'CHIEF SECRETARY', '...LANDS & SURVEY', '...MINES', '...PUBLIC INSTRUCTION', '...RAILWAYS' & 'THE TREASURER' envelopes - three with printed penalty admonitions - all CTO with Melbourne cds of OC15/02, a few minor blemishes but generally very fine. It appears that one 'set' was prepared for official records in anticipation of the discontinuance of Franks on 31.10.1902. (Qty 6)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

'Franked! The Official Mail of Victoria 1864-1902' by Max Watson & Carl Stieg (2008), 192pp hardbound with d/j. [Covers the important subjects of official mail, free mail and the franking system]

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$50

CHIEF SECRETARY: Printed in shades of purple on four different-size envelopes each with 'The Parliament of/the Commonwealth.' at L/L & with three different versions of the Coat of Arms on the flap, one addressed and apparently delivered by hand (flap torn-open and central fold), the largest - that would have enclosed an invitation to the Opening of Parliament - with some tonespots & repaired flap faults, the other two unused. Despite the imperfections, a very scarce & desirable quartet. (Qty 4)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

CHIEF SECRETARY: Printed in dull blue x2 or dull purple on 1901 Envelopes each with 'The Parliament of/the Commonwealth' imprint in dull purple at L/L & Coat-of-Arms on the flap, sizes 131x113mm & 230x159mm both used locally & each with light fold, and size 180x122 with minor defects but unused. A very scarce trio. (Qty 3)

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

COMMANDANT LOCAL FORCES: Superb strike in blue on long envelope used locally, superb Melbourne duplex, light but very fine OHMS header & oval 'VICTORIAN NAVAL FORCES' cachets in purple, flap fault otherwise superb.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

CROWN LANDS & SURVEY, COMMISSIONER OF: Very fine strike in blue on outer 'cover sheet' S&W #30 - with the original enclosure - with very fine 'BALLARAT' duplex & oval 'WARRENHEIP' arrival b/s, very fine 'UNCLAIMED'-in-oval h/s, insignificant blemishes.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

CROWN LANDS & SURVEY, COMMISSIONER OF: Handstamp in blue largely very fine strike on 'RENTS OF RUNS' broadsheet - folded to 265x112mm - with very fine 'MELBOURNE' duplex with damaged datehead, a few faults. The only recorded example. [Apparently the addressee, the "Receiver & Paymaster/Geelong", was to enter the required details onto the opened-out document and display it in a prominent position in his office]

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

CROWN LANDS: 'COMMR OF CROWN LANDS & SURVEY' very fine strike in blue on 1866 cover with distorted strike of the scarce unframed 'BULLAROOK/SE10/66/VICTORIA' arrival b/s. Bullarook PO 1.3.1861.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$75

JUSTICE, MINISTER OF: Handstamp in blue-black on 1880s envelope with 'DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE' imprint at L/L, the Frank with manuscript "Cancelled/[initials]", horizontal and vertical bends.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$75

LANDS AND SURVEY, MINISTER OF: Printed in black on 1890s oversize Envelope (278x151mm) with 'DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY' imprint at L/L, remarkably unfolded, light overall discolouration (more pronounced on the reverse), unused.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$60

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, MINISTER OF: Very fine strike in blue on a 'ruler envelope' (385x58mm) with 'EDUCATION DEPARTMENT' imprint at L/L, to School 1479 in St Kilda but endorsed on the back "Closed 3rd Delivery", sealed with two metal eyelets so ripped-open at right but later roughly repaired, central fold & a bit soiled. Despite the faults this is a truly extraordinary item. The only recorded example: illustrated by Stieg & Watson at page 127.

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, MINISTER OF: Handstamp in blue largely fine strike on OHMS envelope, unused.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$60

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, MINISTER OF: Printed in black on both halves of a reply-lettersheet requiring an attendance report in respect of named children, minor defects, unused. The only recorded example, and the only such return-usage item recorded apart from the famous hoard of 1870s-1880s Justice of the Peace forms.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, MINISTER OF: Printed in black on a lettersheet requiring a parental explanation for a child's absence from school, unused. Rare.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

RAILWAYS & ROADS, COMMISSIONER OF: Handstamp in red (very scarce) on long envelope with '.../Assistant Commissioner's and Secretary's Office' imprint at L/L crossed-through because used at Ballarat to Clunes, docketing on the face, minor flap fault, S&W #E40; the only recorded example. Very pretty!

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$75

RAILWAYS, MINISTER OF: Printed in black on c.1900 penalty envelope with 'VICTORIAN RAILWAYS/...Station' imprunt at L/L, stained on the reverse, unused.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$50

SOLICITOR-GENERAL: Handstamp in blue-black on 1880s envelope with beautiful embossed crest in purple on the reverse & 'Crown Law Offices' imprint at L/L, the Frank with manuscript "Cancelled/[initials]", light bend at the base.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$75

TRADE & CUSTOMS, MINISTER OF: Printed in black on 1890s envelope with ''CUSTOM HOUSE/Melbourne' imprint at L/L, minor blemishes, unused.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$50

TRADE & CUSTOMS, MINISTER OF: Printed in black on 1890s envelope with ''CUSTOM HOUSE/Melbourne' imprint at L/L, unused.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$60

TREASURER, THE: printed Frank on the last page of an entire 'Copy of Federal Constitution...as finally adopted by the Australasian Federal Convention at Melbourne...on the 16th March 1898...', sent in a band that has not survivied, minor blemishes & a tear on the front page repaired with archival tape. A vitally important secondary source document and a remarkable Frank usage.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

TREASURER, THE: Printed in black on 1891 envelope (front only) with 'Royal Commission on Gold Mining/CUSTOM HOUSE' at L/L, very minor blemishes. Rare.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$75

TREASURER, THE: Handstamped in blue on envelope with OHMS heading only, faint overall discolouration, unused.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$60

TREASURER, THE: Printed in black on penalty envelope with 'INCOME TAX OFFICE/...' imprint at L/L, the Frank obliterated with two strikes of a bar h/s in violet, slit open at the top. Rare.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$60

TREASURER, THE: Printed in dull blue on 1870s Postal Card rouletted on three sides to allow removal from a page of cards, 'TREASURY, MELBOURNE' imprint on message-side & printer's imprint '[1000-9.76]' indicating 1000 were printed in September 1876, minor spotting, unused.

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$50

TREASURER, THE: Printed in black + Embossed 1d pink on piece with Melbourne cds on 1.11.02, minor blemishes. Although only a cutout, this is a rare Postal Stationery issue. However, the most significant thing is that the franking system was discontinued on 31.10.1902, after which the Frank was supposed to be obliterated & postage paid. This therefore is a First Day usage of the new system, and the only First Day usage we have recorded.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$200