Two covers of the Victorian branches of the A.N.A. recently appeared on a stamp auction site. The first had a 1d green KGV Head postmarked with a Victorian RELIEF/ NO 2 postmark and it emanated from the Port Melbourne, Branch No. 28 and was posted to St. Kilda, the date being illegible (Figure 1). The second was a stampless cover, had a PAID AT FOOTSCRAY/ 19 AU 37/ VIC postmark, and it
The first cover shows a stylised ‘ribbon’ advertising JOHN REA/ GUNMAKER/ MCCRAE STREET/ NEXT BLACK SWAN/ SANDHURST and the cover has the 2d lilac mauve stamp of Victoria, postmarked with the duplex SANDHURST/ A/ NO 20/ 80 plus the barred numeral ‘4′ as the obliterator. The Australian Firearms Museum, in a listing of Colonial gunsmiths, gives the following information: ‘Rea, J McRae Street Bendigo (formerly Sandhurst) Vic. 1890′, and a
I almost can’t believe that I am using this advertising cover to introduce this important man, but there is a definite, albeit tenuous connection, so please bear with me. It is addressed to my boyhood friend who may still be alive so that I am obscuring his name and address. The 5c blue QEII stamp is cancelled with a HURSTVILLE/ 445 PM/ 3 OCT/ 1968/ N.S.W AUST. roller cancel with the
Two Australian advertising covers introduced this company in the early 1900s, but the company was started up in Christchurch in the 1860s (1863 in one reference, and 1868 in another), with later expansion to Auckland. However its origin was in Leicester, England where John Auslebrook was born ca. 1834. His parents were Henry George Aulsebrook and Jane Gillam who were bakers in High Cross Street in Leicester. Henry died in
The cover has considerable intrinsic interest on account of the advertising matter on its front and reverse, the type of postmark and the tax markings to warrant publication of the information it provides. The Western Australian stamp is the yellow 2d Swan issued on 4 Jan.1902 and it is postmarked with the duplex SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 11/ NO 21/ 03/ PERTH W.A. with the 8-bar GPO obliterator. It was received
This common Queensland One Penny postcard had an unframed duplex MARYBOROUGH/ A/ JU 9/ 94/ QUEENSLAND with double side arcs postmark with the QL obliterator. This specific configuration with Code A is listed by Cowan & Dell as having squares before and after the town name, and not arcs. The postcard was addressed to Mr. R. Kennedy, Store Keeper, Gympie (Figure 1). The reverse described the firm was into Hardware,
This advertising cover is somewhat unique mainly because of the shape of its flap. The front shows a blue advertising corner for WM SANDOVER & Co, Hay Street, PERTH, W.A. The 1d red ‘Swan’ stamp has a duplex L.C. ROOM/ 13/ 30 8/ 01/ PERTH and the cover is addressed to a local address. The ‘L.C. ROOM’ is an abbreviation for Letter Carriers Room ( Figure 1). The flap advertises Chubb’s
The advertising cover of Alexander Mair & Co., Victoria & Leicester St. Melbourne, Agents for William Dockers Ltd., English Varnish and Ever Shining Sun Brand was addressed to the Boston Woven Hose and Keebler Co., San Francisco, Cal. The blue 2½d ‘POSTAGE’ stamp of Victoria was cancelled MELBOURNE/ 4 6 04/ -14-. On the reverse was an indistinct reception postmark of San Francisco (Figure 1). Alexander Mair, farmer, businessman and
This 2d blue-green printed to private order envelope has a roller cancel HOBART/ 16.6.09/ TASMANIA on the ‘Head of Victoria’ embossed stamp. It is a colorful advertisement for A.G. Webster & Son, Hobart Tasmania and it shows a man tilling the earth with a Planet Jr. plough (Figure 1). The reverse shows a Launceston arrival postmark on 17 JE 09, and has additional adverts covering a list of numerous garden
This advertising cover has a picture of Shearer’s Patent Wrought Steel Plow & Cultivator Shares and warns: “Beware of IMITATIONS, especially UNBRANDED Shares. These shares are often imitated but never duplicated”. The pink 1d South Australia stamp is postmarked MANNUM/ 2 MA 11/ STH AUSTRALIA and it is sent to a firm of Messrs E.H. & L.O PONTT, Bakara, S.A. (Figure 1). The reverse is an advert for David Shearer &