LEGAL

For the past 1½ years this cover has been lying fallow, for research was unproductive, then the floodgates opened over a period of 1 hour. The cover was addressed to O.G. Douglas Esq^re, Messrs Douglas & Collins, Patterson Street, Launceston, Tasmania. There was a pair of the pink 1d ‘Postage’ Victoria stamps postmarked with the double ring MELBOURNE/ AM/ 4.30/ 28.7.O7 (Figure 1).

ALEXANDRA, VIC. SOLICITOR to R.S. APPELBE, MILTON BARRISTER, CANADA

ALFRED HENSMAN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA JUDGE & ATTORNEY-GENERAL

EDWIN DAINTREY, DOCTOR, SOLICITOR, BOTANIST, LAND DEVELOPER

This cover has a total of 8 cents US postage, a single red 2c plus a pair of brown 3c postmarked with 3 examples of a NEW YORK/ AUG 22/ 3 PM/ D/ 85 duplex with a large ‘D’ in an oval of six thick bars. It was sent ‘Via San Francisco’ to Edwin Daintrey Esq, 33 Castlereagh St, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. There was a vertical manuscript in a different hand ‘Rec Sept (?)/ 85. The reverse was not seen but had Sydney backstamps (Figure 1).

FREDERICK CHARLES STANDISH & the NED KELLY GANG

This ON HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE envelope has the Minister of Justice/ Victoria Frank Stamping in blue which was introduced in the original 1864 frankstamps allocation. Only one die exists for the handstamped frank, and it is found both in blue and red. The printed frank exists only in black, and at least 9 different electros exist. The Frank is largely obscured by the barred numeral ‘11' with 3 curved arcs on each side, being the Type A1 of Williamstown .The cover is addressed to F.C. Standish Esq, Chief Commissioner of Police, Melbourne (Figure 1).

GEORGE ROBERT NICHOLS, LAWYER & POLITICIAN (1809 - 1857)

Three stampless N.S.W. covers appeared at the same auction site dated 1833-1835 addressed to George Nichols. The first was sent from INVERMEIN/ NSW/ POST OFFICE (the rare double-circle undated handstruck postmark used from 1833-39, when P.O. was removed to Scone) with a reception [Crown]/ GENERAL POST OFFICE/ 23 AP 23/ 1833/ SYDNEY, rated ‘10d’ and it was addressed to G.R. Nichols Esq, George Street, Sydney (Figure 1).

JUDGE HUGH MONTGOMERIE HAMILTON, GLACIER CLIMBER, PHILATELIST

Only the front of this registered cover was available, but the addressee was easily identifiable by his distinctive name and the name of his residence. It was sent from Melbourne with a MARKET STREET/ 19 MY 30/ MELBOURNE postmark on a reddish violet 4½d KGV head stamp and a R6 Registration label for Market St. Melb. Victoria. It was addressed to Judge H. Montgomerie Hamilton, "Tomabil", Strathfield, Sydney, N.S.W. (Figure 1).

MORRIS & FLETCHER, SOLICITORS, BRISBANE 1903

This fine advertising cover from the Queensland, Brisbane branch, of the New Zealand Insurance Co. (Fire & Marine) bore the ‘Four Corners’ 1d orange Queensland imprinted stamp and was postmarked with a Brisbane duplex dated JA 23/ 03. Below the Maori male figure it stated “Freehold Assets and Other Investments secured to Queensland Policy Holders £60,000". The cover was addressed to Messrs Morris & Fletcher, Solicitors, Brisbane (Figure 1).

PHILLIP HOLT, BARRISTER & JUDGE, GODERICH ONTARIO (1852-1917) [CANADA]

A cover from Sydney N.S.W., Australia to a small town Goderich, Ontario Canada revealed an interesting story about the history of the addressee, and the possible routing of the cover. The envelope had 4 single copies of the blue Two Pence "Queen Victoria" stamp of New South Wales, all copies of which were individually postmarked with an illegible barred numeral as well as a possible 2 ring postmark, also illegible. No date was visible on the front, but stamps of that design were issued as early as 1862 and as late as 1897. The cover was taxed 2d in blue crayon, as the only sign of the deficient postage.

SIR JAMES COCKLE, CHIEF JUSTICE & MATHEMATICIAN 1819-1895

This battered long blue envelope is addressed to Sir James Cockle, chief Justice of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland and it had the blue 2 d N.S.W. stamp postmarked with an unframed duplex SYDNEY/ E/ JU 1/ 74/ P postmark. There were no markings on the reverse (Figure 1).

SIR WILLIAM CHARLES WINDEYER, POLITICIAN & JUDGE (1834-97)

This incoming newspaper wrapper from Great Britain (H&G #E9) was issued in 1889 with the brown Half Penny QV indicium. It was postmarked ‘57' with an 8-barred elliptical obliterator from Beaconsfield, Buck., and it had a handstamp ‘DEFICIENT POSTAGE ½/ FINE _______4^d, as well as a large handstamp ‘4½^d. It was addressed to Hon W.C. Windeyer M.A., Tomago, Hunter River, N.S .Wales (Figure 1).

THOMAS HAMLET TAYLOR (1818-84) & STEPHEN VINE BUCKLAND (1831-86), GEELONG LAWYERS

The cover is addressed to Compton F. Ferrers Esq, The Stafford Club, 2 Seville (sic) Row, Burlington Gardens, London, England and it has a manuscript ‘Via Brindisi’ and an additional manuscript ‘Supplementary Inst(ructions?). The fine blue on blue ‘One Shilling’ Victorian stamp is canceled by the 2nd duplex (state 2, with part of the upper frame missing) GEELONG/ 3H/ FE 2/ 72 with the Barred Numeral ‘2’. In addition there is a reception mark in lilac ‘LONDON ( )/ PAID/ MY 12/ 72 (Figure 1).

THOMAS UNDERWOOD ESQ, UNDERWOOD STREET, PADDINGTON

The Underwood name can be traced back to Cockneys from the London dockyard area in the early 1700's. There were at least 3 generations of Thomas Underwood's prior to the one addressed on this cover. The best documented of the early Thomas Underwood's (his father was probably also named Thomas) was born in 1743 in England. Four (possibly 5) of his sons were known to have lived in Australia, the one classed as possible was also named Thomas, but he is of no importance to this story, except for the fact two of his brothers, James and Joseph, were successful figures in the early colonial days of Australia.

WILLIAM DAWSON GRUBB & MORTON ALLPORT, EARLY TASMANIAN LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

This Tasmanian cover has an outer made from stiff paper which is inscribed with a manuscript 'Law papers only from/ Allport Roberts & Allport/ Hob Town 3 Sept 1862', was addressed to 'W.D. Grubb Esq/ Solicitor/ Launceston'. It has the 2d green and 4d blue Chalons tied by two impressions of the Hobart barred obliterator plus another impression of PRE-PAID/ 3 SEP 3/ 1862 cancel in red. The total of 6d postage was the rate for Book Packet Post article not exceeding 4 ounces. The reverse (not seen) was said to have a rectangular reception postmark of Launceston PRE-PAID/ 4 SP 4/ 1862 (Figure 1).