HEALTH SCIENCES

ANDREW PATON MILLER & SON, CHEMISTS & DRUGGISTS, HOBART

The cover has two pairs of the pink 1d Victoria ‘Postage’ stamp, socked on the nose with four examples of the barred numeral ‘958' of Wandong, which is 55 km north of Melbourne G.P.O. It is addressed to Mr. A.P. Miller, Chemist, Hobart, Tasmania. There is an unframed postmark of WANDONG/ SE 26/ 03/ VICTORIA and the adherent partial lilac label shows that it was destined for Tattersalls. Of further interest is that this cover is illustrated in ‘The Numeral Cancellations of Victoria’ by H.H. Freeman & G.T. White (1997, page 269), as the example of the only barred numeral for Wandong (Figure 1).

ANDREW HOUISON & ROBERT SCOT SKIRVING, EMINENT SYDNEY DOCTORS

AREQUIPA, PERU: A TALE OF A GOLDMINE, COCA LEAVES & COCA COLA

It is just over two years since I first saw a cover addressed to a doctor in Arequipa Peru, and it has taken me all this time to find enough, albeit very limited, information about the addressee. I had been attracted to the name Arequipa, since my success in buying a modest number of shares of Arequipa Resources, a goldmine in Peru, prior to its takeover by the giant Canadian Barrick Gold.

BALCOMBE QUICK, MELBOURNE SURGEON (1883-1969)

Balcombe Quick was a general and plastic surgeon associated with the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne for 57 years. He was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on 12 May 1883 and died 5 September 1969. This one penny red swan postcard was sent to him when he was a medical student at Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Victoria, from which he graduated MB (Medicine) in 1904 and BS (Surgery) in 1905. Although the duplex postmark on the stamp is illegible, the fine SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 1/ AP 18/ 01/ PERTH.WA clearly shows it was sent in 1901(Figure 1).

CHARLES HINCKLEY WETMORE M.D., HAWAIAN MISSIONARY

This cover was seen at auction for an amount that was surprisingly high, namely a reserve of AUD 600. In addition it was described as a commercial cover, but I found evidence that suggested that this was probably an incorrect surmise. The quality of the cover suggested that it was a philatelically inspired registered cover with 4 strikes of REGISTERED/ A/ MY 27/ 98/ SYDNEY, N.S.W, plus a large 'R' in an oval. The cover bears 5 N.S.W. stamps, a single grey ½d, two single 2d and a pair of the same ½d at the lower L.H. side. The two 2d stamps were distinctly different in colour, one deep dull blue and the other ultramarine (both of these were issued in the 1897 to 1899 period). There were two double ringed rosine HONOLULU/ JUN / 22/ 1898/ HAWAII rubber transit cancels on the front. The letter was addressed to C.H. Wetmore Esq M.D. Hawaiian Island (Figure 1).

COVERS to DR. W.I. MITCHELL, BERKELEY CALIF. from TOORAWEENAH, NEW SOUTH WALES

There was something about this cover that suggested to me that there was a good philatelic story attached. It was not definitely philatelically contrived but the careful placement of the stamps, the stamps involved and the clear postmarks x3 on the front suggested that the sender knew that the recipient had more than a passing fancy with philately. The sender could not influence the transit and reception postmarks on the cover’s reverse, but he should have been pleased with the results. I had no knowledge beforehand of Walton I. Mitchell MD and his place in the philatelic world.

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).

DR. WILLIAM SEDGWICK SAUNDERS & the JACK THE RIPPER CASE

F.H. FAULDING (1816 - 1868) & FAULDING’S MEDICAL JOURNAL WRAPPER

This South Australian ½d wrapper which contained the Faulding’s Medical Journal is postmarked ADELAIDE, S.A., but the date is illegible. It was addressed to ‘Beetaloo, P.O. Laura’ which is somewhat surprising for although both towns are on the Northern route, Beetaloo was 335 km from Adelaide and Laura is only 230 km from Adelaide. Beetaloo P.O. was open only from March 1886 until March 1891, and Laura P.O. opened in 1872 (Source: The Post, Telegraph and Telephone Offices of South Australia and the Northern Territory, published by the author, Martin Walker, 2004), and as at this writing I do not know when this wrapper was introduced. The address for the Journal on the wrapper was 54 King William Street, Adelaide, (Figure 1).

FRANK ALLWORK, TASMANIAN DOCTOR & FORMER S.A. VINEYARD OWNER

This Tasmania Post and Telegraph form is strictly non-postal, but it does have an OUSE/ AU 19/ 03/ TASMANIA postmark. It was sent from Macquarie Plains on that date to a Mr. Nicholas, Coroner in Ouse with the following message: Have made full enquiries case of Dr. Stewart. My opinion death due to failure heart. No suspicion of suicide. Consider Inquest unnecessary. Frank Allwork, New Norfolk. It was calculated as 27 words and ‘1/ 8 Pd’ (one shilling and 8 pence) was paid (Figure 1).

FRANK COLE MADDEN F.R.C.S., from GREAT ORMOND STREET to CAIRO [ENGLAND]

Four covers, with illustrated fronts and reverses, were found at an auction site, and all four were sent from Melbourne to London, between March 1897 and May 1898. Only the first cover was sent to a private address of 4 Endsleigh Gardens London N.W., whereas the other three were addressed to the Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London W.C. Whereas the first two covers gave no clue as to the identity of the person addressed, the third and fourth had the letters 'F.R.C.S.' (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, London) added to the name. The third cover was dated April 6, 1898, and Madden received this fellowship on March 10 th 1898, so the news traveled fast to Australia.

GEMO ISLAND, PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1948

A simple cover can lead one on a voyage of discovery, without leaving the computer. This cover was seen on eBay auctions and immediately the ancient disease of leprosy sprang to mind. The cover was addressed to the "Sister in Charge/ Gemo Island" and was posted with two Australian stamps, the purple 1d Princess Elizabeth and the ½d orange Roo, postmarked PORT MORESBY/ 23 JE 48/ PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Figures 1 & 2).

GRAND LODGE of TASMANIA to DR. W.A. DE WOLF SMITH, B.C. CANADA

This cover found on Ebay was particularly interesting not only because of the sender, but also the recipient, and there was a connecting thread between the two that was not immediately apparent. It was sent from The Grand Lodge of Tasmania of Free and Accepted Masons and it had a pair of the red 1d and the green ½d KGV side face stamps with three examples of the Hobart, Tasmania, 26 OCT 17 postmarks, two examples of the machine roller cancel and one of a circular date cancel. It was addressed to Dr. W.A. De Wolf-Smith, P.O. Box 189, New Westminster, British Columbia, Dominion of Canada, North America (Figure 1).

H.K. LEWIS, BOOK PUBLISHER, SELLER & LENDING LIBRARY, LONDON

HELEN BUDD HETHERINGTON, MATRON ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED HOSPITAL

The present cover appeared at an Australian auction site, but a scan only of the front was available. It was sent On His Majesty’s Service to Miss H.B. Hetherington, Matron, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, Sydney, N.S.W. It had a 1d Queen Mother stamp postmarked with an indistinct NAVAL P. O. HERNE BAY/ N,S,W,-AUST in 1945 (month not seen) and it was endorsed with a manuscript ‘Concession Rate’. In addition it had a purple double oval hand stamp with PRINCIPAL MATRON/ R.N. HOSPITAL SYDNEY (Figures 1 & 2).

INFLUENZA PANDEMIC in AUSTRALIA 1918-19, MELBOURNE STATISTICS

J. W. TOPLIS, PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMIST, LIVERPOOL STREET, HOBART

This rather nondescript undated Tasmanian cover was addressed to Mr. Toplis, Chemist, Liverpool St (Hobart) and it has an indistinct blue violet Frank Stamp of the Government Medical Officer (described by Hans Karman as T235.1, and rated rare). There is no indication as to the name of the sender, but one may presume that it was on official business (Figure 1).

JOHN BORTHWICK GILCHRIST, ORIENTALIST and PHYSICIAN

This entire was sent per "Fatima" to The Trustees of the Estate of the late John Borthwick Gilchrist Esq^re dec^d, care of W^m Brackenridge Esq^re, 16 Bartlett’s Buildings, Holborn, London, and there is a manuscript, ‘9^th Aug 1852' in the lower left hand corner, as well as a manuscript ‘8', showing the cost of carriage (8 pence) by the ship. The New South Wales stamp is a ‘Sydney Views’, but the quality of the scan does not allow determination of the value. The description given by the seller is extremely brief (when one considers the high estimate, and more importantly because of the wonderful story behind this cover, namely): "New South Wales, 1852, Sydney Views Entire to London". (Figure 1)

JOHN SMITH MD: A COVER WITH PROVENANCE

What is the likelihood of finding information concerning J. Smith MD, the addressee on a Victorian cover of more than 100 years ago? Well the address of Sydney University certainly helped. The front of the cover bears two stamps, the first being the two pence lilac Robinson second contract horizontally laid paper (SG 69, Scott 47a) plus the four pence pale dull rose Robinson second contract vertically laid paper (SG 71, Scott 48), both rouletted 5.5 to 6.5. These stamps date the letter to June 1858 or later. The barred numeral "1" of Melbourne is of no additional help with the dating (Figure 1).

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

JULIA LORE, MEDICAL MISSIONARY, MORADABAD, INDIA 1874

This cover was sent to Dr. Julia Lore, American Mission, Moradabad, N.W.P., India and the blue on blue paper One Shilling laureate of Victoria was cancelled with a duplex of MELBOURNE/ 1K/ DC 30/ 74 with VICTORIA as the obliterator (Figure 1).

KIAMA N.S.W. to J.C. AYER COMPANY, LOWELL, MASS.

The cover has four single 1d red New South Wales stamps each postmarked with the rays '25' of Kiama and it could have been overweight for it attracted a tax stamping of T 10 and a blue crayon of 2, with a pair of 2 cents USA postage dues. It is addressed to J.C. Ayer Co., Lowell Mass., (United) States America (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 to KATE MULLIN, HOME for INCURABLES, ST. JOHN, N.B.

The letter was sent "Per 1st Steamer" with the indigo blue 2½d 'POSTAGE' stamp postmarked Melbourne 10 / PM/ 3 30/ 30.6.03, and was addressed to Miss Mullin, "Home for Incurables", Wentworth Street, St. John, New Brunswick, Canada (Figure 1).

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)

OTIS CLAPP, HOMEOPATHIC PHARMACIST, SWEDENBORGIAN & PUBLISHER

PETTY'S HOTEL: A SYDNEY SITE with a LONG PROVENANCE

This registered cover shows the full set of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester stamps which were issued on 19 Feb 1945. It was postmarked G.P.O. SYDNEY/ R.C.S./ 5-P 20 FE 45/ 1/ N.S.W. AUST. There is no registration label, but the blue crossed lines front and reverse clearly show it was registered.. The cover is addressed to Lt: T.B. Harrop./ R.N.V.R./ R.N.O.Q. (Petty's Hotel)/ York Street. Sydney./ N.S.W. Australia (Fig. 1).

POSTCARD to DR. BENHAM from MOUNT LYELL MINING & RAILWAY Co. Ltd.

PRIVATELY EMBOSSED ENVELOPE from LAUNCESTON to SYDNEY REDIRECTED to KENMORE ASYLUM, GOULBURN N.S.W.

Private issues embossed to order exist in great variety on Tasmanian envelopes with different shades, sizes and papers. This fairly ordinary envelope has from left to right an orange ½d Tasmanian stamp, an embossed red 1d and an embossed red ½d stamp cancelled with two duplex postmarks of LAUNCESTON/ K/ AU 20/ 96. It is addressed to a Mr. Parry of Sydney with a redirect to Kenmore Asylum, Goulburn (Figure 1).

QUARANTINED & FUMIGATED MAIL of VICTORIA & NEW SOUTH WALES

This insignificant cover with an interesting background story was described by the vendor as follows: 1893 cover to Melbourne with Naish 2d violet tied by an almost fine strike of the rare ‘T’ in lattice cancellation in violet of the Nepean Point Quarantine Station at Portsea, arrival back-stamp of NO 9/ (18)93. A key piece for the collector of quarantined mail, being the only recorded example on cover. It was addressed to the Music Company of Allen & Co, Collins St, (Melbourne) City. The reverse was not seen. The oval lattice was very faint, and the ‘T’ could not be seen by me, even on magnification of the original picture (Figures 1 & 2).

RUPERT MAJOR DOWNES, SOLDIER, SURGEON & THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION

This item appeared on eBay with an enclosed letter from W.J. Blackburn, Ambulance Officer, Administrative Offices, Victorian Railways, Spencer Street, Melbourne on 23 August, 1939. It was a form letter congratulating Lawrence W. Tyler on his success in the First Aid Examination. It explained the various levels of the award and wished that the recipient continues his studies to achieve the Gold Life Membership Medal in his 8th year. (Figure 1).

SANDY ROBERTSON, AUSTRALIAN P.O.W., ZENTSUJI CAMP, JAPAN, SHIKOKU

This Prisoner of War Post (Service des Prisonniers de Guerre) cover was addressed to NXE5101, Captain Sandy E.J. Robertson, Australian P.O.W., Zentsuji War Prison Camp, Shikoku Island, Japan. Ir had the usual Australian red Opened by Censor and the purple boxed Passed by Censor hand stamp, as well as a purple Japanese censor ‘chop’. The cover was posted from Melbourne on 10 March and it incorrectly appears to be dated 1946 (Figure 1).

SELWYN AMOR NATHANIEL OXLEY, ENGLISH EDUCATOR of the BLIND

SIR RUDOLPH ALBERT PETERS, BIOCHEMIST (1889-1982) [ENGLAND]

Rudolph Peters was born13 April 1889 in Kensington, London, the only son and elder child of Albert Peters a general practitioner and his wife Agnes Watts. He was educated at Cambridge University and St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London (graduating in medicine with MB and B. Chir.1915), although he entered as a classics scholar. He gained his higher research degree of MD in 1919. After teaching briefly at Cambridge, he accepted the recently established Whitley Chair of Biochemistry at Oxford which he held from 1923 until his retirement in 1954.

THE BARQUE ELEANOR LANCASTER and W.D.P. SWAIN Esq.

When I first considered this paper I could not find any information on the addressee of this letter, so I decided to discuss this ship which had a short but interesting sailing history, with journeys to and from Australia, and finally its demise on the coast of New South Wales. Its association with Australia is shown on this cover which is addressed to W.D.P. Swain Esq, Barque Eleanor Lancaster, Port Office, Sydney. It has a 2d blue imperforate stamp, the first N.S.W. stamp with a portrait of the young Queen Victoria, issued initially in 1851. The reverse was not shown on eBay, but the vendor states that the cover was dated 1852 (Figure 1).

THE HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL MELBOURNE, AN EARLY HISTORY

The DUALITY of the LIFE of "PROFESSOR" HOLLOWAY [ENGLAND]

A fairly ordinary looking newspaper wrapper introduced me to an extraordinary man with many facets to his life:  apothecary, bankrupt convict, advertising genius, quack, patent medicine merchant and philanthropist. My interest was sparked by 2 newspaper wrappers that appeared on eBay auctions, and little did I suspect where my research would take me. The first wrapper was an example of the 1885-99 ½d Fergusson & Mitchell Victorian wrapper that was issued in four colours (sequentially grey-lilac, pink, yellow-orange and green) over that time period. Although the Type 2 barred numeral '207' of Kerang was undated, this pink version was issued on or after January 1887. Another point of interest was that the 2-line address was sufficient for the newspaper to be delivered (Figure 1).

VICTORIAN EYE and EAR HOSPITAL FUND RAISING LETTER

The envelope shown ( partially reduced in size) was an entire that had been folded to one-sixth of the size, and the quality of the paper had to be superior for it has withstood 96 years of existence. It was addressed to THE TOWN CLERK, Maryboro' Boro' Council, Maryborough. The pale green bantam Halfpenny 'POSTAGE' stamp was cancelled with a roller MELBOURNE/ 12.15 AM/ DEC 14 09 postmark. The reverse had a single reception postmark of MARYBOROUGH/ B/ DE 14/ 09/ VIC, which is not shown (Figure 1).

WARD 15 COAST HOSPITAL, LITTLE BAY N.S.W.

A century old postcard with 3 be-ribboned aristocrats (kittens) on the front brought back memories of my 4 year's working at the Coast Hospital, as a physician in charge of half a ward's patients, when it was known as the Prince Henry Hospital. The 1d red N.S.W. 'Shield' stamp had a fine Type D3(ii) barred numeral '208', Waverley/ NO 10/ 10 40 AM/ 06/ N.S.W duplex postmark, plus a reception postmark of BOTANY/NO 10/ 1906/ N.S.W (same day postal service for 2 Sydney eastern suburbs) (Figure 1).

WASHINGTON H. SOUL & CO. and ALFRED KING, PADDINGTON NSW, CHEMIST

Several letters posted to Arthur King, Chemist have been used as an introduction to the important firm of Washington H. Soul and Company. The first was a mourning cover sent to Arthur King, Chemist, 2 Gurner St., Paddington, Sydney in October 1907 with a pair of 1d red N.S.W. ‘Shield’ stamps, postmarked with an Unanderra N.S.W. and the ‘Rays 292' (Figure 1).

WILLIAM L’ESTRANGE EAMES, DOCTOR, SOLDIER & SPORTSMAN [SOUTH AFRICA]

More than a dozen covers came to auction on Ebay, mainly addressed to Mrs. L’Estrange Eames, but a few to her husband William, both from South Africa and England, mostly 1900-1901. These covers prompted me to research this man. The first was written by William to his wife, with a manuscript ‘On active service no stamps available’ on an Afrikaans printed cover, postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE/ 31/ JY 3/ 00/ BRITISH ARMY S. AFRICA, and the cover was taxed ‘1^D’ (Figure 1).