1883 OHMS Cover to Melbourne with Commandant Local Forces/ Victoria/ Frank Stamp, blue envelope with nice strike of the frank and a partial Williamstown Vic SE 14 83 cds partially overlapping, light strike of Victorian Naval Forces "Belt and Buckle" double oval cachet, ms 14/9/83 date inserted, backstamped Melbourne SE 14 83, small tear in backflap, still Very Fine, the only known cover with this naval cachet and though to be the first military or naval cachet from any Australian state. rnBy 1870, Williamstown was known as the major cargo port of Victoria with the Customs Department, pilots, the Victorian Navy, and the Harbour Trust all having established bases in the port of Williamstown. The Victorian Naval Forces comprised the permanent force known as the Victorian Navy, and a 300-strong Victorian Naval Brigade consisting of the Williamstown Division and the Sandridge (Port Melbourne) Division. The combination of the Victorian Navy and the Victorian Naval Brigade were known collectively as the Victorian Naval Forces. In the years leading up to Federation the Victorian Naval Forces were considered the most powerful of all the colonial naval forces.rn (Image)

CV. 2,500-3,000