SYDNEY VIEWS, CANCELLATIONS, DIAMOND OF DOTS OBLITERATOR

Lot 318		Estimate: $500 2d Plate II Prussian Blue pos. [22, showing the first retouch] good even margins all round showing complete frameline at top, good strike of obliterator tying stamp to small piece. This unusual cancellation was for many years believed to have been applied to Sydney views used in New Caledonia. It is now accepted that it was applied at the Sydney Ship Letter Office.
Lot 319		Estimate: $500 Realised Price : $460 3d Yellow-green on Greyish good even margins all round cancelled by fine strike of obliterator, ex ‘Manwood’
Lot 320		Estimate: $4,000 Realised Price : $7,000 3d Yellow-green on yellowish wove, excellent colour and large margins all round, tied by ‘diamond of dots’ obliterator on 1850 (9 Jul) outer from Sydney to Edinburgh. Endorsed ‘first ship’ with weak ‘PAID SHIP LETTER/SYDNEY’ despatch ds in red, and manuscript ‘8’(d) incoming ship letter charge. Reverse with London and Edinburgh (NOV 25 1850) arrival ds. Vertical filing fold, and some extraneous red ink on face, otherwise a fine and rare usage. From the Dr. Chan Chin Cheung and ‘Manwood’ collections. Four covers are recorded bearing the ‘diamond of dots’ obliterator.
Lot 321		Estimate: $50,000 Realised Price : $35,000 2d Plate II Grey-blue early impression superb horizontal strip of 3 pos. [6-8, [8] being variety ‘no whip’] very large margins three sides showing complete framelines and close on fourth, tied by ‘diamond of dots’ obliterator to 1850 (19 Jun) entire from Sydney to Anstruther, Scotland. With PAID SHIP LETTER/ SYDNEY despatch ds in red, and London, Edinburgh transit and Anstruther arrival (NO 5 1850) ds on reverse. The adhesives pay the 2 x 3d double ship letter rate, with manuscript ‘1/4’(d) (2 x 8d) incoming ship letter charge. The entire, written by Mr Robert Taylor to his mother, and datelined 'Sydney 5 June 1850' deals with a Power of Attorney which was enclosed and is included in the lot. This is the most important of the four recorded ‘diamond of dots’ covers, both for its quality, and in representing conclusive proof that the obliterator was applied in Sydney. The cover was only discovered in 1980 and was in the Dr. W.R.D. Wiggins collection prior to its acquisition for the ‘Carrington’ collection. Two vertical filing folds and repaired tear in cover at top, otherwise very fine and undoubtedly one of the most important Sydney View covers in private hands