Mike Scott Archer Collection
Friday 24 September 2004
12.00 noon
SALE 660
* = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by one star are subject to V.A.T. at 17·5%. ** = ONLY lots with their lot numbers prefixed by two stars are subject to V.A.T. at 5%. PLEASE NOTE: All lots in this auction are subject to the Buyers’ Premium of 15% (plus V.A.T. where appropriate) on their hammer prices. ALL BIDS WILL BE TAKEN AS EXCLUSIVE OF THIS PREMIUM
THE ROOTS OF THE OVERLAND MAIL, ETC. 165
1000 "GEORGE MONK" [LATER DUKE ALBERMARLE] AUTOGRAPH ON COMMONWEALTH PERIOD DOCUMENT; 10 Nov. 1653 paper document (some stains and faced with clear plastic over content and autograph; no address-sheet) directed "For my very loving freinds the Commissioners of ye Navy, These", appointing one Wm. Sargent as "Clerke of the Chequer in the Lester, frigate, building at Bristoll"; clearly signed "George Monck" at the foot. Monck was to be instrumental in the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660; it was the King's dowry from his new wife's father, the King of Portugal, that included the whole port of Bombay! Photo £150
1001 OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS/ACT REF. P.O. INDIA LETTERS + ANGLO-FRENCH CONVENTION; 1815 "MEMORIAL" to the Treasury from India merchants ref. "SHIP LETTERS", July 1837 Act ref. India Packet rates, May 1839 "ADDITIONAL P.O. CONVENTION" (G.B./France) ref. Indian mails, and 1851 Parliamentary Return ref. P&O steamer mail agreements. All very fine; scarce group. (4 documents). £150
1002 RARE BOXED SET OF FOLIO-SIZE DELAMOTTE/BROUGHTON "OVERLAND JOURNEY" PRINTS; 1847 set of 12 prints (15x11‡ ins.; all with perimeter dusting, and one with stains - others very fine) in original (?) cloth-covered box plus separate title-sheet (depicting camel + rider passing pyramids) headed "OVERLAND JOURNEY"; "Drawn on zinc by W.A. Delamotte from the Original Sketches by F. Broughton H.E.I.C.S.". Wonderful set, ideal for framing. Very rare thus. (Box + 13 sheets). PHOTO - see plate no. £750
1003 JOHN TALLIS & Co. "OVERLAND ROUTE TO INDIA" MAP, ETC.; Spectacular 1840s hand-coloured Tallis map (265x372 mm) showing the various routes to India from G.B. with small vignettes of significant places along the way, c.1830 print of the "LOSS OF THE 'KENT' EAST INDIAMAN", two 1837 Bills of Exchange, 1835 print of Madura, 1790 printed list of East India Co. ships (encased in plastic), and 4 1842/75 pages (encased in plastic) from Illustrated papers showing mail-sorting/delivery (3) or Overland route ports. Plus related p. copies. Good lot. (10 items + p. copies). £150
1004 ALBERT SMITH AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, ON "OVERLAND MAIL" PICTORIAL WRITING PAPER; Attractive 1851 letter (no env.) with the "MR. ALBERT SMITH'S OVERLAND MAIL" triple-vignette heading at the top, showing steamer, camel-rider and rail-tunnel as per the matching 1850 Pictorial envelope, with long interesting autograph letter signed by "Albert Smith" himself, to a Mr. Parke of Wolverhampton(?). Ref. a booking for his "entertainment" in the Midlands, etc.:- "I have set some more programmes going...I think you had better print the actual according to the usual form of your theatre...I have sent to our printers to know if he has any envelopes. - I fear we took all he had for the forthcoming tours, and as the "Overland Mail"will finish at Christmas, we did not have any very heavy fresh stock..." Fine and rare matching letter to the famous pictorial envelopes. [Ex John Gunn.] Photo £200
1005 OFFICIAL COVER + LETTER FROM THE ALEXANDRIA POSTMASTER REF. £1,015 FOR CONVEYANCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS ACROSS EGYPT; Remarkable 9 Sept. 1857 EL from "Alexandria" to "Secretary, India House, London" signed on the front and inside by "H. Johnson" (the Postmaster of the British P.O. there; hence no need for any Alexandria postmark) endorsed "Via Southampton" and charged "6". The letter acknowledges that £1,015 had been paid by the E. I. Co. to the Egyptian Government for the last quarter's "conveyance of the Mail between England and Australia". With filing notes about a follow-up letter to "R[owland]. Hill Esqr.", presumably about the new contract for 1858 which P & O won. Fascinating Historical item. Photo £150
THOMAS WAGHORN'S OVERLAND MAILS, 1829-19
1006 RARE EARLY AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY THOMAS WAGHORN HIMSELF; Important 4 Sept. 1829 letter (no wrapper) written (?) and signed by "Thomas Waghorn, of the Bengal Pilot Service" from London and addressed to Francis Freeling, the Secretary of the British P.O.; Waghorn announces that he is about to go to India via Alexandria, Cairo & Suez in just 30 days.. He claims that he has spent 3 years studying "Steam Navigation by C.G.H.", and that he is now intent upon studying "the difficulties...[of] the Red Sea Communication". He seeks special permission to carry letters for other people on this particular Overland journey. He adds that "The importance of a quicker Communication, I hope, may be my excuse for addressing you". He wants to avoid having the letters that he will carry "taken from me on my journey through France"; it is recorded that his request fell upon deaf ears! Important Historical letter from Waghorn at the very start of his career as exponent of the Egyptian route for speeding up the mails between Britain and India. [Quoted in full in Sidebottom's 1948 "Overland Mail"; p.35. Ex R. Jeidl.] PHOTO - see plate no. £300
1007 RARE EARLY HANDSTRUCK "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN/ALEXANDRIA." CACHET ON COVER FROM G.B. TO CALCUTTA VIA FALMOUTH ROUTE; 1 Sept. 1837 EL (fragile stains on one flap and affecting part of contents, but address-panel very fine) from London to Calcutta endorsed "231/G.W.W[heatley]" above address and charged "2/6" postage, with a lovely strike of the rare "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN/ALEXANDRIA" cachet (light fold) of the London office nicely placed on the front, having a mostly fine boxed "BOMBAY/SHIP LETTER/Bearing" arrival d.s. and red boxed "G.P.O." d.s. (7 Dec.) on the reverse. Rare early Waghorn cover. [Recorded as Sidebottom letter No.35 in 1948.] Photo £850
1008 RARE EARLY HANDSTRUCK "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN/ALEXANDRIA." CACHET ON COVER FROM G.B. TO BOMBAY VIA MARSEILLES ROUTE; 22 Feb. 1839 E (toned and worn) from London to Bombay "Via Marseilles" endorsed above address "Messrs. Forbes & Co. are requested to forward this with care & expedition", and prepaid the "1 Oz" rate of "3.4 [+] 9.4 [=] 12/8‡", having a faint red London "P-D" in oval and a very fine strike of the rare "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN/ALEXANDRIA" cachet (just affected by small closed tear and filing crease) on the front, along with "G.W.W." number. Redirected to "Scinde" with a faint Bombay backstamp. Rare high prepaid rate and a remarkable Waghorn cover. [Recorded as Sidebottom letter No.62 in 1948.] Photo £600
1009 RARE OVAL FRAMED "Care of/Mr. Waghorn/Suez" CACHET ON COVER FROM CALCUTTA TO G.B. VIA FRANCE; Fine 1/2 May 1839 EL (long cross-written family letter; rare thus) from Calcutta (boxed red "INDIA" mark on the front) to London "By the overland Mail" with a very fine oval framed "Care of/Mr. Waghorn/Suez" cachet (of the Calcutta office; initialled "[No.] 31, G.D. for S[mith] & Co.") on the front, along with fair red boxed "PAQUEBOTS/DE LA/MEDITERRANEE" and manuscript "3/8‡" charge; having v. fine red boxed Calcutta "STEAM POSTAGE/INLAND Do./TOTAL" mark across the join with London F.B. 7 July arrival c.d.s., matching the v. fine boxed "BRITISH/FOREIGN" Accountancy Mark. It is most unusual to find a family letter for which the sender paid Waghorn's extra overland fee. Rare thus and of Exhibition Quality. [Listed as Sidebottom No.12 in 1948.] Photo £1200
1010 VERY RARE OVAL FRAMED "Care of/Mr. T. Waghorn/Suez" CACHET ON COVER FROM CALCUTTA TO FRANCE; Fine 11 July 1839 EL from "Calcutta" (boxed red "INDIA" on the front) to Bordeaux "Via Suez p. Water Witch" with a very fine oval framed "Care of/Mr. T Waghorn/Suez" cachet (the rare Type 3a with the initial "T"; only two examples recorded by Sidebottom, not including this example) on the front endorsed "[No.] 359, G.D.", with fine red boxed "PAQUEBOTS/DE LA MEDITERRANNEE" on the front, and mostly fine Calcutta boxed red "STEAM POSTAGE/INLAND Do./TOTAL" mark on the flap. Exhibition item; few of the "T. Waghorn" marks are known. [Ex Dubus, with relevant certificate.] Photo £1500
1011 RARE LATE USAGE OF THE BOXED BOMBAY "To the care of/Mr. WAGHORN" CACHET ON COVER FROM CALCUTTA TO FRANCE VIA LONDON; Unusual 13 Feb. 1841 E (disinfection toning on reverse does not detract) to Agents ("Messrs. Salmus. Mackillip, Dent & Co.") in London "via Bombay, Egypt & Marseilles", charged "1/8" and then "20"[decimes] being forwarded to "Paris" (London F.B. c.d.s.'s of 9/10 Apr. 1841); having a very fine (slightly overstruck) boxed "To the care of/Mr. WAGHORN" of the Bombay office on the reverse. This is Sidebottom Type 10, of which he only recorded 8 covers, none of which were posted later than Dec. 1839. Late usage of a rare type. Photo £750
1012 WAGHORN's AGENTS - MAIL TO GOWER & Co. OF MARSEILLES & PRINTED SMITH & ELDER CIRCULAR; Jan. 1860 env. (some creasing) to a P&O passenger "Care of Messrs. Gower & Co., P & O Co. arrivals, Marseilles" by a Devon M.P., franked by G.B. 4d rose-carmine (2; slightly rubbed) tied by Exeter duplexes; Gower had been the Marseilles Agents of Waghorn & Co. for many years; plus printed Dec. 1860 circular from Smith, Elder & Co. (Waghorn's London Agents of many years standing) ref. an Indian subsidiary. Waghorn's partners continued long after his demise. (2 items). £100
1013 RARE BOXED "FORWARDED BY/WAGHORN & Co/OVERLAND AGENTS/BOMBAY." CACHET ON CALCUTTA COVER DIRECT TO FRANCE; 15 May 1851 EL from "Calcutta" (boxed red "INDIA" and "INDIA PAID" on the front and matching red boxed "STEAM POSTAGE/INLAND Do./TOTAL" mark on the flap) to Marseilles "By Overland Mail via Bombay", having a superb strike of the very rare boxed "FORWARDED BY/WAGHORN & Co./OVERLAND AGENTS/BOMBAY." cachet (NOT RECORDED by Sidebottom; we have only recorded one other example, dated Feb. 1851 on a cover from London to India) on the flap. Very rare and of Exhibition Quality. Photo £850
1014 "Geo. W. WHEATLEY & Co. Ltd. FORMERLY WAGHORN" - COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING CARD, ETC.; 2 Jan. 1918 usage of the fine coloured advertising PPC of Wheatley & Co. (ref. a package sent to India) posted within London with GB KGV ‡d (perfin "G.W.W."), depicting "Vivid historic incidents connected with Lieut. Waghorn's adventurous first journey in establishing the Overland Mail Service". Rare. [The similar, but creased example of this card fetched £126 in Cavendish's Sept. 2002 "John Gunn" auction, lot 849.] Plus 1869/79 pair of letters on Wheatley headed notepaper, and 1887-95 group of Wheatley & Co. parcel receipt-forms (5; all but one being fine). (8 items). Photo £100
THE PERSIAN GULF ROUTE, 1665-1840
1015 17th CENTURY ACCOUNT FOR RANSOM OF SPECIAL OVERLAND MESSENGERS SENT TO INDIA VIA THE PERSIAN GULF ROUTE; Remarkable 1664/5 foolscap document addressed "To present to ye Principall Offic[er]s of ye Navy" outlining amounts due for 4 special Government messengers sent to India with a "Packett of Letters sent from Secry. Bennett for India ye 5th March 1663". The "Bennett" in question was Henry Bennet (1618-85; Lord Arlington from 1663 and Secretary of State 1662-74 - Postmaster General 1667-85). The basic cost for this was $40, but $158 more was needed "For charges disbursed by Consull Lannoy being charged on him by the Fackers [= Fakirs] of Bussora [Basrah in Iraq] for sending & clothing of 4 men which went out of England under ye Comand [= at the request?] of ye Earle of Marlborough and were surprised [= kidnapped!] by ye Arabs....". The Earl of Marlborough (1618-65) was sent to India in 1662 to receive Bombay from the Portuguese as part of King Charles II's dowry from the King of Portugal; these ill-fated messengers were then sent out in 1663/4 when the Portuguese refused to hand over the city. One wonders if the $158 included the men's ransom paid to the Arabs? Amazing insight into the problems of communication by this route; no wonder the slower Cape of Good Hope route remained in fashion. Photo £750
1016 RARE "p. ZENOBIA TO PERSIAN GULPH" ROUTED PACKET LETTER FROM BOMBAY TO LONDON; 22 July 1839 EL (some staining affects address, plus some ink-etching affects flap) from "Bombay" sent by the short-lived and little-used (monsoon-period) Persian Gulf route; via Muscat, Bushire, Karo, Basra, Baghdad & Beirut to Alexandria. The letter was addressed to Madeira, but is endorsed to their London office; there is the unusual "p. Zenobia to Persian Gulph" endorsement on the front, along with red oval-framed Bombay "INDIA" and charges ending with "2/8". The flap has a v. fine London Foreign Branch 21 Sept. 1839 arrival c.d.s. It seems that the letter - an order for a hogshead of Madeira - was duplicated by a letter sent by the normal route. Rare. Photo £240
1017 Similar 30 May 1840 PERSIAN GULF ROUTED COVER from Calcutta, 30 May 1840, to London "p Overland via Falmouth", having a fine red boxed (Calcutta) "INDIA" on the front and an overstruck "CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/Paid" d.s. on the flap. Carried by the E.I.C. 'Victoria' on her only Gulf trip to Muscat, then via Karg, Karrack, and Beirut to Alexandria. Fine and rare. Photo £200
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR, 1870-71
1018 UNIQUE (?) "BRINDISI 3d" COVER WITH INDIAN FRANKING CANCELLED ON BOARD THE S.S. CHINA's ADEN-BOMBAY SEA P.O.; Oct.1870 env. to London, apparently posted on board the S.S. China en route from Bombay to Aden, franked by India 8a red + 8pi lilac (marginal with part inscription "ANNAS") cancelled by very fine small blue barred squares struck on board the Sea P.O. and matching the fine blue oval "SEA POST OFFICE/A/16-10/*70*" datestamp alongside; both tied by either the barred cancel or by part of the frame of the mostly very fine (partly overstriking the Sea P.O. d.s.) large boxed London "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID/FOR BRINDISI ROUTE/DEFICIENT POSTAGE/3d" arrival charge, caused by the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, and the re-routing of the mails via Brindisi rather than "Via Marseilles" as endorsed on this cover. This most attractive cover is doubly rare; it is one of only a handful of recorded examples of the on-board barred Sea P.O. cancel, and this combination of ship-cancelled stamps on a "Brindisi 3d" cover could only occur on two sailings (after which news had reached the P.O. in India to increase the rates). Very rare, probably Unique and certainly Important Exhibition Item. Photo £4000
1019 INGOING "BRINDISI 3d" COVER FROM INDIA TO IRELAND; Attractive 12/15 Oct. EL (minor ink-etched corner-fault does not detract; fascinating family letter ref. being entertained by the local Maharajah at his palace with £20,000 chandeliers in one room!) to Lisburn "Via Marseilles" franked by India 8a rose + 8pi lilac tied by manuscript "Stamped" and fine "UMBALLA/68" duplex, having a partly fine red boxed Bombay "INDIA/PAID" on the front overstruck by a mostly superb strike of the rare London "I[N]SUFFICIENTLY PAID/FOR BRINDISI ROUTE/DEFICIENT POSTAGE/3d" arrival charge-mark across the address. Exhibition Quality example of this short-lived Wartime charge. Photo £750
1020 RARE OUTGOING LETTER FROM G.B. WITH THE "BRINDISI 3d" MARK; 28 Oct. 1870 env. (faults on flaps) to Bombay "Via Marseilles" franked by GB 1d Red (pl.136; scuff) + 1/- green (pl.4) tied by London duplexes, as well as by the corner of a mostly superb large framed "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID/FOR BRINDISI ROUTE/DEFICIENT POSTAGE/3d" mark, having the encircled "St. Bg./As. 2" arrival charge-mark alongside. The "Brindisi 3d" mark is much rarer on outgoing mail, because the increase in rates was announced much earlier in Britain than abroad; only two outgoing mails are thought to have had this charge-mark applied. Exhibition Item. Photo £950
1021 THE SOLE EXAMPLE RECORDED OF THE VERY RARE "BRINDISI 1d" MARK ON 6d-RATE "LAW PAPERS" WRAPPER FROM N.S.W. TO G.B.; 4 Nov. 1870 long wrapper (200x96 mm; minor faults at each end) to Surrey endorsed "Law Papers only" franked by N.S.W. Diadem 6d blackish-violet tied by a mostly fine "SYDNEY/NSW" duplex with a blue crayon "2" (weight in ounces?) and a mostly very fine boxed "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID/FOR BRINDISI ROUTE/DEFICIENT POSTAGE/1d" mark (66x23 mm) on the front; there is a Weybridge Station arrival c.d.s. of 26 Dec. 1870 on the reverse. This "Brindisi 1d" mark was intended for Printed Matter items that had been charged 6d per 4oz via Marseilles and were now chargable at the 7d per 4oz rate via Brindisi; this differential remained unchanged even when the letter-rate of 1s-1d was reduced to 9d in Dec. 1870, so a number of these "Brindisi 1d" marks were issued in London on 26 Oct. & 28 Nov. 1870 [and while this example is not identical to either of the two strikes recorded in the P.O. Proof books, the differences are insignificant]. This remains, as far as we are aware, the sole suriving example of this "Brindisi 1d" mark, and so this cover is one of the Most Important for any Collection of the P.H. of the Franco-Prussian War, New South Wales, or the Overland Mail. [Ex George Molnar, who discovered this cover in Australia in the 1980s; illustrated in "The Postal History of N.S.W." by J.S. White, 1988, p.273.] Photo £3000
1022 "BOOK PACKET" RATE WRAPPER FROM N.S.W. TO ITALY DURING THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR PERIOD & CHARGED 1.8 LIRE POSTAGE DUE; Intriguing 1 Dec. 1870 env. (corner fault; neatly converted by the sender into an open-ended wrapper, with the middle half of each end being shaved off with scissors) franked by N.S.W. 2d (2) tied by "35" star-burst numerals; endorsed "Photographs only" and "Book Packet" and allowed at the special Printed Matter rate in Goulburn (N.S.W.) of 4d up to 4oz. The Italians had no such Printed Matter rate for photographs and so there is a manuscript "18" (1.8 lire) arrival charge and Italian P. Dues (30c +1l + 50c) tied by light Naples c.d.s.'s on the front. Rare example of confusion over international postal rates for mail carried via the Brindisi route. Photo £240
1023 THE VERY RARE (TWO SAILINGS ONLY) G.B. TO AUSTRALIA "VIA BRINDISI" RATE OF 1s-1d PER ‡OZ.; 2 Dec. 1870 EL from London to Launceston (Tasmania) "via Brindisi" franked by GB 1/- Green (2; pl.4) + 2d Blue (pl.13) tied by "LONDON E.C./86" duplexes, with v. fine red diamond-framed Launceston "SHIP LETTER INWARDS FREE" d.s. (19 Jan. 1841) on the top flap. The only recorded example of the double 1s-1d rate to Tasmania, and one of only a handful of covers at this rate that was introduced to replace the Marseilles route late in Oct. 1870, only to be reduced to 9d two months later, so that there were only two P.O. sendings of mail during this 1s-1d rate period. Attractive. [Ex Groom & Michael Blake.] Photo £400
ADEN
1024 G.B. 9d-RATE COVER TO INDIA WITH STAMPS TIED BY BLUE OVAL ADEN-BOMBAY "SEA POST OFFICE" D.S.; Attractive 18 Sept. 1868 env. (small flap tears do not detract) to Lahore "Via Southampton" franked by G.B. 6d mauve (pl.6) + 3d rose-red (pl.5) tied by fine Barnet "937" numerals and also (rare thus) by a very fine blue oval "SEA POST OFFICE/D/4-10/*68*" d.s. struck on S.S. Sumatra, having a fine "NEW·BARNET" c.d.s. on the reverse. Colourful and scarce cover. Photo £120
1025 SCARCE RED OVAL "SEA POST OFFICE" DATESTAMP ON COVER FROM FRANCE TO INDIA; 27 Nov. 1868 EL (minor faults) from Paris to Bombay franked by France perf. 80c red tied by dotted star "4" numeral with v. fine red oval "SEA POST OFFICE/A/8-12/*68*" d.s. (struck on board S.S. Columbian; affected by ink smudge at right) on the lower flap. Aden/Bombay Sea P.O. marks are seldom seen in red ink. Photoplate 6A £140
1026 UNRECORDED (?) ADEN-BOMBAY SEA P.O. "PD" MARK ON 3-COLOUR FRANKING INDIA COVER TO ITALY; Colourful 20 Aug. 1872 E from Calcutta to Genoa "Overland via Bombay" franked by India 8pi +2as +4as tied by firm's cachets and blue octagons, having a large blue oval "SEA POST OFFICE/F" d.s. of SS Delhi on the flap matching an apparently unrecorded blue "PD" mark struck on the ship on the front. Photoplate 6A £100
1027 LATER ADEN-BOMBAY "SEA POST OFFICE" COVERS; 1886-93 covers/cards from G.B. to India (3 inc. 2d brown P. Stat. PC), from U.S. to India (fine 1891 usage of the 2c blue P. Stat. PC; scarce thus), and India to Madeira:- all with varied very fine "SEA POST OFFICE" transit c.d.s.'s. Plus 2 PPC's. (7 items). £100
1028 SQUARED CIRCLES ON TREBLE-RATE COVER TO SWITZERLAND + P. STAT. PC TO GERMANY; Scarce 13 June 1897 env. to Berv with India 1a 6pi + 6as both tied by partial "ADEN" Squared Circels (both scarce stamps used in Aden); plus Aug. 1891 usage of the India 1‡as blue PC to Germany with fine "ADEN" Squared Circle and "LIGNE N/PAQ. FR. No.1" octagon d.s. (2 covers). Photoplate 6A £100
1029 ADEN-BOMBAY "ANONYMOUS" OVAL REG. MARK ON COVER FROM GERMANY TO BUSHIRE; 2 Feb. 1899 commercial env. (long contents in German) registered from Cologne to "Buschir (am Persinhen Golf)" franked by German 10pf red + 25pf orange (2) tied by fine "COLN" c.d.s.'s, having a large black Sea P.O. "oval" mark with m/s "2749" in centre, matching the "SEA POST OFFICE" c.d.s. on the reverse. Attractive and a rare destination. Photoplate 6A £100
AFGHANISTAN
1030 2nd AFGHAN WAR - "MHOW" COVERS TO FRANCE; 22 Nov. 1879 + 16 Feb. 1880 pair of envs. (opened out for display) to Boulogne "Via Brindisi" franked by India 1a brown + 4as green or ‡a blue + 4as green all tied by manuscript lines and barred daimond cancels, having near fine "MUCH" c.d.s.'s on the reverse. Good pair showing the reduction of rate from 5as to 4‡as that took place on 1 Feb. 1880. (2 covers). Photoplate 6A £100
AUSTARALIA - NEW SOUTH WALES
1031 TOULMIN PACKET COVER TO G.B. - THE FIRST OF THE FIVE VOYAGES VIA INDIA; 13 Apr. 1846 EL from "Windsor NSW" to Ireland posted from Sydney with fair red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER" d.s. (13 Apr.), charged "2/2" with Calcutta red boxed "G.P.O." d.s. (27 June?) on the flap, beside 22 Aug. Dublin transit c.d.s. Rare thus; carried by the Toulmin Packet 'Lloyds' via Indonesia to Calcutta, then by P&O etc. Rare example of mail from the First India-route Toulmin voyage. PHOTO - see plate no. £240
1032 2nd VOYAGE BY INDIAN ROUTE - TOULMIN PACKET COVER TO G.B.; 3 June 1846 E to Scotland "p. June Packet via India" with a mostly fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/SYDNEY" d.s. on the front; charged "2/2" with a fair red boxed Calcutta "GPO" d.s. (5 Aug.) across the join. Rare Toulmin Packet cover carried by the 'St. Vincent'. [Ex George Molnar.] Photoplate 6A £200
1033 PRIVATE SHIP LETTER TO G.B. ROUTED "VIA CEYLON"; Unusual 11 May 1848 EL from "Sydney" (written & signed by the new Postmaster of Moreton Bay, W.A. Brown; "I have got an appointment there as Clerk to the Bench and Postmaster...") to Manchester "Pr. [Ship] Ennerdale via Ceylon" and so charged "2/7" with a partial red oval 11 May "PAI[D SHIP LETT]ER/SYDNEY" d.s. on the front and London 20 Aug. transit c.d.s. on the reverse. Rare routing. Photoplate 6A £120
1034 TOULMIN PACKET COVER BY THE 'GANGES' DIRECT VIA CAPE HORN; 1 Nov. 1848 EL (interesting contents ref. trade etc.) to Glasgow with mostly v. fine black "GENERAL POST OFFICE/[Crown]/SYDNEY" c.d.s. on the top flap, but oddly with no Paid Ship Letter mark; charged "1/-" on arrival in London (20 Mar. c.d.s.). Scarce. £150
1035 RARE SYDNEY VIEW COVER TO FRANCE VIA INDIA WITH "COLONIES/&c ART.13" ACCOUNTANCY MARK; Attractive 24/26 July 1852 EL from Sydney (sender's cachets on front) to Paris "per [Ship] Sir George Seymour Via India" and franked by 3d green 'Sydney View' (3 wide margins) tied by a fine Sydney dumb oval, with v. fine "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/SYDNEY" c.d.s. on the top flap (just over edge). Transit marks include a mostly very fine red boxed "COLONIES/&c ART.13" marking (light filing crease; rare on mail from Australian States) on the front, with a red 2-ring "CALAIS " c.d.s. (16 Nov.) beside "2/2" charge and handstruck "15" (decimes) arrival charge. Rare; few Sydney View covers to France have been recorded; posted soon after the 1 May 1852 regulation to make stamps compulsoury for the 3d Ship Letter rate on overseas mail. Exhibition Item. Photoplate 6B £500
1036 FIRST VOYAGE OF THE FIRST P&O CONTRACT - HOMEWARD COVER TO G.B. VIA SINGAPORE; Attractive 31 May 1853 E from Sydney to London "per [Ship] 'Shanghai' via Singapore" franked by NSW 3d Laureate (close to shaved margins) tied by Sydney dumb oval and charged "2/3", having v. fine scarce sanserif "SYDNEY/* N.S.W. *" c.d.s. on the flap. Carried via Singapore by the first homeward voyage under the P&O Contract. Rare thus; Exhibition Item. [Ex George Molnar.] Photoplate 6B £260
1037 FIRST P.&O. SAILING DIRECT FROM KING GEORGE's SOUND TO CEYLON - COVER TO G.B.; 19 Sept. 1853 env. to Yorkshire "per 'Shanghai' via Southampton" franked by NSW Laureate 3d dull yellow-green (almost 4 margins) tied by part Sydney dumb oval and charged "1/-" on arrival; carried from K.G.S. to Galle - the first P&O sailing to take this route directly. Rare thus. Photoplate 6A £300
1038 RARE EARLY "NEWSPAPER/[Crown]/NEW S. WALES" DATESTAMP ON 4th P&O HOMEWARD SAILING COVER; 20/25 Nov. 1853 E from "ALBURY/N.S.W" (fine c.d.s. on the top flap) to Scotland franked with Laureate 2d blue (4 close to v. wide margins) and 3d green (near 4m? - overlapped) both just tied by fine Albury "50" numerals (2d inland + 3d outward Ship Letter rates); also on the top flap is a mostly very fine rare "NEWSPAPER/[Crown]/NEW S. WALES" c.d.s., presumably struck in error (?; see White, p.374, where this cover is recorded) for the normal Sydney transit c.d.s. There is a "2/3" arrival charge for the route via Marseilles. Carried on the 4th homeward P&O voyage under the 1st P&O Contract. Rare thus. Photoplate 6B £300
1039 "VIA TORRES STRAITS & BATAVIA" COVER AT 6d RATE TO G.B.; 10 Aug. 1863 env. (very mionor faults) to Worksop (redirected to Northampton at no extra charge) endorsed "Via 'Hero', Torres Straits & Batavia" and franked by Diadem 6d purple tied by a fair Sydney duplex, reaching Worksop (c.d.s.) on 21 Oct. 1863. Scarce routing, which in this case saved no time compared with the 24 Aug. P&O ship from Sydney that reached Ceylon at the same time! Photoplate 6B £150
1040 REGISTERED DOUBLE RATE COVER TO G.B. VIA SOUTHAMPTON; 29 Feb. 1868 env. (faults) to London franked by Diadem 1/- & 6d (small tear) just tied by very unclear cancel, havinf partly fine red oval "REGISTERED" datestamps of Sydney (29 Feb.) and London (25 Apr.) on the front. Good example of the 6d reg. fee with double 6d per ‡oz postage. Photoplate 6B £120
1041 RARE "B56" MAILBOAT CANCELLATION ON SOLDIER's 1d CONCESSION-RATE COVER FROM SYDNEY TO G.B.; [1 Mar. 1868] env. (minor wear & dusting) to London headed & countersigned for a "Serjeant Wm. Grimes, 61 Co. Royal Marines, H.M.S. Galatea, Sydney"; franked for the Concession rate with a G.B. 1d Red (Pl.81; slightly rubbed) tied by a fine strike of the rare "B56" Mailboar Cancel used on board P&O's SS Bangalore between Alexandria and Southampton. Very rare thus; the B56 numeral is one of the most elusive of the rare Mailboat Cancels. Photo £750
1042 SOUTHAMPTON ROUTE TO G.B. - CORESPONDENCE INC. LATE FEE RATE & RARE PERF. VARIETY; 1868 env. to London with NSW 2d (3; SG 191 with variety perf. 12‡x12&Mac189; - see RL Encyc.), 30 Jan. 1869 env. to London with large format 6d (2) for postage plus the rare 6d Late Fee for the Supplementary Steamer to catch the steamer at Melbourne, and 1872 env. to Devon with small format 6d; all tied by 2 types of very fine "SYDNEY/N.S.W" duplexes. Neat trio. (3 covers). Photoplate 6B £150
1043 6d/8d RATE MAIL TO G.B. VIA BRINDISI OR TORRES STRAITS ROUTES; Fine 20 Mar. 1880 env. with 6d lilac tied by v. fine Sydney duplex endorsed "[Via] Torres Straits" (scarce ex N.S.W.), and 1879/81 pair with 2d (4) or 2d (3) frankings tied by Gosford/Ubana numerals (latter with mostly v. fine "[DE]FICIENT POSTAGE 2D/6D/8D" marks. Scarce group. (3 covers). £150
1044 VERY EARLY EXTRA "GALLE 1d" (FOR CEYLON ROUTE) COVER AT THE SHORT-LIVED 7d RATE TO G.B.; Fine 21 Mar. 1874 env. with 1d+6d tied by v. fine "183" star numerals matching the v. fine "PADDINGTON/N.S.W" c.d.s. alongside, endorsed "Per Nubia". Sent via the special Melbourne route to catch the Southampton mail, and so charged an extra 1d compared to the normal rate. This 7d rate only lasted from Feb. 1874 to May 1875 and was very little used. Few known; colourful Exhibition Item. [Ex George Molnar.] Photoplate 6B £500
1045 ORIENT LINE PRE-CONTRACT MAIL WITH "PLYMOUTH/SHIP·LETTER" C.D.S.; 9 Sept. 1880 env. (minor dusting) to Middlesex franked by 6d lilac tied by fine "HAYMARKET" duplex with 4 Nov. "PLYMOUTH/SHIP·LETTER" c.d.s. (scarce) on the reverse. Rare thus; carried by the Orient Line SS 'John Elder' prior to the Orient Line's contract for mails. Photoplate 6B £100
1046 AUSTRALISCHE HAUPTLINIE - UNDERPAID CARD, ETC. TO GERMANY; 22 Dec. 1890 usage of the 1888 Jubilee 3d green PC to Germany cancelled by Sydney duplex having a very fine "T" in triangle mark with blue crayon "3d" and "80"; plus 1894 env. to Berlin "p. S.M.S. Oldenburg" franked by 1d (2) + ‡d tied by Ashfield numerals. Scarce pair. (2 covers). Photo £100
AUSTRALIA - QUEENSLAND
1047 MORETON BAY DISTRICT - 1/- RATE COVER TO BAVARIA ON INAUGURAL PRE-CONTRACT P&O VOYAGE; 3 Feb. 1859 env. (some cleaned areas) to Munich, franked by NSW Diadem 1/- brown-red cancelled by a mostly fine "81" numeral matching the faint "WARWICK" c.d.s. on the flap, and tied by a very fine red 2-ring "AUSTRALIE/V. SUEZ AMB." c.d.s. (4 Apr.), with Munich arrival d.s. (7 Apr.) on the reverse. Carried on the P&O's pre-Contract voyage, just 9 months before the Moreton Bay District of N.S.W. (inc. Warwick) became Queensland. Very rare thus. [Ex George Molnar.] Photoplate 6B £500
1048 6d-RATE CHALON HEAD COVER TO G.B. WITH "SHIP-LETTER/QUEENSLAND" DATESTAMP; 18 May 1865 env. (faults) to London "via Southampton" franked by 6d green (imperf. vertically x perf. 13; SG27a) tied by light Brisbane thin "QL" in star, having a very fine Type 2 "SHIP LETTER/QUEENSLAND" c.d.s. (code B; earliest known date) on the reverse. Scarce thus. Photoplate 6B £120
1049 CHALON HEAD 3-COLOUR FRANKING COVER "REGISTERED/IPSWICH" TO G.B.; Attractive 20 July 1866 env. (minor creases; mostly on flap) to Glasgow "Registered via Marseilles" franked by Chalon Head 2d (2; SG52), 6d (SG27a; rare imperf. width perf. 13; SG27a) and 4d "REGISTERED" stamp (SG49) all tied by light star-numerals of Ipswich with v. fine handstruck "IPSWICH/REGISTERED" marks (scarce so early) back and front. Rare in all respects. Exhibition Item. Photo £300
1050 CHALON HEAD 10d-RATE COVER TO G.B. VIA FRANCE; Attractive 20 Oct. 1866 env. to London "Via Marseilles" franked by rough perf. 2d blue (2; SG24) + 6d green (SG27) tied by light Brisbane dotted "QL" cancels and the London red "PAID" arrival c.d.s. (13 Dec.), having a mostly fine "QUEENSLAND/A/SHIP LETTER" c.d.s. on the reverse. Photo £200
1051 CHALON BLOCK OF FOUR ON 8d-RATE TORRES STARITS ROUTE COVER TO G.B.; Attractive 25 June 1879 env. to Scotland franked by a very attractive Chalon 2d Blue BLOCK OF FOUR (SG100; tied by indentation - and between perfs. - by "275" Muttaburra numeral) having a partly fine "MUTTABURRA/QUEENSLAND" c.d.s. alongside, with Aramac (26 June), Rockhampton (5 July) and Bannockburn (8 Sept.) backstamps; sent by the Torres Straits route which saved a lot of time when compared with the southward route. Exhibition Item; Chalon Head Blocks are rare on cover. Photo £300
1052 MATCHED PAIR OF UNDERPAID 6d-RATE COVERS TO G.B. BY DIFFERENT ROUTES WITH DIFFERENT POSTAGE DUE CHARGES; Mar. 1882 + Apr. 1884 envs. to Somerset/London; the former endorsed "Via Torres Straits & Brindisi". Both franked with 2d Blues (3), but both underpaid and with v. fine and fair boxed "DEFICIENT POSTAGE.../FINE....." marks completed for 6d+6d=1/- and 2d+4d=6d charges; the latter with superb London handstruck "6d" charge-mark. Very attractive pair; one was over-weight, but the other seems tro have been re-routed. Fine puzzle. (2 covers). [Both ex Trevor Davis.] Photo £200
AUSTRALIA - SOUTH AUSTRALIA
1053 RARE EARLY REGISTERED COVER TO G.B. "VIA BATAVIA" WITH LONDON "[Crown]/REGISTERED" MARK; Attractive 7 Sept. 1847 E (one side-flap removed; mentions an enclosed Bank Bill for £140-16s-9d) to Scotland endorsed "Per 'Princess Louisa' & Overland Mail via Batavia & Southampton" and "Registered" with a fine Adelaide "G.P.O/SOUTH AUSTRALIA" c.d.s. on the front with red m/s "6"; charged "1/10" on arrival. There is a mostly very fine red London "[Crown]/REGISTERED" mark on the front. Pre-1850 International Registered Mail from the Australian States is rare. Photo £300
1054 1/- RATE COVER TO G.B. WITH PRINTED "VIA BRINDISI" INSCRIPTION; 16(?) Feb. 1884 env. (small printed "Via Brindisi" on the front to Sussex franked by two mixed perf. 6d blue (different shades; SG 139 + 140) tied by a fine Adelaide duplex, with a 25 Mar. Battle arrival c.d.s. on the reverse. The cover may perhaps have weighed above ‡oz, but it seems more likely that the extra 6d charge was for a Late Fee. Photo £100
1055 NORTHERN TERRITORY - UNDERPAID 1d CARD TO GERMANY VIA HONG KONG; Fine 14 Apr. 1897 usage of the 1d violet PC from "PORT DARWIN" (Squared Circles) to Bremen "via Hong Kong" with a very fine "T" in circle mark (presumably of Port Darwin) endorsed "5 ctms" and (in red crayon) "1d", having bold blue crayon "10" arrival charge and near fine Apr. 26 "HONG KONG" transit c.d.s., all on the address side. Scarce thus. [Ex John Bell.] Photo £120
AUSTRALIA - TASMANIA
1056 PRESTAMP COVER TO G.B. VIA SINGAPORE WITH ORIGINAL BILL OF EXCHANGE; 29 July 1848 EL from Hobart to London ". [Ship] Aden via Singapore" with almost fine red "GENERAL POST OFFICE/HOBART TOWN/[Crown]/VDL" c.d.s. on the front with outgoing prepaid "4" charge, charged a further "1/-" Packet rate on arrival in London (25 Dec. c.d.s.); with original printed enclosure - "BANK OF AUSTRALASIA" 2nd Bill of Exchange for £200. Plus 1894 env. to GB with key-type 2‡d tied by Launceston duplex, carried by Orient Line 'Ophir'. (2 covers). £100
1057 CHALON 6d COVER TO G.B. BY "EUROPEAN & AUSTRALIAN" LINE; 8 June 1858 env. to London "per Overland Mail via Suez & Southampton" franked by Chalon 6d lilac (4 clear to wide margins) tied by a very fine Hobart "62" c.d.s. with a light Hobart c.d.s. alognside; carried by E&A S.S. 'Australasian' and 'Cambria'. Attractive. Photo £100
1058 SOLDIER's 1d CONCESSION RATE COVER WITH TASMANIA 1d RED FROM HOBART; Rare 10 Feb. 1889 env. (piece with stamp cut off and neatly put back, as usual for this correspondence) from "Hobart" to Lincolnshire, headed & countersigned for the 1d Concession Rate for a "J.S. Young, S.G.T., H.M.S Swinger", franked with a Tasmania 1d Red tied by two v. fine "LONDON" arrival c.d.s.'s (21 Mar.). One of only two such Tasmania covers from this well-known H.M.S. Swinger correspondence. Rare. Photo £240
AUSTRALIA - VICTORIA
1059 RARE TOULMIN PACKET COVER VIA INDIA, ETC.; 18 Aug. 1846 env. to Jersey prepaid "1/6" and then charged "2/7" (via Marseilles) to Jersey, having mostly fine (though overstruck) backstamps of "MELBOURNE/PORT PHILIP" (18 Aug.), "CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER" (18 Nov.) and "JERSEY" (orange c.d.s.; 29 Jan. 1847), as well as a mostly fine red oval Sydney transit "PAID SHIP LETTER" d.s. (25 Aug.) on the front. Rare cover from the 5th & final Toulmin Packet to sail via India. Plus 30 Apr. 1843 EL (worn folds; long and interesting cross-written family letter about life in the Colony) from "Melbourne, Port Philip, N.S.W." sent "Pr. Ship Arab" to Wales with red m/s "3" and black "8" arrival G.B. Ship Letter charges on the front, and a near fine red oval "SHIP LETTER/MELBOURNE" d.s. across the join overstruck by London arrival "SHIP LETTER" mark. (2 covers). Photo £200
1060 "SHIP LETTER/MELBOURNE" COVER TO G.B. VIA "SYDNEY...INDIA...SOUTHAMPTON"; Attractive 21 Feb. 1851 EL from "Melbourne" to Scotland endorsed "p. Shamrock to Sydney, thence p. first ship to India & Overland Mail via Southampton", having a mostly v. fine red oval "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/SYDNEY" c.d.s. (early usage) on the front. A spectacular routing endorsement and rare thus. Photo £150
1061 FIRST P&O CONTRACT - SECOND HOMEWARD VOYAGE TO G.B. - 'CHUSAN' COVER VIA SINGAPORE; 2 Aug. 1853 env. from "MELBOURNE" (part d.s. on front) to London "[Per] 'Chusan' [via] Singapore" franked by Victoria 3d blue (margins in places) tied by a v. fine "1/V" Melbourne numeral, with London handsctruck "1/-" arrival charge on the front. Scarce routing. Photo £100
1062 FIRST P&O CONTRACT - FIRST VOYAGE WITH THE NEW 1/- RATE - VIA CEYLON & FRANCE; 24 May 1854 E to Glasgow "per 'Madras' via Galle & Marseilles" prepaid "1/-" in cash (the new rate introduced on 1 May 1854) with red "*PAID*/MELBOURNE" oval d.s. on the front and charged "2/3" (smudged) on arrival The first voyage after the introduction of this new rate. Photo £100
1063 VERY RARE EARLY "VIA TRIESTE" COVER TO GERMANY WITH RARE 2/- LATE FEE PAID IN STAMPS; Most attractive 25 Sept. 1854 env. to Hamburg "Per Overland Mail Steamer 'Madras' via Trieste" (carried via Ceylon, Suez & Trieste) prepaid "1/- postage in cash (red m/s "1/-" at top right beside v. fine red oval "* PAID*/MELBOURNE" d.s.), additionally franked by two cut-square Victoria 1/- Blues (margins of both clear or just shaved all round) for the RARE LAST MINUTE 2/- LATE FEE for posting at the last minute to the 'Madras' still in Melbourne harbour. The stamps were not cancelled in the rush at Melbourne, but they are most attractively tied by the German blue manuscript rating "8‡" (silber groschen due on delivery) which replaced the intiial "6º" charge. Doubly Important cover; a rare routing via Trieste and a very rare (and exceptionally expensive!) Late Fee charge. Exhibition Item. Photo £750
1064 FIRST P&O CONTRACT - SCARCE DOUBLE 1/- RATE COVER TO G.B.; 24 Nov. 1854 EL (interesting contents from a struggling son about to try his luck in the Gold fields) from Melbourne to London "per Overland Mail" franked by 1/- Blues (2; margins in places, but cut square) tied by v. fine Melbourne "1/V" numerals and the matching oval d.s.; charged "1/-" on arrival. This outgoing 1/- per ‡oz rate only applied to two voyages to G.B. under the 1st P&O contract. Scarce thus. Photo £120
1065 WRECK MAIL - "EMEU" COVER TO G.B. DELAYTED FOR A MONTH IN AN OPEN BOAT IN THE RED SEA, DUE TO THE GROUNDING OF THE SHIP OFF THE SAUDI ARABIAN COAST; 15 Sept. 1857 env. to Newark franked by Victoria 6d orange (2 clear margins; shaved on other sides - light crease) tied by the Melbourne "1" numeral (matching the v. fine small oval d.s. on the flaps); carried from Australia by the ill-fated E.&A.R.M.C.'s S.S. "Emeu", which grounded on a reef in the Red Sea on 22 Oct. 1857. It is recorded that the ship's Captain "took the Marseilles part of the Emeu's mails in an open boat, which was loose in the Red Sea for 27 days. Then it was picked up by the P&O 'Madras' [en route] from Bombay." (Reg Kirk 1980s article). In fact, it is now known that a few covers (4 are recorded in addition to this one) which had only been prepaid the 6d Southampton rate were also taken in the open boat. Rare cover that had an unusually long (and exciting!) journey back to Britain. Photo £500
1066 LAST VOYAGE OF THE EUROPEAN & AUSTRALIAN R.M.C. - 6d-RATE COVER TO G.B.; 19 Jan. 1859 env. (slightly grubby, etc.) to Uxbridge endorsed "Free" [i.e. prepaid] with Victoria 3d milky blue pair (unusually clear to wide margins almost all round) tied by fair "76" numerals matching the partial scarce "SMYTHESDALE/VICTORIA" oval d.s. on the flap. Scarce 25th voyage cover carried by the R.M.S. 'Oneida' to Suez via Ceylon. Photo £150
1067 MIXED ISSUES FRANKING ON 2nd P&O CONTRACT 9d-RATE COVER VIA FRANCE TO G.B.; Unusual 25 July 1860 env. (spotting on reverse) to Kendal "Pr Ottawa via Marseilles" franked by 1858 6d Imperf. (wide margins on two sides, shaved at top & cut into at right) + 1863 3d blue Perf., both tied by fair "1" oval numerals matching the very fine tiny "MELBOURNE/H" c.d.s. on the reverse. Rare combination of stamps. Also a PPC of Melbourne. (2 items). Photo £200
1068 RARE 6d LATE FEE ON 1/- RATE MIXED ISSUES COVER TO ITALY; 25 Mar. 1861 env. to Genoa "Per Stmr. 'Jedda' via Galle & Overland" franked by 1859 perf. 1/- blue and 1858 roulette 6d blue both tied by light "1" numerals matching the fine tiny "MELBOURNE/H" c.d.s. on the flap, having a faint red "POSS. ANGL.AMB. MARSEILLES" 2-ring c.d.s. (11 May; struck in error?) on the front with manuscript "10" (10d due to G.B.). Rare example of an early stamped cover to Italy and a rare Late Fee. Photo £240
1069 RED HANDSTRUCK "M" - FOR MARSEILLES - ROUTE MARKING OF GEELONG; 26 Nov. 1862 env. to London "Via Marseilles" franked by perf. 1/- blue (crease) tied by a very fine "GEELONG/2" duplex with a very fine red "M" alongside. Scarce instructional mark to distinguish the higher rated letters for the French route. Photo £120
1070 Similar 24 Jan. 1863 env. to Derby "via Marseilles" franked by 1/- blue tied by v. fine Geelong duplex with very fine red "M" for Marseilles route-mark on the front. Photo £100
1071 VARIED RATES TO G.B. - VIA MARSEILLES, BRINDISI & NAPLES (DUE TO CHOLERA); 26 Mar. 1864 env. (printed Marseilles route banner in blue) with 4d red + 6d black tied by Sandridge duplexes, 13 May 1878 env. endorsed "via Brindisi" with 6d blue + 2d mauve tied by Melbourne duplexes, and 8 Oct. 1883 env. with 6d blue tied by Melbourne duplex - routed via Naples due to cholera in Egypt. Scarce trio. (3 covers). Photo £140
1072 RED DIAMOND-FRAMED "GB/1F624/10C" ACCOUNTANCY MARK ON COVER TO FRANCE; 23 Feb. 1865 stampless E to Nantes "Via Marseilles" with a very fine "MELBOURNE/VICTORIA" duplex in black and a very fine red diamond-framed "GB" Accountancy Mark on the front, along with "POS. ANG. V. SUEZ.MARSEILLE H" 2-ring c.d.s. Scarce and attractive cover.Photo £120
1073 1s-2d RATE COVER TO THE U.S. WITH RED FRAMED "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID/VIA MARSEILLES" MARK; Attractive 25 Apr. 1865 env. (the piece with the stamps had been torn away at one time but has been neatly reaffixed to the envelope with minimal loss of paper; opened out for display) to New York "Via Marseilles" franked by 6d black (2) + 4d red tied by partial "ST. KILDA/VICTORIA" duplexes (2d short via France, but 2d overpaid via Southampton!), with very fine rare red boxed "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID/VIA MARSEILLES" mark struck at Melbourne on the front (so sent via the slower Southampton route), with superb red "16/CENTS" Accountancy Mark (due to the US) and near fine "5/N. YORK AM. PKT." arrival-charge c.d.s. (25 June) nearby. Rare thus. [Ex Max Watson.] Photo £200
1074 RARE 1d INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPER RATE TO G.B.; Attractive, fine and complete 23 May 1863 issue of the "Illustarted Australian News" (articles on Norfolk Is., art, Java, glass-making, etc.) addressed to Wiltshire, franked by a 1d Green (trimmed at top) tied by a fair Melbourne barred "1" numeral. Rare thus; few early newspapers sent stamped by post from Australian States to G.B. have been recorded. Photo Photo (detail) £100
1075 RARE 2d PRINTED MATTER RATE TO ITALY VIA CEYLON WITH POSTAGE DUE STAMPS; [7 Dec. 1869] wrapper (+ part printed contents) to Genoa "Per 'Avoca' via Galle" franked (part on contents) by 2d lilac just tied (through one perf.) by a fair "1" barred numeral of Melbourne. There is a superb boxed "PIROSCAFI/POSTALI/ITALIANI" mark on the front, and (overweight?) a v. fine "10" arrival charge-mark, so there is a pair of Italian 5c Postage Due stamps tied to the front with a fine "GENOVA" c.d.s. (20 June). Rare thus; international Printed Matter rate covers are rare, and this example is exceptional. Photo £240
1076 EARLY REGISTERED COVER TO ITALY; 27 Nov. 1876 env. (doodles & some wear round edges) to Tirano franked by 1876 1/- blue (scarce on cover) and 1d green (7d postage + 6d reg. fee) tied by very fine "4" numerals matching the "REGISTERED/SANDHURST" c.d.s. nearby, also with boxed Melbourne "REGISTERED" mark and v. fine purple boxed "R" (Brindisi?) on the front. Backstamps include a fine "NATANTA COMO-COLLICO" c.d.s. of the Lake Como Steamer service. Rare thus. Photo £160
1077 MALTA/ITALY - RARE DISINFECTED COVER WITH LATE USE OF OVAL "PURIFIE AU LAZARET/MALTE" MARK & ITALIAN POSTAGE DUES; 9 May 1883 env. (Bank of Australia flap) to Naples franked by Victoria 2d brown + 4d red tied v fine "MELBOURNE/VICTORIA" duplexes; but this was 1d short for the 7d rate, so there is a superb "T" in triangle mark on the front, and on arrival two Italian 10c P. Dues were applied and tied by fine Naples "DIST." oval d.s.'s. Meanwhile the letter had been re-routed on its first arrival in Italy back to Malta for disinfection due to the cholera outbreak in Egypt; so there is a mostly very fine rare blue oval "PURIFIE AU LAZARET/MALTE" cachet (LAZ-C2) on the front with a part fine "MALTA" duplex (5 July), and there are two small chisel-slits. Spectacular (and unique?) Disinfected Postage Dues cover. [Ex Cavendish's 'Disraeli' auction, 11 June 1994, lot 41; sold for £1.430.] Photo £1200
1078 POSTAL FISCAL USAGE OF THE 1/- "STAMP DUTY" STAMP ON 1oz-RATE COVER TO G.B.; 21 Apr. 1885 commercial env. (creases and wear; "M.H. DAVIES/SOLICITOR/MELBOURNE" flap) to London franked solely by a large format 1/- blue Victoria "STAMP DUTY" adhesive, tied by a very fine "MELBOURNE" duplex. Either a double-weight letter, or the single 6d rate with a 6d Late Fee; either way, a rare and interesting early Postal Fiscal usage. Victorian Stamp Duty stamps had first been allowed for postage purposes only from 1 Jan. 1884. [Ex Geoff Manton.] Photo £100
1079 RARE COMMERCIAL COVER USAGE OF THE 5/- "STAMP DUTY" ADHESIVE FOR THE 5oz RATE TO GERMANY; Extraordinary 22 Nov. 1889 long env. (246x122 mm; understandable creasing & wear) to Hamburg "Via Naples, [Per] S.S. Ormuz" (Orient Line), franked solely by a large format Victoria 5/- rose-pink "STAMP DUTY" stamp tied by a very fine "MELBOURNE" duplex. This covered the 10 times ‡oz rate of 6d. Exceptional commercial Postal Fiscal cover. PHOTO - see plate no. £200