Postmarks

COLONEL H.F.N. JOURDAIN C.M.G., OXFORD, U.K from MUDAMUCKLA, S.A

How could one resist researching a cover sent from a village with such a non-harmonious name as Mudamuckla to a Gallipoli hero? The cover has a blue registration label for Mudamuckla, South Australia, and it is addressed to Editor, Colonel H.F.N. Jourdain, C.M.G., Fyfield Lodge, Fyfield Road, Oxford, England. The orange-brown 5d KGV Head stamp is cancelled MUDAMUCKLA/ 27 JL 37/ S.A (Figure 1). The reverse has the identical Mudamuckla

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). The point of origin postmark was COBBITTY/ MR 21/ 1874 (Type 1A, previous ERD* 1898) and the

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 Fredk G. Purcell of the V.I.R. The vendor states that there is another manuscript “no

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

The stampless cover’s sender is identified as Trooper D.W. Priest, (Regimental) NO 15, 5th Q.I.B. On Active Service Sth Africa.. It is addressed to his father J. Priest, “Radlett”, Sussex Street, South Brisbane, Queensland and it has an incomplete double circle FIELD POST OFFICE/ 23/ JU 2 ( )/ O1/ BRITISH ARMY ( ). There is a large thick 1D tax mark and the manuscripts may denote that this letter

A LETTER to BOMBARDIER H. WELLS, NOWSHERA, N.W.F. PROVINCE 1909

This fairly unique destination cover to a long-time troublesome area, now in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region, is related to a series of conflicts starting with the Anglo-Afghan wars during the imperialist Great Game between the United Kingdom and Russia which led to the dismemberment of Afghanistan. The front which was not seen is a real photo, b/w postcard of ‘The Blow Hole, near Flinders’. The reverse shows it is an Australian

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

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

This is one of the most extravagant advertising covers I have written about, and it is also the third cover to the CongoI have recorded. I seem to have a fascination for this chaotic region which has had so much strife in its pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods. The Australian Stamp Company, Adelaide, South Australia has resisted my many research attempts, but there is enough advertising matter to obtain an idea

‘LITTLE WANZER’ SEWING MACHINE, MADE in HAMILTON, ONT., CANADA

The advertising cover has a picture of a small machine, but no textual description other than THE “LITTLE WANZER’. It is addressed to Mr. Ramsay, Dobroyde Nursery, Ashfield. The orange ‘ONE PENNY’ stamp of New South Wales was cancelled with a duplex cancel of SYDNEY/ I/ JY 8/ 73/ P with a vertical 4-ring oval N.S.W., as an obliterator of the stamp. Whereas I first thought the ‘I’ was a

E.P. RAMSAY, ORNITHOLOGIST, ZOOLOGIST & SYDNEY MUSEUM CURATOR

Five covers were found on eBay, addressed to three members of the Ramsay Family from 1867 to 1874, and they will be described in dated order. The first was addressed to J.S. Ramsay Esqr., Care of J. McNiven, Cardington, Molong. The blue ‘TWO PENCE’ stamp of New South Wales was cancelled with a duplex D/ DE 24/ 67/ SYDNEY found in an incomplete circle and a 3-ringed oval N.S.W. obliterator.

Royal Reels: Gambling

Postmarks