All-different selection from seven departments all CTO with Melbourne cds of OC15/02, some toning & other faults. The same date suggests that at least one 'set' was prepared for official records prior to termination of the franking system only 16 days later. [We have seen only two other such items] (7)

Estimate AU$150

CHIEF SECRETARY: Die 3 (Maltese Crosses at sides) superb handstamp in red on 1875 long envelope with Commission for Promoting Technological & Industrial Instruction imprint at the top (S&W #E570). The only recorded item for this user.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$125

CHIEF SECRETARY: Die 10 (smaller rubber pattern) superb handstamp in rosine on 1894 envelope (S&W #500). Rated RRR. Superb!

Grade A+ (Image1)

Estimate AU$125

CHIEF SECRETARY: Printed on 1893 'VICTORIA POLICE GAZETTE' Wrapper to "Inspr of Police/Apia/Samoa" (during German Colonial period).

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

COMMANDANT LOCAL FORCES: Light strike in dull blue on envelope with 'HEAD QUARTERS/Victoria Barracks' imprint at L/L & embossed crest in red on the flap (S&W #E30), 'EMERALD HILL/MY22/82/VICTORIA - 148' duplex, minor defects. Rated RR. [The embossing in red is actually superimposed on colourless 'VICTORIA/[crown]', the only such double-embossed flap known to us]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$150

COMMANDANT LOCAL FORCES: Fine strike in dull blue on envelope with 'PUBLIC WORKS OFFICE/Melbourne' imprint at L/L (S&W #E90), 'ST KILDA/DE15/81/VICTORIA - 78' duplex, to "Major Newman/Commt Volunteer Engineers/Brisbane" (b/s), very minor blemishes. Rated RR. The only recorded item for this user. [A most unusual "out-of-department" usage, presumably from a volunteer officer with the Public Works Department]

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

COMMANDER OF H.M. SEA FORCES: Light but discernible strike in rosine on mourning envelope with very fine double-oval 'COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF/ 8MAY01/AUSTRALIAN STATION' datestamp in blue at L/L (S&W unrecorded), 'COMMANDER IN CHIEF AUSTRALIA/[anchor]' seal impressed in black wax on the flap, to Sydney with 2d tied by 'MELBOURNE/ 8.5.01/-16-' cds & part-arrival b/s, minor opening tears at the top. An extraordinary item. Rated RRRRR: the only dated usage of this Frank.

Stieg & Watson state categorically at page 64 that the frank was returned to the GPO in July 1872. After Queen Victoria died on 22.1.1901, stocks of pre-franked stationery were overprinted with a black border. It seems likely that a very small number of 40-year-old unused envelopes with the redundant and no longer appropriate 'COMMANDER OF H.M. SEA FORCES' frank were inadvertently serviced in this way and then forwarded to the naval authorities. By this date, the Franks were valid only within Victoria so 2d for interstate postage was added. We agree with Max Watson that this envelope - which turned up at an Adelaide auction a few years ago - is the most remarkable Franks find of recent times.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

DEFENCE, MINISTER OF: Envelopes with personalised imprints at L/L of Major JRY Goldstein (1888; S&W #E390, the only recorded example), Major WG Blackham (1888; #E520, the only recorded example), Major JJ Hanby (1896, minor opening faults & no flap; unrecorded) and Lt-Col DL Henry (1901, penalty envelope with printed frank #E410; only one other recorded). Named users are only occasionally encountered, making this a very rare & desirable quartet. (4)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

DEFENCE, MINISTER OF: Printed - different dies - on Postcards with imprints at L/L 'From...Capt/...Rifle Club' (S&W #P120), 'From/...Captain/ ...Rifle Club' (unlisted) or 'From/...Coy/Victorian Mounted Rifles' (#210, a bit aged), unused. A very scarce trio. (3)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

LANDS AND AGRICULTURE, MINISTER OF: Very fine handstamp in blue on 1878 envelope with 'CROWN LANDS OFFICE, MELBOURNE/(OCCUPATION BRANCH)' imprint - only two others recorded - at L/L, to Colac with very fine cds & boxed 'UNCLAIMED AT/COLAC' h/s, DLB b/s in green. Illustrated at page 98 but not listed in the census! Rated R but that includes usage on postcards: only six envelopes have been recorded.

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, MINISTER OF: Die 1 ('F' of 'FRANK' below 'U' of 'PUBLIC') h/s in blue superb strike on 1870s envelope with pre-printed address, minor blemishes, unused; largely very fine on 1873 envelope with 'EDUCATION DEPARTMENT' imprint plus 'WOODFORD' arrival b/s & 'UNCLAIMED'-in-oval h/s in green (folds); and largely fine on 1873 postcard with 'EDUCATION DEPARTMENT imprint on the reverse. (3)

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$140

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, MINISTER OF: Die 3 & registration lines printed in black on envelope with 'EDUCATION DEPARTMENT...' imprint at L/L, 'PUBLIC OFFICES/FE5/96/MELBOURNE' cds & superb 'R'-in-circle h/s. Superb!; also 1900-02 five different envelopes all with Die 3 & four different forms of the "penalty" admonition at U/L, one with 'Her' amended by hand to "His" and two with printed 'His'. (6)

Grade A+/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

ROYAL MINT: Very fine h/s in blue on 1901 mourning envelope for Queen Victoria with seriffed 'ROYAL MINT/...' imprint at L/L (S&W #E20), to NSW with Sydney arrival b/s, light overall aging.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

TRADE & CUSTOMS, COMMISSIONER OF: Die 2 superb strike in violet on 1883 envelope with 'DISTILLERIES AND EXCISE OFFICE/...' imprint at L/L (not in the census; only two others recorded), and light but very fine strike in blue on 1887 orange-buff envelope with 'Distilleries and Excise Office' imprint at L/L (S&W #E300; the only recorded example). (2)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$200

TRADE & CUSTOMS, DEPARTMENT OF: Printed on 1900 'penalty' envelope with 2½d alongside, to "The Colonial Secretary/Singapore", 'SINGAPORE/FE7/1900' arrival b/s, minor peripheral defects & repaired opening tear on the reverse.

Grade (B) (Image1)

Estimate AU$100

TREASURER, THE: Die 2 printed in blue on 1870s postcard with 'RECEIPT AND PAY OFFICE' imprint on the reverse (S&W #P20), a joined pair (sensibly reinforced with archival tape), unused. The only such 'multiple' recorded for any frank. [The cards are perforated on two or three sides. We expect they were supplied in books - not sheets - and that a "page" was a vertical strip of either three or, less likely, four cards]

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$250