EXPLORERS

This cover is a commemoration of one of Australia’s greatest explorers and it celebrates the centenary of Sturt’s third expedition in 1844 when he left Adelaide for the centre of Australia, to find the Inland Sea, hence the dates 1844-1944. It is not a first day cover for the stamps were issued 2 June1930 and were a commemoration of the centenary of Sturt’s exploration along the course of the Murray River to its outlet at the sea. The cover is of added interest in that the sender used both stamps with half of the John Ash/ Australian Note and Stamp Printer sans-serif imprint, in order to simulate the whole imprint. The red 1½d and blue 3d Sturt stamps are each postmarked ADELAIDE/ 12/ 10-P 11 AU 44/ STH AUSTRALIA and the cover is addressed to a known stamp and cover collector in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania (Figure 1).

CAPTAIN EDWARD CHARLES FROME, ROYAL ENGINEERS (1802-1890)

The cover is stampless with a manuscript ‘8' crossed-out with a manuscript PM’s endorsement of ‘P.O/Clare’ and a manuscript ‘O.P. Service’ with a postmark of G.P.O ADELAIDE/[crown]/ MA 6/ 1849/ SOUTH AUST. and it is addressed to Captain Frome R.E., Victoria Square (Figure 1).

GREGORY BROTHERS, EXPLORERS & FRANK PEDLEY, CANADIAN POLITICO

HUBERT WILKINS, OFFICER, AVIATOR, EXPLORER, & WAR PHOTOGRAPHER

Yet another philatelically-contrived Antarctic cover but with more than the usual historical interest. The purple 4d ‘Child Praying’ 1957 Christmas issue is postmarked HALLETT/ 13 FE 58/ SOUTH-AUST and is autographed by the sender Hubert Wilkins, and addressed in his hand ‘H. Wilkins, Gen Delivery, Hallett’. It has multiple hand-stamps, a small black circle denoting the Antarctic ‘Deep Freeze’ expedition; one large purple and one large octagonal International Geophysical Year insignia, the black design with HALLETT, ANTARCTICA, STATION and the purple with WILKES STATION; a black circle with a US Navy Mobile Construction-Operation ‘Deep Freeze II’ expedition insignia, and a ‘USS ARNEB’ handstamp (Figure 1).

JOHN SEPTIMUS ROE (1797-1878), W.A. SURVEYOR GENERAL & EXPLORER

This 5 Oct 1850 stampless entire inwards letter from India, has a framed Calcutta datestamp on the reverse and is addressed to J.S. Roe Esqre R.N., Surveyor General, Swan River Settlement. It has a manuscript per Lady Margaret -via Adelaide plus a mss. '8'. On the right, there is a vertically written 'Calcutta. 5 October 1850. W. Bubly/Recd. 25 Oct 1851 p. "Unknown" via S Australia. The provenance of the item was Ex Juhl (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).

LETTER to HAMILTON HUME J.P. about WILLIAM HILTON HOVELL

This fine cover has a vertical pair of the 1850 vermilion One Penny ‘Sydney Views’ (S.G. 7) tied by an indistinct cancel, addressed to Hamilton Hume at Yass (New South Wales). Not only is the pair of imperforate stamps superb, but the letter brings together four men important in early N.S.W. history. The vendor gives information about the contents of the letter, as follows: "refers to (William Hilton) Hovell (explorer) presenting a petition to the Governor (Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy) signed by 700 people; also reference to the (John) McArthur (sic) clique, libel and threats of legal action, signature appears to be that of Thomas Mitchell, another famous explorer, superb received back-stamp of Yass" (Figure 1).

RICHARD HELMS, ZOOLOGIST & BOTANIST, DEPT. of AGRICULTURE, SYDNEY

THOMAS MITCHELL REGISTERED LETTER, BLACKALL QLD to STETTLER AB, CANADA

This is one of the many Royal Geographical Society of Australasia covers but there is added interest in that it was sent Air Mail and Registered to Canada as a First Day cover, and the reverse backstamping was quite a surprise. The postage adds up to 2 shillings and 9 pence, made up of the complete Thomas Mitchell set (plus and additional 1 shilling copy) and a single of the brown 3d KGVI stamp. There are four postmarks of BLACKALL/ 530P 140C46/ QUEENSLAND, this being the day of issue for the Mitchell set. It is addressed to Mr. Ed. Kelly, P.O. Boc 320, Stettlet, (sic) Alberta, Canada (Figure 1).