Norfolk Island, South Pacific: 1936 (Jan. 23) to Oklahoma, A single Australia 3d King George V pays the international postage, and is tied by a "Norfolk Island/23 JA 36/Australia" c.d.s. to an example of the sole known cachet used for this location, depicting a road looking toward Sydney Bay. Reverse bears ") N (" typed, plus darkening blue sake gourd logo across the flap. Miniscule tear (4mm) at top center barely noticeable. A tough locale., Very Fine despite the single tear.
Estimate HK$ 1,400 - 1,800. Est. HK$1,400-1,800 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,400-1,800

Norfolk Island, South Pacific: 1936 (Sept. 30) to Ontario, A seldom-seen Canada destination, especially on Lewis' non-Japanese covers. Standard cachet with bi-color franking tied by a single "Norfolk Island/30SE36/Australia" c.d.s. Black handstamped ") N (" and blue near-circular kan across flap. Light toning along right-hand side. Neatly opened at top. A neat inter-Empire cover., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,600 - 2,000. Est. HK$1,600-2,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,600-2,000

Auckland, New Zealand: 1936 (Apr. 23) to Korea, Using the all-over design found on New Zealand Lake Taupo & Mt. Ngauruhoe covers, but here with the volcano dormant (compare the following), with four stamps making up the 2½d postage and tied by four "Upper Symonds St, C.3./23AP36/N.Z" c.d.s.'s from Auckland. The sole backflap marking is Lewis' typed ") N (", ignored as the envelope was opened along its flap. Blue crayon "To Korea" in Chinese characters on front. JP 68:5 does not list having seen any Auckland covers, though the city is listed in Lewis' 1936 price list, and he apparently had an agent, Henry W. Geoghegan, in the city. A unique cover?, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,800 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

Lake Taupo & Mt. Ngauruhoe, New Zealand: 1937 (July 13) to Pennsylvania, The standard view of the lake and mountain which is here, as usually found, erupting. JP 68:5, p. 263, states that "Lewis' spelling of Ngauruhoe is consistently incorrect", but here he gets it right. Horizontal pair of ½d definitives are tied by a single "Auckland/13JL37/N.Z" c.d.s. Reverse with only Lewis' sake gourd logo handstamped across flap. Opened neatly at left. Mounting residue on back, which is starting to show through at top corners on the front; otherwise a fresh and clean cover. Lewis had visited this area in his travels, speaking about his trip through New Zealand (with "extremely beautiful limelight views") at a Jan. 19, 1906, meeting of the Yokohama Literary Society, whose report on the presentation specifically mentions the lake, mountain, and their surrounding Maori legends., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,600 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,600-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,600-3,200

Lake Taupo & Mt. Ngaruhoe, New Zealand: 1939 (Nov. 29) to Michigan, A last-known date cover, on cachet identical to the previous Lot, though here with the mountain's name misspelled. Three King George VI definitives add up to 3½d postage, and are tied by two Auckland "Upper Symonds Street/29 NO 39/N.Z" c.d.s.'s. Reverse with handstamped ") N (" in blue, typed "25" at lower left, and a "Maori Chief/New Zealand" poster stamp (cut down) sealing the flap. As on the previous cachet, note the window and door on the hut, which are not voids but are painted in. A great cover all around., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,600 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,600-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,600-3,200

Danger Island (Puka Puka), South Pacific: 1938 (Oct. 9) to Missouri, A new earliest-known cover. JP 68:5, pp. 265-266 states, "These covers are rare, the only two known being dated 13 January 1939 and 20 July 1939", whereas this is dated three months earlier. The cover, cacheted by an all-over design of foreground palms with the sun on the horizon, is franked by two ½d Cook Island definitives, each tied by a "Danger Island/-9OC38/N.Z" c.d.s., with "Apia/24.OC.38/[W]estern Samoa" transit at left. Reverse with ") N (" and sake gourd logo handstamped in blue, along with partially erased "10-21-37" at upper right and "rec 11-21-38" below the opening remarque. Small 5mm tear at bottom center, previously tape-repaired on reverse (tape now removed). A little rough around the edges, but a great new early cover. Take a chance and bid! Fine to Very Fine on its specifics, but a better cover taken as a whole.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,400. Est. HK$2,000-2,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,400

Danger Island (Puka Puka), South Pacific: 1939 (July 20) to New York, Posted on the last date covers are known, this one traveled from Danger Island to Long Island. Franked by 2½d Cook Islands postage tied by three "Danger Island/20 JL 39/N.Z" c.d.s.'s, this cover design of a hut among trees with sun on the horizon is unrecorded by JP for this location, making this the fourth cover known from Pukapuka, and the third cachet used. Blue ") N (" handstamped on reverse. A lovely addition to the Lewis census., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,400. Est. HK$2,000-2,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,400

Niue, Island of Niue: 1934 (Dec. 8) to California, An unreported cachet for this location, picturing a seaside town with a mountain rising in the distance. Franked by a splendid full lower right corner margin Niue 4d single tied by one of two "Niue/-8DE34/N.Z" broken-ring c.d.s.'s. Back with only typed ") N (" opening remarque. A great chance to add something old, something Niue to your collection., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,200 - 2,600. Est. HK$2,200-2,600 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,200-2,600

Niue, Island of Niue: 1935 (May 4) to Oklahoma, A standard Type I cachet depicting a tree-lined shore overlooking a bay with mountains in the distance. 3d Niue Cook Islands postage tied by two "Niue/-4MY35/N.Z" c.d.s. strikes. Reverse with ") N (" typed. A nice, clean example., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,200 - 2,600. Est. HK$2,200-2,600 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,200-2,600

Niue, Island of Niue: 1936 (Aug. 14) to California, On a brightly painted Type I cachet, with address angled across bottom right field of brown. A single 2½d Niue pictorial is tied by a faint but legible Niue c.d.s. Reverse without any of Lewis' standard markings, but with penciled notations from a former owner. An eye-catching cover., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,200 - 2,600. Est. HK$2,200-2,600 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,200-2,600

Penrhyn Island, South Pacific: 1936 (June 12) to Oklahoma, JP 68:5 states, page 266, "These covers are rare with two covers reviewed dated 12 June 1936 and 16 May 1940." This is a third, unrecorded, cover, the second bearing the earliest known date of June 12, 1936. Utilizing the palm-lined beach with sun on horizon cachet (also used at Danger Island and Nauru; see Lots 2214 & 2238), the cover bears a third variety of the inscription at upper left (here in all capital letters) and only 1d in postage (JP notes their 1936 cover bore 2½d). The stamp is tied by a solid "Penrhyn Island/1/12 JE/36/N.Z" c.d.s. Backflap is sealed by a sake gourd logo handstamped in blue, with ") N (" typed in black at top center. A few toned areas from corner mounts, but still a great rarity: one of three known., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,800 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

From Adamstown, Pitcairn Island: 1934 (Feb. 23) to New Jersey, Perhaps the most exciting cover in the sale: An unrecorded location/inscription, an unrecorded cachet, plus a new earliest known date! Covers from Pitcairn described and illustrated in JP 68:5 (pp. 281-283) bear captions of "Pitcairn Island", "Bounty Bay" or "Point Lookout"; this follows Lewis' early covers' wording of "From,/ADAMSTOWN./Pitcairn Island." with seven spaced underscores. The cachet is a breathtaking depiction of the Bounty, her lines and rigging at first appearing engraved (note the original sketch, still visible amid and around the final inked design). Each stamp of the 3d New Zealand postage is tied by an unmistakable "Pitcairn Island/23.FE.34/N.Z. Postal Agency" dater, further tied by a London "Victoria Docks/27 MCH/1934/E.1" wavy-line c.d.s. Reverse with " N " remarque (in quotation marks), offset from an unknown roller cancel, a second London 27 MR 34 dater, plus a blue circled "KL" handstamp at lower left. Neatly opened at right. A stunning cover all around—we expect mutinous bidding., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 5,000 - 6,000. Est. HK$5,000-6,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$5,000-6,000

Pitcairn Island (From the Sea): 1935 (May 30) to Oklahoma, A warm portrayal of the "barren island" cachet variety, with a complementary 1½d New Zealand King George V tied by one of two "Pitcairn Island/30 MY. 35./N.Z. Postal Agency" daters, further tied by a "Cristobal, C.Z./Aug 29/10AM/Paquebot" duplex—a three-month journey, and showing that mail from Pitcairn went around the world in both directions (see previous Lot)! "Ship's Mail" in heavy manuscript reading up the left edge of the cover. Reverse is blank other than a typed ") N (" opening remarque. A relatively early cover (the earliest dated by JP is Nov. 25, 1934), with nice dual-country route markings., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,600 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,600-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,600-3,200

Pitcairn Island (From the Sea): 1935 (Dec. 27) to Pennsylvania, A "barren island" cachet in cooler tones, bearing 1d postage as a horizontal pair of ½d New Zealand definitives, tied by single Pitcairn Islands dater. Reverse with only typed ") N (" remarque. A few toned spots on face, with top edge of reverse lightly soiled. Still a pretty cover from a remote location., Nearly Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,400 - 3,000. Est. HK$2,400-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,400-3,000

Look-out Point, Pitcairn Island, South Pacific: 1937 (Dec. 10) to New Jersey, A second cachet (of the six Lewis prepared) for Pitcairn, with a foreground of buildings, with trees and mountains in the background. Two ½d New Zealand definitives each tied by Pitcairn Island double-ring c.d.s., the cachet bearing an unlisted variety in the caption ("Look-out Point."). Blue handstamped ") N (" remarque and inverted vertical oval kan across flap. Accompanied by newspaper clipping, undated, noting the islanders' being "convinced the end of the world is imminent.", Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 3,600 - 4,000. Est. HK$3,600-4,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,600-4,000

Rarotonga, Cook Islands: 1934 (June 18) to California, A new earliest known usage from the Cook Islands, as JP 68:5 (pp. 267-268) notes covers between Apr. 20, 1935, and May 28, 1936. The cachet, also unlisted in JP for Rarotonga, depicts two banana trees with a mountain rising in the distance. 2d and 1d Cook Islands pictorials are each cancelled by "Rarotonga/18 JE 34" daters, the year date obscured by the black in the stamps' designs. While the date could be 1939 (therefore making it a new last-known cover), the fact that Lewis' "From:-/RAROTONGA [spaced], Cook Islands./_ _ _ _" inscription is on the bottom of the backflap suggests an early date. An interesting cover whenever sent., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,800 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

Rarotonga, Cook Islands: 1935 (Apr. 20) to Missouri, A lovely example from the first date noted by JP. Cachet depicts a schooner and buildings on stilts on the water, with trees, birds and mountains in the background—a design based on Cook Islands Scott #77. A single 1d Captain Cook pays the postage, tied by split-ring "Rarotonga/20 AP 35" c.d.s. A typed ") N (" remarque at top with a blue handstamped kan vertical oval seal across flap. Expertly opened at right., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,600 - 3,000. Est. HK$2,600-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,600-3,000

Avarua, Island of Rarotonga, South Pacific: 1936 (July 12) to Washington, DC, An unlisted origin caption on a lovely example of the shoreline road cachet design, which post-dates the last-known cover listed in JP by six weeks. Single 1d Captain Cook placed at top center with "Rarotonga/12 JL 36" split-ring c.d.s. tying. Back with only ") N (" remarque. Great color and a sole-known inscription., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,600 - 3,000. Est. HK$2,600-3,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,600-3,000

Rarotonga, Cook Islands: 1939 (Apr. 12) to Maryland, An unlisted cachet for the Cooks, on a new last-known cover sent nearly three years after the covers reviewed in JP. The all-over design, by Lewis' master painter, portrays a sailboat in harbor as seen between two palm trees. 2½d postage is tied by two "Rarotonga/12 AP 39" three-ringed c.d.s.'s. Reverse with typed ") O (" remarque and manuscript "open this" immediately below, with the flap sealed by vertical oval blue kan handstamp. A wrinkled lower left corner is hardly visible through the design. A gorgeous cover., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 3,000 - 3,400. Est. HK$3,000-3,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$3,000-3,400

Nukualofa, Island of Tonga: 1934 (Aug. 30) to California, A new earliest-known cover, pre-dating those listed in JP 68:5 by nearly six months. A single 2½d Toga Queen Salote tied by "Nukualofa/30.AU.34/Tonga" c.d.s. to a cover depicting a banana tree with birds and a mountain behind. Backflap with typed ") N (" remarque. Opened at top. A clean, simple cover that is sure to please., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,400. Est. HK$2,000-2,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,400

Nukualofa, Island of Tonga: 1935 (Apr. 29) to Missouri, On the standard cachet for this town, a quay with harbor structures. Single 2½d Queen Salote stamp is tied by "Nukualofa/29.AP.36/Tonga" c.d.s., while back has only a typed ") N (" remarque. Opened neatly at right. Posted five days after JP's earliest-recorded cover., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,000 - 2,400. Est. HK$2,000-2,400 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,000-2,400

Niuafoou ("Tin-can" Island), Tonga: 1937 (Mar. 18), Tin Can Mail to Connecticut, A coastal village cachet in muted colors, franked by a Toga 2½d Queen Salote single tied by a "Niuafoou/18MR37/Tonga" c.d.s. Four "Tin Can Mail" handstamps accompany on the front (one of which additionally ties the stamp), including a straightline "Tin Can-Canoe Mail: Island" handstamp. Reverse without any of Lewis' usual markings, but filled with six additional Tin Can Mail handstamps: three in English (one dated 22 MAR 1937—the only fully-dated example in this sale), one in Irish and one in Greek (!), plus Walter George Quensell's two-line signature handstamp. Light crease lower left hardly detracts from this fun cover., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,800 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

Niuafoou ("Tin-Can" Island), Island of Tonga: 1937 (June 17) Tin Can Mail to Pennsylvania, A second coastal village scene cachet, this time in richer colors. Postage of 2½d paid by ½d Coat-of-Arms and 2d Queen Salote, each tied by a 17JE37 Niuafoou, Tonga, c.d.s. Three Tin Can Mail handstamps on front, including a "Tin/Can/Mail"-in-circle, plus a magenta combined slogan/wavy-line c.d.s. with day slug omitted (and here dated American style, unlike the previous cover, where the date was given Continental-style). Reverse with Lewis' trademark ") N (" and vertical oval kan handstamps in blue, along with seven additional Tin Can Mail handstamps in four varying colors. Who knew a biscuit tin could yield so much fun? Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 2,800 - 3,200. Est. HK$2,800-3,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$2,800-3,200

The Mail Canoe, Niuafoou ("Tin-Can" Island, Island of Tonga: 1937 (June 17) Tin Can Mail to Nebraska, A magnificent all-over cachet showing three men paddling an outrigger canoe on the water. Postage comprises two ½d Coat-of-Arms issues plus a 1½d Queen Salote, all tied by two Niuafoou c.d.s.'s (date easily discernible under magnification). Three Tin Can Mail markings on front, with an additional seven on reverse. No opening remarque, but Lewis' horizontal oval genkan handstamp in blue is present. Included with the cover is a note from a previous owner stating that "75 covers were made from Tonga for Special Tin Can Mail". An absolutely beautiful cover. Brave the sharks for this one!, Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 4,000 - 5,000. Est. HK$4,000-5,000 (Image1)

Est. HK$4,000-5,000

Johannesburg, South Africa: 1936 (Jan. 29) to Missouri, Cover cacheted by image of three Zulu beehive huts among trees with birds, franked 3d for the non-Empire rate by Orange River Colony, Cape of Good Hope, plus two South Africa (one in Afrikaans, one English, both with advertising tabs for telephone services), cancelled by wavy-line Johannesburg roller c.d.s. Back blank save for typed ") N (" remarque. A relatively early cacheted cover; JP notes the first known is dated July 6, 1935., Very Fine.
Estimate HK$ 1,800 - 2,200. Est. HK$1,800-2,200 (Image1)

Est. HK$1,800-2,200