Royal Reels: Gambling

Advertising Covers

JAMES MARTIN, N.S.W. MLA & MACHINERY MERCHANT ADVERTISING COVER

The front of this cover was addressed to Messrs Branson Bros Julong, Binda via Goulburn and the 2d blue stamp of New South Wales is postmarked with a duplex SYDNEY/ H/ FE 9/ 85 N.S.W obliterator (Figure 1). The reverse displays in blue four pieces of equipment that the James Martin & Company. of George Street, Sydney opposite the Royal Hotel, sold: the Hornsby Martin Single Plough, the Tiger Disc

Read More »

J.C. FERGUSON, LAUNCESTON ADVERTISING COVER 1895

The cover front gives no hint of the reverse, it is postmarked with two strikes of LAUNCESTON/ A/ NO 1/ 95/ P-R Tasmania duplex on a pair of the pink 1d and a single ½d orange side-face stamps. It was addressed to The Buffalo Spring & Gear Co., Buffalo N.Y., US America. There is a purple marking RECEIVED/ DEC 19 1895/ B.S. & C. Co., placed at the left (Figure

Read More »

J. KITCHEN & SONS PTY. LTD., MELBOURNE POSTAL CARD 1931

This used printed to private order postal card is said by the vendor to be “very rare, perhaps two exist” and it was sold at auction AUD 1,100. It was listed as a 1928-36 KGV Oval 1½d brown HG K8 on a bluish advice card. It was addressed to ‘Mr V. Hay, Storekeeper Chelsea (Victoria) and was postmarked MORWELL/ 11 FE 31/ VIC. The item was sold AUD100 above the

Read More »

SINGER SEWING MACHINE CO. & ISAAC MERRITT SINGER (1811-75)

The illustrated cover was sent from the Singer Sewing Machine Co., General Management for Australia,119-123 York Street Sydney, and it had the characteristic large ‘S’ with a woman using a sewing machine entwined in the middle of the letter. There is further printed information that the company has “Duplicate Parts Always on Hand. Agencies All Over the World”. It is addressed to The Singer Man’f’g Co., Factory No, Bridgeport Conn.,

Read More »

SIL ROHU (SYLVESTER EDWIN ROHU) PRACTICAL GUNSMITH

This advert cover was for “Sil Rohu, (Late A.I.F), Successor to W. Graham & Son), Practical Gunsmith, and Importer of High-Grade Guns and, Rifles and Shooters’ Accessories, 110 Bathurst Street, Sydney (Aust.)”. The red 1½d KGV head stamp was cancelled with SYDNEY/ 10PM/ 22 JUN/ 1928/ N.S.W. roller postmark with a slogan COMMONWEALTH LOAN/ NOW OPEN/ APPLY AT ONCE. It was addressed to Mr.H. Woodd Adams, Cookamidgera, NR. PARKES (N.S.W.).

Read More »

SCHOOL of ARTS HOTEL, ROMA QUEENSLAND to PAPUA NEW GUINEA

This advertising cover for the School of Arts Hotel, Roma, Queensland, Proprietor: E.J. Galton was addressed to C/o The Postmaster, Port Moresby, Papua and in addition to the blue AIR MAIL vignette, there was a purple handstamp with Australia/Papua/New Guinea/ July 1934/ first Official Air Mail as well as a straight 2-line handstamp (or manuscript) stating essentially the same message. The two air mail stamps, 6d OS overprint dull brown

Read More »

ROBERT CALDWELL, MERCHANT, POLITICIAN, & FOUNDER/PRESIDENT of AUSTRALIAN WINE ASSOCIATION

Two identical open window advertising covers, both with the identical slogan cancel, and ‘POSTED PILLARS’ BRISBANE Q’LAND, the one with the 1d green KGV Head stamp clearly postmarked 2 APR 1935, whereas the one with the 2d red KGV Head stamp had an obscured date. The slogan read ‘USE THE / POSTAL EXPRESS/ MESSENGER SERVICE’. The covers both advertised ‘CALDWELL’S / THE WINE OF LIFE’ and the reverse of both

Read More »

RICHARD EDWARD JARMAN, BRISBANE & ROCKHAMPTON, SADDLE MAKER

This registered cover is postmarked REGISTERED/ FE 22/ 01/ ROCKHAMPTON and there is plenty information that the cover is registered, other than the above, as shown by the ms. ‘931′, the crossed red crayon and the large ‘R’ in the oval on the cover and on both the brown 3d and blue 2d ‘FOUR CORNERS’ Queensland stamps. It is addressed to “Tattersall”, c/o G. Adams, Hobart, Tasmania (Figure 1). The

Read More »

PRESCOTT CO., PRODUCE & LIVESTOCK SALESMEN & COMMISSION AGENTS

Three advertising covers for H. Prescott & Co., 336 & 338 Sussex Street, Sydney appeared on Ebay, all with different designs. I have seen others previously, but because of the difficulty in researching the Sydney Company, I had given up on producing a paper about the company. A chance finding however has provided background on the company in the rural areas of N.S.W. The earliest cover was sent in January

Read More »

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

Read More »