Great Britain and British Commonwealth VICTORIA Postal History
Sale No: 236
Lot No:815
Symbol:C
Cat No:Collection
Modest little group with some nice advertising covers including illustrated types for Victoria Varnish Co (closed tear), Alcock & Co Billiard Tables and Frank Vial & Son Industrial Belts.
(16)
1852 entire unstamped letter headed "No 182 King St Melbourne/...Decr 30th 1852" & signed "Roberts Bros", to London endorsed "Registered Letter" & "Per Great Britain", also "Registered" & "G Roberts" on the reverse both in red crayon, variously rated, oval 'SHIP LETTER/[crown]/JA*1/1853/MELBOURNE' b/s in red, boxed 'LIVERPOOL/ SHIP/AP2/1853/ B ' transit & poor London arrival b/s, light overall soiling.
The lengthy letter provides marvellous content including "...many of our characters are sets of desperate fellows chief part of them are old convicts out of their time, many escape from Van Dieman Land...they have no respect for life or property, the vagabonds are not contented with robbing the successful gold diggers on our country roads, but they must discharge a revolver loaded with ball, through the thickest part of their victims thigh sometimes through their hands against a tree. The Bushrangers on the Roads to the diggings they go in gangs from 4 to 8 men...our horse police in the bush find it a difficulty to catch the wretches...You could not travel 350 miles...without being devoured by the aboriginal natives...I am afraid if these northerly hot winds, should it continue, the Bush must catch fire..."
1859 (Nov 17) cover to London with delightful three-colour franking of Queen-on-Throne 6d plus Emblems Rouletted 2d & Perf 12 1d all tied by BN '2' of Gellong (b/s), bold 'M' h/s indicating transit via Marseilles, London arrival cds of JA7/60 in red. [NB: the illustration is above Lot 822]
1861 (Mar 25) cover to London "Via Marseilles" with scarce franking of Beaded Ovals 4d rose strip of 3 tied by BN '4' of 'SANDHURST' (small oval d/s at L/L, Melbourne transit b/s & London arrival cds of MY13/61 in red.