SOUTH AUSTRALIA Datestamps and other Town Markings
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1344
Symbol: CPS
1958 & 1965 batches of mostly commercially used Registration Envelopes the majority to the ETofSA with a wide array of cds from POs all over the State & strength in smaller suburban offices, plus a few very scarce 'PAID' types, quality of the strikes is rather variable but many are fine to superb. A very good lot. [We are concerned that rarity ratings in the Handbook often seem at odds with our assessments based on a combined six decades of experience. In particular, we believe that many cds from small suburban offices are significantly underrated]
(Qty 300 approx) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 1,250.00
Closed..Apr-26-2022, 20:00:00 EST
Sold For 1250
Official Stamps - Departmental Overprints
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1336
Symbol: O
Selection on Hagners from 'C.' to 'T.' with a few 'Reds' & values to 2/- x4, mostly the more common types but generally above-average condition & including some very attractive stamps, some duplication especially of the 'P.' for Police issues, a few duds including bogus 'H.G.' 4d 6d & 2/-.
(Qty 99) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 3,400.00
Sold...AU$ 3,800.00
Closed..Apr-26-2022, 20:00:00 EST
Sold For 3800
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1337
Symbol: O
Cat No: Collection
Small group of the more common issues B.G., C., C.L., C.P., C.S. x2, D.B., E., G.P. x3, P. x13, P.S., R.G., S.G, S.M. x4, S.T. x2, condition very mixed.
(Qty 33) (Image1)
Estimate AU$350
Opening AU$ 440.00
Sold...AU$ 1,050.00
Closed..Apr-26-2022, 20:00:00 EST
Sold For 1050
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1338
Symbol: CL
Cat No: Collection
PUBLIC WORKS: Red 'P.W.' on Rouletted 1/- red-brown on tinted paper with the Overprint Significantly Misplaced to the Left, tiny separation fault at lower-left, the stamp tied to double-rate OHMS cover to Cambridgeshire by one of two strikes of the scarce 'PALMERSTON/18/JY7/75/N.T' cds, very fine 'GPO ADELAIDE/AU5/75/S.A' transit & superb 'WISBEACH/OC4/75' arrival b/s across the flap, two minor tears - caused by the somewhat bulky contents - have been repaired internally with archival tape.
An important & completely unexpected new discovery, being only the second Departmental cover recorded from the Northern Territory (the other, bearing an 'N.T.' 6d, was bought for the Northern Territory Museum at Gary Watson's auction of Phil Collas's collection on 25.2.1985 for $5000, and has apparently been 'misplaced' in Darwin), and the only recorded cover with a 'P.W.' Departmental. It was rescued from a rubbish skip in Wisbech (the spelling was changed in the late-1900s) about 40 years ago and sold to our vendor at a local society meeting.
There are two scenarios for use of this stamp in the Territory. Firstly, the very late usage suggests that at the end of the Departmental period, in 1874, the Northern Territory Administrator was sent a small allocation of stamps retrieved from the Public Works Department. This would then be only the second cover proving usage of one department's stamps by another: see Don Pearce Lot 613. However, we believe that is not what happened.
The second settlement called Palmerston (renamed Darwin in 1911) was established in 1869. The physical infrastructure would have been installed by South Australia's Department of Public Works and it is almost certain that the Engineer-in-Chief would have been allocated a small stock of 'P.W.' stamps for use on his mail. In fact, Don Pearce's collection includes a 'P.W.' 4d cancelled at Palmerston: see Lot 643. The 'N.T.' Departmentals were not issued until 1873 and we expect that remainders of the 'P.W.' stamps were left with the Government Resident after the Public Works team returned to Adelaide. They were likely held in reserve and used-up only after the stock of 'N.T.' 1/- stamps was exhausted (no dated examples have been recorded). We suggest that this theory is supported by the fact that the 1/- with 'P.W.' in Black is recorded from OC8/74, having replaced the 1/- with Red Overprint, for which the previously recorded LRD was JY8/74.
Usually, docketing on the face of an envelope by the recipient is regrettable. However, in this situation, it provides valuable context for the cover. The sender is named as "GB Scott/Government Resident". Indeed, George Byng Scott held that position between 6.10.1873 & 30.6.1876. Added in red is "With certificate of death/of Walter M" which, from the address, we expect was "Metcalfe". Our good friend, Anthony Presgrave, has confirmed that Walter Metcalfe of Union Reef died there, at the age of 36, on 3.1.1875. Union Reef was a major claim on the Pine Creek Goldfield, where the first post office operated -.3.1875 until 21.2.1881. It is almost certain that Metcalfe was a gold miner. The 6 month delay in the dates can be explained by the notice of death having to be forwarded, by ship, to Adelaide. The Death Certificate would then have been returned to Palmerston, also by ship. And, of course, this cover in which the Death Certificate was forwarded to England, was carried first to Adelaide (why not Albany?) for onforwarding. All in all, a great back-story for a great cover.
1850-52 three inwards items from Rondebosch, Cape of Good Hope addressed to "Mr Isaac Dyason/Post Office/Adelaide" comprising 1) 1850 outer; 2) 1851 entire with 'SHIP LETTER/SYDNEY' transit b/s and rate crossed out & replaced with "1/3[d]"; and 3) -.7.1851 entire "per Amazon"; each with 'G.P.O/SOUTH AUSTRALIA' unframed cds in blue or black, all rated "6[d]" for the inwards ship letter charge, condition variable. [See also Lots 2668-2670 under Cape of Good Hope below]
(Qty 3)
1851 inwards from the Cape of Good Hope "p Victory" to "Mr I E Dyason/Adelaide/South Australia", with the distinctive "4[d]" red crayon Cape Town port charge at U/L and the enclosed letter headed "Cape Town/September 1st 1851", on arrival 'G.P.O/DE8/1851/SOUTH AUSTRALIA' unframed cds in blue on face and rated "6[d]" for the ship letter charge, undeliverable as addressed so largely fine strike of the rare 'ADVERTISED/ DE ' h/s in red applied on face and presumably claimed because there are no 'Unclaimed' markings, creasing & aging marks. [We have recorded only one other example of the 'ADVERTISED' marking, of 'JU' 1852. Peculiarly, neither it nor the famous vertical double-oval 'ADVERTISED UNCLAIMED/ADELAIDE' d/s are recorded in the Handbook. It was almost certainly a crowned-circle d/s of the same pattern as the early 'FREE' & 'PAID' types &, like those, deteriorated badly over time]
1857 (Mar 11) entire 'ADELAIDE PRICES CURRENT' for Samuel Dixon & Co with shipping movements & a full-page market summary, printed for a sailing of the 'European' to England but folded for sending through the mail to Sydney endorsed "forwarded by Saml.Dixon & Co" & with a light strike of the firm's cachet below, superb Adelaide Printing 2d blood-red SG 8 (full margins) tied by the circle-in-bars cancel of the GPO with 'PAID/MR11/1857/ADELAIDE SA' cds alongside in red, superlative 'SHIP LETTER/ A /MR*19/1857/SYDNEY' arrival b/s, minor blemishes but of outstanding facial appearance. Ex Dale Forster. [The inter-colonial shipletter rate was 3d but there was a concessional rate of 2d for printed papers]
1862 (Oct 25) water-damaged entire to Yorkshire "per Bombay/via Marseilles" with the stamp washed-off & very fine boxed 'Saved from the wreck of/the Colombo' h/s (Peace Type 2) on the reverse, 'LONDON EC/JA16/63/PAID' transit cds on the face & Manchester b/s of the next day, damage consistent with it having been submerged for a lengthy period but quite presentable & full of character. Ex Robin Gwynn. Unrecorded in Brian Peace's listing of 10 covers from South Australia. [It is possible that one of the many 1/- colour changelings in the market could be married-up with this cover]
The 'Colombo' departed Calcutta 9.11.1862 & arrived Galle (Ceylon) 16.11.1862, where the Australian mails were transferred from the 'Bombay'; 'Colombo' departed Galle 17.11.1862 & was totally wrecked off Minicoy Island two days later.
1902 (Dec 13) double-rate cover to Canada with scarce franking of Thin 'POSTAGE' 8d dull blue tied by fine 'YORKETOWN/S.A' squared-circle & sealed with a piece of selvedge with the Plate Number '1' !, curved 'REGISTERED/No...' h/s, three different Canadian RPO b/s, minor blemishes. Illustration is above Lot 1341.
Selection on leaves with some unused/mint, a few early issues & First Type 'O.S.' Overprints, 'POSTAGE & REVENUE' 2/6d 5/- & 10/- all postally used, Thick 'POSTAGE' two CTO large-part sets both to £1 with Adelaide cds of OC2510 or NO11/10, etc, generally fine to very fine.
(Qty 140 approx)
Eclectic array with a page of 'REPRINT' Overprints including the 1/-violet, some plate proofs, a range of Long Toms including a very fine £4 yellow with 12x2mm 'SPECIMEN' Overprint, and a batch of unused or used Wrappers, condition variable but generally fine to very fine. (Image1)
Estimate AU$350
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 625.00
Closed..Apr-26-2022, 20:00:00 EST
Sold For 625
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1323
Symbol: G/F
Cat No: Collection
1855 London Printings 1d dark green SG 1 very fine pair with virtually full margins - just touched at U/L - & fragments of three adjoining units; 2d rose-carmine SG 2 superb pair & very fine strip of 3 - just shaved at right; and 6d deep blue SG 3 strip of 5 with virtually full margins but a couple of small defects; various cancels of the GPO or Port Adelaide, Cat £2250+ for singles. A very scarce & attractive group of First Issue multiples.
(Qty 4 items)
1855 London Printings 1/- plate proof in black on ungummed unwatermarked paper regular marginal block of 12 (3x4) from the top of the sheet plus a vertical pair at U/R & a marginal single at L/R rejoined with paper-hinges, full margins which is unusual for these issues & illustrating the rather chaotic plate-making for which Perkins Bacon were 'renowned'. An unusually large multiple of this unissued stamp.
1868-79 Perf 11½-12½ 1d deep yellow-green Partially Imperf Vertically at Left - with a chunk of the adjoining unit at left - & Between and apparently completely Imperf at Right, 3mm closed scissor-cut at L/R which gives credence to the notion that scissors were needed to separate the stamps, light 'GPO ADELAIDE/JA19/76/SA' cds. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2007) states "extremely unusual error multiple". [This pair presents as a variant of SG 65a, Cat £3250]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1327
Symbol: */**
Cat No: 188
1883-99 Bantam Perf 15 ½d pale brown SG 188 complete counter-sheet of 240 (20x12) with central horizontal gutter, remarkably well centred, Sheet Number '½d 015468' in Blue at L/R, some perf splitting & reinforcing but of very fresh & fine appearance, Cat £2880++. [The full sheet was of four panes of 120 with a central vertical gutter]
1892 (c.) 5d stamp-size original hand-painted artwork in India ink & Chinese white on thin card (31x36mm) incorporating a Lyrebird, endorsed "Finis Coronat Opus" at the base, 'E P' of 'FIVE PENCE' rubbed otherwise superb!. A beautiful essay. Ex De La Rue Archives and 'Chartwell'. ['Finis Coronat Opus' {= "the end crowns the work"} was the nom-de-plume of Melbourne artist Maximilian Tannenberg who worked for the printers Troedel & Co. Another of his designs was adopted for the issued stamp. Similar 2½d & 5d designs sold at our auction of 30.8.2020 & 25.3.2021 for $3833 & $4073 respectively]
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1329
Symbol: G
Cat No: 269 var.
1902-04 Long Toms Thin 'POSTAGE' 4d red-orange with 'POSTAGE' & Value Misplaced Downwards ACSC S20c (SG 269 variety), a little soiled, Adelaide cds, Cat $3000. Sold at our auction of 14.4.2005 for $1380. [JRW Purves recorded two used examples]
1902-04 Thin 'POSTAGE' 1/- brown with Tablets in Brown-Red ACSC S30 (SG 275c), Adelaide registration squared-circle, Cat $2000 (£1200). RPSofV Certificate (2021). With a normal stamp for comparison. NB: both catalogues say "red-brown" which is incorrect. [Despite the lower catalogue values, used examples are much scarcer than mint stamps, and are rarely seen this fine] (Qty 2)
1904-11 Thick 'POSTAGE' 5/- rose-scarlet U/R corner example with Sheet Number '5/- 000672' in Purple ACSC S64z, the stamp is unmounted, Cat $750 for mounted (2004). Rare.
Sale No: 247
Lot No: 1332
Symbol: *
Cat No: Collection
'O.S.' OVERPRINTS: 1891-96 Perf 10 1d green with the Overprint Double, One Inverted SG O54b, part-o.g., unpriced by Gibbons. Absent from Gary Diffen's collection.
'O.S.' OVERPRINTS: 1899-1901 Wide Overprint 1d rosine with Double Overprint, One on an Angle SG O83a, light Adelaide cds of FE27/00, Cat £550. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2018).
'O.S.' OVERPRINTS: 1899-1901 Wide Setting 4d violet with No Stop after 'S ' SG O84b in a horizontal pair, and two singles with Grossly Misplaced Overprints reading 'S.O.' (unlisted varieties), large-part o.g., Cat £450 for the Missing Stop. Ex Gary Diffen.
(Qty 3 items)
REVENUES: 1886-96 'POSTAGE & REVENUE' Perf 11½-12½ £5 grey with manuscript cancel "Elder Smith/.../25.10.90" just tying the stamp to a slightly larger piece from a document. Rare. [Because these high value stamps were technically valid for postage, virtually all examples that came onto the market were cleaned and had fake cancels applied. That vandalism has resulted in the high values fiscally used being unintended rarities]
