PORT DARWIN: 1898 stampless cover to Sydney "On Meninui" (?) with very fine to superb strikes of the 'PT DARWIN/JA14/98/S-A' squared-circle, 'T'-in-circle h/s - and manuscript "5d" in blue - and the rare & idiosyncratic straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTERS' handstamp (Hosking #1383), Sydney arrival b/s of JA27/98 with NSW Postage Due 1d & 4d tied by blue-pencil "X" markings, The deficiancy was 2d for an inter-colonial letter x2 + 1d late fee, insignificant blemishes. An outstanding Northern Territory cover: neither the 'T' h/s nor the Loose Ship Letters h/s was recorded by Ed Williams. Ex 'Zacchaeus' - sold at Gary Watson's auction of 5.3.1990 for $2900 - and Roger Hosking: sold in 2014 for £476. [This is the only Australian Loose Ship Letter marking to be pluralised]

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

PORT DARWIN: 1902 social usage of 'PROVINCIA DE MACAU E TIMOR' '5 avos' in Red on 30r Postal Card with message headed "Timor Oct 10", to NSW with very fine to superb strikes of the 'PT DARWIN/OC12/02/S-A' squared-circle and and the rare & idiosyncratic straight-line 'LOOSE SHIP LETTERS' handstamp (Hosking #1383), superlative 'NORTH SYDNEY/OC22/02/NSW' arrival b/s, small & inconsequential closed tear at U/R otherwise superb! An exceptional origin/destination item.

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,500

PORT DARWIN: 1911 cover "Per SS Eastern" to a ship's passenger en route from Sydney to Shanghai per SS 'St Albans' at "Port Darwin" with Hong Kong KEVII 4c tied by partial 'DARWIN NT/29SE11/STH AUST' cds (plus a superior strike on the reverse), roughly opened along the flap. [Darwin was officially named Palmerston but was always called Port Darwin. With the transfer of the Northern Territory from South Australia to the Commonwealth in 1911, the town's name was officially changed to Darwin]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$250