Lot 390 Canada #30vi 1887 Cover to Australia Franked with 15c Large Queen “Balloon Flaw”, mailed from Brantford on APR.28.1887 to Sydney, Australia (MAY.31 receiver), through Windsor (APR.28) and San Francisco (MAY.6), then re-directed (resulting in a “More to Pay” handstamp) to Melbourne (receiver’s date is unclear). The cover is franked with a very fine 15c bluish Grey Large Queen, with a clear “Balloon flaw” constant plate variety. As far as we know, this might be a unique usage for this stamp variety on cover, and a very fine one at that. Accompanied by a 2023 Greene Foundation certificate. Rsv. $3,200. Estimate C$3,500, sold for C$3,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Sydney
Lot 452, 1891 25c registered SQ cover to New South Wales, sold for $3910
Lot 452 1891 25c non-UPU registered letter rate cover to New South Wales, franked with 3c vermilion (two pairs and two singles) plus two 5c gray, all tied by grid cancels, overpaying the 15c non-UPU letter rate for service via Southampton, England, plus 10c registration fee. Mailed from Toronto (AUG.23.1891) to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (Oct. 9 receiver) via Windsor (Aug. 24), Chicago (Aug. 25), New York (Aug. 27) and London (Sep. 4) and endorsed “via Brindisi”. Fine-very fine and believed to be a unique rate and routing. (Unitrade 41, 42)
Letters to New South Wales were normally sent at the 12c non-UPU rate using the trans-Pacific route via San Francisco. This cover was sent to New South Wales using the more expensive 15c rate using the slower trans-Atlantic route via Southampton and Brindisi route, and is believed to be the only such recorded cover. In addition, it is also believed to be the only cover to an Australian State at the 10c registration fee.
Estimate $2,500, sold for $3,400 plus buyer’s premium.
Lot 1479 — 1931 Australia to England first flight cover, sold for $218
Lot 1479 1931 Australia to England Registered First Flight Cover, mailed Sydney and addressed to London England. Franked with a combination of 5 different issues, totaling 26d. On airmail stationery “Per First All The Way By Air Royal Mail”. Light corner crease, else very fine and colourful. Estimate $150, sold for $190 plus buyer’s premium.