An August 1854 four-page letter together with the original envelope from James Dixon, Richmond, to his friend S. Wilson, Battersea, England.
Dixon, a policeman, who had migrated to Victoria together with two brothers and their father (now returned to England), writes with great candour and insight about life in the young Colony. "I see a tremendous lot of people standing about the town because they cannot do any laborious work which (h)is most useful in this Colony..."
"The diggings are still holding out very fare. It would be a shocking thing if they were to fail (h)as there would be no work for them and they would take to bushranging."
"A fortnight ago there was a hundred of us went up to the diggings at Bendigo. The Chinese. By the time we got up they were quiet."
"Their (h)is a great number of blacks out hear all they where (h)is a possum rug, they eat Kangaroos and all kinds of animals." (Image)

Estimate AU$1,000-1,500
Min. Bid. AU$

1891 - 1912 range of commercially used covers and cards; mainly from the early Federal Period and mostly to foreign destinations. Offices of despatch include BALLARAT, PRAHRAN, DIGGERS REST, MILDURA, HOCHKIRCH, KILMORE, STOCK EXCHANGE P.O., SURREY HILLS, FISH CREEK, ARCHIES CREEK, etc.; several with interesting markings, illustrations, etc. (37 items). (Image)

Estimate AU$500-600
Min. Bid. AU$460

POSTCARDS: A nice group, with subjects including "TALLANGATTA, LOOKING EAST" RP, "View on the Yarra" (port activity), "The Lawn at Flemington" RP, "River Yarra, Victoria" by Jolley, "Post Office, Oakleigh" RP, "The Ozone leaving Sorrento Pier", "Manifold Street, Camperdown" RP, "A duel to the death" RP by Kerry, "Yachting at Corio Bay" RP by Thacker, a Tom Durkin "swaggie cartoon" with Norman Lindsay decorated reverse for the Bulletin, etc. Despatch postmarks include KANGAROO GROUNDS, SORRENTO, OAKLEIGH, MOOROOPNA, ALEXANDRA, TALLANGATTA, PORT MELBOURNE, CASTLEMAINE, RAINBOW, SHELFORD, & WARRENHEIP. Also, 2 incoming cards with interesting markings. (29). (Image)

Estimate AU$300-400
Min. Bid. AU$260