GOVERNORS

I recognize that this mundane cover is just an excuse for me to meet two men whose backgrounds were not dissimilar, whose careers were considerably divergent, yet both had a significant impact on Australia, during the same decade. I have no clue as to whom Miss Slim was, but I am sure that she was honoured by the invitation. In fact this cover was one of two separate invitations that she received for 2 Government of Western Australia receptions, and I am concerned that this cover and this invitation are a mismatch by 3 years, for the correct cover has been misplaced. Both covers were written in the same hand from the same source, and the correct cover was dated 1953. Miss M. Clancy lived in Subiaco Road, Subiaco, W.A. (Figure 1).

C. J. LA TROBE (1801-1875), SUPERINTENDENT, LIEUT.-GOVERNOR, VICTORIA

Several entires addressed to the above have recently appeared on auction sites, all addressed to La Trobe as the Superintendent, with or without his name, and addressed either to Port Phillip or Melbourne. An O.H.M.S. entire was sent per 'Colina' to His Honor, C.J. La Trobe Esqre with a red boxed 'FREE/ ALBERTON' and an on the reverse an unframed ALBERTON / [Crown]/ OC *25/ 1848/ N.S. WALES plus an unframed reception MELBOURNE/ [Crown]/ NO*6/ 1848/ PORT PHILLIP postmarks. The vendor states that at the time Alberton was an isolated coastal community with no overland route to Melbourne (Figures 1 & 2).

CAPTAIN J.C. WICKHAM, GOVERNMENT RESIDENT, MORETON BAY

This interesting 1855 blue paper outer was addressed to "J.C. Wickham Esqe, Government Resident, Moreton Bay". It has the imperforate Plate I blue NSW two pence (margins just touching to large) Laureate tied by the so-called 'piecrust' obliterator of Sydney (Figure 1).

DENIS O'DONOVAN RECEIVES a LETTER from the EARL of HOPETOUN

This cover was very interesting at first sight in regards to the sender and the postmarks, but a significant bonus was provided by the recipient, who will be dominant person in this paper. The front showed the SYDNEY/ DE 18/ 1-P-M/ 00/ 44 as the four-bar obliterator duplex (in use 9 April1900 until 31 August 1901) plus the early use of the bright blue 3 ring GOVERNOR-GENERAL/ FRANK STAMP/ AUSTRALIA, as well as the POSTAGE PAID SYDNEY/ DE 18/ 1900/ N.S.W postmark (Figure 1).

FRANK STAMP of GOVERNOR of VICTORIA on LETTER to GOVERNOR of W.A.

The Victorian Governor's frank stamp description is quoted in its entirety from G. Kellow's "The Stamps of Victoria 1990, page 379: "The early history of this frank stamp is confusing. It was not part of the original allocation, and in fact the 1864 Act specified that the Governor's signature was sufficient endorsement to allow the mail to be carried free. This was changed by legislation coming into force on 1 January 1884, which authorised the use of a frank stamp by the Governor. However, a frank stamp for the Governor had been prepared by the Post Office in 1865. The 1884 Amendment may have been enacted to correct an oversight when it was realised that the Governor's frank stamp, which had been in use for some years, was not provided for by the 1864 Act. Seven dies exist of the hand stamped frank, which is found in blue, red, mauve, and violet." (Figure 1).

GOV. PHILLIP & CINDERELLA STAMPS for AUSTRALIA’S 150TH ANNIVERSARY 1937-38

Two covers appeared on Ebay displaying in total, on the two covers, the 15 different designs of the cinderellas stamps that are derived from a sheet of 30. The format of the sheet was six horizontally and five vertically, with the same order repetition of the first and last three stamps in each horizontal row of six (Figure 1).

JOHN ADRIAN LOUIS HOPE, AUSTRALIA'S FIRST GOVERNOR GENERAL

Three examples of Australia’s Federation (01 January 01) are shown , the first being a postcard sent from Hobart, Tasmania on December 27, 1900 and arriving in Christchurch New Zealand on 1 Jan 01. The front shows a photo of the Earl of Hopetoun, Kt. G.C.M.G., First Governor General of Australia, with the Australian flag and his personal standard. A pair of the 1d red pictorials showing Mount Wellington are postmarked with 2 strikes of the T.P.O.’s T.M.L.RY No. 2 (Figure 1).

LADY RODWELL, WIFE of a FORMER GOVERNOR of SOUTHERN RHODESIA [ENGLAND]

This envelope was addressed to Lady Rodwell, C/o The Forum Club, Grosvenor St., London, W.1, England and was readdressed to 82 Avenue Rd, Regents Park, NW 3. The sender was The Melbourne Little TheatrE. There was a manuscript ‘ALL AIR ROUTE’ and the 1/ 6d ‘Hermes’ air mail stamp was postmarked SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 1-P 8 DE 34/ MELBOURNE as well as by a LONDON arrival postmark. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1).

LETTER from a CONVICT to the GOVERNOR of TASMANIA, 1858

The entire raises more questions than answers, for aspects of the letter are in doubt, particularly the name of the convict, but the story is worth reporting. The vendor describes it as follows: "1858 (16th Nov) entire from Port Arthur to Newtown, Hobart from the convict John Lester to the Governor of Tasmania appealing for a reduction of his sentence, franked with (the imperforate blue) 6d tied by barred numeral '61' at Hobart, a fine strike of the rare 'PRISONER'S LETTER (crown) PORT ARTHUR', additional handstamp 'C.G.O./ 1 DEC 1/ 1868 (actually1858)/ RECEIVED'. A desirable exhibition item (AU) $8500". Other information is clearly visible "The Honble. ?J Burgess MLC, Newtown by Hobart," signed by an illegible 'Civil Commandant'. The C.G.O. handstamp is for the Comptroller-General's Office (Figure 1).

LETTER from SINGAPORE to HONble WALTER EGERTON, MALACCA

LORD BEAUCHAMP, (WILLIAM LYGON), 7TH EARL, GOVERNOR & POLITICIAN

The cover is addressed to His Excellency Lord Beauchamp, Madresfield Court, Malvern Link, England with a manuscript ‘Please forward’ and the blue 2½d N.S.W. stamp is postmarked with the duplex OXFORD STREET/ AP 6/ 11.30 A.M/ 10 cancel which was an error for 1901, as shown by the cancels on the reverse (Figure 1).

LORD BRASSEY, VICTORIAN GOVERNOR & R. FULLARTON, NAVAL BRIGADE

An undated On Her Majesty’s Service cover was addressed to Lord Brassey, Govt. House Melbourne by R. Fullarton, Commanding, Naval Brigade, and the MINISTER OF DEFENCE, FRANK STAMP, VICTORIA was applied in blue. This letter would have been sent during Thomas Brassey’s term as Governor of Victoria in the years 1895 to 1900 (Figure 1).

LORD NORTHCOTE, AUSTRALIA’S THIRD GOVERNOR-GENERAL

This cover with letter was poorly presented on Ebay, and was purchased for a paltry sum. The front of this long cover had little to recommend it other than it was addressed to His Worship, The Mayor of Cootamundra, (Alderman J. Lester), Cootamundra, NS Wales. The Ebay scan did not show that the strip of four 1^d pink “Postage” Victorian stamps had OS perfins, and they were postmarked with the double ring MELBOURNE / PM/ 1 30/ 18 7 06/ - 4 - (Figure 1).

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).

MOURNING COVER to LORD TENNYSON [ENGLAND]

If ever a cover speaks to you, then this one surely should. The highly experienced UK seller gave a simple description: Australia, 1913 Roo on Cover to UK. This turned out to be a considerable understatement. The mourning cover was addressed to Lord Tennyson, Farringford, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England and the red 1d kangaroo on a map of Australia stamp was postmarked MT BARKER/ 4 30P 17 DE 13/STH AUSTRALIA. In script an underlined 'P & O mail' was added by the sender. There was no sender's name nor receiving postmark (Figure 1).

MR. W. (BILL) J. McKELL, GOVERNOR-GENERAL of AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA

There is no doubt in my mind as to whom this cover was addressed, but there are several ‘disconnects’ in this philatelically contrived cover. The slate blue 5½d ‘Emu’ definitive had a date of issue of 12.2.42 and the partially legible postmark reads AIR MAIL BRISBANE/ 8-12 ( )( )/ QLD AUST. There is an BY AIR MAIL vignette, the usual purple ‘Crown over Royal Geographical Society of Australasia/ Queensland’ vignette and a ‘21 st Birthday–Heir Presumptive First Day Issue Stamp’, a description which has certainly no connection to the stamp nor the addressee. To be charitable, perhaps the stamp was cancelled on 12.2.42, but did it go through the mail? (Figure 1).

McCARRON, STEWART & Co., PRINTERS & STATIONERS, LETTER to GOVERNOR of SAMOA

This advertising cover of McCarron, Stewart & Co., Printers & Stationers, 44 Pitt St, Sydney had a blue 2½d New South Wales stamp canceled with a SYDNEY/ 9 JA 07 11–AM/ 20 postmark. The addressee was very faint but it was confirmed that it was sent to His Excellency, Dr. Solf, Samoa (Figure 1).

SIR GERARD SMITH K.C.M.G., GOVERNOR of WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The official blue cover has 3 interesting postmarks on its front, the most important of which is the large violet GOVERNOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, FRANK STAMP with its prominent heraldic lion and unicorn. It has a circular PAID/ OFFICIALLY/ WEST AUSTRALIA as well as the duplex SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 2/ MR 25/ 99/ PERTH W.A. with the barred GPO. The cover has a printed address of Messrs. Henry S. King & Co., 65, Cornhill, London. (Figure 1)

SIR ARTHUR ELIBANK HAVELOCK, GOVERNOR of TASMANIA

The cover has two marks, a larger blue GOVERNOR [Crown] TASMANIA/ 10 JL O2, with a superimposed smaller black HOBART/ H/ JL 10/1902/ TASMANIA addressed to Miss Maude Waller, Post Office, Sandy Bay, Hobart. There is a pencilled manuscript at bottom left hand corner ‘Private Letter, with A.E.H., Governor’s Frank.  The Governor’s Frank is unusual as it has a changeable date incorporated in it   (Figure 1).

SIR GEORGE GIPPS, GOVERNOR OF NEW SOUTH WALES (1790-1847)

The undated and stampless cover is addressed to His Excellency Sir George Gipps K.C.M.G, Governor of N.S. Wales and there is also a black manuscript 'Free' and an indecipherable name at lower left (Figure 1).

SIR HENRY BARKLY (1815 - 1898), 2nd GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA

This ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’ cover was addressed to His Excellency Sir Henry Barkly KCB, Government House, Mauritius and it has a small black MELBOURNE/ 6V/ OC 23/ 65, VICTORIA duplex postmark, as well as the faint blue GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA frank stamp. There is also a manuscript ‘Sir Charles Darling’ (Figure 1).

SIR J. MACARTHUR, MADRAS GOVERNOR to W.E. GLADSTONE, BRITISH M.P.

This cover was listed on eBay auctions and the addressee is a most important person. The sender has not been found in spite of an extensive search, even though there are clues as to his identity. It is addressed to “The Right Honble W.E. Gladstone Esq MP., London” and the sender is named as J. Macarthur. In red, there is a manuscript ‘2/6' (2 shillings and 6 pence), as well as an indecipherable black manuscript, which obscures a part of the address (Figure 1).

SIR MATTHEW NATHAN G.C.M.G., DIPLOMAT, GOVERNOR OF QUEENSLAND

This unusually addressed O.H.M.S. cover to Captain Nathan R.E., Secretary Colonial Defence Committee, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London, England does little justice to a man who gave three decades of service to many countries in the British Empire. It is postmarked with the Victorian ENGLISH MAIL T.P.O./ JA 25/ 98, which is partly obscuring the black MINISTER OF DEFENCE, FRANK STAMP introduced probably in 1884 (Figure 1).

SIR WILLIAM CLEAVER FRANCIS ROBINSON, GOVERNOR OF THREE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES (1834-1897)

Two covers came up for auction relating specifically to the man who had a total of five periods of governorship in three Australian Colonies. The first O.H.M.S. cover was addressed to His Excellency Sir William J. C. (Sic) Robinson K.C.M.G., Government House, Perth, Western Australia and it had a red GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA/[Lion, shield & unicorn]/ FRANK STAMP on a ‘Melbourne Club’ envelope and the vendor stated it was apparently carried by hand to Adelaide where the orange 2d S. A. stamp was affixed and cancelled with a G.P.O. ADELAIDE/ 52/ FE 18/ 81/ S.A postmark, “a most unusual usage” (Figure 1).

WILLIAM H. GREGORY, KCMG from GEORGE FERGUSON BOWEN, KCMG

Two covers at the same auction site unite the above 2 men who both became Knight Commanders of St. Michael and St. George, members of the second highest rank of the British order of knighthood. The first long blue cover is On Her Majesty’s Service stampless cover with a red GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA frank stamping, and a MELBOURNE/ 1 S/ JN 11/ 77 duplex and is addressed to The Rt. Honble Sir William Gregory K.C.M.G., Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, London. There are 2 manuscript notations: ‘via Brindisi’; and, ‘G.F. Bowens’ (Figure 1).

WILLIAM HUMBLE WARD, 2ND EARL of DUDLEY & 4TH GOVERNOR GENERAL of AUSTRALIA

This fairly unique mourning cover was sent by William Humble Ward, the 2nd Earl of Dudley when he was Australia's fourth Governor General from 1908-1911. It was postmarked with a duplex ENGLISH MAIL T.P.O./ JY 3/ 10/ +, with the double ring GOVERNOR GENERAL/ FRANK STAMP/ AUSTRALIA in blue, as well as the oval VICTORIA/ crown/ OFFICIAL PAID in black. It is addressed to a long-standing English Company, Messrs Coutts & Co, 59 Strand, London, W.C., England (Figure 1).