Lot 932 15c rate 1889 cover to Australia, mailed from St John’s on FE.9.1889 and addressed to Melbourne, Australia, through San Francisco (FEB.20 transit on back). Originally franked with a strip of three of the 5c dark blue Harp Seal and somewhere along the way a large part of the middle stamp got removed (remaining two are damaged), with “Stamp Lost / In Transit” boxed handstamp. There is also a red “PAID ALL” handstamp on front. Once arrived in Melbourne on APR.11, several attempts were made to try and find the addressee, with many hand written notes to that effect, as well as pink Letter Carrier handstamps on front. Both front and back show a boxed “Unclaimed At / Melbourne” handstamp, and the cover was opened at bottom and re-sealed with stamp selvedge, with a pencil “2/9/89” date, as well as an interesting note on back reading “Opened by Mrs. Strachan but not for her, 11/4/89.” The back then shows several circular and boxed datestamps, mostly Dead Letter Office, dated OCT.10 and DEC.3. Very fine, and a rare destination for Newfoundland, plus a great story to boot. Estimate $500.
Melbourne
Lot 642, Collection of nine Canada 4-ring numeral cancels on First Cents covers, sold for C$3,744
Lot 642 Collection of 4-Ring Numeral Cancels on nine First Cents Covers, with #s 19 (London) on 1859 5c Beaver cover, 20 (Melbourne) on 1865 5c Beaver registered cover (LRD for this instrument in the Cents period), 23 (Niagara) on 5c Beaver cover (with RPO, etc. on back), 27 (Ottawa) on 1863 5c Beaver cover, 27 (Ottawa) on 1c deep rose QV cover (dated Kingston receiver on back of folded cover), 29 (Perth) on 1865 5c Beaver (Whitworth flaw #121) cover, 29 (Perth) on 1866 5c Beaver (Whitworth flaw #94) cover, 37 (Québec) on 1860 1c deep rose QV cover and 37 (Québec) on 1861 12½c QV cover to England. Overall nice strikes, some covers have creases or tears, an overall fine group. Estimate $400, sold for C$3,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1550, India 1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, sold for C$1,345
Lot 1550 India 1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, franked with a ½a and 1½a KGV definitives, with a red handstamp reading “Italian Consul General’s (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25. / No. 750/11. / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/1925.”. Back shows a purple cachet with map “ITALIAN / WORLD AIR / FLIGHT” (also another strike partly visible on front), with green initials of Stephen Smith and the president of the Aero Philatelic Club of India H.A. Outhwaite (these, apparently to prevent duplication). This is the right half of the cover only, as the 93 existing covers had all been intentionally cut in half, as they had been signed by de Pinedo after a promised charity donation had failed (the half with his signature are missing). Accompanied by a fairly contemporary article written on these interesting covers. This one is numbered 76 (out of 93), very fine and rare. See scans here. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,150.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 157, Canada 1887 fifteen cent UPU rate cover to Australia
Lot 157 Canada #38 1887 15c UPU Rate Cover to Australia, presumably mailed from Ailsa Craig, Ont (no despatch datestamp, but corner card) to Melbourne, Australia (JUN.29.1887 receiver) through San Francisco. Front shows a clear boxed UNCLAIMED AT / MELBOURNE handstamp, back shows several datestamps including a purple DLO from Melbourne (JUL.7.1887) and two different DLO datestamps from Canada, one dated AUG.23.1887. The cover is franked with a strip of three of the 5c olive green paying the 15c rate, very fine. From the John Hillson Collections, illustrated in H&N, page 140. Estimate C$500.