1884-96 Large Stamp Duty £8 orange/yellow SG 251 with large script 'Specimen' Overprint diagonally reading upwards, redistributed original gum. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2011) states "rare as a specimen with only tiny number recorded - currently only one of this type". Gibbons do not provide prices for unused examples of the £6 to £8 but do price the £9 at £25,000. This is the closest one can hope to find an unused example of the £8.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$5,000

1905-13 Crown/A Perf 11 £2 blue ACSC V138 (SG 445) marginal block of 4 from the left of the sheet, large-part original gum with a few hinge remnants, Cat $8000+ (£5200+), for singles. An extremely rare block. Ex 'Dubois' Part I: sold for SFr2684. [If this was a block of 4 of the First Wmk £2 Kangaroo, the estimate would be at least ten times as much]

Grade A C1 (Image1)

Estimate AU$3,500

POSTAL STATIONERY: Dealer's stock box with a duplicated range of unused & used Postal Cards x200+ a few with printed messages and some postmark & postal history interest, Letter Cards x40+ including 2d red 'One Penny' overprint x6 (two CTO), Registration Envelopes x16 unused/CTO, Wrappers x30 and Envelopes x40+ unused/CTO including Stamped-to-Order, condition a little variable but many are fine to very fine. Weighs 2kg.  (300+) (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

POSTMARKS - NUMERAL CANCELS: Stockbook accumulation with a large duplicated quantity including many very fine strikes albeit no great rarities apparent, noted a few on early issues, some coloured strikes and quite a number on Kangaroos & KGV Heads with plenty of potential for 'upgrades', a few pages of CDS plus more modern in bag, also a small stockbook of Melbourne cancels including duplexes from the 1860s to Kangaroos & KGV Heads, and a few pages of TPOs noted a large-part 'T.P.O. 3/[DO]WN 14JY15/[VICT[ORIA' (arcs; rated RRRR) on Kangaroo 3d olive and a very fine complete 'T.P.O. 6/DOWN -5OC15/VICTORIA' (arcs; rated RRRR) on KGV 1d red on piece, condition a little variable. Weighs 4kg.  (many 100s) (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

POSTMARKS - DATESTAMPS: 'A'BECKETT ST 3000' to 'YUULONG' collection mostly from the 1960s-1990s with little of consequence noted by us but many closed post offices & numerous fine to very fine strikes, most are stuck to small cards & many of those have first been cut-to-shape, condition rather mixed.  (few 1000) (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

RAILWAY STAMPS: 1882-87 Ornate Borders 8d lilac IPC #3.1336 (VR49), untidy ink cancel, unusually fine. Rare properly used.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

REVENUES - POSTAL NOTES: 1883 (circa) QV Design 'PAYABLE IN VICTORIA OR SOUTH AUSTRALIA' with Serial Number (in Red) but without Yellow Text at the Top on V Over Crown Watermark 1/6d (½d poundage), small 16x5mm hole and corner missing at U/L where apparently roughly removed from another document, minor folds. Unrecorded by Dave Elsmore, who lists only a 10/- with 'CANCELLED' h/s (Cat $500) described as a "possible proof".

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

POSTAL HISTORY: 1883 (July 21) OHMS envelope with very fine 'COMMANDANT LOCAL FORCES/FRANK/[coat-of-arms]/ STAMP/VICTORIA' handstamp in blue & 'HEAD QUARTERS/Victoria Barracks' imprint at lower-left, to "Treasury" with 'EMERALD HILL/VICTORIA - 148' duplex, Melbourne arrival backstamp. [Dating from 1853, the Barracks were erected on St Kilda Road, south of Melbourne, and are still under the control of the Department of Defence. In 1883, Emerald Hill was renamed South Melbourne]

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

POSTAL HISTORY: (March 11) double-rate cover to England endorsed "Per Cathage" with scarce franking of Naish 6d blue horizontal pair tied by Melbourne duplex cancel, London 'AP 8/87' arrival backstamp in red, plus mourning envelope from two months earlier to Glasgow "Per Liguria" with the more usual franking of Astley 6d blue tied by 'ST KILDA RY STN/JA 7/87/VIC - MC/24' duplex & 'FE 12' arrival backstamp, both with a few minor blemishes. The ship-letter rate was 6d per ½oz.  (2)

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$150