1843 (Aug 18) Entire to George Town, Van Diemens Land, bearing a fine strike of the framed "PAID AT / PORTLAND" in red, marked "Registered" and "3" in red ink overwritten by large manuscript "5" in black ink, with 3d for the single letter paid by the sender along with the registration fee of 6d, and the 5d for inward transmission in Tasmania paid by the recipient, scarce, ex Max Watson and Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL. Note: The 6d. for registration had to be paid in cash to the postmaster who was entitled to retain this fee and a perquisite of his office. The Portland Post Office was opened on 4th December 1841 and this may be the earliest recorded cover from this office. Probably carried on the Wave between Portland and Launceston. (Image)

1845 (Aug 29) Entire from Sydney to Dublin "pr Royal Fur" with two-line "Registered / SYDNEY." handstamp (White Type R2) in red applied by the postmaster for local 6d registration payable in cash and 2s4d payable by the recipient (1s4d double private ship letter + 1s registration fee) endorsed at origin 6 in red denoting prepayment of double overseas ship letter (under 1/2 oz), fine and rare, being the earliest of the two recorded examples of the White type R2 Registered handstamp in private hands, ex Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL. (Image)

1849 (May 30) Front (and part back) from Sydney to UK endorsed "pr Royal Saxon / via India" with two-line "Registered / Sydney." handstamp (White Type R1) in red applied by the postmaster for local 6d registration payable in cash and 3s1d payable by the recipient (2s7d double ship letter via India and Marseilles plus 6d U.K. registration), 3d prepaid for overseas ship letter per "PAID SHIP LETTER / SYDNEY" datestamp in red, a rare registered usage from this period, ex Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL. Note: The fee was 6d irrespective of destination which had to be prepaid and before 1850 was a prerequisite of the Second Clerk at Sydney and of the postmasters in the country offices. No receipt was given but "Registered / Sydney" was stamped in red on the cover to denote pre-payment. (Image)

1851 Sydney View 2d ultramarine on hard greyish wove paper, pl.V, pos.8/20 used vertical pair, large to huge margins with framelines on three sides, with lower stamp showing fan with six segments variety (R.2/8), neatly cancelled by "96" numerals of Maryborough (Moreton Bay district, now Queensland), extremely fine and not only rare as a vertical pair showing the variety but very rare Queensland usage, cert. BPA (2012). (Image)

1852 (Apr 26) Front to England bearing 1851-55 2d greyish blue (fine impression) in strip of three with large to very large margins, cancelled by pen, endorsed "Registered pr. Prince of Wales" in magenta ink, two strikes of the unframed "Registered / Sydney." hs in red, an off-set of the London transit and Woodbridge arrival cds, stamps have been lifted and re-placed, attractive, ex Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL. (Image)

1856-58 6d Vermilion and Prussian blue horizontal pair (pos.34-35) on soft medium yellowish paper, unused without gum, a few minor imperfections, very rare, ex Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL (S.G. £6'000+). (Image)

1859 (Jul 2) Wrapper from Sydney to Melbourne bearing 6d olive-grey with good to large margins, neatly tied duplex cancel, arrival bs, fine and fresh cover, ex John Boker. (Image)

1860 (Jul 12) Envelope from Sydney "per Benares" to Yorkshire, bearing 1854-59 Diadem 6d greyish-brown with large margins all round (small scissor-cut at upper right) cancelled by "N.S.W." in elliptical ovals, despatch and Yarm arrival ds on reverse, an attractive usage. (Image)

1864 (Feb 20) Entire from Sydney to Shanghai, China, with 1860-72 1s carmine (defective) tied by NSW oval, endorsed "p Madras", reverse with despatch and blue Hong Kong transit, extensive archival reinforcement inside, a scarce destination. (Image)

1894 (Mar 13) 1/2d postal stationery envelope sent registered to Straits Settlements, uprated with 1882-97 3d, 1891 1/2d on 1d, two 1892 and 1/2d stationery cut-out, paying 2 1/2d rate plus 3d registration, each tied by Sydney Registered cds, reverse with Penang arrival cds, fine, a scarce destination. (Image)