1838 cross-written entire headed "Adelaide SA/October 31 1838" and signed "Robt Leake" to his brother in Van Diemens Land with a largely very fine strike of the undated double-circle 'POST OFFICE/[lion & crown]/ADELAIDE' h/s, very fine boxed 'SHIPLETTER/3DE3/1838' d/s of Hobart where rated "11" (4d inwards shipletter + 7d for delivery between 75 & 90 miles), light vertical fold. Ex Michael Blake: sold at the Prestige auction of 23.9.2011 for $4370. A very fine and very early postmarked letter from the Colony, which was founded only two years earlier. [Postal operations began on 10/4/1837. Very few pre-1840 letters survive in private hands. The sole postage rate was 1d regardless of destination or distance carried & this was paid to the ship's captain]

Robert Rowland Leake was one of two sons of John Leake who settled in South Australia. Robert writes to his brother Edward - transcript included - "I have moved my flock to Coromandle village it is eight miles from Holdfast...you will want a weeks provisions...on first landing...walloughby (= wallaby) rugs...are excellent things in leaky huts...we have 22,000 sheep 2000 head of cattle and 200 horses in the Colony..."

Grade A-

Estimate AU$2,000

1859 cover to Scotland "p Salsette/via Marseilles" with rare franking of Adelaide Printings 6d slate-blue SG 10 two singles (the first with margins just clear to large, the other with margins at places; Cat £400+ on cover) tied by dumb cancels unusually in blue, 'PAID/AU17/1859/=ADELAIDE- S.A.=' cds in blue & 'U M/EDINBURGH/OC9/59' arrival b/s. A very scarce double-rate franking. Ex Michael Blake. RPSofV Certificate (2014).

Grade A

Estimate AU$750

1876 triple-rate cover to Oxfordshire "Via Brindisi" with scarce three-colour franking of 9d red-purple SG 77 & 1/- deep red-brown SG 82 plus De La Rue Perf 10 2d brick-red SG 159 irregular strip of 3 tied to by GPO cds of JA1/76, very fine 'BANBURY/FE14/76' arrival b/s, ironed-out light horizontal fold well clear of the stamps, minor blemishes.

Grade B

Estimate AU$200

1889 1d violet Postal Card to Holland with lengthy personal message and Bantam ½d block of 4 added tied 'SHIP MAIL ROOM/OC26/89/SA' duplex cancels, taxed with inverted 'T' in triangle cachet, 'HAARLEM/29/NOV/89' arrival cds on face but no evidence that postage due was collected. [Apparently an attempt to pay the 3d Treaty postcard rate, but this applied only to the United Kingdom; there was no other postcard rate available until after the Australian Colonies joined the UPU in October 1891, so this item should have been paid at the full 6d ship letter rate]

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

1907 OHMS wrapper with printed 'Book Parcel Only' to Brisbane with scarce franking of 1d & Thick 'POSTAGE' 4d both punctured 'SA' tied by Adelaide cds, minor defects. A rare & very unusual item. [NB: the 4d has been cut from another article & affixed with the backing paper to this wrapper]

Grade B

Estimate AU$200

1907 oversize cover (248x160mm) with Francis Snow imprint at the top to Germany with exceptional franking of Thick 'POSTAGE' 3d x3 6d x2 & 2/6d violet tied by the scarce 'ENG MAIL TPO/8AU1907/S AUSTRALIA' cds, superb 'HALBERSTADT/8.9.07' arrival b/s, a few faults including repairs with archival tape along central fold. An impressive exhibit. [This is the largest number of "Long Toms" we have seen on a single cover & the only franking of the 2/6d known to us. The ACSC (2004) gives values on cover for the 3d ($150) & 6d ($400) but not for any denomination above 8d. Les Molnar's 1915 cover with the TPO cds - stated to be the later of only two recorded covers - sold at our auction of 3.4.2017 for $1380]

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$750

1910 (Mar 18) OHMS with 'Officer Supervising Rifle Clubs/Military Staff Office' imprint at L/L, very scarce franking of Thick 'POSTAGE' punctured 'OS' 3d & 4d tied by 'REGD ADELAIDE' cds, 'THEBARTON' squared-circle arrival b/s. [The rate was 1d per ounce x4 + 3d registration]

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$400