 cds, three weeks later returned to sender with GPO b/s of JY6/74 & largely very fine 'DEAD LETTER/JY11/74/ADELAIDE' cds with inverted date slugs, a bit truncated at the top clear of the stamp. The stamp is rated R. Ex AE Fryar. Number 5 in Anthony Presgrave's Census of seven 'P.S.' covers.
A very important cover that proves inter-Departmental use after the system was officially abandoned in favour of the generic 'O.S.' overprints, issued from January 1874. Ron Butler at page 38 suggests that a change in governmental accounting rules that came into effect from 1.7.1874 and implies that the official 'last day of issue' of the specific Departmentals was 30th June 1874. Thereafter, users were instructed to exhaust remaining stocks but it is clear that many users returned their unused residue, either to the the Government Printer or the Post Office.
At page 39, Butler records this cover & states "A single cover is scanty evidence but it could suggest that...the remaining Departmentals may have been issued by the Post Office as if they had been overprinted O.S." That may especially have been the case with 'P.S.' stamps that could have been construed as P(ublic) S(ervice) overprints. Butler also records the pre-1900 discovery of a batch of Government Gazettes franked with Departmentals other than the usual 'G.P.' of the Government Printer. Sadly, they were presumably relieved of their non-conforming adhesives, and this cover bears the only surviving inter-Departmental franking.
It is important to note that there were no remainders of Departmentals retained by the government. From 1.7.1874, apparently the stamps still in stock were either exhausted by various users, prior to the introduction of 'O.S.' overprints - as here; see also Lot 18 - or destroyed.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Irregular Compound Perf 11½-12½x11½-12½x10x11½-12½ 4d light violet, one pulled perf at the top & a few shaved perfs at right, GPO cds of FE27/75. Rated RRRRR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 21.1.1875 to 27.2.1875 only]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Irregular Compound Perf 10x11½-12½x11½-12½x11½-12½ 4d light violet with Overprint Misplaced to Left, from the right of the sheet with vertical marginal watermark line, a few shaved perfs at right, GPO cds of FE27/75. Rated RRRRR: unrecorded unused. [Date range 21.1.1875 to 27.2.1875 only]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 6d pale blue, rouletting on three sides and cut from the sheet at the base to preserve the design & well clear of the design at the top, very fine GPO cds of MY16/75. Superb. Rated RRRR. [Date range 2.11.1870 to 6.7.1875]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 618
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 6d dull ultramarine horizontal pair, rouletting on all sides & between the units + Perf 10 4d deep purple, a few trimmed perfs at left, all tied by GPO cds of AP23/74 to plain double-rate cover with 'Government House/[arms]' crimson embossing on the flap, to "Stockbridge/Massachusetts", transit cds of London of 15MY74 & New York of JUN/27 both in red on the face, a few almost inconsequential blemishes barely detract from the exceptional visual appearance. The 6d is rated RRRR+ & the 4d is rated R. Number 4 in Anthony Presgrave's Census of seven 'P.S.' covers, & the only 'P.S.' cover with a 6d. An exceptional mixed franking of rouletted & perforated stamps. [Superior quality & a far more important franking than the 'Tamiami' cover to Pennsylvania with 4d pair only, that sold for $9584]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 6d Prussian blue, perfs trimmed well clear of the design at the base, GPO cds of --24/70. Rated RRRR: unrecorded unused.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 10 6d Prussian blue, central stain that doesn't affect the very fine facial appearance, very fine GPO cds of MR25/76. Rated RR. [Date range 20.8.1872 to 25.3.1876]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 9d grey-lilac, rouletting on all sides, very fine GPO cds of JU17/72. Superb. Rated RR. The 'Besancon' & 'Tamiami' examples sold for SFr157 & $252 respectively. [Date range -.10.1870 to 27.2.1873]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Rouletted 9d grey-lilac with vertical Pre-Printing Paper Fold, rouletting on three sides & cut from the sheet to preserve the design at right & clear of the design at left, tied by GPO cds of DE3/72 to plain mourning cover with colourless embossing 'GOVERNMENT HOUSE/[arms]/SOUTH AUSTRALIA' on the flap, to "The Rt Honble B Disraeli MP" in London with arrival b/s of JA20/73, light soiling on the face. The stamp is rated RR. Number 3 in Anthony Presgrave's Census of seven 'P.S.' covers. The only Departmental cover franked with a 9d.
The addressee, Benjamin Disraeli, was one of the most distinguished British politicians of his era, and a prime mover in establishment of the modern Conservative Party. He was twice Prime Minister, between February & December 1868, and between 1874 & 1880. At the date of this cover, Disraeli was Leader of the Opposition to William Gladstone's Liberal Party. In 1876, he was elevated to the peerage as the 1st Earl of Beaconsfield but remained in the House of Commons.
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½ 9d red-purple, GPO duplex. Superb. Rated RR. Superior to the 'Besancon' - "minor rust spots" - & 'Tamiami' - two pulled perfs - that sold for SFr181 & $204 respectively. [Date range 29.1.1873 to 1.11.1876]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Irregular Compound Perf 11½-12½x11½-12½x10x11½-12½ 'TEN PENCE' (Sub-Type I) in Black on 9d bright orange-yellow on yellowish tinted paper, several toned perfs at the top, large-part o.g. Rated RR. Ex Julian Beresford. The two 'Besancon' examples - Sub-Types III & VI - sold for SFr181 each. [A fun and achievable challenge would be to assemble examples of all six sub-types of the overprint, starting with this and the next lot]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Irregular Compound Perf 11½-12½x11½-12½x10x11½-12½ 'TEN PENCE' (Sub-Type V) in Black on 9d bright orange-yellow on yellowish tinted paper, untidy cancels otherwise superb. Rated RR. Superior to the soiled 'Tamiami' example that sold for $180. [Date range 29.7.1878 to 16.8.1881]
BLACK OVERPRINT: 'P.S.' on Perf 11½-12½xRouletted 1/- bright red-brown on brownish tinted paper, GPO cds of NO9/70. Rated R. The 'Tamiami' examples sold for $263. [Date range 9.11.1870 to 28.2.1874]
