AUSTRALIAN DISASTER MAIL continued...
Ship Mails continued...
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 2038 |
 |
 1860 stampless consignee's entire from England to Victoria with letter within headed "Liverpool 4th August 1860" & endorsed
"Consignee Lightning", the reverse with tiny 'MELBOURNE/OC31/60' (in red) & 'FITZROY/OC31/60/VICTORIA' cds, the face with superb 'DETAINED ON/BOARD OF SHIP' handstamp in red - apparently applied in error because there was no delay - & manuscript "2"
for the local postage due, very minor blemishes. Only ten Detained on Board Ship covers from Melbourne have been recorded. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2039 |
/D |
 1861 cover to London "Via Marseilles" with South Australia Perkins Bacon Rouletted 9d slate-violet, poor Diamond Numeral cancel and
light 'KOORINGA' cds alongside, very fine 'ADELAIDE/JY16/1861/=STH-AUSTRALIA=' backstamp in blue, lengthy endorsement on the reverse "This letter was received at the General Post Office Adelaide previous to the departure of the July mail but by an
error in the office was unfortunately detained/CH Lewis/Postmaster General", poor London arrival backstamp of OC13/61 in red, a bit aged & light stains. A most unusual item of 'interrupted' mail.
Don Pearce discovered that 300 letters - probably three bundles of 100 - were detained in this manner. The endorsement was painstakingly written 300 times by the unfortunate clerk who was responsible (or scapegoated), then signed by PMG Lewis. Only
one other example has been recorded: Don Pearce's example sold at our auction of 6.12.2023 for $560 (Sale 254 Lot 2083). With the enclosed letter to the sender's sister.
(2 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
|
Estimate AU$500
SOLD for AU$380.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2040 |
PSE |
 1862 Great Britain OHMS lettersheet dated "20/1/1862" with 'General Post Office' imprint at lower-left, 'WBokenham' facsimile
signature handstamp & opened to preserve the 'RETURNED LETTER BRANCH/CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT' embossing in red on the reverse, to "St Paul's School/Geelong" Victoria with diminutive 'GEELONG/AP-18/62/VICTORIA' arrival backstamp in red, minor
blemishes. The printed letter over the name of Rowland Hill requests payment of 6d "(in British Postage Stamps, or Money)" in respect of an unpaid or underpaid letter. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$400
SOLD for AU$460.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2041 |
|
 1882 double-rate cover from England to Victoria with 6d grey x2 tied by 'NOTTING HILL/NO17/82 - 37/B' duplex, 'MELBOURNE/ 2A
/DE27/82' arrival backstamp, flap removed & light toning. Carried per P&O 'Malwa' from Brindisi which collided in the Red Sea with the steamer 'Clan Forbes', the captain managing to beach 'Malwa' near the Quarantine Ground. Mails were transferred to
the 'Ballarat', on her Maiden Voyage. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$270.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2042 |
|
 1883 underpaid cover with South Australia Perkins Bacon Perf 10x11½-12½ 6d blue tied by light 'GLENELG/DE 22/83/SA' squared-circle,
to Italy where two chisel-slits added for disinfection, manuscript "T" & Italian Postage Dues 10c x2 tied by 'BOLOGNA/2/FEB/84' cds, postman's '11' handstamp on the reverse, some wrinkles. Ex Ron Butler: sold in 2004 for £920. The long sea rate to
Great Britain was 6d, but to Italy it was 8d.
Carried per 'Rome' ex Sydney 20.12.1883 & Adelaide 23.12.1883; arrived Suez 21.1.1884. Per 'Lombardy' ex Alexandria; arrived Brindisi 28.1.1884. During 1883-84, there was a major cholera outbreak in Egypt. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2043 |
|
 1906 PPC from China to Dunedin, New Zealand with 4c Coiling Dragon & bilingual cds of 'TUNGKU', 'PEKING' & 'SHANGHAI', Hong Kong
transit of '8OC/06' and large 'DETAINED ON BOARD SHIP' cachet of Sydney, which is an odd usage on mail addressed to New Zealand. Of the cachet, only six examples have been recorded (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2044 |
|
 1935 cover from a passenger aboard the RMS 'Aorangi' from Auckland which was placed into quarantine because of a smallpox outbreak
on board, to Adelaide with KGV 2d tied by cut-down relief '___AT___/3FE35/NSW' with an equally fine strike of the old 'QUARANTINE/NSW' cds (no date slugs) alongside, two corners clipped as usual for mail from Australian quarantine facilities, minor
stains at lower-left. (Image1)
|
Estimate AU$400
SOLD for AU$300.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2045 |
|
 1939 (late) airmail cover from Sydney to Denmark with jusqu'a bars applied at London & mail transferred to Danish ship SS 'Vidar'
which was sunk in the North Sea by German submarine U21, stamps washed-off & superb Danish 'Beskadiget af Sovand' (= damaged by seawater) cachet in violet, with small piece from a Danish ambulance envelope. Brian Peace states this is the only cover
from Australia recorded from this incident.
Denmark was neutral at this time but the Germans breached their non-aggression pact with Denmark when they invaded on 9.4.1940.
(2 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$500
SOLD for AU$380.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2046 |
|
 1942 (March 11) OHMS cover with 'NAVY OFFICE/MELBOURNE SC1' imprint at lower-left, to Sydney with 'REGISTERED/ 2 /PAID MELBOURNE'
cds in red, the reverse with Sydney & 'WILLIAM STREET/12MR42/NSW' cds and fountain-pen endorsements "L Golding AB/Missing/presumed lost at sea/HMAS/PERTH" and "Battle of Java/28th of February 1942". This probably contained an official letter
regarding the loss of the 'Perth'. See 'Australasian Wreck Mail' by Brian Peace (2013) at pages 308-9, where it is illustrated.
'Perth' was one of nine ships under Dutch command that opposed Japanese landings on Java. All were sunk, 'Perth' losing 359 officers & crew, the other 317 becoming Prisoners of War. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2047 |
|
 1949 (Sep 7) Tatts cover (with enclosed tickets) to "Swatow/South China" with Lawson 2½d only tied by Hobart slogan cancel, held
for additional postage with Princess 1d affixed & tied by Hobart cds, mysterious 'H.F.A.'-in-circle cachet & seriffed 'POSTAL SERVICE SUSPENDED/RETURN TO SENDER' cachet in purple. During 1946-49, mail services to China were suspended during the civil
war between the Nationalists & the Communists. See also Lot 2208 under New Zealand. (Image1)
|
Estimate AU$200
SOLD for AU$150.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
Air Mail Incidents
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 2048 |
|
 1920 social cover to "Perth/Western Australia" with Iraq '.../IN BRITISH - OCCUPATION' Overprints ½a on 10pa & 1a on 20pa tied by
two strikes of the undated triple-ring 'CIVIL POST/ AERIAL /IRAQ' cancellation in violet (Proud AM1; recorded 13.5.1919 to 25.1.1920 only), the reverse with 'BAGDAD H.O.(IRAQ)/2JAN20/...' cds (Proud D11), Melbourne Krag machine of 22JE/1920 and
'PERTH/28JE20/WESTN AUSTRALIA' arrival cds, minor imperfections, with the enclosed Indian PPC with message on both sides headed "Baghdad 24.1.20" which states "This is to give you one of the first letters by aerial mail to Australia...", AAMC 26, Cat
$3250. A rare and important cover from the England-Australia Air Race. Illustrated in Volume One at pages 184-186.
The AAMC states 93 covers were carried. Brian Peace has recorded only five surviving items, making this far more elusive than the Ross Smith covers ... and vastly more interesting. Absent from Tom Frommer's collection. Nelson Eustis's similar undated
cover, without enclosure & flown only to India, sold in 2008 for $5240.
George Matthews & Tom Kay were the first contestants to depart England on 21.10.1919, fully 23 days before the second team of Ross & Keith Smith on 12.11.1919. Their route was challenging and full of incidents, including them being imprisoned by
Bolsheviks in Yugoslavia! They finally reached Baghdad 24.1.1920, where their Sopwith 'Wallaby' was overhauled. En route to Karachi, they twice incurred damage on landing. They suffered further damage in incidents at Delhi & Rangoon and ended their
race by crashing into a banana plantation on Bali on 17.4.1920, almost four months after the Vickers 'Vimy' had arrived at Darwin to claim the £10,000 prize. They continued by ship, arriving at Sydney 11.6.1920, from where this cover was carried to
Melbourne & probably onwards per the Trans-Australian Railway.
(2 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$4,000
SOLD for AU$9,000.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2049 |
|
 1920 (Aug 10) apparently commercial cover from Melbourne to "Merinda/French Street/Hamilton Vic" with KGV 1½d brown cancelled on
arrival with 'HAMILTON/ 2 / 11AU20/VIC' cds also tying 'Herald/[plane]/Air Mail' label (minor perf faults) affixed alongside, minor ink-smudging & small repaired tear at upper-centre well clear of the adhesives, AAMC 48, Cat $1800. The AAMC states
that 700 items were carried but that "only about 50" have been recorded. The 'incident' was loss of daylight (!), causing an unscheduled overnight stop at Willaura, only 70km short of Hamilton. See Volume One at pages 5-8, illustrated at page 6. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$750
SOLD for AU$1,000.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2050 |
|
 1921 (Nov 28) Hamilton Macrae Ltd cover with KGV ½d green block of 4 & Kangaroo 3d tied by Perth Krag machine cancel & cds, to
Roebourne with a very fine strike of the 'skeleton' 'PERTH DERBY/4 DE 21/W A/ AERIAL MAIL' cds & 'ROEBOURNE/22DEC21/WESTN AUSTRALIA' arrival cds on the face, the address crossed-through for return to the sender, AAMC 56a, Cat $1100. A very attractive
cover from Australia's first commercial airmail service. Ex Nelson Eustis: sold in 2008 for $1395. Illustrated in Volume One at page 9. Tom Frommer's similar cover sold in 2016 for $1705.
This first service was experimental and was undertaken before proper landing facilities were provided at all intermediate points. Three planes were involved, leaving Perth 4.12.1921. Mail for Geraldton was delivered but, on the leg to Carnarvon, the
first plane needed to make an unscheduled landing. The second craft flew low to investigate and crashed, killing the pilot & passenger. The leader, Norman Brearley, decided to suspend the contract & flew 6 bags of mail back to Perth. On 10.12.1921,
they were put aboard SS 'Bambra' & taken by sea to the northern ports, arriving at Roebourne 16.12.1921. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$1,500
SOLD for AU$1,150.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2051 |
|
 1921 (Dec 19) cover endorsed "Per Aerial Mail" to Perth with KGV 2d orange & Kangaroo 3d tied by 'BROOME/WESTN AUST' cds, minor
blemishes & minor fault at upper-left AAMC 57b, Cat $1250. Illustrated in Volume One at page 44: #4 of the now 12 covers recorded by Brian Peace. Nelson Eustis' similar cover - to Melbourne - sold in 2008 for $1865.
Norman Brearley & Charles Kingsford Smith carried the first south-bound airmail Broome-Perth. They left Broome at 2am with Brearley using a torch to read the instruments (!). Loss of engine oil caused an unscheduled landing at Cape Latouche where the
plane became stuck in coastal mud & had to be dismantled. The mail was returned by horse to Broome where it was put aboard the 'Bambra' which then proceeded to rescue the aviators & their kit-plane. [The addressee was the prominent wood-carver Pansy
Francis] (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$1,400
SOLD for AU$1,050.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2052 |
|
 1921 (Dec 19) cover endorsed "Per Aerial Mail" to Carnarvon with KGV 5d tied by 'GERALDTON/ 3DE21/WESTN AUST' cds and
'BROOME/19DE21/WESTN AUST' cds, minor blemishes & light central fold, AAMC 57b(var), Cat $1250+. Illustrated in Volume One at page 26 where stated to be the only cover flown on both the inaugural north-bound flight, suspended because of the fatal
crash, and the first south-bound flight, which became bogged at Cape Latouche. This came about because when the 'Bambra' carried the mail that had been returned to Perth, this cover was mis-sorted to the more northerly port of Broome. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$1,750
SOLD for AU$1,350.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2053 |
|
 1924 (June 2) cover endorsed "Per 1st Aerial Mail/Adelaide to Sydney/2.6.24" with very late Commonwealth/State combination franking
of KGV 1d violet & 1½d red + NSW QV 2d tied by Adelaide Krag machine cancel with very fine impressions of the two 'BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION/...' slogan dies, Sydney machine arrival backstamp of 4JE 1924, signed "Frank C Roberts/Pilot Sopwith Wallaby
Adelaide-Hay Section", "FS Briggs Pilot Hay-Sydney Section" and their mechanic "CA Butler", minor blemishes & light ironed-out vertical crease at left, AAMC 71, Cat $550 plus a premium for the autographs. Illustrated in Volume One at page 57. Forced
landings were made on the first & second legs of the flight. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$400
SOLD for AU$300.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2054 |
|
 1924 (June 7) cover endorsed "Per first aerial mail/Sydney to Adelaide" with KGV 1d violet 1½d red & 2d brown tied by 'DELIVERY
ROOM/7JE24/GPO SYDNEY' cds, minor blemishes, AAMC 72, Cat $550. Illustrated in Volume One at page 61. Delayed by engine trouble. (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2055 |
|
 1924 (June 7) cover endorsed "By First Aerial Mail" with KGV 1d violet block of 6 (3x2) tied by 'SYDNEY/6JE24/ 22 ' cds, AAMC 72,
Cat $550. Illustrated in Volume One at page 61. Delayed by engine trouble. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
SOLD for AU$190.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2056 |
/D |
 1925 (Jan 26) charred remains of a cover endorsed "Per Aerial Mail" with KGV 1d green x3 & 1½d red tied by light 'ONSLOW/WESTERN
AUSTRALIA' cds, with the PMG's Department (Perth) roneo'd letter about the incident, AAMC 74, unpriced. Ex Carl Hardman-Smith. Both illustrated in Volume One at pages 66-67. Only one intact cover and one other part-cover are recorded. The aircraft
was preparing for take-off at Onslow when the engine backfired, igniting petrol fumes, the fire destroying the aircraft.
(2 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
SOLD for AU$750.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
| 2057 |
|
 1926 cover endorsed "From London 24 June 1926/By aeroplane to/Australia/Carried by" and signed "AJCobham", addressed to Perth GPO
with KGV 1½d red added & tied by 'SYDNEY/ 16AU26/ 22 ' cds, carried either by sea or rail including Trans-Australian Railway from Adelaide, on arrival boxed 'CALLED/25AU26/LCR' & 'UNCLAIMED POSTE RESTANTE/3SEP26/WESTN AUSTRALIA' cds added, DLO cds of
the same date & on the reverse DLO 'Returned to Sender' label partly covering the sender's address in England so it had to be re-written on the label!, also with superb John Bull printing kit 'LEFT FOR/ENGLAND' handstamp in violet, very minor
blemishes, AAMC 96, Cat $5000. A rare cover, from one of the great flights of the Pioneer Period. BPA Certificate (1956).
Alan Cobham & his engineer Arthur Elliott departed Rochester, England on 30.6.1926, experiencing numerous mechanical & logistical delays, in addition to Cobham suffering from exhaustion. Over Iraq, he had to fly below a heavy dust-storm, where
Elliott was mortally injured when the fuel pipe burst. After landing, it was discovered that the cause of the incident was a bullet fired from the ground! Elliott died that night & Cobham considered abandoning the flight. However, a new engineer, RAF
Sgt Alan Ward, was engaged & they flew on, enduring several further misadventures through India. Only the few covers carried all the way from England were on board when Elliott was shot. At least two of these were carried by Cobham on his return
flight, this being the only one returned to England by ship. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$5,000
SOLD for AU$3,800.00
Closing..Jun-24, 07:30 PM |
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