1939-40 - EIGHT INTERESTING COVERS inc. 27 Oct. 1939 env. from London to Queensland with 3d, 6d pair & 5/- paying the 5x rate to Australia. 17 Oct. 1939 env. sent express from London to Melbourne bearing 6d & 5/- paying paying the 6d express rate, 5/- double postage rate and 3d registration. 27 March 1940 env. from London to Perth bearing ½d, 1½d, 3d, 4d, 6d, 1/- strip of three and a 2/6d paying 5 x 1/3d rate plus 6d express fee. 8 & 10 May 1940 envs. (2) each bearing single 2/6d brown paying the double rate. 16 Aug 1940 env. from London to Sydney franked with 5/- x 4 and on reverse 1/- x 26 paying the 10 x 4/6d per ½oz rate. (8 covers) (Image)

1940 COVER TO MELBOURNE WITH A REMARKABLE FRANKING; 24 Oct. 1940 large "University of Cambridge Examinations" printed env. (254 x 209 mm) registered from Cambridge "VIA NEW YORK AND/TRANS-PACIFIC AIR MAIL" to Melbourne university bearing on the address side 2/6d brown (16) & 5/- (4) plus on reverse 3d, 6d, 1/- (17) & 2/6d brown (5) paying the 20 x 4/6d per ½oz rate plus 3d registration. Roughly opened with some faults. A remarkable cover which most probably carried examination papers. (Image)

1940 & 1941 COVERS TO BRISBANE: 11 Oct. 1940 env. carried by Trans Atlantic & Trans Pacific air service from London to Brisbane bearing 1/-, 2/6d brown and 19/- dark blue paying the 3 x 4/6d per ½oz rate. 9 Sept. 1941 env. from London by North Atlantic & Trans Pacific air service from London to Brisbane bearing 6d, 2/6d brown, 5/- and 10/- dark blue paying the 4 x 4/6d per ½oz rate. (2 covers) (Image)

1941 REMARKABLE FRANKING - POSSIBLY THE GREATEST 20th CENTURY COVER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE: 18 July 1941 linen backed cover (365 x 210 mm) from London by North Atlantic and Trans Pacific Mail to Melbourne. Bearing a record franking of 9d (2), 5/- and no less than 34 10/- dark blue consisting of three blocks of eight, a block of four, two pairs and two singles paying the 77 x 4/6d per ½oz rate. Some creasing which is to be expected with such a large item. Note: this cover was discovered in an auction in a carton laying face down as a liner. The late Peter Jaffe, RDP, FRPSL and eminent international exhibitor, rated this item as a contender for the greatest 20th century cover of the British Empire. Ex Gartner Auctions 2013. (Image)

1941 ENV. TO MELBOURNE: 17 Oct. 1941 Gordon & Gotch env. (277 x 125 mm) from London "Per North Atlantic Air Service/And Trans Pacific Airways" to Melbourne bearing "G G" perfin 10/- dark blue block of four and pair, plus on reverse 1/- pair, 2/6d brown and 5/- block of four and pair. This pays the 21 x 4/6d per ½oz rate. Some slight cover creasing but scarce. (Image)

1941 A RARE ENVELOPE BEARING PERFINS TO MELBOURNE: 8 May 1941 "Gordon & Gotch" printed env. (263 x 140 mm) from London by North Atlantic Air service and Trans Pacific Airways to Melbourne bearing "G & G" perfin 6d, 5/- (5) and 10/- dark blue (6, inc. a block of four) paying the 19 x 4/6d per ½oz rate. The env. has a ms "Missing Mail (2 months on route)" at foot. A small portion of the env. has been cut away prior to posting. (Image)

1941 ENVELOPE SENT EXPRESS TO MELBOURNE: 2 Aug. 1941 env. sent express via the North Atlantic and Trans Pacific air service franked with 1d (3), 9d (3), 1/- (2), 2/6d brown (2) and 10/- dark blue (4) paying the 11 x 4/6d per ½oz rate plus 6d express fee. A red censor label is attached around the edge at foot. (Image)

1941 URGENT EXPRESS ENVELOPE TO MELBOURNE: 25 Oct. 1941 printed "ARGUS" env. from London via North Atlantic and Trans-Pacific air service to Melbourne with "EXPRESS" and "URGENT" labels bearing 9d (2), 5/- (2) and 10/- dark blue (2) paying 7 x the 4/6d per ½oz fee plus 6d express fee. With large "EXAMINED/BY CENSOR" label wrapped around the base. Cross Reference: MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL (Image)

1941 COVERS TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS: 25 April 1941 censored env. from Plymouth to Melbourne with 1/- pair & 2/6d brown paying the single letter rate. With boxed "UNCLAIMED/AT MELBOURNE" and "UNDELIVERED FOR REASON GIVEN/RETURN TO SENDER" hs. 5 Sept. 1941 env. from London to Brisbane with 6d, 2/6d brown (3) & 5/- (2) paying 4 x th 4/6d per ½oz rate. 14 Sept. env. with censor label from London to No 2 Internment Camp, Victoria with 1/- (2) & 2/6d brown paying the single 4/6d per ½oz rate. 9 Aug 1941 env. from London to Sydney bearing 1/- block of four and 5/- paying the double 4/6d per oz rate. Also a 11 June 1941 front from London to Melbourne with 1/- pair & 2/6d brown paying the single rate. (5 items) (Image)

1941 URGENT PRESS PICTURES ENVS. TO MELBOURNE: 8 Feb. 1941 env. from London "via North-Atlantic and Trans Pacific Airmail" to Melbourne with express and press pictures labels bearing 1/- pair and 2/6d brown (3) paying te double rate of 4/6d per ½oz plus 6d registration. 15 May 1941 similar env. bearing 1/- pair, 2/6d brown & 5/- paying the same fee. Both have large red "EXAMINED/BY CENSOR" labels wrapped around the foot. (2 covers) (Image)

1941 FRONT TO SYDNEY BEARING THE HIGH VALUES AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF POSTING: 28 Feb. 1941 front (128 x 233 mm) from London by "CLIPPER" to Sydney bearing 6d, 2/6d brown, 5/- & 10/- dark blue paying the 4 x 4/6d per ½oz rate by Trans Pacific Air service. (Image)

1945 PARCEL FRONT FROM MANCHESTER TO MELBOURNE: 13 Dec. 1945 parcel piece (277 x 183 mm) bearing 10/- ultramarine blocks of ten and six plus a pair and three singles making the 84 x 1/3d per ½oz rate. The address label has a fine red circular "Crown/CUSTOMS/and/EXCISE" hs. Unusually fine for such an item. (Image)

1946-47 POST WWII MAIL: Interesting group of items inc. 7 June 1946 small parcel piece from London to Brighton, Victoria bearing 2/6d green and 10/- ultramarine x 6 paying the 50 x 1/3d per ½oz rate. 24 Oct. 1946 env. from Bradford to Melbourne with a single 2/6d green paying the double 1/3d per ½oz rate. 19 Dec. 1947 5½d registered env. uprated with ½d, 3d, 1/- pair and 2/6d green x 3, paying the 8 x 1/3d per ½oz rate Also four others. (7 items) (Image)

1948 RARE R.S.W. £1 USAGE TO MELBOURNE: 30 April 1948 large (317 x 223 mm) "Commercial Papers" env. registered from London to Melbourne bearing 3d, 2/6d green and a strip of three R.S.W. £1 paying the 50 x 1/3d per ½oz plus 3d registation rate. Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

1948-50 INTERESTING GROUP OF ITEMS inc. 21 Mar. 1948 parcel front from London to Sydney bearing 6d, 1/- and 10/- ultramarine x 4 paying the 33 x 1/3d per ½oz rate. 23 April 1948 env. from London to Melbourne with 2/6d green and 10/- ultramarine paying 10 x 1/3d per ½oz rate. 7 Dec. 1948 env. from London to Sydney with a single 10/- ultramarine paying 8 x the 1/3d per oz rate, with a "Received at G.P.O./Sydney in damaged/condition" hs. 9 July 1949 env. registered from Inverness to Brisbane bearing 7d, 1/-, 2/6d green and 5/- paying 7 x the 1/3d per ½oz plus 3d registration rate. With boxed "PASSED/BY/CENSOR" and two "FOUND OPEN/OFFICIALLY SEALED LABELS". c.1947 env. from London to Melbourne bearing 2/6d green (3) paying the 6 x 1/3d per ½oz rate. Also two other items. (7 items) Cross Reference: MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL (Image)

1951 FESTIVAL HIGH VALUES USED ON COVERS: 25 May 1951 env. registered from Plaistow to Adelaide with 10/- pair paying 16 x 1/3d per ½d oz rate but the 4d registration fee not paid. 29 Aug. 1951 env. from London to Fremantle with 2/6d & 10/- paying the 10 x 1/3d per ½oz rate.13 Oct 1951 env. to Hobart with a single 2/6d paying the double rate. 29 May 1952 6½d registered env. uprated with 1d, 2d, 2½d & 2/6d paying the double 1/6d per ½oz rate plus 6d registration. 18 Sept. 1952 env. from London to Melbourne with 6d block of four and 2/6d to 10/- paying the 13 x 1/6d per ½oz rate. Also one other. A fine group. (6 covers) (Image)