COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY continued...
World War II Civilian Mails 1939 to 1945
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 201 |
PSE |
 1939 usage of Straits Settlements KGVI 2c green Postal Card endorsed "Imperial Airways" with brief typed message headed "From GN
Bayley, Cocos Keeling Island/...9th October 1939", airmail to England with 8c pair & 12c tied by very fine ' D /10OC/1939/SINGAPORE' cds, large-part boxed 'PASSED BY/ 40 /CENSOR' cachet in violet. One of the earliest WWII Cocos-related covers. Colin
Riddell's similar postal card dated two weeks earlier sold for a remarkable $17,110 (Sale 233 Lot 2371). David Flaat's similar card dated 30.10.1939 sold in 2013 for $1955 (Sale 179 Lot 1428). (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$2,500
Currently Opening at...AU$1,900.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 202 |
 |
 1941 (Mar 16) registered cover from a student in Belgrade Yugoslavia with King Peter 3d x3 tied by bilingual '.../ 48
/16.III.44/BEOGRAD 2' cds, to "His Majesty/Ross Clunies/King of Cocos Isls/Indian Ocean - Cocos Is/India", censored in Egypt India and Singapore with 'PASSED FOR TRANSMISSION/ 73 ' triangle cachet in violet but apparently not forwarded to Cocos
instead redirected to "Caldbeck Macgregor/Spore", remnants of two labels at left & the base. From at least the late-1930s, Caldbeck Macgregor were Singapore agents for John Clunies-Ross; they probably forwarded this item privately to Cocos. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$400
Currently Opening at...AU$300.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 203 |
|
 1941 (Apr 30) illustrated American Numismatic Association envelope sealed with two labels - one peeled-off - for their upcoming
Convention, to "Mr JS Clunies-Ross/Governor of the Cocos Islands/Straights [sic] Settlement", Singapore Censor #5 cachet in violet, minor defects.
(Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$200
Currently Opening at...AU$150.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 204 |
|
 1941 (mid) cover endorsed at the top "From Dr Gibson-Hill Cocos-Keeling Islands Indian Ocean" to the American Museum of Natural
History in New York with Ceylon ' 37 /OPENED BY/CENSOR' label & 25c Temple tied by 'COLOMBO/25JUL41 - TRADE FOLLOWS/THE PHONE' slogan cancel, very minor blemishes. Colin Riddell's similar Gibson-Hill cover to Melbourne via Singapore sold for $11,210
(Sale 233 Lot 2381).
Carl Alexander Gibson-Hill was resident medical officer on Cocos from late-1940. He left for Singapore in early-1942, arriving four days before its Surrender to Japan & spending the next 3½ years as an internee. In 1956, he was appointed Director of
the Raffles Museum. A keen ornithologist, he wrote articles & a book about the Cocos Birdlife. This cover almost certainly contained a letter regarding Cocos birds. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$4,000
Currently Opening at...AU$3,000.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
World War II Military Administration 1941 to 1946
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 205 |
|
 INWARDS MAIL: 1944 (July 29?) cover from GB with 2½d meter to "35th British General Hospital/ RAMC/South East Asia Command",
redirected to "Operation Wilcox" and although paid for surface only it was flown to Cocos per Catalina flying boat, opened a bit roughly & stained at the top from a 'sticky' tape repair. Ex Colin Riddell: sold for $4245 (Sale 233 Lot 2385).
Following the Japanese bombardment in 1944, use of the word "Cocos" in communications was suppressed. Various coded military addresses were used including 'Operation Wilcox', 'Island X' and 'Fortress Brown'. Use of such addresses on mail is very
rare; the only examples we have seen are the three formerly in Colin Riddell's collection. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$2,000
Currently Opening at...AU$1,500.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 206 |
PSE |
 INWARDS MAIL: 1945 (Sep 22) usage of British Forces Air Letter endorsed on the reverse "HQ Squadron/ County of London
Yeomanry/BAOR" with double-ring 'FIELD POST OFFICE/23SP/45/ 294 ' in use in Germany, to "Intelligence/175 Wing Section 301/RAF/Ceylon Air Force" with similar 'HOME POSTAL CENTRE RE/27SP/45/ 13 ' transit backstamp, central horizontal fold. A
remarkable origin/destination item & the only 1946 Forces item to Cocos that we have seen. The writer states "...I always used to like Ceylon...I should think it is quite a pleasant place to be stationed..." with notation alongside "(But I ain't in
Ceylon!)" (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$500
Currently Opening at...AU$380.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 207 |
PSE |
 129 STAGING POST: Undated Forces Air Letter with printed 'RAFPOST/AIR COMMAND/SOUTH EAST ASIA' at upper-right & instructions within
for addressing mail completed with "129 Staging Post" & 'CEYLON AIR FORCES' handstamp in violet, to Yorkshire with 'RAFPOST/ 2 /SOUTH EAST ASIA/ 2 ' cds with the dateline removed, minor stain at left. Ex Colin Riddell: sold for $1710 (Sale 233 Lot
2389).
There must have been thousands of these pro forma air letters but this is the only example we have seen from Ceylon. In 1944, logistical & construction units of the XIVth Army were sent to Cocos for Operation 'Pharos', to construct a heavy bomber
airfield on Brown's West Island. South-East Asia Command (SEAC) intended Cocos to be a Forward Strategic Operating Base for retaking Malaya & the Dutch Indies. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
Currently Opening at...AU$750.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 208 |
|
 INDIAN ARMY FPO 150: 1946 OAS cover to India with very fine backstamp of the rare 'FPO/No 150/ 18FEB46' cds used at Cocos, to
Bombay with boxed arrival backstamp of '26FEB1946'. FPO 150 replaced FPO 46 on Cocos in January 1946. The ERD for the cds is 28JAN46, on a Ceylon 5c. Ted Proud records usage between '4FEB46' & '4MAR46 only'. Colin Riddell's similar cover sold for
$3185 (Sale 233 Lot 2404). (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$1,500
Currently Opening at...AU$1,150.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 209 |
|
 INDIAN ARMY FPO 46: 1945 (Aug 1) OAS envelope endorsed on the flap "Lt AI John" to England with a very fine strike of 'FPO/No
46/1AUG45' cds, 'UNIT CENSOR/R722/("AJohn")' and 'FIELD CENSOR/ 65 ' cachets both in violet, minor blemishes. Unusual self-censorship by an officer on Cocos. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 210 |
PSE |
 INDIAN ARMY FPO 46: 1945 (Sep 25) use of Indian Forces Air Letter headed "37 Ind HAA Bty 1A/SEAC", to England with a largely superb
strike of 'FPO/No 46/26SEP45' cds and 'FIELD CENSOR/ 413 ' cachet in violet, a bit grubby on the reverse. The letter in a very rough hand states "... we are on Cocos or Keeling Islands ... not much here really just blooming cocoanuts trees and few
Rats and Land Crabs ... we have none other than ... Gracie Fields to give a show and in Person ..." The English singer Gracie Fields came to Cocos for an Entertainments National Service Association concert to boost troop morale. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 211 |
PSE |
 ROYAL AIR FORCE PO 041: 1945 (June 24) Indian Forces Air Letter headed ".../7136 SE RAF/Ceylon Air Force", to England with light
but largely legible '[41] RAF POST OFFICE 41/25JUN45/[CEYLON]' cds, the rather familiar letter from a corporal to his former commanding officer states "...I think that three years is too long for any-one to be out this way...we are unable to get
anything where I am at the present..." 7136 Service Echelon was a maintenance crew that arrived on Cocos 6.4.1945 & departed 14.10.1945. Mail is rare, with only a few examples identified. Colin Riddell had no example. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 212 |
PSE/D |
 ROYAL AIR FORCE PO 301: 1945 (Aug 23) usage of Forces black/white 'GREEN ENVELOPE' to GB with 'RAFPOST 301/25AUG45/ + ' cds & 'RAF
CENSOR/575' cachet in violet used on Cocos, minor imperfections. With the enclosed letter headed "175 Wing/Section 301/RAF/Ceylon Air Forces" that states "Yesterday...I thought I would take [you] to the Cocos or Keeling Islands (where I am now!)...I
shall be interested to know [if this] Green Envelope is much quicker than an ordinary airmail letter...the mail plane arrives at any odd time...outgoing mail is allowed to accumulate which will explain why my post is so irregular..." A rare "Green
Envelope" usage on Cocos: we know of only two other examples. This is superior to Kim Dwyer's example that sold for $920 (Sale 122 Lot 998) & Ex Colin Riddell sold for $1415 (Sale 233 Lot 2395). (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 213 |
PSE |
 ROYAL AIR FORCE PO 301: 1945 (Aug 26) Forces 'Blue Triangle' Air Letter with letter headed "Intelligence/ 175 Wing/Section
301/RAF/Ceylon Air Forces" to England with light but discernible strike of the 'RAFPOST 301' cds, the letter states "... mail is so very irregular ... in view of the surrender of Japan they may possibly take longer! ... I shall leave over my comments
about Cocos or Keeling Islands and its wonders until ... I have unlimited paper ... The present demobilisation announcement ... does not perturb me at all ... The Jap war ended earlier than we anticipated ... there is no promotion now that the war
has ended ...". (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$300
Currently Opening at...AU$230.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 214 |
|
 ROYAL AIR FORCE PO 301: 1945 (Sep 12) OAS envelope to England with a largely fine strike of 'RAFPOST 301' cds & very fine
'RAF/CENSOR/575' cachet in violet used on Cocos, minor blemishes. Very late censorship: the war against Japan ended 15.8.1945. (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 215 |
PSE |
 ROYAL AIR FORCE PO 301: 1945 (Sep 25) use of Indian Forces blue/white 'RAF PRIVILEGE ENVELOPE' to England with light but
discernible 'RAFPOST 301' cds, toning. Absent from Colin Riddell's collection. Bruce Haynes' very fine example - stated to be the only recorded usage of this form of envelope from Cocos - sold for $1020 (Sale 257 Lot 1068).
Note that because the war had ended, the honour statement was not signed & the letter was not censored. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 216 |
PSE |
 ROYAL AIR FORCE PO 301: 1945 (Nov 18) usage of Forces Air Letter with message headed "RAF Station Cocos/Ceylon Air Forces", to Kent
GB with unusually fine 'RAFPOST 301/18NOV45' cds used on Cocos, no censor marking because the war had ended on 15.8.1945. The writer states "...there is a remote possibility of a mail plane this weekend...a plane from Australia brought some
Australian apples...parcel post to the Far East is delayed owing to the recent Dock strike..." Flying operations ceased with closure on 7.4.1946 of the airfield on West Island. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$400
Currently Opening at...AU$300.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 217 |
PSE |
 ROYAL AIR FORCE PO 301: 1945 (Dec) usage of SEAC illustrated 'XMAS AIR LETTER' to England with partial 'RAFPOST 301/--DEC45' cds
unusually applied to the reverse (no blank space on front), minor imperfections. The letter is to the writer's young son: "...Daddy can't send you a proper card...I saw Father Xmas today...". Colin Riddell's similar example sold for $2360 (Sale 233
Lot 2402). (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$500
Currently Opening at...AU$380.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
Colony of Singapore 1946 to 1955
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 218 |
|
 MAIL PER FLYING BOAT: 1951 cover with GB Festival 2½d tied by London machine of '27JNE/51', to "ER Leigh-Parkin/Cable & Wireless
Ltd/Cocos Islands/PO Box 146/Singapore", oval 'COCOS IS/("28 8 51") PER ("Frigate")' cachet on reverse amended to 'PER ("RAF Sunderland")'. The Royal Air Force flight brought Sir Franklin Gimson, Governor of Singapore, on a vice-regal visit. A small
mail being held at Singapore was carried despite - in this case - being paid surface rate only. Ex Colin Riddell: sold for $6785 (Sale 233 Lot 2436). (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$2,500
Currently Opening at...AU$1,900.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 219 |
|
 MAIL PER FLYING BOAT: 1951 Leigh-Parkin cover with his endorsement on the flap to GB with Singapore 50c tied by 'SINGAPORE/28AUG51'
cds, small closed tear at the top. ER Leigh-Parkin told Colin Riddell that this was the only item of mail carried by the Sunderland on its return to RAF Seletar in Singapore later the same day. Ex Colin Riddell: sold for $11,210 (Sale 233 Lot
2437). (Image1)
(Image2)
|
Estimate AU$5,000
Currently Opening at...AU$3,800.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 220 |
|
 MAIL PER NAVY FRIGATE: 1949 (Nov 3) social cover from England with UPU 1/- to ER Leigh-Parkin "co Cable & Wireless for Cocos/...PO
Box 146/Singapore", the reverse with oval 'COCOS IS/PER ("Frigate")' handstamp in violet & 'Cocos-Keeling/("15 12 49")/Is' handstamp in black. Mail addressed to PO Box 146 was forwarded by the Singapore Post Office to Cocos on the first available
vessel. Very early Leigh-Parkin correspondence: he arrived on Cocos about October 1949. A frigate arrived at Cocos 15.12.1949. Colin Riddell's similar cover but from Australia sold for $1885 (Sale 233 Lot 2421). (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
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