Batch of mostly pre-decimal commercial & philatelic airmail covers including 1941 & 1942 to Australia at 5d (from 'GIZO' by ship to Rabaul, then by air), two from Yandina with dater cancels, 1959 registered to Saudi Arabia, and several formular aerogrammes including 1950 from a missionary to New Zealand & another (front only) with manuscript "Barakoma/22 9 53" cancels, a few other Barakoma usages including Australian Territories (faults) & BSIP formular Aerogrammes and 1958 Last Day, mostly internal or to Australia but also noted usages to Fiji x2 and New Hebrides, a few registered, a good range of adhesives including Commemoratives to 9d & a few KGVI/QEII mixed frankings, plenty of datestamp interest including a few 1980s postal agencies, generally fine to very fine.
(79) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 750.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 750
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2149
Symbol: C/CL
Box of commercial & philatelic covers including 1915 with Small Canoes set to 5/- & 'SHORTLAND' cds, 1937 mission cover from Buka Passage (New Guinea) with Undated Bird 3d tied by 'SHORTLAND ISLD' cds, 1939 to NSW cancelled with Brisbane 'PAQUEBOT' slogan, a group of WWII items with censor handstamps including from 'GIZO' & 'SHORTLAND ISLD', lots of postmark interest including on registered covers some of them with rubber Postal Agency datestamps, two unclaimed covers from Australia with large 'RETOUR/...' cachet, domestic & international airmail covers including two from Barakoma Airfield, several FDCs including 1939 KGVI Pictorials set, etc, condition generally fine to very fine.
(200+) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 1,000.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1000
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2150
Symbol: C/CL
Batch of commercial airmail covers with domestic usages x28 including many huge Postal Agency datestamps; and international to Australia x9 including 1957 paid 1/2d but well overweight & taxed 2/4d with Postage Dues 2d pair & 1/- x2 affixed and 1975 usage of 8c Fisherman Aerogramme uprated to 9c, PNG x3, NZ x4, GB x4 at 1/7½d (1938 from 'SHORTLAND ISLD/...' , paying 1½d surface to Sydney + 1/6d air to GB; superb), 3/- 3/6d or 3/9d, France x3 at 3/5d 3/6d or 4/6d, Canada at 1/8d, India at 1/7d, SWA at 3/6d, and United States x13 including at 3/2d x3 (one registered) 3/6d or 3/9d plus 1954 PPC at 1/8d and 1968 Printed Matter with 10c on 1/- x3, mostly fine to very fine. An excellent basis for a serious study of rates & destinations.
(67) (Image1)
Estimate AU$850
Opening AU$ 650.00
Sold...AU$ 650.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 650
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2151
Symbol: C/CL
Box of mostly commercial pre-WWII covers including 1907 large piece with Large Canoes 2½d & 5d (a further 4½d in stamps missing) + NSW 1/- for forwarding to England (faults), Small Canoe 2d on covers to NSW (embossed 'GOVERNMENT RESIDENCE/TULAGI/...' on the flap) or GB x2, then mostly with KGV Keyplates including from 'AOLA' (1919), 'GIZO' (1916 underpaid to Japan but not taxed, and 1928 to Samoa), 'SHORTLAND' (1921) & 'SHORTLAND ISLD' (1926) both to France, 'TULAGI' (1913 to Manitoba, Canada) and 'VANIKORO' (1927 to Washington DC), also 1920s underpaid to USA & taxed, 1937 (Apr 1) to NSW endorsed "First air mail from Solomon Islands" (not recorded in the AAMC) and ship mail x11 with various 'PAQUEBOT' or 'Loose Ship Letter' markings of Tulagi or Australian ports, etc, condition variable but most are fine to very fine.
(46) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,200
Opening AU$ 900.00
Sold...AU$ 900.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 900
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2152
Symbol: C
1898 stampless OHBMS cover with the heading scored-through & 'WESTERN PACIFIC HIGH COMMISSION' imprint at lower-left signed "CM Woodford Solomon Ids 5 Apl 1898", to the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, Sydney arrival duplex & 'POSTAGE PAID SYDNEY/...' cds both of JU20/98, Edinburgh arrival backstamp of JY25/98, repairs to opening tears across the flap & at centre-top. *FKS 19* Ex Don Franks: the frontispiece to his book, and sold in 2016 for £2070. RPSL Certificate (2008). Charles Morris Woodford was the first Resident Commissioner, serving in the role between 1896 & 1915. This is the second-earliest outgoing cover from the Solomons, and the only one with the 'POSTAGE PAID SYDNEY' cds. Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Bailey served in India where he established India's first Forestry School, at Dehra Dun. Returning home to Scotland, he lectured in Forestry at the University of Edinburgh. (Image1)
Estimate AU$3,000
Opening AU$ 2,300.00
Sold...AU$ 2,300.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 2300
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2153
Symbol: C
1906 official cover with 'GOVERNMENT RESIDENCE/TULAGI' embossed diagonally in blue on the flap, from Charles Woodford to his wife in Kent with light but obvious strike of the boxed 'BRITISH/SOLOMON/ ISLANDS/PAID' handstamp & largely fine 'TULAGI/24/SP06/BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' cds (scrambled date slugs) alongside, the reverse with 'SYDNEY/OC8/06' transit & 'TONBRIDGE/NO12/06' cds, minor blemishes & light aging. *FKS38* Don Franks recorded five other similar covers. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 750.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 750
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2154
Symbol: C
1907 commercial cover front to a Sydney suburb with fine strikes of the boxed 'BRITISH/SOLOMON/ ISLANDS/PAID' handstamp & 'TULAGI/FE11/1907/BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' cds, at Sydney assessed as a double-rate letter with QV 2d pair affixed & tied by cds of FE25/07, minor blemishes & overall aging. *FKS55* Ex Stan Jersey. This is the only double-rate item and - with two pieces of the same date - the latest recorded pre-stamp item: the Large Canoes were issued three days later, on 14.2.1907. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 750.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 750
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2155
Symbol: =
1907 (Mar to Aug) commercial pieces each with Large Canoe 2d tied by Tulagi cds and NSW QV 2d tied by Sydney cds. *FKS65* (minor blemishes) *85* (very fine) and *92* (tonespots). Combination frankings were no longer required after 3.9.1907, on which date the Solomons was admitted to membership of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
(3 pieces) (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2156
Symbol: C
1907 official cover with 'GOVERNMENT RESIDENCE/TULAGI/BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS' embossed in blue diagonally on the flap, in Charles Woodford's hand to Rev CC Tancock (headmaster at Tonbridge School) with Large Canoe 2d indigo tied by one of two light strikes of the 'TULAGI' cds of AU8/1907, at Sydney QV 2d affixed & tied by cds of 19AU07, 'TONBRIDGE/SP21/07' arrival backstamp, redirected with a different Tonbridge cds of SP23/07 & 'STAMFORD' arrival backstamp of the same date, repaired opening tear across the flap. *FKS90* (Image1)
Estimate AU$2,000
Opening AU$ 1,700.00
Sold...AU$ 3,200.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 3200
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2157
Symbol: C
Cat No: 1-7
1907 (July 1) philatelic cover to Saxony with Large Canoes ½d to 1/- SG 1-7 complete (the ½d & 1d on the reverse, Cat £375 for used) tied by poor to good strikes of the Tulagi cds, 'REGISTERED/JY16/07/SYDNEY NSW' cds also ties the 2½d & 1/-, NSW 2½d & 3d added partly across the private 'REGISTERED' handstamp tied by 'R'-in-vertical-oval, fine 'KOTZSCHENBRODA/19.8.07' backstamp, minor blemishes. *FKS82*. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2158
Symbol: C
1907 cover with 'GOVERNMENT RESIDENCE/GIZO/SOLOMON ISLANDS' embossed in blue diagonally on the flap, to Sydney (no arrival marking) with Large Canoe 2d tied by 'TULAGI/17OC/1907/'BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' cds. *FKS104* One of the very finest of all Large Canoe covers. The Gizo post office opened only on 6.1.1908. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 675.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 675
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2159
Symbol: C
1908 official cover with 'GOVERNMENT RESIDENCE/TULAGI/BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS' embossed diagonally in blue on the flap, from Charles Woodford to "Carlton Club/London" with Large Canoe 2d tied by Tulagi cds with Inverted Date 'FE20/1908', the reverse with machine transits of Sydney & London (APL1308), very minor blemishes still one of the finest Large Canoe covers. *FKS142*. Ex John Darnell: sold at our auction of 5.12.2003 for $2350. A high proportion of Large Canoe covers are philatelically inspired and/or addressed to stamp dealers. They are also greatly outnumbered by usage on postcards. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,150.00
Sold...AU$ 1,150.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1150
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2160
Symbol: C
1908 (May) plain postcard to Denmark posted aboard S.S. 'Moresby' with Large Canoe 1d cancelled with very fine 'SYDNEY/MY25/08/ 1 ' transit cds, very fine 'KOLDING/28/6' arrival cds & redirected to "Aarhus", light horizontal creasing & a minor repaired tear at left, the message signed "GAVUTU/Gerald C Wheeler/10 May 08" states "...I am going to the Solomon Islands on a scientific expedition & am just reaching them...till November...to study the natives..." and "...we have a mail only once a month...". *FKS 153* Ex John Darnell: sold at our auction of 5.12.2003 for $896.
The sender was the British anthropologist Gerald Camden Wheeler. A gifted linguist, he spoke 13 ancient & modern European languages!, and was fluent in five. In 1912, he published a paper on the animist beliefs of the Solomon islanders. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2161
Symbol: C
1908 commercial cover to France with Large Canoe 2½d yellow-orange tied by Tulagi cds of AU25/1908, the reverse with Sydney transit of SP7/08 and faint 'NANTES' arrival, the flap removed & a couple of repaired minor tears. *FKS165*: sold at our auction of 8.9.1986 for $1400. Addressed to le Commandant de Recruitment, suggesting the sender thought service in the Foreign Legion was preferable to remaining in a remote area where cannibalism was still a thing. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 1,150.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1150
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2162
Symbol: C
1908 (late) Harding & Billings (Sydney) photo-mechanical PPC ('AOLA...', of native with rifle & a friend holding the day's catch of exotic birds), to Sydney with Large Canoe 1d (corner fault) tied by fine strike of the seriffed straight-line 'S.S.UPOLU' handstamp (34x4mm) in violet, minor blemishes. Unrecorded by Don Franks. We have dated this card from the reference to "...Hope you had a gay old time when the American Fleet was in [Sydney]...", which was early-September 1908. Don Franks records a similar strike also on the 1d - *FKS 210* - purporting to be from 1910, but by this time the sans-serif handstamp was in use: see Lot 313128, and also Lot 312608. (Image1)
Estimate AU$2,000
Opening AU$ 1,500.00
Sold...AU$ 1,500.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1500
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2163
Symbol: C
Cat No: 1-7
1908 philatelic cover to "Matupi" (German New Guinea) with Large Canoes ½d to 1/- SG 1-7 (Cat £375 x12+ on cover) tied by five light to very fine strikes of 'BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS/08/SE/16/ SHORTLANDS' cds (reversed date), blue/white 'TULAGI/BRIT SOLOMON IDS' R label & Tulagi transit of OC1/1908, the reverse with transits of Sydney of OC10/08 & large-part 'SIMPSONHAF[EN]/ DEUT[SCHE]/NEU-G[UINEA]/26 10/08' cds, vertical fold & some damage/repairs to the reverse. *FKS 175* The Shortland Islands are a small-group north-west of New Georgia. The PO opened on Faisi 1908; closed 1942 in anticipation of the Japanese Occupation. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2164
Symbol: C
1908 Harding & Billings (Sydney) photo-mechanical PPC ('AOLA...', of three natives, two with rifles), posted aboard S.S. 'Moresby' to NSW with Small Canoe 1d cancelled on arrival at Sydney on 21DE08 with very fine double-oval 'LOOSE SHIP/LETTER' handstamp alongside, Christmas greetings headed "Banika 5-12-08" & the sender asks "...What do you think of the new stamps" (issued five weeks earlier). Not recorded by Don Franks, who listed only five Loose Ship Letter usages on Small Canoe covers. Banika (or Mbanika) is a sizeable island northwest of Guadalcanal. The largest town is Yandina, which had no post office until 1952. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 750.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 750
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2165
Symbol: C
1909 cover to "Handels-n Gerwerkekammer (= Chamber of Commerce & Trade)/Graz/Austria" with Large Canoe ½d 1d & 2d x2 tied by four of five light to fine strikes of 'BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS/JA8/1909/ GIZO' cds, blue/white 'TULAGI/BRIT SOLOMON IDS' R label across one of three fine strikes (one on the reverse) of Tulagi's straight-line 'REGISTERED.' handstamp, the reverse with Sydney transit of JA21/09 & 'GRAZ A/28[.I]I.09' arrival cds, very minor blemishes hardly detract from this handsome cover. Unlisted by Don Franks, who recorded only three Large Canoe covers from Gizo. (Image1)
Estimate AU$2,500
Opening AU$ 1,900.00
Sold...AU$ 1,900.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1900
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2166
Symbol: C
1909 marvellous real photo PPC of a group of jubilant natives mostly in Western dress, to Sydney with Large Canoe 1d tied by one of two fine strikes of the rare 'BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS/FE19/1909/AOLA' cds, faint bend otherwise superb. Ex Ted Proud. Unlisted by Don Franks, who states only five examples of the cds on cover have been recorded. This is the only recorded example on Large Canoe cover. Aola (1) 1908; closed late-1912. Aola (2) 29.10.1916; closed -.1.1919. (Image1)
Estimate AU$2,000
Opening AU$ 1,500.00
Sold...AU$ 1,500.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1500
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2167
Symbol: C
1909 social cover with 'GIZO STATION/BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS' embossed in blue diagonally on the flap, to NSW "Via Cooktown" with Small Canoe ½d strip of 4 tied by two of three light but discernible strikes of 'BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS/OC18/1909/GIZO' cds, the reverse with transits of 'COOKTOWN/NO7/09/...' & Sydney machine of NO19 and 'WOLLONGONG' arrival, small closed tear at the top. *FKS 258* (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2168
Symbol: C
1909 social cover to Surrey with Small Canoe 2d grey tied by a light but obvious strike of 'BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS/23NO/1909/GAVUTU' (4-digit year), poor 'WOKING/JA7/10' arrival backstamp, light toning mostly on the reverse. *FKS262* Gavutu is a small island, only 3km east of Tulagi Island. Coconut plantations were operated by Lever's Pacific Plantations Ltd. The office datestamp was used as a canceller before the post office opened in late-1907; closed 1914. Gavutu was a repatriation centre for islanders taken to Australia during the infamous 'blackbirding' operations (effectively slavery), and subsequently deported home between 1906 & 1908. (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2169
Symbol: C
1910 commercial cover endorsed on the flap "Per SS Upolu/June 1910", to "Sir Robert Bear/Book Depot/.../Sydney" with Small Canoe 2d tied by very fine strike of the small sans-serif straight-line 'S.S. UPOLU.' handstamp (34x4mm) in blue overstruck with 'SYDNEY/JY11/10/ 19 ' cds, professionally cleaned leaving only minor blemishes. *FKS 210* (shown only as a small extract). The only recorded example on cover. See also Lots 312608 and 313127. The addressee ran a legitimate book shop, from which he also operated as Sydney's leading vendor of pornography. The 'Upolo' was built in 1891 for the Union Steamship Co of New Zealand, and subsequently sold to Lever Bros Plantations Ltd in 1903, and in 1911 to Brisbane Milling Co. In 1914, as HMAS 'Upolu', she was mother-ship for Submarines AE1 & AE2. (Image1)
Estimate AU$2,500
Opening AU$ 1,900.00
Sold...AU$ 1,900.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1900
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2170
Symbol: C
1910 official cover with Royal coat-of-arms in black (presumably mourning for KEVII, who died 6.5.1910) on the flap to Brisbane, with Small Canoe 2d tied by fine 'TULAGI/20AU/1910/...' cds, redirected with Maryborough duplex transit & 'PIALBA/SP5/10/...' arrival backstamps, minor blemishes. *FKS285* (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2171
Symbol: C
1910 (Sep) commercial cover to Burns Philp in Papua with Small Canoe 2d grey tied by a largely very fine strike of the large sans-serif 'S.S. UPOLU.' straight-line handstamp (57x7mm) in blue, apparently missent to Sydney (backstamp of OC1/10) where blue crosses added to the face to highlight the intended destination, superb 'PORT MORESBY/15OCT10/PAPUA' arrival backstamp, professionally cleaned with only very minor blemishes that hardly detract from what is a great rarity of Pacific Islands philately; of ship mail; and of inwards mail to Papua. A famous cover. *FKS289* Ex Ray Baldwin and John Darnell: sold at our auction of 5.12.2003 (as I type this description, that is exactly 21 years ago) for $5880. Don Franks recorded only six other pre-1920 Solomons covers to Papua. See also Lots 313127 and 313128. (Image1)
Estimate AU$5,000
Opening AU$ 3,800.00
Sold...AU$ 3,800.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 3800
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2172
Symbol: C
1910 social cover to Scotland with Small Canoe 1d red tied by one of two light but discernible strikes of 'BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS/11DE/13/GAVUTU' (2-digit year & with the month slug 'DE' inverted), poor Tulagi & very fine Sydney machine transits, light toning/staining. *FKS413* (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2173
Symbol: C
1911 commercial cover from Allan W Walsh to "The Dowager Lady Walsh/Ballykilcavan/Stradbally/Queens Co/Ireland" with Small Canoe 2d tied by largely fine 'TULAGI/DE16/1911/...' cds, poor Sydney machine transit backstamp, opened a little roughly. *FKS328* Queen's County was the British name from 1556 until 1922, when it was renamed County Laios (pronounced "leesh"). Ballykilcavan Farm, famous for its craft beers, has been in the Walsh Family since 1639. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2174
Symbol: C
1912 official cover with Royal coat-of-arms in blue on the flap, to London with Small Canoe 1d pair tied by two light but legible strikes of 'TULAGI/MR26/1912/...' cds, the reverse with fine strike of the idiosyncratic Sydney machine transit of 'APR/12 12 00 M/1912' & poor Kingston on Thames arrival cds of MY19/12, faint staining. *FKS336* The Empire Letter Rate of 1d was introduced on 6.3.1912. Woodford was surely aware of this, indicating this is a double-rate letter. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2175
Symbol: C
1912 (May 10) OHBMS cover signed by the Postmaster "FJ Barnett" at lower-left, to Essex with Small Canoe 4d red/yellow (Cat £13 x25+ on cover) tied by a light but legible strike of 'TULAGI/MY10/--12/...' cds ('19' omitted), 'EARLS COLNE/JY1/12/ESSEX' arrival cds & redirected to "Ramsgate", four different oval 'REGISTERED' datestamps, very minor blemishes. A beautiful cover. *FKS338* The Empire Letter Rate was 1d plus 3d registration. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2176
Symbol: C
1912 (May 10) unstamped OHBMS cover signed at lower-left by the Chief Postmaster "FJ Barnett", to Austria with Tulagi cds & R label (damaged), no transit or arrival markings suggesting it was intercepted (at Sydney) & returned under cover for postage to be added, overall soiling & staining most pronounced on the reverse. Very interesting. From the same mailing as *FKS 338*: see the previous Lot which was correctly franked, suggesting that this item was sent unstamped in error. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2177
Symbol: CL
1912 large-part cover-front to New Britain Corporation in Sydney with Small Canoe 2d tied by a light but largely fine strike of the rare 'BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS/DE4/1912/AOLA' cds (LRD), minor faults. Unrecorded by Don Franks. Ex Robert Horley Taylor (in a mixed lot). Aola (1) 1908; closed late-1912. Aola (2) 29.10.1916; closed -.1.1919. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2178
Symbol: C
1913 (circa) commercial cover with printed 'N WHEATLEY/ROVIANA' on the flap but scored-through, to Great Britain with Small Canoe 1d tied by light but obvious strike of the small sans-serif straight-line 'S.S. KULAMBANGARA.' handstamp (45x3mm) in violet, minor blemishes, part of the flap missing & minor repair at upper-left. *FKS 419*, dated to 1911-1916 but a similar cover - *FKS 411* (shown as a small extract only) has a Sydney transit backstamp of OC7/1913. The ship was acquired by Levers in 1910 as a replacement for the 'Upolu'. Norman Michael Jackson Ernest Wheatley arrived in the Solomons in 1895, before declaration of the Protectorate, and while cannibalism was still rife. Playing-off the different tribes & mission stations, he became a wealthy trader & plantation-owner, based at Lambeti on Roviana Lagoon. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 750.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 750
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2179
Symbol: C
Cat No: 102var
1926 Pacific Islands Survey Flight per Group Captain Richard Williams return sector from Tulagi to Rabaul (New Guinea) AAMC #102var, printed 'THE RESIDENCY/TULAGI/...' in blue on the flap & endorsed "Aerial Mail" at upper-left, repaired opening fault at the top. A great rarity of Australian & Pacific Islands pioneer airmail covers. Sold at our auction of 19.5.2018 for $1770 (Sale 227 Lot 1283). Sergio Sismondo Certificate (2006) with his extensive historical notes. As stated in the Australian Air Mail Catalogue, the majority of the 50 covers were "flown the entire route" from Melbourne & return, but several outward intermediates are recorded. However, this apparently official cover, from the Government Resident in Tulagi to the Australian judge in Rabaul, is the only one recorded from a return sector. Tom Frommer's outward & inwards - from Papua - illustrated covers sold at our auction of 4.4.2017 for $15,600 & $13,800 respectively. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,150.00
Sold...AU$ 1,150.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 1150
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2180
Symbol: C
1931 (June 27) cover to Austria with KGV 2d & 4d tied by light but obvious 'SHORTLAND ISLD/BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' cds and superb black/white 'BRIT SOLOMON ISLANDS/SHORTLAND/...' R label, most unusually with Adelaide transit backstamp of 15JUL31, minor blemishes on the reverse. The foreign rate was 3d + 3d registration. A beautiful cover. (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2181
Symbol: C
1938 (Sep 30) social cover endorsed "Sender: Henry Kuper/Santa-Anna/..." to New York with KGV 1½d red x2 tied by Tulagi cds. German-born Heinrich Kuper arrived in the Solomons in 1912 but, surprisingly, was not interned during either World War. He married a native woman: during WWII, one of their sons was a Coastwatcher and another served in the Australian Army. (Image1)
Estimate AU$150
Opening AU$ 115.00
Sold...AU$ 115.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 115
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2182
Symbol: C
1939 (Dec 29) social airmail cover to Essex with KGVI 2½d Canoe, 4½d Native House & 1/- Breadfruit tied by Tulagi cds, 'TOWNSVILLE/7JA40/...' transit backstamp, unusually uncensored, roughly opened with parts of the flap missing. WWII was declared 3.9.1939. John Gibson states only three wartime airmail covers to Britain have been recorded. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2183
Symbol: C
1940 (circa) cover with 'From: + Walter H Baddeley/Bp of Melanesia, Toroaniara BSIP' printed in blue on the flap, to Sydney with 2d House & Canoe tied by indistinct Tulagi cds, scarce blue/white 'OPENED BY CENSOR' handstamp tied to the face by very fine boxed 'PASSED BY CENSOR' in violet. Early use of this censor cachet at Tulagi, which is not recorded by Little (but does match that used on the cover illustrated by him at page 151). The Bishop was not a 6.2.1942 evacuee, moving instead to Malaita. (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2184
Symbol: C
1941 (Nov 10) social cover to Sydney unusually by air "via Rabaul" with 1d Natives & 2d House & Canoe x2 tied by Tulagi cds in bluish ink, minor blemishes & repaired opening tears on the flap. We don't recall seeing another airmail cover by this route. (Image1)
Estimate AU$200
Opening AU$ 150.00
Sold...AU$ 150.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2185
Symbol: C
1942 (Feb ?) cover with "K Griffiths/SSEM/Malaita" (= South Seas Evangelical Mission) endorsed on the flap, to his father (?) in Melbourne with 2d House & Canoe tied by manuscript "B.S.I.P." & Bars in blacklead pencil overstruck with very fine 'NEW HEBRIDES/16MAR42/VILA' cds, Melbourne red/white censor label tied by cachet in violet, vertical fold & light central stain. Yes, another rare cover: only four such items recorded. Believed carried per the ketch 'Combito' to Vila. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2186
Symbol: C
1942 cover with "Miss E Field/Ugi/BSI" endorsed on the flap, to a Sydney company with KGVI 2d House & Canoe tied by manuscript "Post Office/Tulagi/6.4.1942" in blue-pencil, light strike of the boxed 'PASSED BY CENSOR' handstamp, minor blemishes. Another rare cover. Miss Field was possibly a nurse at the Ugi mission station, on a small island north of the central cost of San Cristobal. Mail services were infrequent & unannounced: Stan Jersey identified that mail of this date was carried by the BSIP medical vessel 'Hygaeia' ex Malaita 5 May, arriving Sydney 25.5.1942. A similar but superior cover of the same date sold at our auction of 11.12.2024 for $670 (Sale 258 Lot 1668). (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2187
Symbol: C
1942 cover with "From JR Metcalfe/Gizo" endorsed on the flap, to his wife in Melbourne with KGVI 1½d Artificial Island pair tied by manuscript "Post Office/16.3.1942" in blue-pencil, light strike of the boxed 'PASSED BY CENSOR' handstamp largely obscured by Sydney censor label & cachet in violet, roughly opened & repaired with archival tape. A rare cover. On 6.2.1942, most of the remaining Europeans were evacuated per SS 'Morinda' to Sydney. British-born Methodist missionary, Rev John R Metcalfe remained at Gizo after the evacuation. (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2188
Symbol: PS
1942 usage of American 1c Postal Card from a US Marine with Forces endorsement at upper-left, 'U. S./ SEP/14/1942/NAVY' cancel & very fine 'PASSED BY NAVAL CENSOR' cachet despite the message being headed "Solomon Islands/July 12 1942" which was contrary to regulations, to his sweetheart in New Zealand, minor wrinkles & grubby but a marvellous usage. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2189
Symbol: C
1942 cover with "C Vance/Malaita/BSIP" endorsed at lower-left obscured by the blue/white censor label which is tied by a fine strike of the boxed 'PASSED BY CENSOR' handstamp, to Surrey with KGVI 3d Roviana Canoes tied by manuscript "16.9.1942" in blacklead pencil overstruck with 10-bars cancel of Brisbane (?), opened a bit roughly with two repaired tears at the top. Another rare cover, believed carried per the medical vessel SS 'Hygaeia" from Malaita to Brisbane. Vance was a missionary with the SSEM. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2190
Symbol: CL
1942 OHMS cover with BSIP imprint at lower-left, to "BSIP Office/.../Sydney" with light but clear 'TULAGI/ 23NO42/BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' cds (ERD at Auki, on Malaita), faint bilingual New Hebrides censor cachet at left, slightly truncated at right. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2191
Symbol: PS
1942 Japanese soldier's simple Postal Card with printed boxed characters in red, from Guadalcanal to Japan with faint censor handstamp in violet & very fine 14mm circular 'han' in scarlet, light soiling. Most such items on the market were abandoned during the hasty retreat of the Japanese and were used & readdressed by New Zealand Forces & others. John Darnell had no cards to Japan: his three re-used cards sold for an average of $370. (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2192
Symbol: C
1942-43 two missionary covers from New Zealand & a social cover from New Caledonia all sent via Sydney where censored, two with large 'NOT TRANSMISSIBLE/SERVICE SUSPENDED' handstamp, the other redirected to the Solomons Government in Sydney & then to Melbourne. Scarce trio.
(3) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 550.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 550
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2193
Symbol: PS
1943 Japanese soldier's Postal Card with printed characters & box for censorship all in orange & with idyllic rural scene on the reverse, from a member of OK1 1300 Corps based on New Georgia to Japan with faint small oval 'han' in scarlet, unusually fine for such items with only very minor blemishes. After their defeat on Guadalcanal in -.2.1943, the Japanese withdrew to the north to New Georgia, the largest island in the western archipelago. The island was attacked by American forces on 30.6.1943, and victory was achieved by late-August. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2194
Symbol: C
1943 two stampless covers from coastwatchers 1) to "British Solomon Islds Govt/.../Sydney" endorsed on the flap "Sub Lieut AW Waddell RANVR/.../Guadalcanal" with 'U S/FEB/18/1943/NAVY' postmark, roughly opened on the reverse; and 2) undated airmail cover endorsed at upper-left "Major WFM Clemens/BSI Defence Force BSI" to Victoria with 'NZEF/FIELD/POST OFFICE' & triangular Censor '62' cachets both in violet, repaired opening tear that impinges on the sender's endorsement. Before the war, Waddell lived on Choiseul & Clemens was a District Officer on Guadalcanal.
(2) (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2195
Symbol: C
1943 cover to the BSIP Treasurer in Sydney with KGVI 2d House & Canoe with light but clear 'TULAGI/--FE43/BRITISH SOLOMON IDS' cds in use at Auki, minor blemishes & repaired flap-tears. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2196
Symbol: C
1943 (May 24) stampless cover from Rev Archibald Silvester on Vella Lavella to his daughter (?) in Auckland, endorsed "HEJ" at lower-left with Australian 'PASSED FREE/SURFACE/POSTAGE' machine (date removed), 'FOUND OPEN/OFFICIALLY SEALED' label tied by Brisbane cds of 14JE43, Brisbane red/white censor label & cachet in violet, endorsed on the reverse "Written/Vella Lavella BSI May 24 43/Received July 7 43", a little soiled. The initials are of coastwatcher Henry Josselyn RANVR, who had a team of between 15 & 30 natives on Vella Lavella. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Mar-26-2025, 17:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 259
Lot No: 2197
Symbol: CPS
1943 (July 25 & Oct 3) civilian usages of American 6c Envelope or cover with US 6c Transport both from the Bishop of Melanesia (one signed on the flap "Walter H Baddely) at Taroaniara to "Major HSN Robinson/The Melanesian Mission/.../Sydney", with 'U. S./NAVY' cancels & different US naval censor cachets, the first with minor stains.
(2) (Image1)
