1912-23 KGV Multiple Crown/CA 3d purple/yellow with the Watermark Sideways SG 130a, one short perf at L/L otherwise superb unmounted, Cat £350+ for mounted.
REVENUES: 1884 receipt for £6/16/6d with VR 1d dull blue tied by double-oval 'HENRY CAVE & Co/MERCHANTS/28JUN82/LLOYDS AGENCY/LEVUKA & SUVA, FIJI' cachet in blue, spikehole at L/L.
The purchaser was Sir John Bates Thurston, a shipwreck survivior who gained the trust of the Fijian chief Cakobau (pronounced "thack-mb-au"). In June 1871, Thurston, acting as British Consul, created a constitutional monarchy with Cakobau as king. In 1872, at Cakobau's request, Thurston requested Britain to take possession of the islands. Unusually reluctant to add to Empire, Britain did so only in 1874, by which time Thurston was Premier. He was appointed Governor of Fiji in 1888.
1930-36 group posted directly onto New Zealand steamers each with 'MARINE POST OFFICE/...' cancels on face 1) 1930 to USA with 3d tied 'PACKET BOAT' double-lined boxed cachet and 'RMS NIAGARA' cds; 2) 1930 AS Farebrother English & Colonial Manufacturer's Representative envelope to UK with 1d & 2d tied 'PACKET BOAT' single-lined boxed cachet and 'RMMS AORANGI' cds; 3) 1933 Bank of New South Wales, Suva envelope to Australia with 2d tied 'PACKET BOAT' single-lined boxed cachet and 'RMMS AORANGI' cds; 4) 1936 to New Zealand with 3d tied wavy lines in circle obliterator and 'RMS NIAGARA' cds; a couple with minor blemishes.
(Qty 4)
1948-80 commercially used formular aerogrammes with solo franking comprising 1948 to New Zealand with KGVI Pictorials 3d Canoe, Apsley 1965 to NZ with QEII Pictorials 6d Lali Drum, 1965 to NZ with 6d First Airmail, 1967 to UK with QEII Pictorials 10d Yaqona Ceremony & 1974 to NZ with 5c Birds and Croxley 1980 to USA with 18c Labasa Sugar Mill, condition fine to very fine.
(Qty 6)