1848 missionary's lengthy entire letter headed "Ono Feejee June 17 1848" & signed "David Hazlewood", to his brother in Suffolk, British 'SHIP-LETTER' h/s, London transit b/s of 13AU13/1849 & 'BURY-ST-EDMUNDS' arrival b/s in blue across the flap, rated "8" for an incoming shipletter, rather decrepit & amateurishly "repaired" with glassine strips, which we expect could be greatly improved with some TLC. Ex Gerald Patterson. [Illustrated by David Alford at page 2. He records only six pre-1850 covers from Fiji, of which this is the latest. Ono is a small island in the Kadavu Group, south of Viti Levu. 14 months transit time from the Pacific Islands to England was not unusual in this period] David Hazlewood was a Methodist missionary who, in 1850, published the first 'Feejeean' Grammar and 'Feejeean'/English Dictionary: see Lot 298156.

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

1890 commercial cover to France - an unusual destination from Fiji - with rare franking of Altered Dies Perf 10 'Four Pence' 14mm Overprint on 2d dull purple SG 43 (Cat £140 x8+ on cover, as it has been for at least 12 years) & 6d rose SG 48 tied by 'LEVUKA' cds, Suva transit & '...LES LYON/RHONE' arrival b/s, a little truncated at right on opening. A rare 10d rate cover. Ex Gerald Patterson.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$600

1903 (Dec) commercial double-rate cover to France originating at an outlying village or island with scarce franking of KEVII ½d 2d 2½d & 4d cancelled with ink lines, overstruck at Levuka where light boxed registration cachet applied, minor blemishes. Ex Gerald Patterson. [The rate was 2½d x2 + 4d registration = 9d]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$120

1905 cover with 'HEDEMANN, EVERS & CO/LEVUKA/FIJI' imprint on the flap to Switzerland with KEVII 4d & 5d tied by Levuka cds, boxed 'R___' h/s at U/L, London transit & Bern arrival b/s.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$120

1917 OHMS 'RETURNED LETTER./Dead Letter Office, Fiji.' Envelope with 'RETURNED' & 'Dead' obliterated, 'FIJI/OFFICIAL/C.P./PAID' h/s at lower-left & 'G.P.O./[crown]/FIJI' impressed in wax on the flap, to Yorkshire with late usage of KGV 5d tied by 'SUVA FIJI/REGISTERED' cds & registration cachet at upper-left, London transit & 'BURSTWICK' arrival b/s, minor soiling. A most unusual emergency usage. Ex Gerald Patterson.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

1930-36 group posted directly onto New Zealand steamers each with 'MARINE POST OFFICE/...' cancels on face 1) 1930 to USA with 3d tied 'PACKET BOAT' double-lined boxed cachet and 'RMS NIAGARA' cds; 2) 1930 AS Farebrother English & Colonial Manufacturer's Representative envelope to UK with 1d & 2d tied 'PACKET BOAT' single-lined boxed cachet and 'RMMS AORANGI' cds; 3) 1933 Bank of New South Wales, Suva envelope to Australia with 2d tied 'PACKET BOAT' single-lined boxed cachet and 'RMMS AORANGI' cds; 4) 1936 to New Zealand with 3d tied wavy lines in circle obliterator and 'RMS NIAGARA' cds; a couple with minor blemishes. (Qty 4)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

1937 (June) commercial shipboard cover to London with scarce combination franking of Fiji 2d grey + New Zealand 1d Kiwi x2 tied by 'HONOLULU' duplex, very fine "Paquebot' h/s (HDM #1685) in purple. Ex Gerald Patterson.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

1938-55 KGVI Pictorials frankings comprising ½d solo on 1941 printed matter to New Zealand, 2½d solo on 1955 Kaminia Hair Oil multi-coloured illustrated advertising cover tied 'BA' cds, 3d solo 1944 surface mail to USA censored locally with 'X/117' label, 5d green & red 1946-47 solo, double franking and a strip of 3 all on airmails to New Zealand, 6d solo on 1952 airmail to New Zealand, 1/5d double franking on 1945 airmail to USA at 2/10d rate, 2/- solo franking on 1951 airmail to USA, and 2/6d with 2d pair on 1946 airmail to USA at 2/10d rate, condition fine to very fine. (Qty 10) (Image1)

Estimate AU$120

1944 (Sep 6) social usage of KGVI 2d+3d Registration Envelope size G to India uprated with 1/5d Coat of Arms pair tied by Suva cds, boxed registration cachet with fancy 'SUVA' in violet, scarce Fijian 'X / 114' cansor label tied in transit by 'GPO SYDNEY/ AIR /26SE44/...' cds where small '2' h/s in violet signified Not Opened by Censor, Perth transit of 28SEP44, Indian 'OPENED BY EXAMINER' label tied by British-pattern '[crown]/PASSED/DHC 29' cachet, minor blemishes. Ex Gerald Patterson. [The Empire airmail rate was 1/5d per ½oz so the letter was overpaid 2d for the postage incorporated in the printed stamp]

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$230

1948-80 commercially used formular aerogrammes with solo franking comprising 1948 to New Zealand with KGVI Pictorials 3d Canoe, Apsley 1965 to NZ with QEII Pictorials 6d Lali Drum, 1965 to NZ with 6d First Airmail, 1967 to UK with QEII Pictorials 10d Yaqona Ceremony & 1974 to NZ with 5c Birds and Croxley 1980 to USA with 18c Labasa Sugar Mill, condition fine to very fine. (Qty 6)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

1954-67 QEII Pictorials frankings comprising ½d local printed matter rate Bank Statement envelope, 1½d & 2½d QEII plus 8d Arms on 1961 airmail to Australia, 2d Buildings x2 plus 8d Arms on 1960 airmail to Australia, 3d QEII pair plus 2/- Orchid on 1965 airmail to UK, 6d Map 1954 solo on PPC to Hawaii, 6d Lali Drum 1963 solo to Tonga and 1962 pair airmail to Australia, 8d Arms 1957 solo airmail to New Zealand, 9d Hibiscus 1967 solo airmail to New Zealand, 10d Yaqona strip of 3 on 1964 airmail to UK, 1/- Fisherman 1960 solo airmail to Australia, 1/- Map 1962 solo on airmail PPC to USA, 1/6d Train 1958 solo on airmail PPC to Sweden, 1/6d Dateline 1966 pair airmail to Germany, and 2/6d River 1956 solo & 2/6d Airport 1962 solo both airmail to UK, condition fine to very fine. (Qty 16) (Image1)

Estimate AU$120

1960s-70s Commemoratives mostly solo frankings including 1/- Churchill & 10c Solomons Campaign on picture postcards, 2/6d Pacific Games 1963 airmail to London, 3/- WHO 1969 airmail to Switzerland, other airmails to UK include 10c Arts Festival & 10c Silver Wedding on "2nd Class Airmail" covers, 25c Rugby on 1973 Amdigo Manufacturing Rugby & Soccer Jersey advertising cover airmail to UK, 25c Silver Wedding, 25c Chinese New Year, 25c Highways, 25c Solomons Campaign, 30c Air Services (polus a pair on a double-rated item), 30c EEC-ACP Map & 30c Throwing Club, etc, condition fine to very fine. (Qty 18)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

AEROGRAMMES: 1959-70 OHMS stampless formular aerogrammes of various patterns unused x2 or used x6. Nice lot. [Retail value stated to be $450] (Qty 8)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

ENVELOPES: KGV 2d grey unused (small flap fault, otherwise superb!) and social usage to London in 1934 (repaired opening-tear). Scarce duo. (Qty 2)

Grade A/(A) (Image1)

Estimate AU$60

LETTER CARDS: KGV 2d grey/blue, unused, a couple of faint tonespots otherwise superb!

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$50

PICTURE POSTCARDS: 1906 real photo card of the expansive premises of 'KRAFFT & SMITH/TIMBER/AND/COPRA/MERCHANTS' on Beach Street, Levuka, to South Yarra (Vic) with KEVII 1d black/red tied by 'LEVUKA' cds.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$50

POSTMARKS: 'NADI AIRPORT/P.O. FIJI.' undated triple-circle rubber with separate date h/s of '16MAY1947', two superb strikes in violet on philatelic cover with typed endorsement re opening of the post office & signed by the postmaster. Rare; used for 18 days only. Ex Gerald Patterson. [Gordon Rodger's similar cover sold in 2007 for $483]

Grade A A1+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

REGISTRATION ENVELOPES: KEVII 1d+3d size G rare albeit philatelic usage to GB per "RMS Marama" with Suva cds & boxed registration cachet, London transit & oval 'REGISTERED/JY 9 13/FOREST HILL SE' arrival d/s, some toning but presentable. Ex Gerald Patterson. [Only 125 issued]

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$60

REGISTRATION ENVELOPES: KGV 2d+3d brown size G commercial usage to New Zealand uprated with KGV 4d with Plate Number '21' tied by Suva cds, boxed rubber registration cachet in violet, superb 'TAKAPUNA' arrival b/s, light soiling & pencil notations largely erased from the reverse. Ex Gerald Patterson.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

Covers with cds of 'FEATHERSTON/MILITARY CAMP' and 'TRENTHAM MILTARY CAMP' or machine cancels of both camps & another from Timaru to "South Canterbury Corps/Expeditionary Camp/Palmerston North", plus a 3-page letter headed "New Plymouth/17th Oct 1914" that states "...I've been packed-up ready with the Expeditionary Force, but now they have gone and I'm left behind..." (Qty 6 items) (Image1)

Estimate AU$140

1914 real photo PPC of nine soldiers at tea break, ½d (damaged) with very fine strike of the rare 'AWAPUNI/14SP14/NZ' cds (Wooders rated 9), soiling. PO 13/8/1914; closed 3/10/1914. Ex Gordon Darge. [Writer states "...We expect to leave for Well[ington] this week..."]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

1915 (June to Sept) envelope with RAMC crest & three Maltese PPCs all from injured soldiers evacuated from Gallipoli aboard Hospital Ships to convalescent facilities in Malta. (Qty 4)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$120

1915 (June 24) usage of a piece of rough cardboard apparently cut from an ammunition box with 'HEADQUARTERS' cds of 24JU15 & Censor #2640 cachet in rosine, minor blemishes. The message states "...I am looking forward to the day when I will be able to write you a descent [sic] letter..." [Makeshift postcards are a highly significant element of the Gallipoli Story. They are recorded from between 29.5.1915 & 3.8.1915 only. It is estimated that only some 25 exist from New Zealanders. Gordon Darge's four examples sold at the Prestige auction of 5.3.2011 for an average of $748 each]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

1915 (July 4) usage of a piece of rough cardboard apparently cut from an ammunition box with message headed "Galipolli/4-7-15" [sic], 'AUST INF BDE FIELD PO/8JL15' cds & Censor #2211 cachet in purple, 'DEVONPORT' machine arrival b/s of 28AU-1915, reinforced vertical fold. [Makeshift postcards are a highly significant element of the Gallipoli Story. They are recorded from between 29.5.1915 & 3.8.1915 only. It is estimated that only some 25 exist from New Zealanders. Gordon Darge's four examples sold at the Prestige auction of 5.3.2011 for an average of $748 each]

Grade (B) (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

1915 (Aug 9) very fine almost complete strike of 'N.Z. Expeditionary Forces/16.AUG.1915/No.1 hosptial ship' boxed d/s in violet on Ceylon 'Technical College, Colombo' picture postcard sent unfranked to New Zealand from "Alice" with message including "we're somewhere in the Arabian Sea. A monsoon is on ... A good many of the nurses are sick ...", couple of minor edge bends. 'No.1 Hospital Ship' was the Union Steamship Line steamer 'Maheno', which had been converted to treat casualties from Gallipoli; this card was sent from a nurse on the outward voyage to the Dardanelles, where she arrived in late-August 1915.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$150