Postal History continued...
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 1141 |
 |
 1854 (Jan 25) large-part entire to London endorsed "Immediate per first Ship" with Half-Lengths 3d pale greenish blue (margins in
places) & Queen-on-Throne Campbell & Co Printings 2d brown 'QU' Pos [16] (margins good to large) tied by Barred Oval '5' cancel and superb 'SANDHURST' Crowned Oval datestamp alongside, Melbourne transit & London arrival backstamp of 20MR/1854 in red
on reverse, rated "1/-" British packet letter on the face, some internal re-inforcing & a few minor blemishes. The rate was Victoria 2d per ½oz inland letter to Melbourne plus 3d per ½oz ship letter. The item must have caught a contract sailing to
England hence the 1/- packet rate was charged instead of the 8d ship letter rate. Rodney A Perry Certificate (2006) as SG 11b & 19b.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) 11b & 19b] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$500
SOLD for AU$1,400.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1142 |
|
 1854 (March 14) town letter outer to "The President of the Central Road Office, Melbourne" with Half-Lengths Thomas Ham Printings
Third State of Dies (Outer Frame Lines Added) 3d blue SG 10 (margins just touching at lower-right to large with portion of adjoining unit at left) tied by large-part Barred Oval '1' cancel of Melbourne and largely very fine complete Crowned-Oval
datestamp alongside, minor blemishes. Ex Charles Lathrop Pack. A previously unrecognised rarity.
Barwis & Moreton state at page 128 that "Town usages are rare, with only two Melbourne letters [with Half-Lengths] recorded. One overpaid the double 1d rate in March 1854 ..." (presumably refering to this item). The item is in fact correctly paid 3d
for the second weight-step town letter rate, and apparently the only recorded example of this rate. The town letter rates quoted by both Pack (1923) "onepenny per one-half ounce" and Barwis & Moreton "up to ½oz 1d, ½-1oz 2d, each additional 1oz 2d"
are incorrect. The 1852 Act provides for "an uniform rate of one penny ... if exceeding half an ounce in weight there shall be charged and paid additional rates of postage" and "on every letter exceeding half an ounce and not exceeding one ounce in
weight two rates of postage", that is an additional 2d for the second weight step up to 1oz. The Town Letter rate was increased to 2d from 1.5.1854.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) 10] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1143 |
|
 1854 entire headed "Duplicate...Melbourne Apl 17 54" and signed "John Anderson" to his wife in Massachusetts "per Steamer Golden
Age via Panama" carried per favor with fine oval 'FORWARDED BY/ROGERS WARFIELD LORD &c/MELBOURNE' handtsamp on the flap (only one other example recorded), very fine 'STEAM SHIP/20/Cts' handstamp of New York, some peripheral discolouration. Golden Age
ex Melbourne 5.5.1854; Tahiti 24.5.1854; Panama City 19.6.1854; by mule & canoe across the isthmus to Aspinwall (later Colon), then per US Mail Steamship Co to New York. The writer states "...I am about leaving...tired of this Place and of the
Proceedings [?] in it..." Ex Dale Forster.
This voyage was the only trans-Pacific contract mail service before 1866. The ship consumed so much coal that the costs were ruinous & the experiment was not repeated. The ship carried US$200,000 worth of gold dust for Adams & Co.
Grade B (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1144 |
|
 1854 (May 2) envelope to Liverpool, England endorsed "Per Ship Essex or First Mail" with Half-Lengths Thomas Ham Printings Third
State of Dies (White Veils) 3d blue SG 14 block of 4 (trimmed at the top, the lower units with margins close to touching) unusually tied to the reverse by four light to very fine strikes of Barred Oval '1', partial Melbourne oval datestamp on the
face, rated "8"[d] inland delivery on arrival with London transit & Liverpool arrival of SP 2/1854 in blue, minor aging marks mostly at the edges.
Mailed on the day after the ship letter rate was increased from 3d to 1/- per ½oz on 1.5.1854. Victoria did not initially participate in the 6d per ½oz 'all-in' ship & packet letter rate (that is, including inland delivery charges). Britain
retaliated by increasing its rates to Victoria, causing Victoria to reduce the rate to 6d from 1.7.1855.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) 14] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1145 |
|
 1854 (June 13) outer to Ballarat with Queen-on-Throne Campbell & Co 2d vertical pair 'WA/GM' Pos [22/32] (margins good to large;
small abrasion at upper-right of the lower unit) and single 'YB' Pos [48] (margins close to large) tied by three largely very fine strikes of Barred Oval '2' cancel and Geelong crowned oval & 'JU15' arrival crowned oval datestamps on reverse, minor
blemishes. The inland letter rate was increased from 2d to 6d per ½oz from 1.5.1854. This sharp increase was prompted by losses in the Post Office accounts, and - unsurprisingly - was deeply unpopular. The inland letter rate was reduced to 4d per ½oz
from 1.7.1855, making this one of the shortest-lived rates of the period.
Grade B (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$400
SOLD for AU$460.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1146 |
|
 1854 (June 15) outer to Oxfordshire with Half-Lengths (White Veils) 3d blue SG 14 irregular strip of 4 (the upper-left unit with
margins close to enormous) unusually tied to the reverse by four light to almost very fine strikes of Barred Oval '5' with a very fine 'SANDHURST/VICTORIA' datestamp on the face, similar Melbourne transit backstamp, rated "8"[d] inland delivery in
England with 'OXFORD/NO 4/1854' cds in red & 'TETSWORTH' arrival in blue, minor folds & soiling not affecting the adhesives. There is no ship endorsment and the arrival dates do not match any records in Tabeart, so it was presumably carried by
private ship (and rather slowly at that, the usual transit at the time being around 3 months). The Victorian ship letter rate was increased from 3d to 1/- per ½oz from 1.5.1854. See also Lot 1144 above.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) 14] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1147 |
|
 1854 (July 26) small Ladies' envelope to "Monsieur Archer Esq, Government Offices, William St" with Queen -on-Throne Campbell & Co
Printings 2d brown 'HM' Pos [8] (margins close to large) tied by Barred Numeral '1', oval Melbourne datestamp on the reverse, minor blemishes. The town letter rate was increased from 1d to 2d per ½oz from 1.5.1854.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1148 |
O |
 1854 (Dec 22) complete issue of 'The Argus' newspaper to Cheshire with rare franking of a huge Campbell & Fergusson Half-Lengths 1d
dull red SG 26b (very fine; Cat £120 x2+ on cover) tied by a very worn but legible strike of the oval 'NEWSPAPER/MELBOURNE' datestamp, unusually also with the English 'MOTTRAM' arrival cds in blue, in rather distressed condition but presentable and a
rare survivor. Ex Dale Forster.
Grade D (Image1)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) 26b] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1149 |
|
 1855 undated consignee's letter to New York "p Tasmania via Callao" with a very fine example of the rare black/pink 'FORWARDED
BY/Burlingame & Co/Melbourne & New York' label at lower-left, some tonespots on the reverse. With two flimsy letters (one in distressed condition) both dated "19 June 1855". Ex Dale Forster. An oustanding forwarding agent's cover, bearing the only
example we can recall of the label. Private ship across the Pacific to Callao Peru, then to Panama City, by rail to Aspinwall (Colon), then ship to New York. NB: Panama's trans-isthmian railway opened 28.1.1855. It is estimated that 12,000 workers
died during its construction!
(3 items)Grade B (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$1,500
SOLD for AU$1,150.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1150 |
|
 1855 (July 24) large-part Bank of Australasia folded notice with Queen-on-Throne 2d purple 'AF' Pos [26] (margins close to large)
tied by Barred Oval '2' of Geelong (crowned oval backstamp), small stain from internal tape repair not affecting stamp or markings. A very scarce provincial town letter.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1151 |
|
 1855 (July 26) envelope addressed to "Andrew Brown Esq, Consignee by the Prince of the Seas, Melbourne" apparently carried
privately to port and put into the mails, first rated "2" local letter rate and then Queen-on-Throne Campbell & Fergusson Printings 2d red-purple 'KO' Pos [10] (margins close to large; small fault at lower-right) affixed tied by Barred Oval '1'
cancel and Melbourne oval backstamp, additionally Butterfly '48' cancel and 'ADVERTISED/ AND/UNCLAIMED' handstamp both in red on the face, a couple of minor blemishes. According to Freeman & White, this Butterfly cancel was used "as a receipt mark
between May and December 1855 on all mail addressed to high officials at the GPO". Ex Rod Perry.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$400
SOLD for AU$300.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1152 |
|
 1856 (April 12) On Her Majesty's Service folded outer with 'Colonial Secretary's Office' imprint (amended by hand to "Chief") used
locally with Queen-on-Throne Campbell & Fergusson Printings 2d purple block of 4 'MR-NS/XA-YB' Pos [37-38/47-48] (margins good to large; small punch hole through lower-left unit), two strikes of Barred Numeral '1' cancel and Melbourne oval backstamp,
Letter Carriers 'L.C./AP 14/1856' oval datestamp in red at upper-right and 'ADVERTISED/AND/UNCLAIMED' handstamp in black on the face, small adhesion mark & light discolouration at left slightly affecting two units of the block. RPSL Certificate
(2007). Sold in London in April 2020 for £1140.
Grade B (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1153 |
|
 1856 (April 28) envelope at the ½oz inland letter rate with Queen-on-Throne Campbell & Fergusson Printings 2d purple horizontal
pair 'NR-OS' Pos [13-14] (margins good to large) tied by Barred Numeral '1' cancel and Melbourne oval backstamp, largely very fine 'HAMILTON/MY*1/VICTORIA' crowned oval arrival backstamp, a couple of minor blemishes.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$250.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1154 |
|
 1856 (June 6) Thomas Thompson & Co Prices Current & hand-written letter to "Mount Korong" with Queen-on-Throne 2d lilac horizontal
pair 'TX-UY' Pos [19-20] (margins close to large) tied by Barred Numeral '1', the reverse with crowned-ovals of Melbourne, Maryborough & Castlemaine transits and largely fine 'MT MOLIAGUL/JU*14/VICTORIA' (LRD) arrival, a few minor aging marks mostly
on the inside not affecting stamp or markings. Mt Moliagul PO 20.4.1854; closed and replaced by Kingower PO late-1856.
In 1852, gold was discovered at Mount Korong, about 75km NW of Bendigo. The Kerang Post Office was opened in the vicinity on 10.6.1854; closed early-1855. Kerang (2) opened on 1.8.1856, and was renamed Wedderburn on 29.7.1858. Presumably Mt Moliagul
PO handled mail for Mt Korong while there was no Post Office at Kerang. For another item sent to Mt Korong in 1857, see Lot 1157 below.
Grade B (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$600
SOLD for AU$650.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1155 |
|
 1857 (Jan 12) OHMS outer to "The Chairman of the Eltham Road Board/Kangaroo Ground PO" with Queen-on-Throne 2d grey-drab horizontal
pair 'XD/AE' Pos [25-26] (margins close to large) tied by superb Barred Numeral '1' cancel, Melbourne oval backstamp, indistinct arrival datestamp on the face, two tiny adhesion marks on the back hardly detract. Ex Bernhard Forster (signed by him on
the reverse) and annotated "Emerson Col" & "Doane May/40", presumably a reference to the auctioning of Edith Doane's collection in 1940) and Rod Perry.
Grade A (Image1)
(Image2)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1156 |
|
 1857 cover to GB "pr Indomitable" with Woodblocks Imperf 6d (two margins) tied by bold Diamond Numeral '41' of the London Foreign
Branch & 'PAID/ FY /27AU27/1857' arrival cds in red on the face. Ex Dale Forster. A rare usage per non-contract ship: voyage unrecorded by Colin Tabeart.
Grade B (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$500
SOLD for AU$380.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1157 |
|
 1857 (Oct 5) inwards envelope from Ohio with USA Franklin 1c blue (Scott 20) and Washington 12c black Plate 1 (Scott 36) strip of 3
tied by circle-of-bars cancels with 'OXFORD/ O ' datestamp alongside, to "Mr James Messler, Melbourne Australia British Colony, in the care of the Postmaster at Melbourne", partial New York 'PKT' transit in red, London 'PAID/1857/26OC26' cds in red
on the face, Melbourne arrival backstamp of JA13/1858 & re-directed to "Mt Korong", oval 'KERANG/JA 17/[ ]/VICTORIA' backstamp (latest recorded date), back flap missing affecting the New York transit & a few blemishes still a very handsome cover.
Richard Doporto Certificate (2013). Per steamer to England, then presumably by the European & Australian Royal Mail Company contract steamer 'Tamar' ex Southampton 12.11.1857 to Alexandria, overland and per 'Simla' from Suez arriving Melbourne
8.1.1858. [An early example of Victorian Poste Restante mail. A similarly-franked cover from the same correspondence also forwarded to Mount Korong but with only a "part strike of receiving datestamp" sold as part of the William Gross Collection of
US Postal History (2019; Lot 296) for US$5900]
In 1852, gold was discovered at Mount Korong, about 75km NW of Bendigo. The Kerang (1) Post Office opened in the vicinity on 10.6.1854, and closed mid-1855. Kerang (2) opened 1.8.1856. A township was surveyed on the site to be named Wedderburn after
William Wedderburn, an officer in the Goldfields Mounted Police, and on 29.7.1858 the PO was renamed Wedderburn. Somewhat confusingly, Kerang (3) was opened on the same day, some 100km due N near the Murray River!
The addressee, James Messler had come to Australia in search of gold, and according to an account by Joshua Rogers Gray he was successful: "During the time I was partners with Messler ... I usually bought from 100 to 150 ounces of gold per week. The
gold bought at Wedderburn had to be taken either to Sandhurst, Maryborough or Ballarat for sale. The profit on the gold was from 2/- to 3/- per ounce but the risk to life and property was very great ..."
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) Collection] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$4,000
SOLD for AU$3,000.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1158 |
|
 1859 stampless outer to "The Sheriff of Victoria" endorsed "per Cobbs coach" and further endorsed with bold "2/6 paid" at
upper-left, very fine private carrier mail. The contents relate to jury service in the Supreme Court. The Post Office had a monopoly for letters and suppressed the various Goldfields Express services, but private companies were permitted to carry
parcels. By paying the parcel fee - in this case 7½ times the 4d letter rate - a letter could be carried outside the postal system. Ex Max Watson; sold at our auction of 20.1.2007 for $661.
Grade A- (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$500
SOLD for AU$380.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1159 |
|
 1863 (Aug 25) cover to England "Via Marseilles" with impressive and rare franking of Perf 12 'Octagonal' 1/- indigo SG 81b
irregular block of 5 (3x2, ex the first unit on the second row) remarkably well centred, tied by four very fine to superb strikes of BN '4' and one of two strikes of the 'SANDHURST - 4 ' duplex (the '4' of a very different pattern), the reverse with
Melbourne transit of the next day & London arrival of OC15/63 both in red, minor professional cleaning. A magnificent and spectacular cover that is one of the most important for this issue. Carried per P&O 'Madras' ex Melbourne 26.8.1863; 'Candia' ex
Galle 19.9.1863; and 'Euxine' ex Alexandria 7.10.1863; arrived Marseilles 13.10.1863 & London two days later. The rate was 1/- per ½oz via Marseilles x5. Ex Bernhard & Dale Forster, Rod Perry, Geoff Kellow and 'Dubois' (Part II).
The indigo is a much underrated stamp. Gibbons price it at £45, or only three times the other shades. Geoff Kellow at page 86 states "[The indigo is] a rare stamp. One unused copy is known and there is a block of 5 used on an 1863 cover" (this item).
Grade A (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
Get Market Data for [Australia (Victoria) 81b] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census |
Estimate AU$6,000
SOLD for AU$6,000.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
| 1160 |
L |
 1865 (Sep 23) complete 'The Australasian' newspaper unusually posted to Tasmania with Netted Corners 1d yellow-green tied by a
light BN cancel, generally poor condition requiring lots of tender-loving-care but the address panel is presentable. Ex Dale Forster. Very such newspaper usages have survivied, and a very high percentage of those are to Great Britain.
Grade C/D (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..May-21, 08:00 PM |
