BUSINESS

This fine cover is addressed to Mrs Macarthur, Camden, New South Wales and it has an imperforate strip of four dark blue two pence English stamps each with a numeral ‘131' in a square grid postmark and it also has a manuscript ‘5^d’. There is a transit mark SHIP - LETTER/ [CROWN]/ AU 27/ 1853/ = LONDON=, as well as a manuscript ‘Dec^r 15/ 53' (Figures 1 & 1A).

ADAMS & CO. EXPRESS’S RELATIONSHIP to FREEMAN COBB of COBB & CO. [USA]

This stampless cover was sent from the United States to a Mr. William F. Christie, Melbourne, Australia in ca. 1840's (according to the vendor, but see later) and it had 3 black ink manuscripts, a prominent ‘Collect’, a vertically placed notation along the left hand side (doubtfully an abbreviation for advertised) and another notation ‘( ) Adams & Co’s Express’ (Figure 1).

ADVERTISING COVER for BUSHELLS TEA from GOODOOGA, N.S.W.

The front of this cover is rather ordinary and was sent from F.J. King, General Storekeeper, Goodooga to F. Chilton, City (Fruit) Market, Sydney. The red 2d KGV Head stamp was postmarked with the Type 2B cancel (with double side arcs) of GOODOOGA/ 12 OC 33/ N.S.W (Figure 1).

ALEXANDER McCRACKEN, BREWER & SPORTSMAN (1856-1915) to ENGLAND

This evocative advertising cover had four colourful oval adverts for different McCracken ales and stout and the cover had the required postage of 2½d made up of two one penny and one green ½d stamps of Victoria cancelled with two copies of the double circle MELBOURNE/ AM/ 4³⁰/ 18 2 03/ 4 with the thick side-bars. It was addressed to London, England (Figure 1).

ALEXANDER BRODIE SPARK, ‘THE RESPECTABLE MERCHANT’ of SYDNEY

ALEXANDER GEORGE WEBSTER (1830 - 1914) HOBART MERCHANT

This 2d blue-green printed to private order envelope has a roller cancel HOBART/ 16.6.09/ TASMANIA on the ‘Head of Victoria’ embossed stamp. It is a colorful advertisement for A.G. Webster & Son, Hobart Tasmania and it shows a man tilling the earth with a Planet Jr. plough (Figure 1).

ALEXANDER THOMSON & THOMAS MUST, PARK HILL, HAMILTON VICTORIA

ALFRED SANDOVER, HARDWARE MERCHANT & BENEFACTOR (1866-1958)

This advertising cover is somewhat unique mainly because of the shape of its flap. The front shows a blue advertising corner for W^M SANDOVER & Co, Hay Street, PERTH, W.A. The 1d red ‘Swan’ stamp has a duplex L.C. ROOM/ 13/ 30 8/ 01/ PERTH and the cover is addressed to a local address. The ‘L.C. ROOM’ is an abbreviation for Letter Carriers Room ( Figure 1).

ALFRED SHAW & CO. LTD., BRISBANE, MELBOURNE, LONDON, IRONMONGER

ARTHUR YATES & CO., SEED GROWERS, SEED MERCHANTS & NURSERYMEN

This real photograph advertising trade post card has a view of numerous workers at the in Plant Department Sydney Warehouse of Arthur Yates & C^O L^TD Sydney, and there is a roller cancel of a SYDNEY/ 5-PM/ JLY 24/ 1922/ N.S.W (Figure 1).

AUSTRALIAN ADVERTISING GUNS COVERS: 1880, 1915 & 1932 [USA]

The first cover shows a stylised ‘ribbon’ advertising JOHN REA/ GUNMAKER/ MCCRAE STREET/ NEXT BLACK SWAN/ SANDHURST and the cover has the 2d lilac mauve stamp of Victoria, postmarked with the duplex SANDHURST/ A/ NO 20/ 80 plus the barred numeral ‘4' as the obliterator. The Australian Firearms Museum, in a listing of Colonial gunsmiths, gives the following information: ‘Rea, J McRae Street Bendigo (formerly Sandhurst) Vic. 1890', and a further listing under his name: ‘Little Scotland, via Geelong Vic. 1851'. There is no certainty that the two addresses are for the same man, and in fact Robert B. Shannon’s Colonial Australian Gunsmiths 1967, does not list a John Rea at all, but lists a G. Rae at Bendigo, Vic. c. 1890 and a Thomas Rea at Little Scotland, via Geelong, Vic. 1851, which is all very confusing.

BASHI A. HAWMID, C.A.S.O.C., BAHRAIN

Several covers all to the same person and address recently came available at a website and the 2 examples are representative of them. The first is on a printed addressed envelope to Mr. B.A. Hawmid, C.A.S.O.C., Bahrain, (Iranian Gulf) and it is stamped with 2d KGVI definitive, postmarked PERTH/ 2.30 P 3 AU 38/ WESTERN AUSTRALIA (Figure 1).

BEBARFALDS, RETAILER of FURNISHINGS & MANUFACTURER of FURNITURE

BENJAMIN MENDES DA COSTA, S.A. MERCHANT & PHILANTHROPIST

CAPTAIN JOSEPH JAMES of GEORGE TOWN, VAN DIEMENS LAND 1786-1844

Two entires were available at auction, one addressed to the merchant Captain Joseph James and the other to his daughter Frances, one and a half years apart, during which time the Captain had died, and both were sent from the same town, Newnham, Gloucestershire in England.

CHARLES COWLES of COWLES & DUNN, GUNSMITH & FIREARMS DEALER

CHARLES HARPER, W. A. AGRICULTURIST, LEGISLATOR & NEWSPAPER MAN

CHARLES L. PACK, PHILATELIST with AUSTRALIAN COLONY INTEREST [USA]

The cover is franked with the green-yellow 3d Roo on Map of Australia stamp (S.G. 37, narrow crown watermark) postmarked BRIGHTON/ VIC, the date is not legible, but most likely is dated ca. 1915. I is addressed to Charles Lathrop Pack Esq, Lakewood, New Jersey. United States of America. A manuscript "via San Francisco per Ventura" has been added (Figure 1).

DALTON BROTHERS, HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, from & to DUNTRYLEAGUE

Two relatively unpretentious covers dated 27 years apart reveal, on their reverse, how the fortunes of the Dalton Brothers changed from humble beginnings in Ireland to riches in New South Wales. The first cover, a printed to private order envelope with the embossed blue 1d ‘Emu’ stamp of N.S.W. was postmarked with the duplex SYDNEY/ FE 11/ 11-A M/ 95/ 36 and was addressed to a firm in Melbourne (Figure 1).

DAVID & JOHN SHEARER, AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS

This advertising cover has a picture of Shearer’s Patent Wrought Steel Plow & Cultivator Shares and warns: “Beware of IMITATIONS, especially UNBRANDED Shares. These shares are often imitated but never duplicated”. The pink 1d South Australia stamp is postmarked MANNUM/ 2 MA (sic)- 2NO11/ S^TH AUSTRALIA and it is sent to a firm of Messrs E.H. & L.O PONTT, Bakara, S.A. (Figure 1).

DENNYS, LASCELLES & CO., GEELONG WOOL MERCHANTS

DODGSHUN SONS & COMPANY, WAREHOUSEMEN, LAUNCESTON

This 1889 small folded advertising circular for Dodgshun Sons & Co. of Launceston, Tasmania was postally used from Longford Tasmania, JY 9/ 89 to Messrs E. & W.L. Bartlett, Latrobe, Tasmania with a single 1d Queen Victoria sideface stamp (paying the advertising rate), tied by the Longford barred numeral '54'. The cover is clearly marked 'CIRCULAR ONLY' (Figure 1).

DR. JOHN MACWHIRTER, J. & S. LEARMONTH, & JERUSALEM COFFEE HOUSE [ENGLAND]

Two very interesting letters, one with two dates in manuscript ‘21 May & 2 July 1850' is addressed to Dr. Mc Whirter (sic), Care Messr J. & S. Learmonth, Geelong, Port Phillip, per ‘Nelson’ has an additional manuscript ‘Answered 6 Dec’ and there is a poor copy of a vertically placed blue double-ringed oval ‘FORWARDED FROM/ LONDON/ THE JERUSALEM hand-stamp, and it is rated ‘6’ pence (Figure 1).

EDWARD CROOKE, VICTORIAN PASTORALIST (1810-1873)

Three stampless entires were sent to the above in 1856-1858 at Gippsland, Holey Plains (the first two incorrectly addressed to ‘Holy Plains, which denoted’), Victoria. The first was sent p(er) ‘Eclipse’ and was endorsed ‘6d to pay’, having been sent from Hobart (Figure 1).

EDWARD KEANE, RAILWAYS & HERITAGE BUILDINGS,

EDWARD WILLIAM COLE, MELBOURNE BOOKSELLER (1832-1918)

Two illustrated covers were found at the same auction site, relating to E.W. Cole and his Book Arcade. The first posted at Melbourne in 1907 shows a stylized rainbow stretching from one clump of palm trees to another, and it lists 16 departments in the store: new books; secondhand books; circulating library; wholesale books; pictures, framing; stationery, fancy goods; music, instruments; house ornaments, glass, china; printing, publishing; photographic studio; toys; crinkled paper; tea salon; perfumery, toilet requisites; mail order; and, Wonderland & Monkeyland to amuse the Youngsters. The extent of the booksite in Melbourne, branches in Sydney and Adelaide, plus the claim “Nearly Two Million Books to choose from” are given, as well as “Lists on Any Subject Sent Post Free” (Figure 1).

EDWARD WILSON & LAUCHLAN MACKINNON, ARGUS OFFICE, MELBOURNE

F. HOULSTON & SON, PUBLISHERS, FIRST at WELLINGTON, LATER in LONDON

Similar to my research on the London publisher Henry King Lewis there is no difficulty in finding information about the firm and books they published, but details about the principals  involved are very sketchy.  Whereas covers sent to the firms in London are not uncommon, but in the case of Houlston, an early cover sent to the Wellington address has not been seen.

The first an advertising cover for the E.W. Cole firm of Melbourne publisher and book seller (described in a previous paper on E.W. Cole) has a red on yellow 2½d stamp of Victoria cancelled in Melbourne in 1896 and addressed to Messrs Houlston & Sons, Publishers, Paternoster Square, London (Figure 1).

F.C. STURTEVANT, IMPERIAL EGG FOOD, HARTFORD, CT

The cover was incorrectly addressed to Mr. F. C. S. Turtevant, Sole Proprietor "Imperial Egg Food", 216 State Street, Hartford Ct., U.S.A. and the reason for the incorrect spelling of the proprietor's name later became obvious. The 3 pale lilac two penny 'Stamp Duty' stamps (a pair and a single) were postmarked with 3 examples of the MELBOURNE/ 15 S/ JE 17/ 90 duplex (Figure 1).

FIFTY TWO YEARS of E.P. CAPPER & SONS, MAITLAND, N.S.W.

Two covers 52 years apart were seen on two different philatelic auction sites which were addressed to two members of a noted Maitland, N.S.W. family and their store.  The first entire was addressed simply to ‘E.P. Capper Esquire, West Maitland’ and it was franked with the 1d N.S.W. dull carmine Plate II Sydney Views and the 1d carmine Laureate stamps, both postmarked with the bar cancels of Sydney (Figure 1).

FRANK GRIMLEY, COACH & WAGON BUILDER,

FRED & ERNEST CRISP BARREL OIL POSTCARD

The Tasmanian postcard with the 1d red QV sideface stamp was postmarked HOBART/ A/ MY 5/ 1903/ TASMANIA and addressed Messrs Chas Atkins Co., 472 Flinders St, Melbourne and it also has a MELBOURNE 7 5 03 reception postmark on the front. In manuscript at the bottom right corner there is an F. & E. Crisp 4/5/05 inscription applied by the sender (Figure 1).

FREDERIC LASSETTER & Co., LIMITED to MISS NINA FANE DE SALIS

This red 1d ‘Shield’ stamp New South Wales Post Card is postmarked with a duplex SYDNEY/ AP 26/ 6.30 PM/ 98/ 44 cancel and is addressed to Miss N.F. De Salis, Lambrigg, Queanbeyan (Figure 1).

FREDERICK WILLIAM HADDON, THE ARGUS JOURNALIST & EDITOR

This cover was sent from England with a bistre nine pence and a one penny red QV stamps with 2 examples of the YARMOUTH/ D/ MY 22/ 67/ NORFOLK duplex with numeral ‘927' to F.W. Haddon Esq, The Argus Office, Melbourne, with a manuscript ‘via Marseilles’. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1).

FREDERICK HUTH & CO., LONDON BANKERS

The entire has a red PAID SHIP LETTER/ [Crown]/ JY 25/ 1840/ SYDNEY with three legible manuscripts, ‘p Union’ and is rated in black ‘2s/8d’ and in red 2s/2d. The reverse (not seen) has a Ship Letter cachet and a London arrival of November 25, 1840, both in red (Figure 1).

GEORGE BRUCE, SHEEP BREEDER, LOOMBAH STATION, YULLUNDRY

I have seen 10 covers addressed to George Bruce over the past 2 years, and it has taken me all this time to come up with a coherent story about him. In the meantime, I had destroyed most of the scans. Recent covers have kindled my interest again, and my search led me to a researcher for Molong Historical Society and thence to Joan Marriott’s book The Crossroads. The History of Cumnock.

GERMAIN NICHOLSON, GROCER, LAND SPECULATOR & PHILANTHROPIST (1814-1888)

Most of the mail involving Nicholson is incoming mail and the 2 covers shown are good examples of the world-wide breadth of his mail. The first is addressed to Monsieur Germain Nicholson, Négociant (merchant),69 Rue Collin Est, à Melbourne, Australie sent ‘Via Steamer’ from ‘Bordeaux/ 2/ OCT/ 67' by ‘E. PURREY, BORDEAUX’ and there are 2 examples of the blue oval ‘MORE TO PAY’, one for ‘4d’ which is crossed out and the other for ‘10d’ (Figure 1).

GOLDSBOROUGH MORT & CO., WOOLBROKERS, STOCK & STATION AGENTS

This advertising cover for Goldsborough Mort and Company Limited with its illustrated nine sheep gives information concerning this fabled Australian company of wool brokers, stock & station agency, Sydney branch. It has an air mail sticker, the grey 1 shilling six pence Mercury air mail stamp with a roller cancel: LIFE/ IS PRECIOUS/ HELP/ TO PREVENT/ ACCIDENTS and a boxed Sydney December 1949 cancel. It is addressed to The Editor, The American Hereford Journal, 600, Graphic Arts Building, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A. (Figure 1).

GRACE BROS, JOSEPH NEAL & ALBERT EDWARD GRACE: END of an ERA

H.B. SELBY & CO., SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS & LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

This advertising cover for H.B. Selby & Co. at 393 Swanston St., Melbourne has the blue 3d Submarine Telephone Communication to Tasmania stamp postmarked with a roller cancel dated 25 May 38 and is addressed to Difco Laboratory, a Michigan-based manufacturer of microbiology media and supplies in Detroit, USA. The reverse shows a figure of an aneroid barometer (Figure 1).

HENRY GINN, COLONIAL ARCHITECT, COMPANY SECRETARY & PASTORALIST (1818-1892)

This poor entire front with the 2d “Half Length” Queen Victoria stamp has an indeterminate numeral “Butterfly” cancellation, and it is addressed to Henry Ginn Esq, Colonial Architect, Melbourne (Figure 1).

HENRY LEWIS JONES, QUEENSLAND'S QUEEN BEE KING

This printed to private order Queensland postcard with the 1d printed stamp has a faint Type 2b 10 bar numeral ‘488' of Goodna, Queensland (14 km east of Ipswich) as well as a routing postmark, T.P.O. S & W RY NO 4/ A 7 OC 95/ QUEENSLAND, and it is addressed to Mr. R.S. Kinnear, The Overflow, Nyngan, N.S.W. (Figure 1).

HERBERT J. RUMSEY, SEEDSMAN, EDITOR, AUTHOR & GENEALOGIST

HIGGINS FAMILY, BURNT OAK, CURRENCY CREEK, S. A.

The E-bay seller had more than 40 covers posted to several family members over a period of 50 years. The present cover was addressed to Mrs. H.M. Higgins, Burnt Oak, Currency Creek, South A/lia with a Melbourne/ -2 AP-6-P/ 1925 postmark, with a complete roller cancel: BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION/ ALWAYS ASK FOR/ AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTS, on a KGV 1½d red stamp (Figure 1).

HON. WILLIAM BENJAMIN ROUNSEVELL & ?THE CURRENCY QUESTION?

HUGO JUNKERS, EARLY GERMAN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER [GERMANY]

This air mail registered long cover appeared on Ebay and was franked with 3 copies of the 3d green first Australian mail stamp, one 1d green KGV Head and 3 copies of the 2d red KGV Head, postmarked with seven impressions of G.P.O. MELBOURNE/ 3/ 16 JA 31. In addition to the Air Mail vignette, there was an R.6 G.P.O. Melbourne Victoria registration label, as well as interesting advertising matter which read: JUNKERS ALL-METAL AIRCRAFT/ No Wood No Fabric Hangars Not Required/ Australasian Factory Representative/ Major H.J. Berryman/ 26 Lumeah Rd., Caulfield, S.E. 7. It was addressed to Messrs Junkers - Flugzeugwerk A-G/ Dessau/ Germany (Figure 1).

ISAAC HIMMELHOCH, FINANCIER & WINEMAKER at GRODNO, VNEYARD

This common red 1d ‘Shields’ N.S.W. postcard postmarked with a SYDNEY/ NO 01/ 01/ 22 duplex was simply addressed to Mr. I. Himmelhoch, Financier, Sydney (Figure 1).

J. KITCHEN & SONS PTY. LTD., MELBOURNE POSTAL CARD 1931

This used printed to private order postal card is said by the vendor to be “very rare, perhaps two exist” and it was sold at auction AUD 1,100. It was listed as a 1928-36 KGV Oval 1½d brown HG K8 on a bluish advice card. It was addressed to ‘Mr V. Hay, Storekeeper Chelsea (Victoria) and was postmarked MORWELL/ 11 FE 31/ VIC. The item was sold AUD100 above the estimate. (Figure 1).

J.W. PLOOS VAN AMSTEL & Co., MELBOURNE, SENT to FRANCE

JAMES & ROBERT BURNS CUMING, ADELAIDE CHEMICAL WORKS COMPANY

JAMES COX, TASMANIAN PASTORALIST, MAGISTRATE & BREEDER

This faint entire has several postmarks and manuscripts that are difficult to decipher. The most legible is at top left, a straight two-line ‘WINDSOR/ N.S.W’ and immediately below this is a manuscript ‘Island postage paid’. Just below the ’James’ in the address is a strike in red of an octagonal ‘WINDSOR/ POST PAID’ and below that an oval ‘GENERAL POST OFFICE/ OC 7/ 1840/ SYDNEY’ (the last 2 inverted). There is a manuscript in black ’7' and to the right of this there is another red unframed Sydney postmark also for 7 OC/ 1840. The entire is addressed to James Cox Esq., Clarendon, Launceston, Van Diemens Land (Figure 1).

JAMES MILSON Jr, DIRECTOR, MERCANTILE BUSINESS MAN & PASTORALIST

I found in my own collection three covers sent to James Milson junior all in 1875 from Melbourne, all bearing the same 2d pale mauve Die 1 Victoria stamp, and with the handwriting of the same individual. Even the Melbourne duplex postmark was monotonously the same, except for the time code and the dates, which ranged from August 27 to October 28 to November 15 1875. To break the monotony the middle-dated cover was blue, but of the same size, as the other two. The sender was remarkably consistent in the way he addressed Milson, as follows: James Milson Jr. Esq^r, B^K New S. Wales, Sydney., N.S.Wales. Just one of these fronts will be shown in Figure 1.

JAMES MIRAMS, MELBOURNE FINANCIER, POLITICIAN & ROGUE (1839-1916)

The item which prompted this paper is not a cover, but a Promissary Note written by James Mirams on 21 January 1889 for the amount of 7 pounds 10 shillings (sterling) and it bears a fiscally cancelled 6d Victorian Stamp Duty with a manuscript ‘JMS’ and date 21/1/89. Payment was due on 24 Feby 1889, made out to the Northern Printing Co. There were 2 different purple stampings, a clear double circle for ‘The National Bank of Australasia’, Clifton Hill and a fainter double oval for the same Bank, Melbourne. The promissory note had a notation ‘Paid’ and James Mirams Snr.’s signature was cancelled by a penline (Figure 1).

JAMES STEDMAN, MANUFACTURER of STEDMAN-HENDERSON’S SWEETS

This comical postcard advertising Henderson’s Sweets, and in particular their popular butterscotch “IT’S AWFU GUID”, was sent without stamps from Sydney on 10 June 1907 to North Sydney. A ‘MORE TO PAY/ 2^D’ was applied with 2 copies of the 1d ‘completed design’ green Postage Dues (Figure 1).

JESSE FRENCH PIANOS - A CONNECTION to AUSTRALIA [USA]

Two covers sent from Sydney to a piano manufacturer in New Castle, Indiana, USA prompted this paper. The first had embossed octagonal KGV heads of the 1d red and the ½d green as well as an affixed 1½d brown KGV head stamp, making a total of 3d postage. The stamps had a roller cancellation of SYDNEY/ JE 9/ 1919/ 10¹⁵AM/ N.S.W. The sender’s name is rubber stamped in purple, at top left, as F. Owen French/ 94 Pitt Street/ Sydney, and the letter is addressed to H. Edgar French, 603 S. 14^th Street, New Castle, Indiana, U.S. America (Figure 1).

JOHN GEORGE ROBERTSON, BOTANIST, PASTORALIST (1803-1862)

This 1849 O.H.M.S. entire is addressed to John George Robertson Esq, Wando, McKinlays Post, Glenelg. It has a faint red boxed FREE/GEELONG (at upper left) and is signed CJ Latrobe/ Commissioner, at lower left (Figure 1).

JOHN ARTHUR MACARTNEY, PASTORALIST, HORSEMAN & QUEENSLAND PIONEER

This mourning cover had a 2d lilac ‘Stamp Duty’of Victoria canceled by the barred numeral ‘156' corresponding to the unframed MANSFIELD/ AP 27/ 85/ VICTORIA as well as a boxed black DEFICIENT POSTAGE/ FINE (ms. ‘2^d') and it was addressed to John Arthur Macartney Esq, Waverly, Marlborough, via Rockhampton, Queensland (the latter placed at top left of the cover), and there were three other manuscripts ‘or Mrs Macartney’ , ‘rec^d 5^th May/ 85 and ‘4^d’ (Figure 1).

JOHN LEWIS CHILDS & C. C. MORSE, PLANTSMEN

Plant catalogues promoting an international trade in seeds have had no borders for at least 100 years as evidenced by horticultural trade between countries. It was no surprise that seed crossed from the USA to Canada but I was not prepared for the frequent trade in seed from the USA and Australia. The early catalogues were as beguiling as present day ones, and there are collectors of these minor pieces of art on the internet.

JOHN SMITH, PASTORALIST, SHEEP BREEDER, PARLIAMENTARIAN (1811-95)

This 1852 ‘town letter’ outer with the imperforate N.S.W. Laureate 1d brick-red (SG 48) stamp is postmarked with a poor barred numeral ‘15' of Molong and is addressed to John Smith Esquire, Gamboola, Molong, and has a Molong reception on the reverse (Figure 1).

JOHNSON & JOHNSON, NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. to POTTER & BIRKS Ltd, SYDNEY

JOSEPH BOSISTO, CHEMIST & M.L.A. RICHMOND, VICTORIA (1824-98)

This 1885 1d dull rose on buff Victoria postcard was mailed out to members of the Richmond Cricket Club as an invitation for the Annual Dinner to be held on Saturday 25 July, 1885 in the Richmond Town Hall, dinner commencing at 7.30 p.m. sharp. Although the card was sent by the Hon. Secretary, Henry Brock, J. Bosisto, Esq., M.L.A., the President of the Club, was to occupy the Chair (Figure 1).

JULIUS LEVY, PITT ST., SYDNEY. POSTCARD from TOOWOOMBA QLD, 1896

This ONE PENNY Queensland postcard is postmarked with '214' rays and an unframed TOOWOOMBA/ QUEENSLAND (with an indistinct date). It is addressed to Mr. Julius Levy, 127 Pitt St., Sydney NSW and has an arrival duplex SYDNEY/ MR 11/ U/ 96/ 29 with N.S.W. between 3 horizontal bars, above and below. Neither the time code replaced by 'U' nor the '29' are recorded in Tobin & Orchard's 'The Standard Circular Datestamps and Related Markings' of Sydney, Volume 6, 1995 (Figure 1).

KWONG, SING & CO. LTD, GLEN INNES N.S.W. A FAMILY DYNASTY

This cover has been described as very rare by the vendor on account of use of regular postage as postage due. It is addressed to Messrs. Kwong, Sing & Co. Ltd, Grey Street, Glen Innes and the red 2d Kingsford Smith stamp is cancelled with T.P.O 2 NORTH/ UP 21MY31/N.S.W. It has a fine double ring LATE FEE/ 1^D/ TO PAY, as well as a green 1d KGV Head stamp cancelled with a purple manuscript between horizontal bars of ‘Postage Due’ (Figure 1).

L. SUSMAN (1832-1903), GERMAN JEW, MERCHANT & FREEMASON, HOBART

This 'entire' gave few clues as to the identity of Mr. Susman, Murry (sic) Street, Hobartown who received an unusual triangular-folded single sheet, postmarked RICHMOND/ MR 21/ 77/ TASMANIA, with the green two pence Tasmanian stamp cancelled by the barred numeral '76' of Richmond. The day-date has been added in manuscript, as shown by the italicized '21' (Figure 1).

LEO BURING [HERMANN PAUL LEOPOLD (LEO) BURING] S.A. VIGNERON

LETTER from A.L. ELDER to R.A.A. MOREHEAD, JULY 1849 per Emma

This entire was from one of the Elder family (pioneers and benefactors of South Australia) to a business associate in Sydney carried per ‘Emma’, postmarked G.P.O./[crown]/ JY * 25/ 49/ SOUTH AUSTRALIA, and addressed to R.A.A. Morehead Esq, O’Connell Street, Sydney. There was a manuscript ‘6' which denotes that 6 pence was paid at Sydney for the double ship letter rate. (Figure 1).

LIONEL & WILLIAM SAMSON, EARLY SWAN RIVER COLONY SETTLERS

A relatively ordinary front to this 1880 postcard reveals an interesting story about early settlers in Western Australia. The one-half penny postcard is addressed to a customer in Fremantle and it is postmarked with a FREMANTLE duplex, the date being illegible (Figure 1).

M. B. WRAGG & Co. Pty. Ltd 'ALPHA' FISHING TACKLE

M. TRILETY, FACE SPECIALIST, BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK

A printed to private order (PTPO) cover with the ½d green and 1d red KGV head has the 1½d brown KGV head stamp added, making a total postage of 3d. All three stamps are postmarked KEMPSEY/ =6P 29 SE 19=/N.S.W , postmark Type 2B(T). The cover (front only) is addressed to Mr. M. Trilety, Face Specialist, 1231 Ackerman Bldg., Binghamton, New York, United States. The surname is unusual, but the title of ‘Face Specialist’ is intriguing. (Figure 1)

MAYNE NICKLESS, from HORSE & CART to HEALTH CARE

This cover appeared at auction and the vendor stated that "Mayne Nickless assisted Tatts to subvert the ban on mail deliveries to Tatts' Hobart address". This was yet another novel method of getting around the Tasmanian Post Office ban on Tattersalls Lottery. There are 5 copies of the pink 1d Victorian "Postage" stamp all carefully postmarked with a large 'R' in a circle, with another one for good measure at the lower left. An additional cancel of DARGO/ 8-OCT 07/ VIC completes the picture. The cover is addressed to Mayne Nickless & Co., Carriers, Robinson Buildings, 91 York St., Launceston, Tasmania. This address is overprinted in faint pencil manuscript with a single word, 'Prohibited' (Figure 1).

MESSRS FOY & GIBSON, DRAPERS, COLLINGWOOD & PERTH

This red KGV 1d embossed cover has additional postage added, the green ½d and two brown-black 1½d KGV stamps each postmarked with ‘ROSLYN FARM/ 9-JAN 19/ WEST AUSTRALIA, with a red registration label with a manuscript Roslyn Farm, and the usual red crayon cross marking. It is addressed to Messrs Foy & Gibson, Hay St., Perth (Figure 1).

MESSRS ROWLANDS & LEWIS, SODA WATER MANUFACTURERS, BALLARAT

This unusually addressed entire with the two Victoria ‘Half Lengths’, the 1d rose (S.G. 28a) and the 3d prussian blue (S.G. 30), postmarked by the barred numeral ‘98' of Malmsbury, was sent in November 1856 to the above firm in Sturt Street, Ballarat, (the reverse with Malmsbury, Melbourne and Ballarat postmarks are not shown), is seen in Figure 1.

MESSRS. GIBBS BRIGHT & Co., MELBOURNE 1897

An interesting stampless cover sent from SYDNEY/ JY 12/ 7-AM/ 97/ 1, per ‘Taiyuan’ with a rounded-boxed PAQUEBOT hand-stamp (Hosking # 1500, earliest recorded date by 6 years), with a large ‘T’ in an oval and a superimposed ‘5_D’, and with a copy of the 5d Victorian Postage Due stamp, canceled by a dateless P.B.R/ G.P.O/ MELBOURNE hand-stamp. It is addressed to Messrs. Gibbs Bright & Co., Melbourne. The item sold at auction for AUD 2,000 (Figure 1).

MESSRS. W. MURDOCH & CO. MERCHANTS, HOBART 1894

The Tasmanian red One Penny postcard was postmarked with the duplex HOBART/ H/ SE 3/ 94 with TASMANIA in the oval obliterator and simply addressed to Messrs. W. Murdoch & Co. Liverpool St. (Figure 1).

MESSRS. THOS. COOK & SON TOURS, MELBOURNE COVER

MOUNT COOLON GOLD MINES N.L. & WILLIAM MATHESON MORGAN, QLD

MOURNING COVER to ANGUS & ROBERTSON from N.S.W. GOVERNOR, 1899

Well not quite, for there is some doubt about the Governor as well as the actual date, but there is no doubt about the important company of Sydney booksellers. The front of the stampless mourning cover is addressed to Angus & Robertson, 89 Castlereagh St, Sydney. There is a very fine blue GOVERNOR/ [CREST]/ FRANK STAMP/ NEW SOUTH WALES (Figure 1).

MR. LOOKE, BOAT BUILDER, BALMAIN

I have developed a penchant for covers which have short title for the address as they frequently uncover an interesting story. Certainly the appearance of this cover did not enthrall me or produce a single bidder on Ebay in spite of the fact that the stamp was an imperf 2d blue Plate 1, NSW QV stamp with four margins, and was postmarked with the earliest type of a Sydney G.P.O. blind barred obliterator, first used 7 February 1850 (Figure 1).

McDONNELL & EAST, GEORGE STREET, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, DRAPERS

A simple cover sent air mail with a brown 5d KGV Head stamp postmarked in 1933 has an indistinct KATHERINE/ ( )/ NORTH AUST postmark (Figure 1).

NICHOLAS FITZGERALD, M.L.C VICTORIA, PASTORALIST & BREWER

This O.H.M.S. New South Wales cover probably contained heavy papers for it had a single brown 1 shilling ‘Roo’ stamp with O.S. overprint and a pair of the green 3d stamps and the cancellation was illegible. However it was sent from the Government Printing Office, Sydney on 12-5-1891. It was addressed to The Honorable Nicholas Fitzgerald M.P., Parliament House (crossed out, and redirected to 454 Collins St.), Melbourne, Victoria (Figure 1).

O’DONNELL GRIFFIN & CO. LTD., ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, SYDNEY

This printed to private order window advertising envelope has the brown 1½d KGV stamp inscribed and it had a roller Sydney postmark which was issued in 1918, described as Type E3 in the AUSTRALASIAN Stamp Catalogue, 1977 edition. The advertisement was in blue and described the firm as F.T.S. O’Donnell Griffin & Co. Ltd. Electrial Engineers 51-53 Druitt St. Sydney (Figure 1).

PATERSON, LAING & BRUCE LTD, WYNYARD STREET, SYDNEY to APIA SAMOA

Examples of the present postcard appeared on 2 Australian auction sites. The company has an interesting history which may never be fully told, as the records were lost in the bombing of the London, England company during World War 2. To add further interest, the son of one of the partners had a significant impact on subsequent Australian history.

PAUL & RICHARD STRELITZ, MERCHANTS in FREMANTLE W.A. & PERTH

POSTCARD to T. AITKEN, VICTORIA PARADE BREWERY, EAST MELBOURNE

This Victorian postcard is an example of the 1876-81 1d "Bell" Post Cards, a variant of the initial issue which had a fine outer frame-line of the ornamental border, for the outer frame-line is thick. It was issued in mid-1878 and this example was postmarked with the duplex MELBOURNE/ 11Y/ SE 27/ 81 and was addressed in bold print to Mr.T. Aitken, Victoria Parade Brewery, East Melbourne (Figure 1).

PRESCOTT CO., PRODUCE & LIVESTOCK SALESMEN & COMMISSION AGENTS

ROBERT GRAY, MILITARY OFFICER & PASTORALIST (1839-1931)

This cover has been a challenge to unravel the manner in which it was addressed in order to confirm that the correct Robert Gray had been researched. Two of the postmarks were key to the certainty that I had identified the right man. One of these postmarks was legible, whereas the other one is still being conjectured. The cover is addressed to Robert Gray Esq., Post Office Caperville, Cleveland Bay, Queensland. The mauve 6d N.S.W. stamp has a ‘35' rays postmark of Goulburn and this was confirmed by the adjacent unframed GOULBURN/ OC 26/ 1870/

ROBERT HODDLE DRIBERG WHITE, DENILIQUIN: COVER from MELBOURNE

ROBERT REID, DRAPER, BUSINESS MAGNATE, FEDERATIONIST POLITICIAN

ROSENTHAL, ARONSON & Co., WHOLESALE & MANUFACTURING JEWELLERS & GENERAL MERCHANTS

This Victorian Post Card with the brown One Penny ‘Stamp Duty’ stamp has a duplex MELBOURNE/ T/ MR 14/ 92 postmark and the six barred VICTORIA obliterator. It is addressed to the company of Mess Fraser Bro & Devonshire in Yarram, Victoria (Figure 1).

S.S. STEWART PHILADELPHIA BANJO MAKER EXTRAORDINAIRE [USA]

This remarkable illustrated cover has 2 x 1d plus ½d Tasmanian stamps with Hobart, Tasmania duplex cancels with a printed drawing of a washerwoman standing on a rug, holding a large letter and a mop and bucket. The letter is addressed to Mr. S.S. Stewart, Banjo Manufactory, Church Street, Philadelphia, U.S.A. The reverse is backstamped Philadelphia 1897 (Figure 1).

SAMARAI, B.N.G. to P. E. SEAGREN,

SAMUEL HENRY M.H.A. to JAMES “PHILOSOPHER” SMITH

This cover has two prominent Tasmanians discussing a land tax problem. The On Public Service only (OPSO) stampless cover was sent to the ubiquitous receiver of mail, Mr. J. Smith, Westwood, Forth (Tasmania) and it has a very fine [CROWN]/ FREE/ 27 DE 27/ 1882 in a diamond shaped box, in black rather than the usual red. The inscription at the base shows that it originated at the Real Estate Duty Department and there is a manuscript written vertically at the left presumably relating to its contents, namely ‘Receipt 1882/ 32 Acres’. The sender has signed his name ‘Samuel Henry’ in blue crayon, and the vendor has identified the sender as being from the Launceston Branch of the Department. (Figure 1)

SENATOR JAMES REA BENSON, ST. CATHARINES, AUSTRALIAN CONNECTION? [CANADA]

This fine Victoria cover had a total of 8d, made up of the 6d blue laureate (watermarked with the emergency paper received from Tasmania showing the double-lined ‘4') plus the De La Rue dull-lilac 2d, both postmarked with the MELBOURNE/ 7 H/ MY 21/ 70, VICTORIA duplex. It has a red LONDON/ PAID/ 14 JY 70 transit mark, as well as a HAMILTON/ ONT. arrival backstamp. It was addressed to ‘The Honbl. James R. Benson MP, St. Catherines (sic), (Ontario), Canada’ and although St. Catharines has a red crayon line through it, there is no evidence that it has been redirected (Figure 1).

SIGMOND HOFFNUNG, INTERNATIONAL WHOLESALE MERCHANT, SYDNEY

Two postal items associated with Messrs S. Hoffnung, Sydney were found in the same week. The first was a cover addressed to an individual care of Mess S Hoffnung & Co, Sydney NSW, Australia, sent from New York via San Francisco and the pink pair of the 6 cent Lincoln stamp (Scott #186, issued 1879) was postmarked with a NEW YORK/ JUL 22/ PM/ 1881 postmark (Figures 1 & 2).

SIR HENRY JONES, JAM MANUFACTURER & ENTREPRENEUR (1862 - 1926)

This Commonwealth of Australia Post Card with the brown 1½d KGV head was addressed to Wilmot & Johnstone, (merchants of) Launceston and is postmarked HOBART/ 11-P-2 OC 23. There is a vertical manuscript indicating the sender as H. Jones & Co/ 2/10/23 (Figure 1).

ST HELENA to BURDEKIN HOUSE, MACQUARIE STREET, SYDNEY

This May 22, 1896 cover with a strip of three 1884-94 blue 2½d overprint on 6d stamps of St. Helena (S.G. #40) paid the triple rate to Sydney Australia. It was backstamped both in London and Sydney, and it was addressed to Norman Burdekin Esq, C/o Sydney Burdekin Esq. Macquarie Street, Sydney N.S.W. An estimate of AU$ 1500 was placed on the cover (Figure 1).

STUART ALEXANDER & CO. SYDNEY and THE EXCHANGE, N.S.W. POSTMARK

This advertising cover for Stuart Alexander Co., Sydney has several interesting features including ample evidence that it was registered (red N.S.W. EXCHANGE registration label, red handstamp ‘REGISTRATION’ and the crossed red crayon lines. It was sent ‘per S.S. Orvieto’ to Paris, France. Postage and registration of 6d was paid by 4 single copies of the 1½d red KGV stamps and was postmarked rather exuberantly with 5 examples of EXCHANGE (placed well off centre)/ 10 FE 26/ N.S.W. The reverse, not shown, was back-stamped Paris on 26.3.26 (Figure 1).

SYDNEY to COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY, REWA RIVER, SUVA FIJI

Two covers with the blue TWO PENCE stamp of New South Wales were sent from Sydney to the same person in Fiji and they almost certainly were from the same sender in spite of the differences in spelling of the addressee’s name. The first cover had a SYDNEY/ A/ JU 4/ 83/ 1 postmark in the top right corner and it was addressed to Mr Robert Leonard, c/o Colonial Sugar Co, Rewa River, Suva Figi (sic). The stamp placed at the lower left had a duplex SYDNEY/ A/ JU 4/ 83 postmark with the triple oval N.S.W obliterator. There was a partially obscured manuscript ‘urgent’ under this postmark. A very faint POST OFFICE/ SUVA/ FIJI was on the reverse, but a scan of this rare and unrecorded postmark by Proud has not been provided as it does not scan well (Figure 1).

SYDNEY POSTCARD to I.M. MOSES c/o MESSRS DAVID SASSOON & Co., BOMBAY

One never knows initially where a postal item will lead and this one produces a trail of religion, trade, wealth and opium. The 1½d N.S.W. postcard is postmarked with the duplex SYDNEY/ SP 26/ 4 PM/ 92 with the N.S.W obliterator and there is a reception postmark of BOMBAY/ F/ OC 17/ (92). It is addressed to I. M. Moses Esq., Care of Messrs David Sassoon & Co., Bombay (Figure 1).

THE SANITARIUM HEALTH FOOD Co. and MORAN & CATO, GROCERS

THE BRANSON FAMILY of BINDA N.S.W.: FROM LACE to WOOL

Prologue: The appearance of 17 covers at one Australian philatelic website sparked my interest in the Branson family. The amount of information concerning this family on the Internet was surprisingly minimal, considering what was eventually learnt from a local source. All 17 covers were addressed to family members at Binda N.S.W. over a period of 29 years, from 1883 until 1912, and unfortunately no letters were still enclosed. The stamps on the covers were very ordinary and the postmarking was relatively unexciting, but the addresses, addressees and senders hinted at a story worth reporting.

THOMAS BAKER & JOHN ROUSE COMPANY, FORE-RUNNER of KODAK, AUSTRALASIA

Two N.S.W. letter cards to the Baker & Rouse company in Sydney in the late 1890's not only led to information about photography in Australia, but also about philanthropy which led to the formation of one of the premier Victorian medical research and treatment centres.

THOMAS BRUNTON, BAKER, POLITICIAN, FLOUR MILLER & FARMER

The postcard had a 1d orange-brown ‘Reading Stamp Duty’ stamp cancelled with an ‘UP TRAIN/ MG 1/AU 23/ 90/ VICTORIA postmark and had a printed JAS. GRIGG, Esq.,456 Collins Street, Melbourne (Figure 1).

THOMAS CARLYLE LOTHIAN, PUBLISHER & PUBLISHER’S REPRESENTATIVE

Two Thomas C. Lothian Pty Ltd covers were found recently and I was surprised that I had never heard of the company before, not only because of its longevity but also because of its importance to Australian publishing. The first was a WW II censored cover with the usual red label of ‘3 Opened by Censor’ as well as the purple hand stamp, and it was addressed to an important English publishing company of Messrs. F. Lewis Publishers Ltd., Essex, England. The red 2½d KGVI stamp was postmarked with the fine SHIP MAIL ROOM / 2 15P 1AP41/ MELBOURNE and there was a partially obscured by the label of the Lothian address and insignia (Figure1).

TIN CAN ISLAND MAIL, TONGA to MASTER W.M. SCRYMGOUR, ADELAIDE

Philatelically inspired mail of this type is not uncommon, but this cover is somewhat unusual for the addressee is a good starting point for researching a family that was associated with a printing company that had a history of 100 years, from 1875 to 1975. The front is adorned with a total of four hand-struck stampings, one in black script, another in green made up of three parts, a purple circular and also a purple 2-line strike. Although the black script states that it was put in the sea on the 11^th August 1938, the only legible part of the cancel is a ‘25' on the blue 2½d ‘TOGA’ Queen Salote stamp, issued in 1934. The cover is addressed to Master W.M. Scrymgour, C/o Messrs. Scrymgour & Sons, 115 King Wm. Street, Adelaide, S.A. (Figure 1).

TWO COMPANIES, AUSTRALIAN & SWISS, THAT BECAME GLOBAL GIANTS

The two companies, one in Melbourne and the other in Calcutta no longer exist as such. Two covers were sent from Robert Bryce & Co. Pty. Ltd. to Messrs. Volkart Brothers, 8 Clive Street, Calcutta, India from Robert Bryce & Co. Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia, the first pre-WW II, the other during WW II. The first was sent airmail and had a total postage of 1 shilling and 2 pence with a fine SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 4.30 P 18 MR 38/ MELBOURNE postmark with a Calcutta reception postmark of 25 MR 38 on the reverse (Figures 1 & 2).

W. H. PALING & Co., Ltd., 86 - 88 QUEEN STREET, BRISBANE

Three privately printed advertising postcards and covers sent from Brisbane in the first decade of the 1900's were lavishly illustrated with musical instruments, proclaiming the virtues of this well known Brisbane musical store. One printed in red showed 3 different string instruments, and proclaimed that “Every description of Musical Instrument may be obtained cheapest and best” from the store; another in blue depicted the Edison Standard Combination Phonograph and stated that the store had “Over 20,000 Records in stock”; whilst a third in purple showed an example of the Royal Brand of Concertinas, and described “Anglo-German and English Concertinas finest in the world. Best quality, Lowest Prices” (Figures 1- 3).

WALTER HUSSEY VIVIAN, EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER for N.S.W.

This On Public Service Only stampless cover has a faint blue impression of ‘Exhibition of Launceston’ frank stamp plus a LAUNCESTON/ K/ AU 5/ 92 with a duplex TASMANIA obliterator. It is addressed to W.H. Vivian Esq, Executive Commissioner of N.S. Wales, 93 Pitt Street, Sydney, N.S.W. At the bottom left hand corner there is a printed TASMANIAN EXHIBITION, LAUNCESTON 1891-92. The reverse has only a partial SYDNEY reception postmark (Figures 1 & 2)

WILLIAM JOHNSTONE, LAUNCESTON WINES & SPIRITS MERCHANT

Two items appeared at auction sites recently and both referred to the same family. The first was addressed to Mr. Wm. Johnstone, Merchant, Launceston and was postmarked in red with an oval PAID SHIP LETTER/ [crown]/ AU * 20/ 1845/ SYDNEY, with rosettes on both sides. The only other markings were in manuscript, a large black '4' (for paid postage) and a large red '3' (for payment of the captain of the ship) (Figure 1).

WUNDERLICH BROTHERS: ERNEST (1859-1945), FREDERICK (1861-1951) & ALFRED (1865-1966)

This advertising cover for Wunderlich Durabestos, Asbestos-Cement Building Sheets, The Ideal Lining for Exterior Walls, Interior Walls, Partitions, Ceilings, Gable Ends, Eaves, Soffets was sent in 1934 from Wunderlich Limited, Perth to the Comptroller of Stores, W.A. Government Railways, Midland Junction (Western Australia), with a Perth 2d meter cancel (Figure 1).