Great Britain and British Commonwealth Postal Stationery - Postal Cards - Stamped to Orde
Sale No: 256
Lot No:693
Symbol:PS
Exhibit pages with Walch issue uprated with 1d carmine-pink + ½d orange, then a range of 1d cards uprated with ½d embossings on 1882 Hobart Printings x3 (one used to Ireland, one with the ½d Inverted at Lower-Left), London Printings x4 (one philatelically used to GB, one a commercial but overpaid local usage), 1885-90 Hobart Printings x5 including Exhibition x2 (one philatelically used to Germany), fine to very fine.
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BOON, W & CO: 1d scarlet with 'PRICE LIST' for W Boon & Co (late Grubb & Eltham) on the reverse SO5.23 (rated RR), to "Road Trust/Sorell Creek" with Hobart duplex of JY23/92 & 'NEW NORFOLK' arrival backstamp of the same day. Only two examples recorded, both used, were discovered only in 2022. Superb.
CROSBY, WILLIAM & CO: 1d+1d carmine three-panel production with allover chromolitho full-colour advertising for The Chemical Union Ltd, Fisons' Sheep Dipping Powder and Fisons' Chemical Fertilizers SO5.37 (rated RR), illustrations of the British Coat of Arms & Medals on two panels - one of which bears the 1d value - and an enormous flock of sheep on the third, the inside (reverse of each panel) with further advertising for Fisons' Poisonous Sheep Dipping Powder with details of use and agent's handstamp 'WILLIAM CROSBY & CO/HOBART' at base with a further 1d value impression, remarkably with no space for an address, the panels separated, a couple of bends, small closed tears and minor loss of the gold embossing at edges. We agree with Malcolm Groom's suggestion that the card was intended to be posted within an address band, similar to a newspaper wrapper.
In our opinion this is the most spectacular item of postal stationery from Australia and perhaps of the entire British Empire. It is also, without doubt, the most extravagant postal advertising item from Australia. Illustrated at page 76 where they state that the second value was added "... possibly for use as a return mailing or in error. Three examples are known all similarly stamped". We cannot find any reference to another being offered at auction. The ultimate in philatelic "eye candy".
DILLON, T: 1d scarlet with 'BRIGHTON ELECTION' notice for 'T DILLON' on the reverse SO5.2 (rated RR), to "Lonsdale" with Hobart duplex of MY8/91, concealed fault on the reverse. Very early usage in first 6 months of STO issues: only two examples recorded, both offered here. Thomas Dillon won the election in May 1891 but the result was voided in July! 'Lonsdale' is a property 14km NNE of Broadmarsh.
DILLON, T: 1d scarlet with 'BRIGHTON ELECTION' notice for 'T DILLON' on the reverse SO5.2 (rated RR), to "Tea Tree" with Hobart duplex of MY8/91, 'TEA TREE' arrival backstamp of the next day, redirected to "Brighton" endorsed "1d to pay" but "Refused", faint oval DLO datestamp in blue on the face, very minor blemishes. Only two examples recorded. Apparently charged 1d for redirection, which was free if forwarded within 48 hours. Illustrated at page 75.
ROBERTS & CO: 1d rose-pink with imprint on the reverse and line-advertising on the face for Massey-Harris farm machinery, also fertilisers, sheep-dip, animal skins & numerous hardware items, the reverse with a pro forma advice about fruit sales SO5.34 (rated R; not recorded unused), to Mangalore with Hobart machine cancel of 3FEB12, minor blemishes & corner bends.
ROBERTS & CO: 1d rose-pink with imprint and line-advertising in dull red on the face for Little's [sheep] Dip stated 'FOR EFFECTUALLY/EXTERMINATING/BLACK SPOT', the reverse with a pro forma advice about product sales SO5.35 (rated RR; not recorded unused), to Bellerive with Hobart cds of 24AU03, minor corner bend at upper-left. This and the next lot are stated to be the only recorded examples.
ROBERTS & CO: 1d rose-pink with imprint and line-advertising in dull red on the face for Little's [sheep] Dip stated 'FOR EFFECTUALLY/EXTERMINATING/BLACK SPOT', the reverse with a pro forma advice about product sales SO5.35 (rated RR; not recorded unused), to Bellerive with Hobart cds of 26AU05. Superb. This and the previous lot are stated to be the only recorded examples. Illustrated at page 77.
WALCH, J & SONS: 1d rose-pink with embossed 'IMPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS/J WALCH/& SONS/HOBART' in blue on the reverse, unused. Superb. Similar to the company's 'representatives appointment card' SO5.36 (rated R) but without the printed pro forma advice.
Sale No: 256
Lot No:702
Symbol:PS
Cat No:Collection
WALCH, J & SONS: 1d rose-pink complete set of 12 scenic cards each with 'J WALCH & SONS Hobart' imprint in red on the view-side SO5.37 (rated RR; unrecorded used), mostly on off-white card but 'MOUNT WELLINGTON' is on a significantly thicker stock that is highly surfaced on the view-side, a couple with very minor blemishes otherwise very fine to superb unused. A beautiful series, of which these are the only recorded examples. Apparently unissued. It is surprising that Walch & Sons would go to the trouble of preparing the cards and paying for the embossed postage if they were not going to release them. Perhaps the cards were prepared as a trial run and it was concluded that the cost was excessive. Very interesting.
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