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Sparks International Sale - PH4

Postal History

Argentina
LotNo. Symbol Cat No. Lot Description
1 cover   image1848 (August 22), private ship letter from Buenos Aires to
Roquevaire, France, carried during the Anglo-French blockade of the
Río de la Plata, with extensive contents on wartime commercial
paralysis and the Revolutions of 1848, entire from Buenos Aires,
carried privately aboard the French merchant vessel Magnan, without
Argentine postal markings, endorsed “aux soins obligeants du Cap.ne
Magnan pr A.M.” entering France with red double-circle OUTRE MER /
MARSEILLE datestamp (8 Nov), manuscript 9 (décimes) due, the
reverse with Marseille transit (8 Nov) and Roquevaire receiver (12
Nov); heavily wrinkled and worn from transit, but historically
interesting contents. The enclosed three-page letter from M. Ballet
provides an account of the disruption caused by the Anglo-French
blockade of the Río de la Plata; while the blockade of Buenos Aires
itself had recently eased, Ballet describes commercial conditions
as effectively paralyzed, with trade diverted through Montevideo
and Brazil and merchants struggling to move goods reliably. He also
discusses the situation in France, where the upheavals of 1848 had
created what he viewed as an “unfavorable future.” (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5)

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Currently...C$60.00
Will close during Public Auction
2 cover   image1851 (July 26), “Fall of Rosas” stampless folded letter from Buenos
Aires to New York via Boston, with black SHIP handstamp and very
fine strike of the scarce BOSTON / 30 / SEP / 7 cts [1851] circular
arrival datestamp, endorsed “Dragon” at lower left and carried by
the ship to Boston, the BOSTON 7 cts marking (BPM 674) a scarce
strike recorded only between 30 Sep and 15 Nov 1851, reflecting the
1851 rate change of 5c inland postage plus 2c ship fee; stains, yet
the contents legible, with interesting historical observations. The
enclosed correspondence highlights the instability in the Rio de la
Plata during the Platine War, describing the movement of Brazilian,
Uruguayan and rebel forces from Entre Ríos and Corrientes against
the Rosas regime and anticipating the liberation of Montevideo from
Rosas’ ally Oribe. The writer also discusses the Brazilian naval
blockade and the need to send duplicate correspondence via England
to avoid interception, volatile doubloon values, and the rapid
departure of merchant vessels including the *Alma*, *Santiago* and
*Advice*, with cow and calf skins used as ballast. The absence of
Argentine postal markings may be attributable to the naval
blockade, which led merchants to direct correspondence via neutral
captains. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5) (Image 6)

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Currently...C$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
3 cover   image1862 (June 9), French-packet folded letter from Buenos Aires to
Boston, with extensive petroleum, lighting-goods and Civil War-era
mercantile contents, sent unpaid via France and England and
endorsed “pr. Str. via England,” bearing octagonal “CONF. ARGENTINA
/ SAINTONGE” (14 Jun) maritime datestamp and manuscript “21”
décimes debit, struck with red boxed “AM. SERVICE” handstamp and
Boston "30c" exchange datestamp, addressed to Libbey & Peck,
Boston, light wrinkles, else sound. Sent by John H. Libbey in
Busnoes Aires, the letter pertains to his attempt to establish an
American mercantile operation in Argentina during the Civil War,
conceding that his resources were “totally inadequate to the
enterprise” while detailing duties, rents, storage charges and
other operating expenses. Of interest is his discussion of the
emerging petroleum and lighting trade, including Dietz Bros. lamps,
kerosene distribution, chandeliers and burner technology, together
with efforts to develop markets in Buenos Aires and Rosario. Libbey
describes rival a merchant Covert as conducting “a smashing
business” with profits considered “enormous." (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5)

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Currently...C$60.00
Will close during Public Auction
Australian States - New South Wales
LotNo. Symbol Cat No. Lot Description
4 cover   imageNew South Wales, 1835 (August 17), India Letter from Sydney, New
South Wales, to London via Deal, stampless folded letter datelined
Patent Slip / Sydney and signed by William A. Eastmure, rated 1/-
in manuscript, representing 4d India Letter postage plus 8d inland
postage from Deal to London, the reverse with a sharp rectangular
INDIA LETTER / DEAL handstamp and red London arrival datestamp (30
Jan 1836), some discoloration, edge tears professionally reinforced
with archival tape, else fine. (Robertson IN 4) Writing from the
Patent Slip at Sydney, the sender, William A. Eastmure describes
the difficulties of managing repairs to the barque 'Patriot',
together with the broader frustrations of colonial maritime
commerce. His account refers to unprofitable freight rates to New
Zealand, connections among “stanch Yarmouthmen,” and several
contemporary sea captains, including Penny, Land and Church. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4)

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Currently...C$40.00
Will close during Public Auction
5 cover   imageNew South Wales, 1840 (December 18), ship letter from Sydney to
Edinburgh, with extensive contents describing life and development
in the young colonial settlement, stampless folded letter from
“Willie” to his brother David Douglas, with scarce red PAID SHIP
LETTER / [Crown] / DE 19 / 1840 / SYDNEY departure datestamp,
manuscript “prepaid” and colonial rate notation, carried via Leith
where struck with black straight-line SHIP LETTER handstamp (18
Jun), arriving Edinburgh the following day, with manuscript "8"
charge, lightly soiled, but with fascinating historical contents.
The extensive three-page contents provide an account of life in
Sydney little more than half a century after the colony’s
establishment, with the writer describing his move into land
surveying with his partner Mr. Potts, noting that they had “laid
aside the tools and commenced Land Surveying” and were receiving
£25 to £50 for estate plans. He also writes enthusiastically of his
“unspeakable enjoyment” in collecting natural-history specimens,
finding the local plants and animals “entirely new and strange.” He
shares his address with a new landlord as “Mr. Joseph Scott, Whip &
Thong manufacturer, York Street, three down from King Street West,
Sydney.” (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5)

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Currently...C$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
6 cover   imageNew South Wales, 1844 (June 16), ship letter from Sydney, New South
Wales, to London via Portsmouth, stampless folded letter from the
Huth correspondence, with contents regarding the sale of scrip for
the Colonial Bank and Loan Company, rated 6 in manuscript and
struck with red crowned PAID SHIP LETTER / JU 23 / 1844 / SYDNEY
oval, endorsed “p Skene” at upper left, with black step-type
PORTSMOUTH / SHIP LETTER handstamp on arrival in England, the
reverse with red London arrival markings (19 Feb 1845), intact red
wax seal and legible contents, fine-very fine. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3)

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Currently...C$40.00
Will close during Public Auction
7 cover   imageNew South Wales, 1878 (October 3), “via San Francisco” cover from
Sydney, New South Wales, to Rochefort-sur-Mer, France, franked with
8d yellow Victoria octagonal issue tied by Sydney NSW duplex (3
Oct), endorsed “France / Via San Francisco,” with red London Paid
(25 Nov), purple “1½D” accounting handstamp, Angl. Calais (25 Nov)
entry and Rochefort-sur-Mer (26 Nov) receiver, slightly trimmed at
top with sealed tear on front, else fine and uncommon. (Image 1) (Image 2)

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Currently...C$60.00
Will close during Public Auction
Australian States - South Australia
LotNo. Symbol Cat No. Lot Description
8 cover   imageSouth Australia, 1881 (October 14), double-rate cover from
Adelaide, South Australia, to Surbiton Hill, England, via Brindisi,
franked at 1s4d with horizontal pair of 8d on 9d greyish-brown
Queen Victoria provisional issue tied by G.P.O. Adelaide (14 Oct)
datestamps, endorsed “Via Brindisi,” Kingston-on-Thames (21 Nov)
receiver on reverse, vertical folds clear of adhesives, an uncommon
franking, fine-very fine. (Image 1)



Currently...C$40.00
Will close during Public Auction
Australian States - Victoria
LotNo. Symbol Cat No. Lot Description
9 cover   imageVictoria, 1842 (May 12), India Letter from Melbourne, Port Phillip
District, to Edinburgh, Scotland, stampless folded letter from
Charles Williamson to Messrs. John Clapperton & Co., endorsed “Per
Wm Wise” at top and showing a rare boxed INDIA LETTER / RAMSGATE
handstamp in black (Robertson IN3), the reverse with red London
transit (17 Nov) and red Edinburgh arrival datestamp, with
manuscript 3 in red indicating prepaid ship-letter postage and
black 8due, vertical filing crease, otherwise sound. Written only
seven years after the founding of Melbourne, the letter provides an
early commercial view of the Port Phillip District, with Charles
Williamson ordering “Worsted tartan” from Edinburgh. Although
endorsed “Per Wm Wise,” the letter was likely carried by another
private vessel, possibly the Nevio, which departed Melbourne on May
15, 1842, and reached Britain in mid-November. The boxed INDIA
LETTER / RAMSGATE was introduced for mail arriving from territories
associated with the East India Company, though they were also
applied to Australian correspondence entering Britain through
designated ports. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3)

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Currently...C$120.00
Will close during Public Auction
10 cover   imageVictoria, 1844 (April 6), ship letter from Melbourne, Port Phillip
District, to Glasgow, Scotland, stampless outer wrapper to William
Kerr, Esq., twice rated in manuscript, the reverse with elusive red
circular SHIP LETTER / [Crown] / AP 6 / 1844 / MELBOURNE datestamp,
black straight-line SHIP-LETTER handstamp and red London transit
(14 Aug), followed by boxed Glasgow arrival (15 Aug); a scarce
early Port Phillip maritime usage, sent during the early pastoral
expansion of the District. (Image 1) (Image 2)

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Currently...C$40.00
Will close during Public Auction
11 cover   imageVictoria, 1862 (October 21), “Saved from the wreck of the Colombo”
mourning cover from Melbourne to Mintlaw, Scotland, postmarked
Melbourne (21 Oct), struck on arrival in Britain with boxed “Saved
from the Wreck of / the Colombo” handstamp and red London Paid (1
Jan 1863) datestamp, Mintlaw (2 Jan) receiver on reverse, the
enclosure and cover showing extensive damage and seawater staining,
expected for such wreck mail, recovered after the P.&O. steamer
Colombo struck a reef off Minicoy Island on November 19, 1862,
while carrying mail toward Suez. The S.S. Colombo ran aground
during a monsoon storm in the Indian Ocean; the "Saved" marking is
the earliest recorded auxiliary cachet applied to Australasian
wreck mail. While all passengers were safely rescued by the
steamship Ottawa, the vessel's mailbags spent weeks submerged in
ocean water before salvage divers recovered them. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4)

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Currently...C$100.00
Will close during Public Auction
12 cover   imageVictoria, 1869 (October 7), “TOO LATE” mourning cover from
Winchelsea to Melbourne, Victoria, franked with 2d lilac-grey
Laureate tied by crisp strike of the scarce “84” barred numeral
cancellation, Winchelsea type 1, rated RR by Freeman, with framed
“TOO LATE” handstamp, addressed to Miss Charlotte E.C. Macartney at
The Deanery, Melbourne, Winchelsea (7 and 8 Oct) datestamps and
Melbourne (9 Oct) receiver on reverse, minor perforation toning,
very fine. The cover missed the October 7 dispatch, receiving the
“TOO LATE” handstamp before being postmarked again the following
day. Charlotte Macartney was the daughter of the Very Rev. Hussey
Burgh Macartney, inaugural Dean of Melbourne. (Image 1) (Image 2)

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Currently...C$50.00
Will close during Public Auction
13 cover   imageVictoria, 1876 (July 11), mourning cover from Melbourne, Victoria,
to Derbyshire, England, via Brindisi, franked with 8d on 9d
brown-red provisional issue paying the Overland Mail rate, tied by
Victoria oval-of-bars cancellation with Melbourne (11 Jul)
datestamp alongside, endorsed “Via Brindisi” and “Missent to,”
redirected to Shardlow Hall near Derby, with Duffield (21 Aug)
receiver on front and red transit datestamp on reverse, embossed
cross on back flap, very fine. (Image 1) (Image 2)

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Currently...C$50.00
Will close during Public Auction
Australia
LotNo. Symbol Cat No. Lot Description
14 cover   imageBritish Commonwealth Occupation Force, Japan, 1948 (August 12),
B.C.O.F. cover used through Australian Unit Post Office 453,
bearing the seven-value B.C.O.F. JAPAN 1946 overprint set from ½d
to 5s, tied by AUST. UNIT POST OFFICE 453 (12 Aug) datestamps,
addressed to Captain W. E. Anderson of the 130th Australian General
Hospital at Eta Jima during the Allied occupation of Japan, blue
British Commonwealth Forces crest on reverse flap and accompanied
by unused Australian Red Cross Society letter sheet, a clean and
very fine cover with the first set of the British Commonwealth
Occupation Force. (S.G. J1-J7). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3)

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Currently...C$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
Austria & Offices Abroad
LotNo. Symbol Cat No. Lot Description
15 cover   image1814 (January 3), stampless folded letter from St. Paul im
Lavanttal to Vienna, addressed to His Illustrious Highness
Prince-Abbot Berthold Rottler (of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Paul
in Carinthia), then residing in Vienna, with bold red manuscript 7
rate and manuscript “de St. Paul”origin endorsement at lower left,
the reverse with fine red wax seal, usual filing folds, else quite
fresh. Berthold Rottler was an important figure in the restoration
of the Abbey of St. Paul. The letter's contents concern a domestic
dispute and breach of discipline among the abbey’s staff,
describing a servant named Anderl whose “rudeness” and “lack of
subordination” during a military-style patrol were said to bring
“no honour to the Lordship,” with the writer recommending that he
be dismissed to “seek a better service” elsewhere. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5)

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Currently...C$40.00
Will close during Public Auction
16 cover   image1816 (June 20), stampless folded letter from Carlsbad, Bohemia, to
Boston, Massachusetts, written and signed by Thomas Searle, with
circular script “M.B.B.” on reverse, potentially a forwarder's
cachet, carried privately across the Atlantic and entering the
United States at New York, struck with red straight-line SHIP
handstamp and matching red NEW-YORK / AUG 29 c.d.s., rated “39” in
red manuscript, fresh and very fine. In his letter, Searle compares
Prussian and Austrian social character, comments on the exclusion
of women from public rooms and gaming tables, describes the German
waltz and local religious divisions, including the Herrnhuters, and
discusses the position of Jewish refugees amid regional
persecution. He also compares the Bohemian landscape and climate
with Maine and Vermont and offers a pessimistic assessment of
political conditions in the German states, predicting that their
divisions and lack of common patriotism would bring further
conflict. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5) (Image 6) (Image 7) (Image 8) (Image 9)

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Currently...C$90.00
Will close during Public Auction
17 cover   image1898 (October 31), Austrian Levant picture postcard from Jerusalem
to Germany commemorating the visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II, with
scarce 2 Dec Jerusalem return postmark lacking the usual inner
circle, depicting the Temple Mount with inset portrait of the
Kaiser, franked with 20pa on 5kr tied by special “JERUSALEM /
ÖSTERR. POST” (31 Oct) datestamp, redirected through several German
offices with 17, 19 and 20 Nov postmarks before returning to
Jerusalem, accompanied by Norman J. Collins, author of The Foreign
Post Offices in Palestine 1840–1918, opinion describing the return
postmark as “the only example I have seen,” scarce. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3)

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Currently...C$40.00
Will close during Public Auction
18 cover   image1915 (August 15), Austro-Hungarian field postcard describing the
suspected betrayal of a military position and sustained artillery
bombardment, written by Nikolaus Awarw of Infantry Regiment 61 to
his wife Piroska at Temesvár, postmarked K.u.k. Feldpostamt 61 (21
Aug), with violet “3. b. Feldkompagnie” handstamp, blue manuscript
“Feldpost No: 306” endorsement and “15AUG10” marking, the message
densely written in Hungarian and accompanied by a complete English
translation, uniform aging, but a fascinating card. Writing at 2
p.m., Awarw reports that three men had deserted to the opposing
lines: “A certainty we were betrayed, as three of our own men
escaped to them, and we have those men to thank for this awful
day... We already have our dead and wounded.” He describes the
continuous shelling and its physical and emotional effects:
“Granades and shrapnels are showering on us continuously... I have
no appetite, my nerves are shot... My head throbs and aches from
this excitement and from the colossal explosions,” concluding with
hopes for a ceasefire and reunion with his family. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3)

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Currently...C$40.00
Will close during Public Auction
19 cover   image1929 (March 22), Austrian-franked LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin Orient
Flight real-photo postcard from Vienna to Haifa, via
Friedrichshafen, franked with 2g, 8g, 50g and 1s Air Post values
and 6g and 18g definitives, tied by Wien 1 Flugpost (22 Mar)
datestamps, endorsed “Mit Luftschiff L.Z. 127 ab Friedrichshafen,”
with red “ORIENTFAHRT GRAF ZEPPELIN 1929” pyramid-and-sphinx flight
cachet and grey airmail etiquette, picture side depicting the
Vienna State Opera, light corner wear and the odd minor surface
crease, fine-very fine; the Orient Flight was commanded by the
famed Hugo Eckener, during which the Graf Zeppelin traveled over
the eastern Mediterranean and Palestine before returning to
Germany. (Image 1) (Image 2)

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Currently...C$80.00
Will close during Public Auction
Austria (Lombardy-Venetia)
LotNo. Symbol Cat No. Lot Description
20 cover   imageLombardy-Venetia, 1822 (July 10), stampless folded letter from
Milan to Lyon via Sardinia and Pont-de-Beauvoisin, with extensive
silk-trade contents from the firm of Marietti & Sons, struck with
black circular MILANO / 10 LUGLIO despatch datestamp and a second
indistinct boxed Milan marking, entering France with black boxed
ITALIE / P. LE PONT-DE / BEAUVOISIN handstamp (Noël 148), the front
bearing manuscript 10 at upper left and "17 décimes" due marking at
centre, an attractive early trans-Alpine usage. (Image 1) (Image 2)

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Currently...C$50.00
Will close during Public Auction

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