1951 (April) envelope with Darvell, C&W, Cocos-Keeling return address on back flap, airmail to England with a largely very fine strike of the 'Per RMS ORION' circular cachet over 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' boxed cachet both in violet, Australia 1/6d Hermes (minor corner fault) tied by Perth '17 APR/1951' slogan cancel, a few minor transmission marks. Ex Dr William Wells. Colin Riddell's collection did not include a cover from this despatch; his similar Leigh-Parkin cover from the Orion's August 1951 despatch sold at our auction of 3.3.2019 for $519 (Sale 233 Lot 2445). (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 650.00
Closed..Mar-24-2026, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 650
Sale No: 263
Lot No: 904
Symbol: C
1951 (April) envelope with Darvell, Cocos-Keeling return address on back flap, airmail to England with a largely very fine strike of the Orient Line SS 'Orontes' crowned cachet in black over 'TIN CAN MAIL/ COCOS-KEELING IS' boxed cachet in violet at lower-left, Australia 1/6d Hermes tied by Perth '28 SEPT/1951' slogan cancel, a few minor transmission marks. The enclosed letter from Bob Darvell of Cable & Wireless includes "this is the first Orontes barrel for several years ... I shall be leaving here by the Nov Islander". Ex Dr William Wells. Colin Riddell's similar cover - to North Borneo (!) - sold at our auction of 3.3.2019 for $2478 (Sale 233 Lot 2447). (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 675.00
Closed..Mar-24-2026, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 675
Sale No: 263
Lot No: 905
Symbol: C
1951 (June 11) Qantas return flight Cocos-Sydney envelope AAMC 1273c envelope with Darvell, Cocos return address on back flap, to England with Australia 1/6d Parliament House tied by Sydney cds in transit, type-written 'PER QANTAS/CATALINA/VH-EBA' label tied to reverse by largely very fine strike of the 'C.& W.LTD/11JUN51/COCOS' double-circle cds, small closed edge tears and a few aging marks at top, Cat $2000. Ex Dr William Wells. Only the second non-registered item from this flight seen by us; the other - to Australia; without contents - sold at our auction of 21.7.2022 for $1357 (Sale 248 Lot 1287).
The enclosed lengthy letter from Bob Darvell of Cable & Wireless includes such snippets as "[this cover] will be taken out by the Qantas Survey Plane 'Island Voyager', ... Catalina UH-EBA arrived May 31st after much frantic servicing ... to survey the old airstrip of West Island with a view to Qantas using Cocos as a refueling stop.... the 8 boffins camped on W.I [West Island] & the crew stayed in the mess - 4 Aussies & a Kiwi. First thing I took stock of our remaining beer ... & knowing the Aussies taste for beer immediately imposed rationing! ... today we all had a trip [on the flying boat] & saw the atoll from the air ... first tincanmail was per Wave Baron abt sec week in Jan, and second was per Orion beginning of Apl ... there is no CCS stamp of course. The chop ... is a woodcarving by one of the Admlty wallahs who is quite adept at such things ..." (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 1,500.00
Closed..Mar-24-2026, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1500
Sale No: 263
Lot No: 906
Symbol: C
1951 (Aug 10) envelope with Darvell, Cocos return address on back flap, airmail to England with a largely very fine strike of the rare 'R MS ORMONDE' circular cachet in violet over '10AUG51' handstamp at lower-left, franked with Ceylon KGVI 25c Temple x3 tied by Colombo '15AU/51' cds, short note from Bob Darvell of Cable & Wireless enclosed, a couple of minor transmission marks. Ex Dr William Wells. From the only mail carried per the 'Ormonde'. En route from Perth-Colombo, the ship stopped at Cocos to collect John Clunies-Ross who was going to England to be married. Colin Riddell's similar Leigh-Parkin cover sold at our auction of 3.3.2019 for $885 (Sale 233 Lot 2432). (Image1)
