AUSTRALIAN COLONIES, NEW SOUTH WALES, THE DIADEM ISSUES, WRECK MAIL
Lot 235
Estimate: $150
Realised Price : $320
1857 (21 Jan) entire from Sydney to London with 6d Greenish-grey (large to clear margins) tied by dumb obliterator, with London tombstone d.s. in red (9 My 1857). This cover was carried on the 'Oneida' which left Sydney on 23 January 1857; she broke down off Western Australia and returned under sail to King George's Sound, where the mail was eventually picked up by the 'European'
Lot 236
Estimate: $450
1857 (10 Sep) envelope from Sydney to London bearing imperf 6d Olive-grey (large margins, small corner crease) cancelled dumb obliterator, endorsed 'p Emeu' with London d.s. of DE 7 57, and reverse with Stirling arrival d.s. of DE 8 1857. The 'Emeu' ran aground on a reef in the Red Sea opposite Jeddah on 22 October 1857. The mails were eventually picked up by the 'Madras' on 18 November and taken to Alexandria; there the Southampton portion of the mail was transferred to the 'Ripon', which arrived at Southampton on 6 December. A fine example from this incident, ex Trevor Davis
Lot 237
Estimate: $1,250
Realised Price : $1,000
1857 (10 Sep) envelope from Sydney to London bearing imperf 1/- Wmk '8' with good to large margins cancelled dumb obliterator (stamp removed and hinged in place to verify watermark). Endorsed 'Via Marseilles Per "Emeu" ', with red London arrival d.s. of NO 30 57. The Marseilles portion of the 'Emeu' mail was picked up by the 'Madras' to Alexandria and thence per 'Vectis' to Marseilles, arriving 27 November. A scarce usage of the emergency printing of the 1/- Diadem wmkd '8', ex Trevor Davis