POSTMARKS

This Lord Howe Island cover was offered on Ebay auctions, and at the time I considered it to be possibly unique. It was addressed to Messrs. Wilcox, Smith & Co.,/ Stamp Merchants,/ DUNEDIN/ NEW ZEALAND. The stamp was the 1^d KGV Redhead, with the N.S.W. Type 1D(i) 2-line postmark, dated 15 MY/ 1929/ N.S.W . The sender had typed in the top left-hand corner: From Lord Howe Islands (sic) (Fig. 1)

A BEVY OF AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CURIOSITIES

The first cover I suspect may have been philatelically contrived by the unidentified sender. It is addressed to Mr. Walter George Rendall, Artist, Goulburn and Goulburn is crossed out probably by the sender and G. P.O., Sydney has been added. A vertically joined pair of two partial blue Two Pence 100 Years of N.S.W. stamps have been cancelled with a SYDNEY/ JU 15/ 6 30 P.M/ 91/ 27, N.S.W duplex, and a manuscript ‘2^d’ has been added probably by the sender. An indistinctly cancelled 2d green N.S.W. postage due has been added, and it is difficult to confirm with certainty that the postmark ‘ties’ the due to the envelope (Figure 1).

A BEVY OF AUSTRALIAN POSTAL CURIOSITIES, PART 2

This follows on from the original paper with the same Title of Australian Postal Curiosities. During World War 2, the Allies printed enormous amounts of propaganda, most of which was dropped over the Axis enemy lines. In addition, private individuals printed 'Patriotic labels' which could be placed on mailed covers.

A BLOCK of STAMPS with the RARE G.N.R.P. N.S.W POSTMARKS x 6

Neither the cover in its discolored and 'foxed' condition, nor the faintness of the postmarks would win a beauty contest, but the present cover must be near unique. It was sent 'By first mail' to Mrs. Norton, Shipton House, Edgar Road, Margate, (Kent, England).

ADAMS & CO. EXPRESS’S RELATIONSHIP to FREEMAN COBB of COBB & CO. [USA]

This stampless cover was sent from the United States to a Mr. William F. Christie, Melbourne, Australia in ca. 1840's (according to the vendor, but see later) and it had 3 black ink manuscripts, a prominent ‘Collect’, a vertically placed notation along the left hand side (doubtfully an abbreviation for advertised) and another notation ‘( ) Adams & Co’s Express’ (Figure 1).

ADELAIDE to KINSHASA via LONDON, LISBON, BANANA & BOMA, CONGO

ALEC A. ROSENBLUM, AUSTRALIAN PHILATELIST & AUTHOR

Two covers addressed to A.A. Rosenblum, one definitely philatelic and the other suspiciously so, are an introduction to the publisher of a classic book The Stamps of the Commonwealth of Australia A Handbook for Philatelists by Alec A. Rosenblum O.B.E., B. Sc. This book was the standard text for this subject from its first edition in 1922 until its greatly expanded sixth edition with its supplement in 1966.

ALFRED HENSMAN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA JUDGE & ATTORNEY-GENERAL

ALFRED WILLIAM HOWITT, EXPLORER & NATURAL SCIENTIST (1830-1908), PART ONE

Two covers appeared at the same website, one to Alfred and the other to his wife, both sent from Meran, Austria. This town in the South Tyrol (Meran in German, and now Merano in Italian, was Austrian up till1918, but now is in Italy) and both have Austrian stamps totaling 30 kr, but also they have a red manuscript ‘50' rate. The first was sent ‘Via Brindisi April 29' (1880) to Alfred W. Howitt F.G.S. (L), Tenclyde, Sale, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, and there was a transit T.P.O. DOWN octagonal postmark, with a back-stamp of Melbourne (Figure 1).

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.

BARRACLUFF'S OSTRICH FARM,

BOER WAR - PRIVATE DAVID WILLIAM PRIEST, 5TH QLD IMPERIAL BUSHMEN

BOER WAR COVER to SCHOOLBOY, S.M. BRUCE, FUTURE PRIME MINISTER [S. AFRICA]

This cover was at an auction site and was particularly well documented as a Boer War cover with no letter included, from an Australian soldier, with manuscript "On active service" to an Australian schoolboy. It was sent by H. Gordon No. 239, B Squadron, Victorian Infantry Regiment and was properly countersigned by his Commanding Officer Captain Fred^k G. Purcell of the V.I.R. The vendor states that there is another manuscript "no stamp available" and this was not seen. The stampless cover has a fine squared circle of MAFEKING/ SP 14/ 00/ C.G.H. (Cape of Good Hope). There is a large oval ‘T 1^D’ tax marking as well as a bicolor 1d Victorian postage due stamp with a ‘killer’ barred numeral ‘1'. The cover is addressed to S.M, Bruce Esq^re, C.E.G. School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The cover has a blue crayon re-direct of S. Yarra, and there was no mention of the recipient by the vendor (Figure 1).

BOYD'S CITY EXPRESS MESSENGER COMPANY PTY LTD. [USA]

Three examples of this company have appeared at one Melbourne stamp auction company over several years. The messenger company was first established in New York in 1830 by John Boyd, initially as a service for tradesmen to deliver hand-bills. In 1844 it became a local post competing with Governmental postal services and it continued in this form until it was suppressed in 1883. After the service was closed by the U.S. government, Fitz A. Boyd a grandson of the founder, migrated to Australia and ca.1888 he became associated with H.S. Havling, the manager of the Express Messenger Company in Melbourne.

In 1894 Boyd became the manager of the company which went through multiple name changes over the years and Boyd was still associated with the firm until 1915, although usage of the firm’s stamps is not recorded after 1910. The exact date of issue of the first local stamp by the CITY EXPRESS MESSENGER CO. LTD. is not known, but it probably was 1894 when Boyd gained control of the firm. The American influence on the design of the stamp is obvious.

The first cover ca. 1894 shows the design of the green ‘CITY EXPRESS MESSENGER/Co. Ltd/ DESPATCH STAMP’ label (with a variety of a white line joining the ‘X’ with middle bar of the ‘E’) and is uncancelled, as is often the practice, is seen on the front. On the flap (not shown) EXPRESS MESSENGER SERVICE was embossed (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).

CAPTAIN JOSEPH JAMES of GEORGE TOWN, VAN DIEMENS LAND 1786-1844

Two entires were available at auction, one addressed to the merchant Captain Joseph James and the other to his daughter Frances, one and a half years apart, during which time the Captain had died, and both were sent from the same town, Newnham, Gloucestershire in England.

CENSORED LETTER from MANUS, NEW GUINEA to BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

There are several intriguing features in this censored cover sent to Fritz Thomae, Buenos Aires, Calle Bernardo de Irigeyen 725, South America, and several bidders recognized this for they pushed the price to USD 637.00. There is a purple print OPENED BY CENSOR label without any other identifying mark on it, and there is a partially obscured typed ‘Enclosed letters for enemy countries’. There is mixed postage of the green ½d ‘Roo on Map of Australia’ stamp which is perfined ‘0 S’, and the grey 2d stamp of the same series has the ‘N. W./ PACIFIC ISLANDS’ overprint. Both stamps have been postmarked with the Type 84 MANUS/ 31 JA 17 postmark (Figure 1).

CHARLES HENRY CHOMLEY, LAWYER, WRITER & NEWSPAPER EDITOR

This fine mourning cover was addressed to C.H. Chomley Esq., Trinity College, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria and it had a single blue 2d Emu stamp of New South Wales cancelled with rays ‘201' of Burwood, a Sydney suburb (Figure 1).

COBBITTY N.S.W. to LAWRENCE ASYLUM, OOTACAMUND, MADRAS, INDIA

This unusual destination cover was addressed to Miss F. Albert, Lawrence Asylum, Ootacamund, Madras, S. India and its pair of mauve 6d and a single dull red 1d N.S.W. stamps were postmarked with two examples of the rays ‘535' of Cobbitty, N.S.W. There were two manuscripts per R.M.S Ellora to Melbourne and, R.M.S Nubia to Galle (Ceylon) (Figure 1).

COCOS ISLANDS by AIR MAIL to WOODSTOCK, VERMONT, U.S.A.

This cover has an AIR MAIL vignette in English, French, Chinese and Arabic and has 4 stamps totaling 2/- (shillings) comprising the green 1/- platypus, brown 6d kookaburra, purple1d Q.E. and the blue 5d Australian Antarctic Territory Explorers at the Magnetic South Pole stamp, cancelled with 2 copies of the COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS/ INDIAN/ 2 11 AU 61 2/ OCEAN/ AUST postmark. The reverse has no postal markings, but the senders name is typed as L. SAYERS/ COCOS ISLANDS. It is addressed to Woodstock, Vermont, U.S.A. (Figure 1).

COLONIA NUEVA AUSTRALIA in PARAGUAY

Two items of considerable interest were found on Australian stamp auction sites. The first was a rare cover with faint markings dated 5-SET 1930/ PARAGUAY of the first internal flight from Ascunsion to Colonia Nueva (New) Australia (as an arrival cds) franked with 2 Republic of Paraguay stamps (Scott 288, 291), total postage of P2.50 (Peso), and the stamps were postmarked in a diamond with 'ENSAYO/ SEVICIO/ AEREO/ INTERNO'. It was addressed to Norman Stocky/ JEFE CORREOS/ COLONIA NUEVA AUSTRALIA (Figure 1).

DELAYED ESPERANTO WWI COVER from KINGAROY QLD to TEHERAN PERSIA

I have seen surprising number of Australian covers and postcards posted interstate and particularly to the USA, but this one must be a relative rarity. It has a total postage of 2½d made up of a pair of red 1d KGV heads and a single green ½d KGV head postmarked with three copies of the KINGAROY/ T-12 NO 17/ QUEENSLAND [Type 1t (i)]. The cover is addressed to ‘Ia Esperanta, Teheran, Persia and there is a manuscript arabic notation written in indelible pencil, and there is a red OPENED BY CENSOR label folded over the left border (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).

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

EDWARD CROOKE, VICTORIAN PASTORALIST (1810-1873)

Three stampless entires were sent to the above in 1856-1858 at Gippsland, Holey Plains (the first two incorrectly addressed to ‘Holy Plains, which denoted’), Victoria. The first was sent p(er) ‘Eclipse’ and was endorsed ‘6d to pay’, having been sent from Hobart (Figure 1).

EDWARD WILLIAM STAFFORD (1819-1901) - MISSENT TO MELBOURNE

The cover ties together three British Colonies, India, Australia and New Zealand. It is addressed to The Hon able Edward W. Stafford, Auckland, New Zealand and was sent from India with the black four annas QV stamp tied by a 'B/60' cancel, a red boxed 'INDIA PAID' at lower left, manuscripts 'Per Steam Ship' and 'Paid', a double framed oval 'MISSENT TO/ VICTORIA/ MELBOURNE', a partial arrival 'AUCKLAND/ MR 29/ (185)8, plus a manuscript (written vertically up the left hand border) 'P.P.L.Stafford/ 20 Dec 1857/ over' (Figures 1 & 1A).

EDWARD WILLIAM TERRICK HAMILTON, COLLAROY, MERRIMA

EVERETT C. ERLE, AMERICAN PHILATELIST, A.P.S. HALL of FAME

This registered cover was sent from 634 MILE T.A.R./ -3 AP 37/ W.A. with three postmarks canceling 5 stamps with a total postage of 6d, made up of pairs of the 1d green and ½d orange KGV heads as well as the 3d blue Centenary of South Australia stamp. The cover has a R6 ‘no name’ registration label and it is addressed to Mr. Everett Erle, 3546-22nd St., San Francisco, Calif, U.S.A (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.

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).

FREDERICK HUTH & CO., LONDON BANKERS

The entire has a red PAID SHIP LETTER/ [Crown]/ JY 25/ 1840/ SYDNEY with three legible manuscripts, ‘p Union’ and is rated in black ‘2s/8d’ and in red 2s/2d. The reverse (not seen) has a Ship Letter cachet and a London arrival of November 25, 1840, both in red (Figure 1).

FROM ILKESTON, DERBYSHIRE, GREAT BRITAIN to MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

There are Australian covers available each year on the market with re-directions including multiple manuscript instructions, and postmarks of multiple post offices. This cover however is somewhat unique in that the address was given fully (albeit incorrectly), plus there are three fine boxed instructions which spread over an area from South Yarra, to Melbourne and finally to Victoria, plus the surprising finding that the cover never finished up at the Dead Letter Office.

GEORGE BRUCE, SHEEP BREEDER, LOOMBAH STATION, YULLUNDRY

I have seen 10 covers addressed to George Bruce over the past 2 years, and it has taken me all this time to come up with a coherent story about him. In the meantime, I had destroyed most of the scans. Recent covers have kindled my interest again, and my search led me to a researcher for Molong Historical Society and thence to Joan Marriott’s book The Crossroads. The History of Cumnock.

GEORGE RANDELL, W.A. COLONIAL SECRETARY to U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

This long On Her Majesty’s Service cover has a purple COLONIAL SECRETARY’S OFFICE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA frank stamp and a duplex SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 2/ FE 2/ 99/ PERTH W.A. with the GPO obliterator, as well as a double oval COLONIAL SECRETARY’S OFFICE/ (---) FEB 99/ PERTH W.A. marking at the lower L. side, plus a circular PAID/ OFFICIALLY/ WEST AUSTRALIA. It was addressed to The Acting Secretary, Civil Service Commission of the United States, Washington U.S.A. (Figure 1).

GERMAIN NICHOLSON, GROCER, LAND SPECULATOR & PHILANTHROPIST (1814-1888)

Most of the mail involving Nicholson is incoming mail and the 2 covers shown are good examples of the world-wide breadth of his mail. The first is addressed to Monsieur Germain Nicholson, Négociant (merchant),69 Rue Collin Est, à Melbourne, Australie sent ‘Via Steamer’ from ‘Bordeaux/ 2/ OCT/ 67' by ‘E. PURREY, BORDEAUX’ and there are 2 examples of the blue oval ‘MORE TO PAY’, one for ‘4d’ which is crossed out and the other for ‘10d’ (Figure 1).

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).

HARDEN N.S.W. REGISTERED COVER with MULTIPLE T.P.O. POSTMARKS

This fine registered cover looks almost too good to be anything but philatelically inspired. It has a 3 colour stamping with the red 1½d Opening of Canberra Parliament stamp of 1927, the blue 3d Kookaburra stamp of 1928 and the green 3d first airmail stamp of 1929, a total of 7½d, all finely placed and postmarked by three HARDEN/ 6-P 10 JE 30/ N.S.W postmarks. It has the blue AIR MAIL vignette and the Harden N.S.W. registration label applied, as well as the crossed red crayon markings, which carefully do not impinge on the stamps. It is addressed to Mr. A. Cormack, C/- General Post-office, MELBOURNE, Victoria which address is crossed out and redirected to the PO Harden NSW, both in red manuscript (Figure 1).

HENRY DANGAR, SURVEYOR, PASTORALIST & POLITICIAN (1796-1861)

This 1852 cover was franked with the 1d imperforate N.S.W. ‘Laureate” (S.G. 46) and postmarked with the Sydney barred cancel, was addressed to Henry Dangar Esq, Cumberland Place (Sydney). It shows the boxed 2 OCLOCK time stamp which replaced the 1 OCLOCK time stamp in April 1850 and was in use until April 1855. The reverse, not shown had the Sydney obliterator postmark (Figure 1).

HERBERT J. RUMSEY, SEEDSMAN, EDITOR, AUTHOR & GENEALOGIST

INDIGO VICTORIA to JAMES BREWSTER, NEW BRUNSWICK, BRITISH NORTH AMERICA [CANADA]

This cover was addressed to James Brewster Esq., Harvey, Albert County, New Brunswick, British North America, and a manuscript ‘Per Overland Mail’ and the perf. 12 greenish-blue One Shilling stamp of Victoria was postmarked with an indistinct barred numeral ‘230' (of Indigo). There was a red transit stamp of LONDON/ J(U?) 16/ 60/ PAID. In addition there was a manuscript rating mark which could not be determined, plus a manuscript ‘# 2(5 or 8) which may denote the number of letters in a correspondence (Figure 1).

JAMES DENHAM PINNOCK, PUBLIC SERVANT & BANKER (1810? - 1875)

Three entires were found addressed to James Denham Pinnock over a period of 1847-1851, in his capacity as a public servant serving in two different roles in Melbourne. The first dated was addressed to him as the Deputy Registrar General, Supreme Court, Melbourne, Port Philip (sic) in July 1847. The front had a black rectangular boxed ‘JERRRYS PLAINS/ FREE’ and the ‘FREE’ was black-inked out with a wavy line and a rating of ‘1/7' (a red one shilling seven pence) was added (Figure 1).

JAMES MILSON Jr, DIRECTOR, MERCANTILE BUSINESS MAN & PASTORALIST

I found in my own collection three covers sent to James Milson junior all in 1875 from Melbourne, all bearing the same 2d pale mauve Die 1 Victoria stamp, and with the handwriting of the same individual. Even the Melbourne duplex postmark was monotonously the same, except for the time code and the dates, which ranged from August 27 to October 28 to November 15 1875. To break the monotony the middle-dated cover was blue, but of the same size, as the other two. The sender was remarkably consistent in the way he addressed Milson, as follows: James Milson Jr. Esq^r, B^K New S. Wales, Sydney., N.S.Wales. Just one of these fronts will be shown in Figure 1.

JANET GAYNOR, AMERICAN FILM STAR, FIRST IMAGE ON AUSTRALIAN T.V. [USA]

This somewhat battered cover was sent to Miss J. Gaynor, C/- United Artists, Hollywood, California and has a roller cancel on the green 1d Queen Elizabeth and the red 2d KGVI stamps, ASHFIELD/ 9⁴⁵ AM/ 19 JUL/ 1941 with the slogan MINIMUM LETTER/ RATE TO U.S.A. 3^D/ ADDRESSEE PAYS/ DOUBLE/ DEFICIENCY. In addition there was a delay in sending as shown by the handstruck ASHFIELD/ 22 JL (41)/ N.S.W cancel. The probable reason for the delay was because of a purple boxed instruction: RETURNED FOR/ ADDITIONAL POSTAGE/ ( )ORT PAID 1d (in pencil)/ Postal Department/ Cmwlth of Australia, which has been pencilled out, perhaps when the slogan was read by the postal authorities, and the letter was sent on its way (Figure 1).

JOHN LEWIS CHILDS & C. C. MORSE, PLANTSMEN

Plant catalogues promoting an international trade in seeds have had no borders for at least 100 years as evidenced by horticultural trade between countries. It was no surprise that seed crossed from the USA to Canada but I was not prepared for the frequent trade in seed from the USA and Australia. The early catalogues were as beguiling as present day ones, and there are collectors of these minor pieces of art on the internet.

JOHN WREN (1871 - 1953), SELF-MADE MAN, LOCAL HERO & SCOUNDREL

This cover leads into a remarkable story told in a total of 4½ pages in the on-line Australian Dictionary of Biography (A.D.B.), a length of biography uncommon for a man of his ilk (a page more than for Ned Kelly). The front shows that it is addressed to John Wren Esqr, Bourke St., City (Melbourne). The 1d rose Victoria ‘Postage’ stamp is postmarked with an unframed sixth duplex SOUTH YARRA/ 1/ AU 18/ VICTORIA, with the barred numeral ‘200'. It is endorsed by red pen ‘Delivery prohibited/ [initials] 20/ 8/08 (Figure 1).

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

JOSEPH BARLING to T.B. BENNETT: LIMEBURNER’S CREEK, N.S.W.

This unusually fine cancellation of the rays ‘261' in duplicate on a strip of three of the pale blue Two Pence stamp of N.S.W. is on a cover addressed to T.B. Bennett Esq., Bruton Somerset, England. The dates of sending, the date of receiving and the name of the sender are all identified in the manuscript: 22^nd Aug 1867, Mr. Joseph Barling, rec^d 20^th Oct, 1867, and another manuscript shows that this is ‘N^o 3' in a series of letters (Figure 1).

JOSEPH ROWE’s AMERICAN CIRCUS in MELBOURNE in the 1850's

This 1855 letter was addressed to a circus but unclaimed by the addressee and it was accompanied by a Post Office List which was advertised in the Melbourne Morning Herald of March 10, 1855. The letter had an orange-yellow 6d ‘woodblock’ stamp of Victoria postmarked with a barred oval ‘2 over V’ of Geelong and alongside there was a red butterfly cancel ‘14 over V’ . It was addressed to Mr. Jones, Rowes Circus, Melbourne and there is a red handstamp ‘ADVERTISEMENT/ AND/ UNCLAIMED, a rating of a manuscript ‘2' as well as a manuscript ‘Gone away’, with ‘M A’ initials. The figure ‘28' refers to the number used in the Post Office List as seen in the next figure, after Figure 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).

JUNCTION CREEK QUEENSLAND POSTMARK

This postcard appeared on an auction site and was interesting for 2 reasons, the postmark and the picture on the front. Junction Creek is situated 50 km east of Georgetown, and a few kilometers west of Mount Surprise in northern Queensland, and it was in flood in March 1910. It is close to the major Einasleigh River and may be a minor tributary of this river. Although it is listed in Campbell’s book on Queensland cancels, a barred numeral is not known for it. Cowan & Dell’s Queensland Datestamps states that it was a Receiving Office from 1883 until 1993 (the latter is a typo for 1893?) and a Post Office from 1907-1910.

KALGOORLIE W.A. to POQUETANUCK, CONNECTICUT

This cover with the blue 2½d Swan stamp (A.S.C. # 28) travelled 6½ weeks across Western Australia to the east coast of America, its journey being well documented by its multiple postmarks and manuscript routings. The front is postmarked by an unframed KALGOORLIE/ 6/ AU 26/ 01/ W.A duplex (top rarity rating of '1'). It is addressed to Miss Juliet Gier, Poquetanuck, Connecticut, N(ew) London Co(unty), U.S.A. In manuscript its intended routing is given as: via Sydney and San Francisco (Figure 1).

KHEDIVIAL MAIL LINE 1931 POSTMARK ON KGV HEAD COVER

LETTER to N. R. JAMES, ADELAIDE from NAMATANAI, NEW IRELAND

This fine cover is addressed to Mr. James, c/o Weather Bureau, G.P.O. ADELAIDE, South Australia. It has a red Registration label of Rabaul/ Deutsch-Neuguinea, a purple hand-stamped Crown over an oval PASSED CENSOR/ initials/ RABAUL, and the two stamps a green 3d Roo and a brown 5d KGV Head both have the N.W./ PACIFIC/ ISLANDS overprint, as well as 2 purple NAMATANAI/ 18 AU 18/ , an early unworn state of this postmark (Figure 1).

LETTER from A.L. ELDER to R.A.A. MOREHEAD, JULY 1849 per Emma

This entire was from one of the Elder family (pioneers and benefactors of South Australia) to a business associate in Sydney carried per ‘Emma’, postmarked G.P.O./[crown]/ JY * 25/ 49/ SOUTH AUSTRALIA, and addressed to R.A.A. Morehead Esq, O’Connell Street, Sydney. There was a manuscript ‘6' which denotes that 6 pence was paid at Sydney for the double ship letter rate. (Figure 1).

LETTER from SINGAPORE to HONble WALTER EGERTON, MALACCA

LETTERS from WIFE in AUSTRALIA to H.W. ROGER, CIVILIAN INTERNEE, H.K.

Six covers with letters were addressed to Hugh (Hugo) Wood Roger in Hong Kong dated from December 1941 until October 1943, but only five of them were from his wife Claudia and their 2 sons, Ned and Robin. The first cover is an introduction to the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, and it was sent just prior to his wife had any information about this terrible event in the life of the family.

MATADI, ETAT INDEPENDANT du CONGO (CONGO FREE STATE)

This cover has given insights into a remarkable story of intrigue with the key player being King Leopold II of the Belgians. This region in South West Africa has been the playing field of Belgium, England, France and Portugal, with all colonial powers reaping vast riches. In 1908 there were four different Congo States, French, German and Portuguese as well as the Free or Independent Congo, which became the Belgian Congo on 15 November 1898. The colonial powers showed little regard for the welfare of the area’s native inhabitants, who suffered much loss of life, and the more recent post-colonial life has not shown much improvement, if any.

MELBOURNE to BANNINGVILLE, BELGIAN CONGO

Australian covers to the former Belgian Congo are not common. The present cover provides information concerning the routing within the Belgian Congo in the year 1937. A registered cover from Melbourne identifies the sender on the reverse as W.I. Urquhart, 125 Domain Road, Melbourne S.E.1. It is addressed to M(onsieur) Fernand Trokay with the simple address of Banningville, Belgian Congo, Africa.

MODERN TIMES VILLAGE, THOMPSON’S STATION RAILROAD, LONG ISLAND

This cover was mailed from Melbourne on July 15, 1858 franked with two copies of the orange 6d imperforate ‘Woodblock’ stamps as well as a single lilac 2d ‘Emblems’ stamp of Victoria cancelled with the barred numeral ‘1' of Melbourne. There was a red manuscript rating of ‘8' and an obliquely placed manuscript ‘via Great Britain/ per Emeu/ Mail Steamer’ as well as a red handstamp LONDON/ 88/ SP 10/ 58/ PAID. In addition there was a large black handstamp of 5/ SP/ 24/ BOSTON BR. PK^T . The cover was addressed to Miss Annie Newbery, Modern Times village, Thompsons Station Railroad, Long Island, New York, U Stat, written in a copperplate style (Figure 1).

MOLONGLO SETTLEMENT

My interest in Molonglo Settlement was piqued a year ago, when I won an auction lot of 300 NSW postmarks on KGV Heads, which contained 3 copies of this postmark, all dated 1924, and all on the red 1½^d (ASC 66). I considered this a rather unusual frequency for a relatively uncommon postmark, but the lack of significant information on the internet re the Settlement, made me put the stamps away (Figure 1).

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

MOURNING COVER from SYDNEY N.S.W. to LUSHINGTON GARDENS, SYDAPETT, MADRAS

This fine mourning cover has been made of very thin almost translucent paper, and it is addressed to J. Price Esq., Lushingtons (sic) Gardens, Sydapett, Madras, India. It has a pair of the pale lilac 6d (perf 13) N.S.W. stamps, postmarked with 2 duplex B/ OC 5/ 78/ SYDNEY postmarks associated with the N.S.W vertically placed obliterator, within an oval of 4 rings (Figure 1).

MOURNING COVER to ARTHUR A. BARTLETT, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND [CANADA]

A mourning cover from Australia led to an exciting story of Nova Scotia stamps remainders. It was addressed to A.A. Bartlett Esq, "The Hill", Charlottetown, P.E. I. (Prince Edward Island), Canada and it had a manuscript Per SS "Moama" . The red 1d and green ½d Victorian stamps were postmarked MELBOURNE/ PM/ 2 30/ 13 3 00 (Figure 1).

MULTIPLE POSTMARKS on 1866 COVER SENT from MELBOURNE to LONDON

This unclaimed cover was franked with the 6d blue ‘Laureate’ of Victoria and was postmarked by the duplex MELBOURNE/ 3A/ AU 27/ 66. It was finally sent to England after reception at two cities in India, but the addressee’s name and the original address in India is no longer legible, for most of the front is a mass of readdresses which have been hatched out. There are however on the front certain definite postal markings and manuscript additions. There are two English town postmarks, FOLKSTONE / FE ( )/ 67 and B/ DEAL/ FE 20/ 67, both almost 6 months after the letter was posted from Melbourne.

MULWALA CONSTRUCTION CAMP N.S.W. POSTMARK

This postmark was sufficiently short-lived and is relatively uncommon, and this area on the New South Wales and Victoria border is of considerable interest, that I felt it reasonable to research it and to write a short paper. The postmark cancels the red 2½d KGVI definitive which was issued on 7 January 1942 and it reads MULWALA CONSTRUCTION CAMP/ -9 JE 43/ NSW. The postmark is described in N.C. Hopson & R. Tobin’s ‘N.S.W. and A.C.T. Post, Receiving, Telegraph & Telephone Offices, Volume 3' as follows: ‘Official Post Office 25.3.43 Closed 25.8.44 Type 2C 1943-‘. The postmark is shown in colour and also with a red filter, respectively in Figures 1 and 2.

McDONNELL & EAST, GEORGE STREET, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, DRAPERS

A simple cover sent air mail with a brown 5d KGV Head stamp postmarked in 1933 has an indistinct KATHERINE/ ( )/ NORTH AUST postmark (Figure 1).

NORMAN COLIN HOPSON, AUSTRALIAN POSTAL HISTORIAN 1929-1998

Norman Hopson and Alexander Robert ‘Bob’ Tobin will always be linked together because of their four seminal volumes published on the N.S.W. and A.C.T. Post, Receiving, Telegraph & Telephone Offices, over the years from 1991 to 1998 and posthumously in 1999. Regretfully I never met them, but their publications largely hijacked me away from stamp collecting to an interest in Australian postmarks, particularly those of N.S.W.

NUMERALS, COOPLACURRIPA (Plenty of Mosquitoes) & NUMBER ONE

Aboriginal place names intrigue me and Cooplacurripa (‘plenty of mosquitoes’) is no exception. But there is more to my interest for why was the post office and town name changed from the original to Number One, and a second post office and town with the original name moved further north-west? A web search not only gave no answer to these questions, but also to-date has been remarkably unhelpful in giving any worthwhile information about either town names.

No 4 AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, ABBASSIA ARTILLERY BARRACKS, 1915 [EGYPT]

This may well be a one of a kind illustrated World War One postcard on account of the large 3-ringed postal marking with the unusual centrally placed ABBASSIA and the 8 11 1915 date-stamp, that originated at the No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Artillery Barracks, Abbassia, (Cairo). It has a manuscript ‘on active service 1276 9^th.. 6^th Reg, and is addressed to a Mrs P.C. Mowle, Neutral Bay, Sydney. The card is stampless, and the message short: Wishing you & Bill & Percy a very happy Christmas & New year. I wont be at the front before Christmas, (signed) Den. There is a transit postmark HELIOPOLIS/ 9 XI.15 - 5 P.M with arabic notation in the lower third. At the lower left hand side the origin of the card is described: The Cairo Postcard Trust Cairo 61857/ Serie 529 (Figure 1).

PACKET BOAT CANCELS COVERS to E.M. EHRHORN, ENTOMOLOGIST, HAWAII

This cover has a ‘Packet Boat’ handstamp as well as a HONOLULU/ MAR 7/ 8 30 AM/ HAWAII cancel in a circle with the year date shown separately as 1925 as well as a large 2 in a barred ellipsoid, cancelling a pale dull blue 3d KGV head Harrison plate die I Australian stamp. It was addressed to Mr. E.M. Ehrhorn, Chief of the Division of Plant Inspection, P.O. Box 2520, Honolulu, Hawaii (Figure 1).

PASSAGE to INDIA

An unusual cover from Melbourne to Adelaide.

This cover produced a minor flurry of bidders at Ebay Auctions obviously on account of the multiple postmarks and other markings, which were not philatelically inspired. As interesting as the postmark exuberance is, there are other less obvious points of interest. The front bears a 2d lilac 'POSTAGE' Victoria, perf. 12 x 12½ stamp (ASC # 86), a very common stamp that was the interstate rate up to 1911. It was postmarked with a double circle MELBOURNE/ PM/ 3 15/ 26.8.04/ –9– cancel and was addressed to Mr Geo Stinson, South Australian Hotel, Adelaide (the addressee's name is left intact, but the Adelaide address is crossed out both in black and red ink). A receiving mark of a double circle ADELAIDE/ R/ AU 27/ 3 15 PM/ STH– 5–AUS postmark was also applied to the front. At this point the cover front takes on a distinctly unique character with additional markings, including a foreign postmark which suggests an interesting journey .

PLEASANT ISLAND, NAURU, THE N.W. PACIFIC ISLANDS’ OVERPRINTS

Most of the N.W.P.I. covers are philatelically contrived, and this possibly may be an exception. There are seven N.W.P.I. overprinted stamps on the cover: The KGV heads ½d green, 4d orange and 5d orange-brown (looking remarkably red!) as well as the Roos 2d grey, 3d olive, 6d blue and the 9d lilac. All are carefully postmarked P.O. PLEASANT ISLAND/ SE 10/ 1916/ NAURU. In addition, the ½d green has a diagonally placed handstamp ‘CENSORED’. There is the blue crayon cross marking and a red ink manuscript ‘R. Nauru No. 1105 as confirmation that it was registered. The cover is addressed Lieut. Col. W.G. Clements R.A.M.C. ( R ), M.O’s Quarters, Hilsea, Hants. (Hampshire), and a manuscript England has been added (Figure1).

PORTLAND, VICTORIA to MRS TENNEY, SMITHVILLE, LINCOLN CO., CANADA

POST OFFICES RELATING to THE VICTORIAN MILK INDUSTRY

For more than 5 years I have wanted to write about a particular rare Victorian postmark, but could not find a suitable way to introduce a discussion on this subject. The present postcard gave me a means how to broach this subject. The card has a Victoria green ½d ‘Bantam’ stamp cancelled with the double circle thick double-barred arc at both sides MELBOURNE/ AM/ 4 30/ 8 11 02/ 2 postmark, plus 2 incomplete purple ‘-----OO Posted’ hand-strikes. It is addressed to Warrion (which is ca.15 km north of Colac in South-West Victoria (Figure 1).

POSTCARD from CARL SUSSMILCH, to PROF. JAY WOODWORTH, HARVARD

POSTCARD to TAMATAVE, MADAGASCAR from BRISBANE

From the outset I have to admit that I am not a collector of Australian Colonial postcards, nor do I have much knowledge of ship routes from Brisbane to what I would call exotic places. The purpose of this paper is to see if readers can add information to the content of this paper.

PRISONER OF WAR, NO. 7 CAMP, EASTERN COMMAND, HAY N.S.W.

PROF. ARCHIBALD LIVERSIDGE 1846-1927, UNIVERSITY of SYDNEY

A front of a very simple cover was sent to Professor Liversidge, Sydney University and readdressed in manuscript to the Union Club, in Sydney. It had a duplex cancellation different from the first duplexes in that the date stamp part was upright instead of sideways and had a double circle instead of one, and the obliterator oval had 4 rings instead of 3. It was probably of local manufacture and the 2 parts of the cancel could be used separately. In the concentric circle the letters A, C, D, E, H, I, K?, & L are found, and it was in use from 1871-1881. The double circle datestamp had an L, and was dated SP/ 76/ SYDNEY on the 1d N.S.W. stamp (Figure 1).

RABAT, FRENCH MOROCCO from CABRAMATTA, N.S.W. REGISTERED LETTER

This cover has a fine vignette of the 150^th Anniversary, Sydney Souvenir Cover (1788-1938) with a map of Australia, a portrait of Captain Cook, an Aborigine, a kookaburra, a kangaroo, an emu, and a stylized central picture of the Settlement of Port Jackson in 1788. The cover was printed in Cabramatta (see lower right hand corner of vignette) and it has a registration label for Cabramatta, N.S.W. It has the blue 3d and red 2d KGVI as well as the green 1d Queen Elizabeth definitive stamps, which are postmarked CABRAMATTA/ 11 AP 39/ N.S.W. It is addressed to Monsieur Karoui, 22 Rue de Naples, Rabat (French Morocco). There is a manuscript ‘Voir au dos’ (See back), as well as a boxed RETOUR/ L’ ENVOYEUR (Return to sender) (Figure 1).

RAILHEAD P.O/ R.M.1., REGISTRATION LABEL: ‘TRAV P O/ AIF’ in PALESTINE

I need help with this cover as I don’t have access to the book which may give me more information about this interesting postmark and registration label. The blue Australian 3d KGVI head stamp is postmarked RAILHEAD P.O/ -1 AU 40/ R.M.1. The blue registration label R/50 has a typed Trav P. O/ A I F / 780, and the other significant postal marking is a red boxed PASSED BY CENSOR/ [crown] No. 606, with 2 manuscripts ‘XXX’ and ‘No 24', both of dubious importance. The cover is addressed to a post office box, at the Sydney suburb of Chatswood, N.S.W. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1 ).

REGISTERED QUEENSLAND T.P.O. COVERS to TATTERSALL'S, HOBART

Four of these covers appeared on Ebay in March of 2005 and all demonstrated a plethora of postmarks both on the front and reverse. Although the majority of markings were legible, in each example there were postmarks that left much to the imagination only. The covers ranged from 1903 to 1908, and will be described from the earliest to the latest.

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. 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).

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).

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

ROBERT GRAY, MILITARY OFFICER & PASTORALIST (1839-1931)

This cover has been a challenge to unravel the manner in which it was addressed in order to confirm that the correct Robert Gray had been researched. Two of the postmarks were key to the certainty that I had identified the right man. One of these postmarks was legible, whereas the other one is still being conjectured. The cover is addressed to Robert Gray Esq., Post Office Caperville, Cleveland Bay, Queensland. The mauve 6d N.S.W. stamp has a ‘35' rays postmark of Goulburn and this was confirmed by the adjacent unframed GOULBURN/ OC 26/ 1870/

SOHANA/SOHANO PAPUA-NEW GUINEA REGISTERED LETTER to NEW JERSEY

A colorful three stamps of Australia with a total postage of 7d was sent registered from SOHANA/ 14 JL 49/ PAPUA-NEW GUINEA, but the red registration label was printed as SOHANO with a registration number of ‘1534' to a P.O. Box 150, Elizabeth, N.J., U.S.A. Although the cover looked philatelically inspired it was not a first day cover for !d brown purple Queen Elizabeth nor the two Mitchell stamps (Figure 1).

SOLICITOR-GENERAL MELBOURNE CIRCULAR to JOHN LAURENS J.P.

This circular served double use from the Solicitor-General, Melbourne to John Laurens, Hotham Hill and back again to the Solicitor-General. There were a total of five of these documents available on Ebay, all sent from the same source, but to 5 different Justices of the Peace in the years 1874-1878. The entire is seen in Figure 1.

STRAWBERRY HILLS to TALLINN, EESTI (ESTONIA)

This somewhat dilapidated cover intrigued me, not only because of its origin and delivery site, but also because of the route it took from a Sydney suburb to the capital of the Baltic country, Estonia. The cover is registered with a torn blue Strawberry Hills, N.S.W. registration label and the total postage of 5d is made up of the 4d olive and 1d green KGV heads (both perf. 13½ x 12½, small multiple watermark). Both stamps are clearly postmarked STRAWBERRY HILLS/ 11 NO 31/ N.S.W., but the front has 3 additional and different in-transit postmarks: GLEBE/ 12 NO 31/ N.S.W., WILLIAM STREET/ 13 NO 31/ N.S.W as well as an arrival postmark of (TA)LLINN/ 12/ 12/ 31/ EESTI (Figure 1).

STUART ALEXANDER & CO. SYDNEY and THE EXCHANGE, N.S.W. POSTMARK

This advertising cover for Stuart Alexander Co., Sydney has several interesting features including ample evidence that it was registered (red N.S.W. EXCHANGE registration label, red handstamp ‘REGISTRATION’ and the crossed red crayon lines. It was sent ‘per S.S. Orvieto’ to Paris, France. Postage and registration of 6d was paid by 4 single copies of the 1½d red KGV stamps and was postmarked rather exuberantly with 5 examples of EXCHANGE (placed well off centre)/ 10 FE 26/ N.S.W. The reverse, not shown, was back-stamped Paris on 26.3.26 (Figure 1).

TAXED CARTOON POSTCARD from INVERELL, N.S.W. to PEKING, CHINA

I am always intrigued how inadequately addressed mail is sent out into the world, and this postcard really takes the prize. It is an English postcard, identified in green print vertically placed on the left hand side as being produced by the Cyn( )cas Publishing Co., Ltd , Tayport, Fifeshire. The postcard is simply addressed to Miss Isabel Pi( )y, Pekin (sic) China!

THE DOUBLE-LINED CIRCLE CANCELS OF MELBOURNE

There are 2 distinct types of the double-lined circle cancels of Melbourne and this is an example of Type 1 with distinguishing numbers mid-base between the thick arcs. Time and date are in 2 lines and the earliest date of use was 1.1.1900. Type 2 is very similar to Type 1, but with thinner arcs, and the earliest use was 3.9.1902. These cancels preceded Type 3 which were a single-lined circle with time and date in a straight line, the ‘Commonwealth’ type, with an earliest date of 3.2.1905.

THE EXPERIMENTAL CHARLES RIDEOUT SYDNEY DUPLEX (1861-62)

Two N.S.W. covers, both sent per the same ship, appeared on eBay addressed to Messrs Newell, Melbourne, Victoria dated 1860 and 1861 respectively, but only the latter one caught my fancy, for I did not recall seeing the duplex cancel previously. I was not surprised that the specific cancel was not found in my modest collection of early Sydney cancels, but I was at a loss to find it was not listed in the duplex cancels of the authoritative monograph, The Standard Circular Datestamps and Related Markings, The Postal History of Sydney, Volume 6, by R. Tobin and A.E. Orchard, 1995.

THE MANY POSTMARKS of the MOLONGO DISTRICT and SETTLEMENT (1918-45)

My interest in Molonglo Settlement was piqued 5 years ago, when I won an auction lot of 300 NSW postmarks on KGV head stamps, which contained 3 copies of this postmark, all dated 1924, and all on the red 1½^d (ASC 66). I considered this a rather unusual frequency for a relatively uncommon postmark, but the lack of significant information on the internet re the Settlement, made me put the stamps away.

THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION of 1880 - 1881

The cover was addressed to Syracuse, New York, United States and the blue 6d Laureate stamp of Victoria was canceled with the barred numeral MC/97 (Type 11A which was in use from 20.8.1880 until 30.6.1881) and the cover was also postmarked with an unframed EXHIBITION/ MY 17/ 81/ VICTORIA (Figure 1).

THE SMYTHE BROTHERS, HENRY & GEORGE, SURVEYORS IN VICTORIA

The cover is addressed to H.W.H. Smythe Esq. J.P., Commissioner of Crown Lands, Murray District, Broken River, Sidney Road and it was sent by Sam^l Watson, June 30/(18)46. There is a fine MELBOURNE/ [crown]/ JU 30/ 1846/ PORT PHILLIP postmark, a red manuscript 1/8 rating as well as red boxed PAID AT/ MELBOURNE. The reverse was not seen and the vendor supplied the following information: "The Broken River crosses the (present day) Hume Highway (Sidney Road) near the town of Benalla, Victoria (Figure 1).

THE WORLD -FAMED FISK JUBILEE SINGERS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Only the front of this interesting cover was seen, and it had an advertisement for The World-Famed Fisk Jubilee Singers, Box 1273, G.P.O., Sydney. The envelope was a printed-to-private-order red KGV One Penny stamp [A.S.C. Type 3 E5 issued in 1916] which was cancelled with a MOUNT PALMER/ 10 DEC 17/ WEST^N AUSTRALIA postmark, addressed to A.W. Millar Esq, Theatre Royal, Perth. W.A. (Figure 1).

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).

TIN CAN ISLAND MAIL, TONGA to MASTER W.M. SCRYMGOUR, ADELAIDE

Philatelically inspired mail of this type is not uncommon, but this cover is somewhat unusual for the addressee is a good starting point for researching a family that was associated with a printing company that had a history of 100 years, from 1875 to 1975. The front is adorned with a total of four hand-struck stampings, one in black script, another in green made up of three parts, a purple circular and also a purple 2-line strike. Although the black script states that it was put in the sea on the 11^th August 1938, the only legible part of the cancel is a ‘25' on the blue 2½d ‘TOGA’ Queen Salote stamp, issued in 1934. The cover is addressed to Master W.M. Scrymgour, C/o Messrs. Scrymgour & Sons, 115 King Wm. Street, Adelaide, S.A. (Figure 1).

TIRRIKIBA N.S.W. to CERRO de PASCO COPPER CORP, PERU

This common registered First Day Cover has particular interest on account of the address as well as the fine documentation of its routing on the reverse. It has a blue Tirrikiba registration label plus the crossed red crayon marking, and the pairs of the 1d green Queen Elizabeth and 2d red KGVI stamps are faintly postmarked 10 MY 37. The address is given in detail as P.S.K. Hodgson, Cerro de Pasco Copper Corp, Casilla 2412, Lima Peru, S. America (Figure 1).

TRIAL BAY, SOUTH WEST ROCKS DETENTION BARRACKS 1914-1918 [GERMANY]

At least 4 covers have appeared on several auction sites in the past 2 years, but illustrations were only available for two at the time for preparation of this paper. I knew little of the Australian internment camps during WW I in 1914-1918, and I had never heard of Trial Bay South West Rocks, N.S.W., so this paper was a great learning experience.

TWO COMPANIES, AUSTRALIAN & SWISS, THAT BECAME GLOBAL GIANTS

The two companies, one in Melbourne and the other in Calcutta no longer exist as such. Two covers were sent from Robert Bryce & Co. Pty. Ltd. to Messrs. Volkart Brothers, 8 Clive Street, Calcutta, India from Robert Bryce & Co. Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, Australia, the first pre-WW II, the other during WW II. The first was sent airmail and had a total postage of 1 shilling and 2 pence with a fine SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 4.30 P 18 MR 38/ MELBOURNE postmark with a Calcutta reception postmark of 25 MR 38 on the reverse (Figures 1 & 2).

VERNON EDWARD WHITE, QUEENSLAND SURVEYOR (1894-1967)

This registered cover looks as if it might be philatelically inspired (on account of its neatness and by the use of 6 Australian stamps of 4 different colours), but a total cost of 1/ 8½d would seem to be an unnecessary price to pay for a non-First Day Cover of the three 150th Anniversary of Newcastle stamps, which were issued on 8 Sep 1947. The cover is postmarked RABAUL/ 13 OC 47/ PAPUA NEW GUINEA and it has a red RABAUL registration label attached. The sender is identified as F.R. Davis, P.C.B, Rabaul, New Britain and it is addressed to Vernon E. White M.Q.I.S., Gympie, Queensland (Figure 1).

WALTER HUSSEY VIVIAN, EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER for N.S.W.

This On Public Service Only stampless cover has a faint blue impression of ‘Exhibition of Launceston’ frank stamp plus a LAUNCESTON/ K/ AU 5/ 92 with a duplex TASMANIA obliterator. It is addressed to W.H. Vivian Esq, Executive Commissioner of N.S. Wales, 93 Pitt Street, Sydney, N.S.W. At the bottom left hand corner there is a printed TASMANIAN EXHIBITION, LAUNCESTON 1891-92. The reverse has only a partial SYDNEY reception postmark (Figures 1 & 2)

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).

WILLIAM JAMES FARRER, WHEAT BREEDER & SURVEYOR

WILLIAM JAMES FARRER, WHEAT BREEDER & SURVEYOR

This O.H.M.S. cover was sent from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Richmond, 27-3-1904 to W. Farrer Esq, Wheat Experimentalist, Lambrigg, Tharwa Via Queanbeyan (NSW). The blue 2d N. S.W. stamp is perfinned OS/ NSW and it has an illegible ‘Rays’ cancel, probably numeral ‘4' of the originating Richmond N.S.W. In addition there is a RICHMOND/ MR 28/ 1904/ N.S.W , as well as a reception postmark of THARWA/ MR 29/ 1904/ N.S.W . There is also a transit postmark of GRANVILLE/ MR 28/ 1904/ N.SW, all three being Type 1D (i) (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).