AUSTRALIAN COLONIES, INCOMING MAIL TO THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES

Lot 131		Estimate: $1,700 1869 (6 Mar) cover to Melbourne with India 1865 8a Carmine cancelled indistinct '124' numeral, with faint Aden double arc ds on reverse, and with Melbourne arrival backstamp (AP 15 69). Some staining on reverse, but a rare origin for Australian mail
Lot 132		Estimate: $1,700 1871 (6 Oct) stampless envelope from Bruneck to Bairnsdale, Victoria, endorsed 'Via Brindisi' and with Villach and Triest backstamps, but then sent back west overland to Marseilles. With 'FR/2F96c' accountancy handstamp, Melbourne and Bairnsdale (JA 20 1872) backstamps, and oval 'MORE TO PAY' with mss 2/6 inserted. A fascinating cover, and believed to be one of only two known incoming covers with this accountancy handstamp, ex Hugh Freeman
Lot 133		Estimate: $850 1877 (20 Nov) cover to Bairnsdale, Victoria, franked with 10kr Franz Josef pair and single tied by Meran cds, with Bologna, Brindisi and Melbourne transit backstamps, and Bairnsdale arrival cds (JA 6 78). Fine and attractive. The addressee, Alfred William Howitt, was an experienced bushman who led two parties in search of the Burke & Wills Expedition, and later made gold discoveries on the Dargo and Crooked Rivers (biographical notes enclosed with lot)
Lot 134		Estimate: $900 1894 (10 Aug) 2a Blue registration envelope uprated with 1890-95a Brown pairs (2), 2a Vermilion and 2½a Black on Yellow-buff, tied by Mombasa cds. With Zanzibar and Aden transit backstamps, and carried by Messageries Maritimes to Australia ('LIGNE T/PAQ FR NO. 6' octagonal backstamp). Some very minor marks, otherwise very attractive and probably the best of the handful of covers to Australia from this unusual origin (all addressed to J.H. Parry in Sydney)
Lot 135		Estimate: $800 1895 (21 Nov) registered cover to Sydney with 1890-95 4½a Dull Violet tied by Mombasa squared circle ds, with Aden transit and Sydney arrival backstamps. A very fine cover of the very few known addressed to Australia, all to Sydney collector J.H. Parry. SG cat from £600+ on cover
Lot 136		Estimate: $5,000 1860 (13 Jan) cover (partly opened out for display) from Graaf Reinert to Melbourne, franked with 1855 Perkins Bacon triangular printings 1d Rose pair and 6d Pale Rose-lilac (both touched) tied by 'CGH' obliterators. Endorsed 'Via Mauritius' and with Graaf Reinert, Cape Town and Melbourne (MA 11 60) backstamps. Some tears on reverse, otherwise generally fine. Cape triangulars are very rare used to Australia
Lot 137		Estimate: $900 1837 (28 June) entire to Port Stephens, N.S.W. with good strike of the crowned 'COLOMBO/POST PAID' ds, and with crowned oval 'GENERAL POST OFFICE/SYDNEY ds, SE 6 1837. Carried on H.M.S. 'Conway' via Madras, and by coastal ship to Port Stephens, rated 1/- representing 4d double inwards ship letter plus 8d double intracolonial ship letter. Staining at base and overall light toning, but a very rare origin for mail to Australia at this early period. The addressee, James Charles White, was the Superintendent of Works for the Australian Agricultural Co. (biographical details included with lot)
Lot 138		Estimate: $800 1864 (26 Nov) entire from Paris to Hunters Hill, N.S.W., with 10c Bistre, 20c Blue and 40c Orange Napoleon III tied by dotted Star obliterators, endorsed 'Voie de Suez', with Marseilles transit cds, 'SHIP LETTER/SYDNEY' cds and Hunters Hill arrival cds (JA 21 65), all on reverse. Very fine and attractive, mail from France at this early period is scarce
Lot 139		Estimate: $1,700 1856 (1 Jul) stampless entire from Hamburg to Geelong, with 'HAMBURG/1 JUL 1856' despatch ds, endorsed 'p Morning Light via Liverpool' and with London transit, and 'SHIP LETTER/FREE/GEELONG VICTORIA' arrival ds (SE 17 1856) in red. Rate endorsements of '8(d)' for postage from Germany to U.K., '1/2' for total postage (8d plus 6d ship letter rate) and '1/1' (accountancy due to U.K.). A very fine and early letter from Germany
Lot 140		Estimate: $850 1887 (7 Apr) cover (opened out for display) from Wurttemburg to The Rest, Queensland, with 20c Ultramarine tied by Oehringen cds, and with Brindisi and Brisbane backstamps. The address has been crossed through, and the chamfered boxed 'INSUFFICIENT ADDRESS' applied. The reverse with 'DEAD LETTER OFFICE/BRISBANE' cds in red for 25 MY 87 and 5 AP 88, and with the 'ADVERTISED/UNCLAIMED' cds in red 31 MY 87 on face, eventually returned to sender with Oehringen cds of 9 6 88 on reverse. Few minor marks, but otherwise a very fine and scarce cover
Lot 141		Estimate: $650 1835 (1 Oct) entire written from Noblestown (Dunbartonshire), addressed to William Cumming care of Thomas Hood, who was convicted of a felony in Perth and sentenced to seven years (he received his pardon on 28 March 1838). The addressee (William Cumming) may also have been a convict, as a man of that name was convicted at Aberdeen in 1830 and sentenced to seven years transportation. The letter was carried outside the mails on the barque 'Thomas Lawrie' which arrived in Hobart on 8 March 1836, and then put into the town post and rated '2' unpaid. Some staining but an interesting convict item
Lot 142		Estimate: $1,000 1851 (8 Jul) cover to Port Fairy, Victoria with 1841 2d Blue strip of 4 lettered 'KA-KD' (good margins except close to touching at right) cancelled '446' numerals of Ledbury, and tied by 'SHIP LETTER/LONDON' cds in red, mss '5' accountancy. Reverse with Ledbury and London ds, oval 'SHIP LETTER/MELBOURNE' ds in red, and 'oval 'PORT FAIRY/N.S.W.' ds (27 NO 1851). Flap tears, otherwise a fine example of the 8d ship letter rate
Lot 143		Estimate: $2,500 1852 (2 Apr) cover (missing flap) from Stowmarket (despatch cds in blue on reverse) to North Adelaide with 1841 2d strip of 4 lettered 'OA-OD' (just touched at bottom left, otherwise small to large margins all around) tied by '732' numerals, also by 'SHIP LETTER/LONDON' cds in red. With mss '6' representing G.P.O. accountancy, and with North Adelaide arrival cds (AU 14 1852) in red. Very fine and attractive, with 2010 BPA Certificate
Lot 144		Estimate: $700 1852 (15 Nov) entire from Ulster to Melbourne with Armagh double arc despatch ds in blue, 'PAID' London tombstone ds and 'SHIP LETTER/LONDON' cds, both in red, endorsed 'Ship Letter 8d paid' with mss '8' in red, and '3' accountancy due to London G.P.O. 'SHIP LETTER/MELBOURNE' oval arrival ds (AP 13 53) in red on reverse. Very fine
Lot 145		Estimate: $1,500 1853 (23 Mar) cover from Brighton to Rocky Point, N.S.W. franked with 1841 2d Blue Plate 4 strip of 4 lettered 'LI-LL' (margins close to good) tied by '132' numerals, with Brighton despatch backstamp and 'SHIP LETTER/LONDON' cds in red, plus three London backstamps. Manuscript '5' P.O. accountancy, and reverse with Sydney arrival cds (SE 1 1853) and boxed 'COOKS RIVER' in red-brown (affected by torn black flap), also endorsed 'uncalled for' and with italic 'UNCLAIMED' handstamp. Few age marks, but generally fine and a spectacular inwards cover, with 2004 BPA Certificate
Lot 146		Estimate: $250 1853 (5 Oct) stampless entire from London to Launceston, endorsed 'p "Harbinger" ' and with SHIP LETTER/LONDON' and 'LONDON/PAID' despatch marks in red, rated '8' in red, Launceston arrival cds on reverse. Horizontal filing fold, otherwise a fine cover from the General Screw Steam Shipping Co. contract
Lot 147		Estimate: $650 Realised Price : $525 1855 (1 Jun) envelope (with contents) from London addressed to Melbourne 'To be left at the post office till called for', with 1854-55 2d Blue Watermark Small Crown Perf 14 ('DK') and Perf 16 ('RD' and 'RE') tied by '16' numerals. Carried on the clipper 'Donald Mackay' leaving Liverpool 5 June, and with handstruck '1d' in red to indicate accountancy due to Victorian P.O. Reverse with 'SHIP LETTER/FREE/G.P.O. VICTORIA' cds in red (AU 27 1855) and with endorsement 'Opened by a person of the same name 18/10', subsequently handstruck 'ADVERTISED/AND/UNCLAIMED' and mss '2' added. (It seems unlikely that two persons with the surname 'Duon' were in Melbourne at this time, and the intended recipient may have opened and read the letter, then denied it was intended for him to avoid the 2d payment)
Lot 148		Estimate: $6,000 1855 (4 Oct) cover to Melbourne with very fine 1/- Green Embossed tied by Liverpool '466' spoon duplex, and endorsed 'per Schomberg' and with handstruck '1d' in red P.O. accountancy. 'SHIP LETTER/FREE/G.P.O. VICTORIA' cds in red (DE 28 1855) on reverse. The Black Ball clipper 'Schomberg' left Liverpool on 6 October 1855, and ran aground off Cape Otway, Victoria on 27 December 1855. The ship was a total wreck, but there was no loss of life and the mails were salvaged without mishap. Four covers from this wreck are presently recorded, of which this is perhaps the finest, ex J.R.W. Purves and Brian Peace
Lot 149		Estimate: $420 1856 (6 Aug) cover from London (straight line 'Deptford Broadway' in blue on reverse) to Geelong with 2d Watermark Large Crown Perf 14 strip of 3 lettered 'HA-HC' cancelled '41' in diamond numerals, and tied by '1d' accountancy handstamp in red. Carried by clipper 'White Star' leaving Liverpool 20 August, and with 'SHIP LETTER/FREE/GEELONG VICTORIA' arrival cds in red (NO 5 1856, the Geelong mail being off-loaded during the trip up Port Phillip Bay to Melbourne). Flap faults and light overall soiling
Lot 150		Estimate: $180 1857 (14 Oct) cover to Newtown, Sydney, with 1856 6d Lilac tied by London 'SE/8' duplex, reverse with straight line 'Woolwich WO' in bluish-black, and Sydney and Newtown (JA 12 1958) arrival cds, very fine. (Biographical notes of the addressee, Mr Castles, are included with the lot)
Lot 151		Estimate: $650 1858 (12 Aug) entire from London to Guildford, Western Australia with 1856 1/- Green pair tied by '44' numeral in diamond obliterators, and endorsed 'via Southampton'. Light filing fold and a few minor creases, otherwise very fine, and a rare double rate to this difficult destination
Lot 152		Estimate: $250 1858 (13 Oct) cover to Port Adelaide, South Australia with 1856 6d Lilac tied by Plymouth '620' duplex, endorsed 'via Marseilles' but underpaid and struck 'INSUFFICIENTLY/STAMPED' in red, and sent via Southampton. Reverse with circular undated 'EXETER STREET' in blue, London transit cds in red, and Port Adelaide arrival cds (JA 22 1859). Few marks on reverse but generally fine and attractive
Lot 153		Estimate: $400 1859 (18 Feb) outer from London to Guildford, Western Australia with 1856 1/- Green tied by '15' in diamond numeral, endorsed 'via Southampton'. Light filing fold, otherwise very fine and a very difficult destination
Lot 154		Estimate: $150 1861 (18 Apr) entire to Hobart, Tasmania, with 1856 6d tied by Glasgow '159' duplex and endorsed 'p Australian Mail via Southampton', with London and Launceston diamond 'SHIP LETTER INWARDS FREE' backstamps in red, and Hobart framed 'SHIP LETTER INWARDS FREE' on face in red (12 JU 12 1861). Minor creasing, otherwise fine
Lot 155		Estimate: $150 Realised Price : $115 1861 (24 Sep) cover to Cowra, N.S.W. with 1857 4d Carmine Wmk Large Garter pair (perfs trimmed at right) and 1d Wmk Large Crown Perf 14 tied by Dunfermline '113' duplexes, reverse with London transit cds in red, and Sydney and Cowra (smudged) arrival datestamps. Small tear in base of envelope, otherwise fine example of 9d via Marseilles rate in force 13.1.1857 to 1.6.1863
Lot 156		Estimate: $170 1862 (25 May) 'VIA MARSELLES' printed cover to Melbourne with 4d Carmine Wmk Large Garter (perfs trimmed at left), and 1d Wmk Large Crown Perf 14 pair and singles (2) tied by Worcester '918' spoon duplexes, reverse with London and Melbourne cds in red. Light creases, tone spot at left and rust mark left by paper clip. 1d underpayment of 9d via Marseilles rate
Lot 157		Estimate: $1,500 1862 (27 Oct) cover to East Melbourne with 1862-64 9d Plate 2 lettered 'CL' tied by London 'WC/11' duplex and endorsed 'Via Marseilles'. The letter weighed over ¼ ounce, and so struck with 'DEFICIENT POSTAGE 3d/FINE _________ 6d/9d', to be collected from the addressee. With Melbourne arrival backstamp (DE 13 62) in red, few marks on reverse, otherwise fine and attractive
Lot 158		Estimate: $150 1863 (24 Aug) cover to Melbourne with 1862-64 1/- Green Plate 1 lettered 'JE' tied by Belfast '62' duplex, endorsed 'via Marseilles' and with London transit and Melbourne arrival (OC 10 63) backstamps. Light toning and central stain on face
Lot 159		Estimate: $800 1868 (1 Jun) mourning cover to Port Denison, Queensland with 1867-80 6d Mauve Plate 6 lettered 'GD' (straight edge at right) tied by Brighton '132' duplex, endorsed 'Via Panama', and reverse with London transit cds in red, and Brisbane and Townsville arrival cds. Routed by Royal Mail steamer 'Tasmanian' to Panama, thence per the Panama, New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Co. 'Mataura' to Sydney. The cover is paid 6d to Panama only, and the handstruck '10' was applied representing the deficiency on 1/4d correct postage. Back flap missing and overall light toning, but believed to be the only cover to Queensland carried by this service
Lot 160		Estimate: $450 1868 (30 Oct) envelope with contents to White Hills, Victoria, with 1867-80 6d Mauve Plate 6 lettered 'CL' tied by Ramsgate '634' duplex, missent to Sydney, with a fine strike of the very scarce framed 'MISSENT TO/SYDNEY/N.S.W.'. With backstamps of London (OC 31 68), Sydney (De 25 1868), Melbourne (DE 31 68), Sandhurst (DE 31 68) and White Hills (JA 1 69). Two small holes in right side not affecting adhesive, otherwise fine
Lot 161		Estimate: $2,500 1868 (3 Dec) cover to East Melbourne with 1865-67 4d Vermilion Plate 10 lettered 'DG' and 1867-80 1/- Green Plate 4 (3, lettered 'SE', 'TE' and 'TF') tied by Dublin '186' duplexes, and endorsed 'via Marseilles'. With Melbourne arrival backstamp in blue (JA 21 69), cover reinforced with stamp selvedge and with two strikes of boxed 'RECEIVED OPEN AT/POST OFFICE MELBOURNE/AND REFASTENED' in blue on reverse. Condition consistent with having burst open in transit, and an interesting and scarce example of the 4 x 10d quadruple Marseilles rate, ex Hugh Freeman
Lot 162		Estimate: $1,700 1870 (18 Feb) soldier's envelope to Kooringa, South Australia, endorsed 'From Sergt Major Thomas RI Engrs London', franked with 1858-79 1d Plate 111 lettered 'AL' tied with London 'SW/70' duplex. With Adelaide arrival cds and on reverse Kooringa cds (AP 12 70). Portion of back flap missing, otherwise very fine and a rare example of the 1d inwards military concession rate, with 2011 BPA Certificate
Lot 163		Estimate: $1,500 1872 (4 Sep) cover to H.M.S. 'Basilisk' at Sydney ('or elsewhere') franked with 1872-73 6d Chestnut Plate 11 lettered 'GK' tied by Devonport '250' duplex, and endorsed 'Via Brindisi'. Paid only for the long sea route, and struck with 'INSUFFY. STAMPED/VIA - BRINDISI'. Unusually with no Sydney arrival cds, but endorsed as arriving 25 November 1872. Few minor wrinkles and slight peripheral wear, but attractive
Lot 164		Estimate: $120 1874 (8 Jul) cover to Sydney with 1873-80 3d Rose Plate 14 (corner perf defect) and 6d Grey Plate 13 tied by Beverley duplexes, endorsed 'via Brindisi' and with Sydney arrival backstamp. Few tone spots
Lot 165		Estimate: $300 1876 (19 Apr) mourning cover with contents to Home Rule, N.S.W. with 1873-80 6d Grey Plate 14 lettered 'GB' tied by Tottenham duplex, endorsed 'via Southampton', Sydney, Mudgee and Home Rule (JU 30 1876) backstamps on reverse. Endorsed with mss 'Unclaimed' and returned to Sydney AU 5 1876, where boxed 'ADVERTISED/UNCLAIMED' handstamp in red was applied. Fine and very attractive
Lot 166		Estimate: $400 1877 (4 Jan) cover to St. Lawrence, Queensland, with 1d Plate 173 ('SB' and 'SC') and 1873-80 6d Grey Plate 15 ('DC)' tied by Dublin '186' numerals, prepaying the 8d via Brindisi rate, backstamped Rockhampton and Marlborough arrival cds (Mr 7 77). Portion of back flap missing, few small blemishes, otherwise fine
Lot 167		Estimate: $200 Realised Price : $200 1878 (5 Jun) cover from Killarney to Melbourne with 1864 1d Plate 183 pair, 1870 ½d Rose Plate 10 and 1873-80 6d Grey Plate 15 tied by Killarney '272' duplexes. Cover overweight, and 7½d deficient for the 2 x 8d via Brindisi rate, struck with 'DEFICIENT POSTAGE (7½)/FINE_______ (6)', and on arrival with oval 'MORE TO PAY' with mss '1/1½'. Missing back flap and peripheral faults and toning, still a most interesting taxed cover
Lot 168		Estimate: $250 Realised Price : $250 1879 (10 Feb) 2d registration envelope (slightly shortened at left) to Charters Towers, Queensland with 1876 8d Orange lettered 'MD' tied by Cheltenham '177' numeral, endorsed 'Via Brindisi', and with Townsville and Charters Towers (AP 20 1879) datestamps on reverse. Unclaimed and returned to Brisbane, where the 'ADVERTISED/JU 30 79/UNCLAIMED' handstamp in red was struck, and with 'DEAD LETTER OFFICE/QUEENSLAND' cds in red on reverse. Toned and with peripheral wear, but rare
Lot 169		Estimate: $150 1880 (16 Dec) cover to Adelaide, redirected to Hobart, Tasmania, with 1873-80 6d Grey Plate 16 lettered 'KB' tied by Prestwick '676' duplex, endorsed 'Via Brindisi', with Adelaide arrival cds on face, and Launceston and Hobart datestamps following redirection on reverse. Peripheral creasing and portion of back flap missing
Lot 170		Estimate: $400 1883 (15 Nov) mourning cover to Clare, South Australia with 1883-84 3d on 3d Lilac (2, lettered 'CK' and 'DK') tied by Dublin duplexes and endorsed 'via Brindisi', Clare squared circle arrival ds (DE 24 83) on reverse, fine. A scarce stamp on cover. SG cat £425
Lot 171		Estimate: $150 1886 (8 Jun) cover to Glenelg, South Australia with 1883-84 6d Dull Green lettered 'KA' tied by Clifton Bristol '134' duplex, G.P.O. Adelaide (on face) and Glenelg squared circle (on reverse) arrival datestamps. Couple of light creases otherwise fine
Lot 172		Estimate: $5,500 1856 (19 Aug) cover from Calcutta to Sydney with 1854 1 anna Die II (for the private ship letter rate) tied by 'B/1' octagonal obliterator, endorsed 'Per S. Blair', and reverse with two despatch cds, and 'SHIP LETTER/SYDNEY' arrival cds (DE 10 1856). Mss '3(d)' charged as an incoming private ship letter. Stamp margins close to touching, and tears in back flap, otherwise fine. India 1854 lithographs addressed to Australia are of considerable rarity
Lot 173		Estimate: $6,000 1864 (20 Jun) soldier's letter from a member of the 1st Battalion of the 7th Royal Fusiliers to South Yarra, Victoria, with 1860 8p Purple vertical pair (upper unit damaged) tied by Ferozopore duplex, boxed 'INDIA/PAID' in red, routed via London (JY 27 64) and with Melbourne and South Yarra (Oct 14 64) backstamps. Overall toning with peripheral wear and staining at top left, however a scarce inwards letter to Australia at the concessionary rate
Lot 174		Estimate: $500 1887 (20 Jan) cover from Florence to Warrnambool, Victoria, with 25c Blue strip of 3 tied by Firenze cds. Melbourne and Warrnambool (in blue) arrival backstamps. Back flap missing and a few minor marks
Lot 175		Estimate: $850 1898 (21 Sep) 2s Carmine postcard uprated with 5r Grey pairs (2) cancelled Gensen (Korea) cds, addressed to Sydney and with Brisbane transit cds. The message (from the collector J.H. Parry) includes the comment 'the card is like a piece of blotting paper and you will hardly be able to read it'. Stain at lower right, and few other minor marks but a remarkable origin for Australian mail
Lot 176		Estimate: $450 1841 (13 Jun) entire to a Royal Navy Captain in Melbourne without any marks of origin and likely carried by hand, rated '4' in black, and with oval 'MELBOURNE/NEW S. WALES' ds (OC 13 184[1])' on reverse. Vertical filing fold, and with stains, especially on reverse, which may be the result of disinfection. A very unusual origin for Australian mail
Lot 177		Estimate: $3,200 1841 (13 Jul) OHMS entire (an illustrated lettersheet with litho print of 'St. Jean d'Acre after the Battle') with lengthy letter to Swan River, Western Australia, with curved 'PAID/MALTA' and mss '6' in red, fine strike of 'GENERAL POST OFFICE/CAPE OF GOOD HOPE' ds (OC 25 1841), and endorsed 'Via Bombay' (but clearly routed via the Cape). The addressee is John Septimus Roe, Surveyor-General. He was key player in the development of Western Australia and has been called the 'Father of Australian Exploration' (biographical notes included with lot). Vertical filing fold has been professionally strengthened, otherwise fine, and a very early inwards letter to Western Australia from a very unusual origin
Lot 178		Estimate: $800 1882 (21 Aug) cover from Chicago to Melbourne franked with 1875-79 Banknote 5c Brown (2) tied by cork cancels, underpaid for the 12c Australian rate and 'RETURNED/FOR POSTAGE' struck, an additional 2c Vermilion being added on 29 August. With San Francisco transit and Melbourne arrival (OC 23 82) backstamps. Minor creasing and a little toning, however a rare usage
Lot 179		Estimate: $280 1889 (1 Jun) cover to New Town, Tasmania, franked with 1881-88 Banknote 2c Green and 10c Brown tied by San Francisco duplexes, backstamped Launceston and New Town arrival cds (JY 3 89). Couple of cover creases at left, otherwise fine