1841 (March) from Cornwall to "Milburn Port Phillip/New South Wales" written at "Ivemaugh(?), March 6th" but not posted for over a fortnight with 'PENRYN/MR22/1841' cds in red where marked "8"[d] in red paid for the uniform ship letter rate, originally endorsed by specific ship at L/L but this was crossed out and superscibed "Private Ship" with her name "Geelong" apparently added later at U/R, 'PAID SHIP LETTER/29MR29/1841 LONDON' Crowned Oval d/s in red on face and very fine 'SHIP LETTER/JY*26 /1841/SYDNEY' b/s in black, rated "1/6"[d] to pay on face and "1/7"[d] on reverse, unusually no Melbourne arrival markings, a few minor blemishes.
The 1/6d rate marking is for the 3d Colonial incoming ship letter rate plus the 1/3d overland rate (inland mileage charge) from Sydney to Melbourne. On 10.6.1841 a steamer service to Melbourne commenced, at first at the standard 4d intercolonial ship latter rate, then increased to 1/3d from 14.12.1841 to match the overland rate. Accordingly, this letter should have been charged only 7d (3d ship letter + 4d coastal steamer), but the charge was apparently amended to 1/7d (or were both amounts to be charged ?) [If you have the answer, please let us know!]
1854 (Oct 28) entire to Northumberland "Per Great Britain Steamer/Prepaid" with 'PAID/MELBOURNE' Crowned Oval d/s in red and unusually also with 'MELBOURNE/VICTORIA' Crowned Oval d/s in black alongside, 'LIVERPOOL/SHIP' chamfered-box h/s in red also on face & 'NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE/JA25/1855' arrival b/s, a couple of minor blemishes. Paid at the 1/- ship letter rate, - in effect from 1.5.1854 to 1.7.1855 only, when reduced to 6d after retaliatory rates were imposed by the UK - and no further charges imposed. The lengthy letter gives an interesting account of the effects of the Gold Rush on shipping & mail services when speaking about a ship's captain with whom the writer does business: " ... all the men have bolted [for the Diggings] but he got the principal part of the cargo out with them before they cut ... [the Post Office humbugs have kept [letters] for some reason or other as they did not arrive until yesterday 10 days after arrival of mail. Captain Hart has got a lot of Chinamen to go with him and sails Monday...he goes to Hong Kong..." [The delayed letters probably received a 'DELAYED ON/BOARD OF SHIP' h/s]
1856 (June 11) entire from Geelong with Campbell & Fergusson Half-Lengths 1d rose SG 28a (full margins) & 3d greenish blue SG 29a (3 margins, just shaved at the base) tied by fine BN '2' of 'GEELONG' (b/s), transit b/s of 'MELBOURNE' & 'WILLIAMS TOWN' arrival b/s, light folds cleasr of the stamps. [The brief note states "This is to certify that the Master of the Douglas made due application at this office for a Pilot on 16th April, but none arrived from Williamstown/["DJW Mason"}/Harbor [sic] Master". The implication is that there had been an incident. However, in the 1856 Report, the only mentions of the ship are pilotings of 3.6.1856 & 13.8.1856]
1857 cover to GB "pr Indomitable" with Woodblocks Imperf 6d (two margins) tied by bold Diamond Numeral '41' of the London Foreign Branch & 'PAID/ FY /27AU27/1857' arrival cds in red on the face. Ex Dale Forster. A rare usage per non-contract ship: voyage unrecorded by Colin Tabeart.
1863 (Nov 9) Macartney Correspondence small ladies' cover to Rockhampton (Qld) with Emblems 2d grey-lilac Watermark '2' single & pair tied by superb Melbourne duplex cancels, 'NO22' arrival b/s, opened on three sides with closed tear on back flap otherwise very fine. The pair both show the Makeready Deterioration flaws pictured by Kellow at p123, here to a greater extent with large parts of the design absent around the words of value at base & the 'VICTORIA' inscription partly missing on each. [The stamps have been lifted to confirm the watermark and hinged back into place]
1898 (Apr 26) water-damaged illustrated Carolin & Co Farm Machinery (Bendigo) advertising cover with the stamp washed-off, to Tasmania resealed with red wax & a very fine impression of the 'POST OFFICE/ [crown]/LAUNCESTON TASMANIA' mailbag seal, endorsed on the flap "recovered from/wreck of Manawatu", Launceston transit & 'CRESSY' arrival b/s both of JU2/98, minor immersion blemishes still of remarkably fine appearance: plus the elaborately illustrated enclosed letter. Ex Lewis Viney, Howard Longden - sold in 2001 for £1647 - and Robin Gwynn. The most visually appealing of the three recorded covers from this shipwreck: illustrated by Hoggarth & Gwynn at page 93 and by Brian Peace at page 206. [The 'Manawatu' departed Melbourne 27.4.1898. Off Williamstown, she suddenly altered course, smashing into the coastal steamer 'Edina', and sinking in shallow water]
(2)
1899 complete 'Copy of Federal Constitution...as finally adopted by the Australasian Federal Convention at Melbourne...on the 16th March 1898...', posted with 'THE TREASURER' Frank printed in black on the last page which is blank & with untidy Melbourne cds, apparently posted in an addressed wrapper that sadly has been lost, minor blemishes & a tear on the front page repaired with archival tape. A remarkable item of official mail, the only example recorded by us, and not listed by Carl Stieg & Max Watson. [In fact, this is the only recorded instance of a Frank, for any department, being printed directly onto a publication. In the context of Federation, it is also a vitally important secondary source document ]
1903-07 Taxed Mail with Postage Dues comprising 'Blank-At-Base' 2d singles on Tatts covers with 1d pink single from Yea and with 1d pink x3 tied Barred Numeral '509' & 'RAGLAN' cds alongside, 2d pair on Tatts cover with 1d pink pair, and 4d singles on Tatts covers with 1d pink pair and with 2d violet, all tied by Hobart cds cancels, also 'Completed Design' 1d single on 1905 postcard endorsed "Printed Matter" with ½d Bantam solo and 2d single on 1904 postcard with message written alongside address and taxed as a letter, both tied by 'YOUNG/NSW' cds cancels, condition fine to very fine.
(7)
1904 (Sept 3) usage of pre-1901 1d Postal Card invalid because inscribed 'STAMP DUTY' so uncancelled but with 'UP TRAIN/ MG 11 /VICTORIA' cds on the face & a largely superb strike of the very rare 'LATE FEE/ T1D ' handstamp struck aboard the train (the only example recorded by us), Postage Due 1d affixed at Ballarat (b/s) but not cancelled, faults. Ex Bonnie Lyons: sold at our auction of 29.6.2016 for $556. [The message is datelined "Sept 3rd 1904/Beaufort", 46km WNW of Ballarat]
1912 (Jan 5) cover to GB with 1d 2d & 2½d tied by 'DOLLAR/VICTORIA' cds, scarce red/white R label, hooded London arrival b/s of 11FE12, minor imperfections. [Posted 4 years after the rate to GB was reduced from 2½d to 2d, and eight months after it had been reduced to 1d!]
DATESTAMPS: 1970s-90s covers selected for clear strikes of steel & rubber CDS plus some commemorative cancels and boxed d/s, wide variety of frankings, lots of registered mail & overseas airmails, some postal stationery usages, also a batch of 1980s Official Mail envelopes sent Security Post & bundle of covers with Relief cancels, a few PPCs, etc, condition generaly fine to very fine.
(1000+)
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 2372
Symbol: C/CL
Cat No: Collection
TAX MARKINGS: Accumulation of taxed mail many with Postage Dues affixed, wide variety of Melbourne domestic markings including 1919 OHMS circular with 'T1½D' h/s, 1922 'Bethany, Meyer's Creek, Healesville' PPC with 'T3D' h/s, 1948 to Sydney with 'T5D' & 5d Due tied 'DELIVERY ROOM' cds, 1943 from Shepparton with with 'INSUFFICIENTLY PREPAID/OVER ... OZS' & 'T4D' h/s and 4d Due, 1947 to WA with 5½d Emu solo and boxed 'EXCEEDS ["½"] OZS' h/s with 'T6D' h/s and inwards airmail from Great Britain with KGVI 1/- solo and similar 'T6D' h/s (but 'cuts' in frame), later circular rubber types, 1954 OHMS long cover with 'OVER OZS/'5'/T' h/s and 5d Due, etc, also undenominated types used outside Melbourne such as 1955 cover with 'MONTROSE/VIC' cds taxed 'T["7d"]' with 7d Due single tied cds, and plenty more, condition variable with some fronts only but many are fine to very fine.
(100+) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Nov-09-2022, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 230
Postal Stationery
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 2360
Symbol: PS
Cat No: Collection
Accumulation of used & unused including Envelopes 1890 2d green on grey stock Stamped-To-Order for Geo Kaufman & Co (insignia in red) & 1897 2d red STO for The University of Melbourne to London with ½d added, Letter Cards 1d red with 'UP TRAIN/M.G.6' cds & 2d red with Melbourne CTO, Postal Cards 1d+1d violet Reply Card with 'Specimen' h/s (inverted on Reply portion), various cards with printed advertising, 1890 correct in-period social usage of 3d 'Via Italy' to London (central fold), 1895 'Beer & Baccy' commercial usage (minor bends), 1900 use of '1½' on 1d UPU reply-portion to Simla, India, Registration Envelope 4d unused and used locally (philatelic), a range of Wrappers, a little duplication in parts, potential postmark interest, and a small batch from other Colonies, condition variable but many are fine to very fine. Weighs 2kg.
(250+) (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Nov-09-2022, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 575
Victoria
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 2353
Symbol: O
1890s-1900s 1d brown & 2d violet, a couple of hundred of each with potential Numeral & cds interest.
(100s) (Image1)
Estimate AU$100
Opening AU$ 130.00
Sold...AU$ 130.00
Closed..Nov-09-2022, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 130
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 2354
Symbol: O
Box of Penny Pinks that have been done over for perfins but probably not for postmarks or varieties, there appear to be some original bundles included.
(few 1000) (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Nov-09-2022, 18:00:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 2355
Symbol: #
Cat No: 28a
1854-57 Half-Lengths Lithographed by Campbell & Ferguson 1d rose SG 28a with secondary wear flaws at lower-left and especially behind the Queen's arm at right, margins close but clear all around, a couple of tiny black marks on face, unused, Cat £1700. Carl H Lange photo-certificate (1947) translated "... unused ... original ..."
1854-57 Half-Lengths Lithographed by Campbell & Ferguson 1d rose SG 28a with Squeezed Transfer Below 'ONE' of 'ONE PENNY' resulting in part of the frame missing at base, margins good to large, Melbourne 'NEWSPAPER' oval d/s clear of the variety, Cat £50 for normal.
Sale No: 249
Lot No: 2358
Symbol: CTO
Cat No: 374-5
1900 Boer War Charity 1d & 2d SG 374-5 both with 'ULTRAMAR' Handstamp in blue, unmounted, Cat £460++, for normal mounted singles. Bill McCredie's similar duo - affixed to small pieces - sold for $580. (2)
