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JOHN HIGGINSON, NEW CALEDONIA & NEW HEBRIDES: THREAT to THE COLONIES

The so-called ‘Ligne T’ of La Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes operated from Marseilles to Sydney from 1883 until 1903 and in the period of 1895-1903 it operated four weekly on the route of Marseilles-Port Said-Aden-Colombo-Fremantle-Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney-Noumea, New Caledonia and return. The M.M. Australien was added to this service on 4 June 1890 and it did not sail in March of 1891 from Sydney to Adelaide, so the letter was carried by another ship.

JOHN DANKS & SON PTY LTD, LARGE HARDWARE BUSINESS, SYDNEY & MELBOURNE

This unusual ‘SPECIMEN’ advertising cover has two red boxed John Danks & Son Pty Ltd/ SILENCE SPELLS SECURITY advertisements, one of which was inverted, POSTAGE PAID 1½ AUSTRALIA on the upright example, and POSTAGE PAID 2½d AUSTRALIA on the inverted example. It was not sent through the post but has a CASTLEREAGH ST/ 18 VI 42/ N.S.W. cancellation. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1). This major firm has existed

JOHN CUMMING Junr., PROSPECTOR OFFICE, BALLART DIGGINS, PASTORALIST

The cover was addressed to Mr. John Cumming Jnr, Prospector Office, Ballart Diggins (sic), Buninyong. The ‘tiny’ 1851 cover had a ‘very fine’ ‘Ham Half Length’ 2d brown-lilac of Victoria (S.G. 16b) with ‘huge margins at left and base, and it was cancelled with a Butterfly ‘15′ of Geelong (Figure 1). The reverse had a late usage of the unframed oval GEELONG/ [crown]/ OC 14/ 1851/ PORT PHILLIP, as well

JOHN ARTHUR MACARTNEY, PASTORALIST, HORSEMAN & QUEENSLAND PIONEER

This mourning cover had a 2d lilac ‘Stamp Duty’of Victoria canceled by the barred numeral ‘156′ corresponding to the unframed MANSFIELD/ AP 27/ 85/ VICTORIA as well as a boxed black DEFICIENT POSTAGE/ FINE (ms. ‘2d‘) and it was addressed to John Arthur Macartney Esq, Waverly, Marlborough, via Rockhampton, Queensland (the latter placed at top left of the cover), and there were three other manuscripts ‘or Mrs Macartney’ , ‘recd 5th May/ 85

JOHN GEORGE ROBERTSON, BOTANIST, PASTORALIST (1803-1862)

This 1849 O.H.M.S. entire is addressed to John George Robertson Esq, Wando, McKinlays Post, Glenelg. It has a faint red boxed FREE/GEELONG (at upper left) and is signed CJ Latrobe/ Commissioner, at lower left (Figure 1). The reverse has an unframed oval GEELONG/ [crown]/ AU 25/ 1849/ PORT PHILLIP postmark as point of origin, a partial transit oval of MELBOURNE/ [crown]/ AU 27/ (1849) and a weak THE GLENELG/ [crown]/

MELBOURNE to OTTAWA, CANADA LETTERS: MUTUAL FORESTRY INTERESTS

Three covers appeared on Ebay demonstrating a mutual interest in forestry both in Australia and Canada. The first cover was a spectacular advertising cover from a commercial firm with a fine franking in red, the advertisement showing a pictorial stand of trees and the text of ‘INVEST IN TREES, Your Money Grows, Afforestation (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., 413 Collins St. Melbourne’, associated with a double circle MELBOURNE/ 2 V 32/ VIC

MAYNE NICKLESS, from HORSE & CART to HEALTH CARE

This cover appeared at auction and the vendor stated that “Mayne Nickless assisted Tatts to subvert the ban on mail deliveries to Tatts’ Hobart address”. This was yet another novel method of getting around the Tasmanian Post Office ban on Tattersalls Lottery. There are 5 copies of the pink 1d Victorian “Postage” stamp all carefully postmarked with a large ‘R’ in a circle, with another one for good measure at the lower left. An additional

MALCOLM DONALD McEACHARN of McILWRAITH MCEACHARN SHIPPING Co.

The Victorian Postcard had a printed orange READING ONE PENNY QV’ stamp with a duplex MELBOURNE/ 1A/ MR 9/ 93 with a VICTORIA obliterator. It was addressed to J. Dowling Esq, Collins St, City as well as a boxed ‘UNCLAIMED AT/ MELBOURNE. There was a black ink ms. ‘Not known/ Initials/ 9/3/93′ at the top left, and a purple illegible ms. at the bottom left (Figure 1). The reverse was

M. TRILETY, FACE SPECIALIST, BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK

A printed to private order (PTPO) cover with the ½d green and 1d red KGV head has the 1½d brown KGV head stamp added, making a total postage of 3d. All three stamps are postmarked KEMPSEY/ =6P 29 SE 19=/N.S.W , postmark Type 2B(T). The cover (front only) is addressed to Mr. M. Trilety, Face Specialist, 1231 Ackerman Bldg., Binghamton, New York, United States. The surname is unusual, but the

LIONEL & WILLIAM SAMSON, EARLY SWAN RIVER COLONY SETTLERS

A relatively ordinary front to this 1880 postcard reveals an interesting story about early settlers in Western Australia. The one-half penny postcard is addressed to a customer in Fremantle and it is postmarked with a FREMANTLE duplex, the date being illegible (Figure 1). The reverse is quite revealing and is printed as follows: Chaff, Butter, Cheese, Raisins, Dates, Potatoes,/ LIONEL SAMSON & SON,/ (Government Auctioneers.)/ Have received instructions to sell

Royal Reels: Gambling

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