MISSIONARIES AND RELIGION

ARTHUR HENRY VOYCE (1899-1984) [PAPUA-NEW GUINEA]

Missionary, Philatelist, Conchologist, Hymenopterist & Horticulturist:

BEATRICE ISABEL HASSALL, AUSTRALIAN MISSIONARY in PALESTINE

BROTHER FRANCIS XAVIER, The BENGALESE, WASHINGTON D.C.

Two covers caught my eye because of the unusual address of the recipient, Brother Francis Xavier, c.s.c.*, The Bengalese, Washington, 17, D.C., U.S.A. The first had a red '3 Opened by Censor label' and a purple diamond '3 /PASSED/ BY/ CENSOR/ 237' and the green 1½d queen Elizabeth and the red 2½d KGVI stamps were canceled by a MELBOURNE / 3 PM/ 21 OCT/ 1944/ VIC AUST roller cancel (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).

EMANUEL SOLOMON (1800-1873) CONVICT, MERCHANT & POLITICIAN

The cover is addressed to Messrs E. Solomon & Co., Adelaide and has the pale red 2d South Australian stamp (S.G. 24a) cancelled with the diamond numeral ‘106' of Woodchester, and there is a manuscript ‘Private’ at the lower left (Figure 1).

FIRST CATHOLIC BISHOP of TASMANIA

Two covers addressed to the Bishop of Hobartown have appeared in auction catalogues over the past 4 years. The first one I saw initially left some doubt whether I was dealing with the Catholic or Anglican Bishop, whereas the second cover left no doubt that the person addressed was the first Catholic Bishop of Tasmania. Further research on the first cover showed that it also was addressed to Robert William Willson, the Catholic Bishop, and not the first Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, Frederick Russell Nixon.

FITCHETT BROS., PUBLISHERS MELBOURNE to WHITTAKER & CO., LONDON

GERMAN MISSION at CODACAL, MALABAR, INDIA 1907

This red 1d N.S.W. ‘Shield’ postcard has a green ½d stamp added, and both are postmarked ‘THE ROCK/ 8 JA/ 1907/ N.S.W’ [Type 1D (i), in use 1896-1914)]. It is addressed to Mrs.F. Straub, German Mission, Paraperi - Codacal, Malabar, and a vertically placed ‘East India’ has been added by the sender. There is a third example of ‘The Rock’ postmark as well as a transit mark of ‘TUTICORIN/ 1 FE./07' and an arrival postmark of ‘CODACAL/ B.O. (Branch Office)/ + 2 FE +/ O7/ MALABAR’ (Figures 1 & 2).

JAMES JOSEPH CARBERY, CATHOLIC BISHOP of HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA (1823-87)

This 1885 cover was addressed to The Right Rev. Dr. Carbery, O.P., Bishops House, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and has a manuscript ‘Via San Francisco’. The green 6d and blue 2d Queensland stamps have a superb ‘79'Rays (Type 1e; 23 rays, each of 4 segments) as well as the unframed HERBERTON/ MR 20/ 85/ =QUEENSLAND= (Type 3b). The reverse, not seen, has back stamps of Cairns QLD, Sydney NSW and HAMILTON ONT. (Figure 1).

JOHN THOMAS, WESLEYAN METHODIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY, TONGA

This entire appeared on eBay auctions, listed by a German vendor. The address side has a manuscript ‘1305' and is addressed ‘To the Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, 77 Halton Garden, London’ and in the lower left hand there is a manuscript ‘/Tonga/’. The large obliquely placed manuscript superimposed on the address is the cost of sending the letter, but it is difficult to be sure of the amount, perhaps ‘1/7' [one shilling and 7 pence] (Figure 1).

JOHN DEWHURST BODGER, PAPUA NEW GUINEA MISSIONARY

My interest in Reverend Bodger was stimulated by acquiring an interesting cover addressed to him. It was addressed in particularly fine manuscript to The Revd Canon Bodger, C/o Australian Board of Mission, 14 Spring Street, Sydney and was sent by airmail, as shown by a boxed purple stamping, and was faintly postmarked LAE/ 25 SE 51/ PAPUA NEW GUINEA on the blue 5½d emu definitive stamp of Australia, issued 12 February 1942. There were no other post markings nor any identification of the sender on the reverse (Figure 1).

JOHN JAMES VIRGO, ADMINISTRATOR & EVANGELIST (1865-1956)

The front of this unpretentious cover has nothing to do with the story that will unfold. It was sent from the G.P.O. Adelaide on November 18, 1896 with two South Australia stamps, the orange 2d and the ½d brown, a Mr. Kenton in Brooklyn New York (Fig 1).

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).

KIMBERLEY, TASMANIA to ALEX NORTH F.R.V.I.A., ARCHITECT LAUNCESTON

This Tasmania Post Card with the red 1d King Edward VII head was the third Tasmanian type of official postcard issued with this sovereign’s head, the 2-line inscription having been removed from beneath the crest of the previous issue. It was issued on a buff colored card with an early date of 4 September 1906 and reissued on a white card, with an early date of 1 June 1912, the latter being scarce.  It was postmarked with a fine KIMBERLEY/ OC 4/ 10/ TASMANIA cancel and it was addressed to Alex North Esq., F.R.V.I.A., A.M.P. Chambers, Cameron St., Launceston (Figure 1).

KOONIBBA LUTHERAN MISSION STATION, WEST COAST SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MONTAGU JOHN STONE-WIGG, ANGLICAN BISHOP of the SEE of NEW GUINEA

MOST REV. JOHN F. O'HARA C.S.C. D.D. (1888-1960) [USA]

A purchase of some 30 WW II censored covers mostly to the University of Notre Dame included 2 covers that were sent to the Most Rev. John F. O'Hara, C.S.C., D.D. The markings on one of these covers were not out of the ordinary with a boxed BRISBANE/ Q'LAND/12-MA / 2 1 OCT 2/ 1944/ POSTED IN/ PILLARS (12 MA was an error for 12 AM) plus a red '1. OPENED BY CENSOR' label and a purple boxed stamping '1/ PASSED/ BY/ CENSOR/ 122'. There were no markings on the reverse and I wondered how this cover fitted in with the other Notre Dame covers (Figure 1).

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).

RABBI ISRAEL BRODIE, MELBOURNE RABBI & CHIEF RABBI of the BRITISH COMMONWEALTH

This printed to private order mint 1d green sideface KGV postcard cannot be strictly called postal history, and the front gives no hint as to the contents of its other side (Figure 1).

RECHABITE LODGE, S. A. DISTRICT NO. 81, SENT TO Dr. J. BERG ESENWEIN

REV. FELLMAN, RALAUNA, NEW BRITAIN, SO. PACIFIC OCEAN

This cover is a problem, both in regards to the misspelling of the town’s name in the address, and the difficulty with the postmarks’ dates. The interest of the marking on the front and the excitement of the postmarks on the reverse, make up for the deficiencies. The cover has an uncertain routing, and readers are asked for their interpretation, as I present the postmarks with minimal comment on the routing. The auction house made no attempt to chart the routing: 1902 commercial cover to “RALUANA/NEW BRITAIN” but with ‘MISSENT TO NEW YORK’ h/s in purple, “So Pacific Ocean” added in red, array of transit backstamps, toning.

REV. GEORGE HUNN NOBBS, NORFOLK ISLAND

This 1868 stampless cover is addressed to Revd G.H. Nobbs, Norfolk Island Australia, has a LOMBARD-STREET/ F.O./ OC 30/ 68/ PAID cds in red and has a large faint manuscript '6' rating as well as manuscripts 'Via Southampton' across the top, 'ans(wered) to Mr. Glennie, July 27th 1869' on the left side and 'Consignee's letter/ (indecipherable)' on the right. The vendor states that there is a colorless embossing on the cover front "BETHAM & BLACK/ TRANSIT AGENTS/ COX'S QUAY/ LOWER THAMES ST LONDON', the forwarding agents, plus an unusual transit 'B/ DE 25/ 1868/ SYDNEY' postmark on the reverse (Figures 1 & 2).

REV. LACEY HENRY RUMSEY, ST. PAUL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH IPSWICH, QLD

Four covers became available addressed to the Rev. Rumsey at 2 different sites almost simultaneously, and he has proved to be difficult to research, particularly at a distance. The first appears to have a mint copy of the blue two pence (rough perf. S.G. 15) Queensland stamp. It is addressed to The Reverend Lacey Henry Rumsey, Care of the Reverend J. N. Moffatt, Brisbane (Figure 1).

REV. WILLIAM BEDFORD, VAN DIEMEN’S LAND (1781 - 1852)

This undated stampless entire is interesting particularly because of a rare postmark, and its early date in the colony of Van Diemen’s Land. It is addressed to Reverend William Bedford, Hobart Town, with the signature of E. Abbott, who the vendor stated was E. Abbott, Tasmanian M.L.C. The only cancellation is the rare oval undated LAUNCESTON handstamp (Figure 1).

REV. C.W. SCHURMANN, HOCHKIRK, LUTHERAN MISSIONARY & PASTOR

This telegraphic message cover has postmark interest for in addition to the duplex postmark of HAMILTON/ FE 5/ 83/ VICTORIA with the barred numeral ‘46' , there was a blue POSTMASTER-GENERAL / VICTORIA/ FRANK STAMP, as well as the faint blue double oval POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICE/ HAMILTON/ FE 5/ 1883 ‘Belt & Buckle’ cancellation. The cover was addressed to Rev. C.W. Schurmann, Hochkirk. There was also an illegible manuscript which may have been the name of the sender on the front, as well as an unframed HOCHKIRK/ VICTORIA on the reverse, which was not seen (Figures 1 & 2).

REV. JAMES EGAN MOULTON, MISSIONARY, TONGAN BIBLE TRANSLATOR

Two covers were sent to the Rev. J. Egan Moulton at Tupou College (both spelt incorrectly as Tubou), in the capital city of Nuku’Alofa, Tonga. The first had a pair of the red 1d N.S.W. ‘Shield’ stamps cancelled with the barred numeral obliterator of ‘1204' and in addition the origin was confirmed by a cds of ENMORE/ NO 17/ 1897/ N.S.W (Type 1D (i) 1896-1906). In addition there was a blue crayon tax manuscript of ‘T5' (Figure 1).

REV. PROF. GRAEBNER, CONCORDIA COLLEGE, UNLEY SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Commonwealth of Australia Letter Card (H & G #A9) was addressed to Reverend Professor Graebner at Unley via Adelaide, and the printed brown 1½d KGV head stamp was cancelled by a ROSENTHAL/ ( ) AP 17/ S^TH AUST postmark (Figure 1).

REVD SYDNEY G. FIELDING, WINDSOR N.S.W. & THE WINDSOR MAGAZINE

This advertising cover from The Windsor Magazine has an interesting ‘stamp collar’ which reads ‘BUSIEST, BRIGHTEST & BEST/ MON 6^D THLY’ for placement of the violet 2d Victoria stamp which is postmarked with the double circle MELBOURNE/ PM/ 4 30/ 29 3 00/ 14. It is addressed to Revd S.G. Fielding, St Matthew’s Parsonage, Windsor, N.S.W. (Figure 1).

REVEREND GEORGE KING & BISHOP WILLIAM GRANT BROUGHTON

The mourning cover (with no insert) has a manuscript ‘On Service” and a rectangular boxed ‘FREE’ and is addressed to the Rev^d Geo: King, Liverpool Street West, Sydney. The sender signed his name as ‘W: G: Sydney’. There is no date (but the vendor listed the cover as circa 1840's) and there are no markings on the reverse (Figures 1 & 2).

REVEREND FRANCIS HALES, HEIDELBERG NEAR MELBOURNE, PORT PHILIP

This fine cover had a price tag at auction of AUD 4,000 and was sent to the Rev. Francis Hales (1822-90) on May 8, 1850. It was described as a "Cover from Port Macquarie to Heidleberg (sic) Melbourne Port Phillip with 2d grey-blue (Sydney) View SG 23 tied by barred numeral '80' and oval crown Port Macquarie /(MA 8)/ 1850 /(NEW. S. WALES), backstamped Sydney cds & Melbourne Port Philip oval cancel, (with a) Halcombe Certificate 9588/99" (Figure 1).

REVEREND GEORGE NAPOLEON WOODD, DENHAM COURT, N.S.W. 1867

REVEREND HERMANN HERLITZ, LUTHERAN PASTOR in MELBOURNE

This New South Wales postcard has the 1d ‘Shield’ impression cancelled with a faint barred numeral ‘1529' of Pleasant Hills and an even fainter reception postmark of Melbourne. It is addressed to Rev. H. Herlitz, Gisborne Str, East Melbourne, Vic (Figure 1).

REVEREND THOMAS COOPER SEARLE (1820-1876) MOURNING COVER

The small mourning cover that initiated this search to find out more about Cooper Searle was addressed to Mrs. Cooper Searle, and it has a copy of the 2d double lined outer oval dull violet-mauve perf. 13 (Bell design, Type II) Victorian stamp of 1878. The postmark is the barred numeral 21, Type A2 which shows that it originated from Broadmeadows, 20 km north of Melbourne's G.P.O. (Figure 1).

REVEREND WILLIAM BRANWHITE CLARKE, GEOLOGIST (1798-1878)

This N.S.W. 1854 2d ‘Sydney View’ warn plate stamp was cancelled with barred numeral ‘39' (Cooma, N.S.W.) And was addressed to Revd. W.B. Clarke, St. Leonards, Sydney, and it had a manuscript ‘Answered’ at the top (Figure 1).

REVd J. A. MANTON, NEW NORFOLK, VAN DIEMEN'S LAND

The cover was sent from Sydney 'per Steamer' and franked with the yellow-green 3d 'Sydney Views' stamp postmarked with an obliterator, addressed to the Reverend John A. Manton, New Norfolk, Van Diemen's Land, plus a red unframed PAID SHIP LETTER/ Crown/ JU (rosette) 5/ 1851/ SYDNEY and a manuscript '5". A Launceston reception datestamp was seen on the reverse (Figure 1).

RIGHT REV. DR. JAMES A. GOOLD, FIRST CATHOLIC BISHOP, MELBOURNE

ROBERT BEAR, PUBLISHER/IMPORTER & REV. DELAPORTE, NAURU MISSION

SAMUEL HALSTAFF COLES & THE CHURCH of CHRIST

This insignificant looking small cover with the red-brown 2½d Victoria stamp postmarked MELBOURNE/ FE 9/ 03, was sent to Mr. S. Halstaff Coles, 22 Ossinge Villas, North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, England (Figure 1).

SELWYN AMOR NATHANIEL OXLEY, ENGLISH EDUCATOR of the BLIND

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).

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, SYDNEY to SMYTHE, THEOSOPHIST, POET, EDITOR [CANADA]

Seven covers appeared on Ebay addressed to Albert E.S. Smythe at several locations in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in the 1920's and 1930's, six from Sydney Australia and one from Auckland, New Zealand. The fronts of two of these covers will be shown, as they show that Theosophical Societies existed in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, in addition to many other countries.

WAY COLLEGE UNLEY, THE BIBLE CHRISTIANS, HOLLIDGE & WHEATLEY

This South Australian Post Card with a brown ONE PENNY imprinted stamp was canceled with a squared circle ROSEWORTHY, S.A. postmark (vendor states 1894). It was addressed by typewriter to eight men as follows: D.H. Hollidge Esq. A.M.; W. Trudinger A.B. Esq.; F.W. Wheatley Sc.B.; J.H. Royce Esq. J.G.F.; W.H. Williams Pro. Ag. Esq.; L.H. Nicholls Esq. B.A.; Fred W. Russack B.F. Esq.; Theo. Wheatley Esq. P.A.B., WAY COLLEGE, with an UNLEY manuscript (Figure 1).