Two items appeared at auction sites recently and both referred to the same family. The first was addressed to Mr. Wm. Johnstone, Merchant, Launceston and was postmarked in red with an oval PAID SHIP LETTER/ [crown]/ AU * 20/ 1845/ SYDNEY, with rosettes on both sides. The only other markings were in manuscript, a large black ‘4’ (for paid postage) and a large red ‘3’ (for payment of the captain
William John Adams, Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (London) and later Australia, first came to Australia in 1883 during the closing days of the great railway bonanza in England, the period when it was believed there was a fortune to be made in the colonies. This cover is an example of the company that Adams built which was celebrated in a book recording William Adams and Company over
The cover was postmarked with a duplex GEELONG/ Z/ JL 11/ 88 with the barred numeral ‘2′ on the lilac ‘TWO PENCE’ Victoria stamp. It was addressed to Mr. J. Breguel, c/o W. Hart & Sons, Charles St., Launceston, Tasmania. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1). William Hart, businessman and parliamentarian, was born on 2 April 1825 in London, son of William Doubleday Hart (1801-1847). At 8 he went
The bright-red ‘FOUR PENCE’ Van Diemen’s Land stamp [SG 10] has fine margins tied by LAUNCESTON/ 26 JY 26/ 1854 with the barred numeral ‘59′ of Launceston obliterating the stamp. The entire was sent to Hobart, the date being confirmed by the red ‘PAID’ handstamp. It was sent to Messrs. Wm Crosby & Co., Hobart Town. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1). The second entire has a bright brownish-orange VDL
The Post Card is addressed to Mr. E.F. Wedlich, Tobacconist, Ballarat and it has the printed brown ‘Reading One Penny’ stamp of Victoria which is cancelled with MELBOURNE/ 23 A/ MR 12/ 98 postmark (Figure 1). The reverse has advertising for the William Cameron Bros. & Co. Limited, with a handstruck partially obscured purple ‘PROPRIETARY’. The “Virginia” Tobacco Factory, Offices and Factory were located at 14 to 20 A’Beckett Street,
The printed to private order newspaper wrapper was headed WILLDER & COMPANY’S/ MONTHLY GUIDE/ ON INVESTMENTS OF THE DAY and it has a printed rose ‘Half Penny’ Victoria stamp, cancelled with a duplex MELBOURNE/ 18/ MR 3/ 91 with the VICTORIA obliterator on the stamp. According to the vendor the year was 1887, and by this date was when the 1885-99 ½d “Fergusson & Mitchell” wrappers were changed in colour
This On Public Service Only stampless cover has a faint blue impression of ‘Exhibition of Launceston’ frank stamp plus a LAUNCESTON/ K/ AU 5/ 92 with a duplex TASMANIA obliterator. It is addressed to W.H. Vivian Esq, Executive Commissioner of N.S. Wales, 93 Pitt Street, Sydney, N.S.W. At the bottom left hand corner there is a printed TASMANIAN EXHIBITION, LAUNCESTON 1891-92. The reverse has only a partial SYDNEY reception postmark
The cover has a ms. ‘Via Marseilles’ and is addressed to Mr.W.J. Taylor, 33 Little Queen Street, Holborn, London and the purple on pink paper ‘TEN PENCE’ QV stamp of Victoria is postmarked with a duplex MELBOURNE/ 7X/ JY 27/ 87 with the obliterator VICTORIA canceling the stamp. The addressee has added a ms. In black ink of ‘Replied to 27 Sept/ afternoon/ 4 o’clock’. No information has been found on
This is the second paper about Walch & Sons, stationers, but with particular reference to the close relationship to the Tattersalls Lottery of Charles Edward Walch. The cover is addressed to Messrs. Walch & Sons, Stationers, Hobart, Tasmania. The pair of the ‘ONE PENN Y/ POSTAGE’ stamp of Victoria is cancelled by an UP TRAIN/ MG 3/ NO 15/ 05/ VICTORIA (the Bendigo line) and much of the purple “Tattersall”
The cover has an advertisement for the company of W.E. Bramble & Sons and it was sent by airmail to Messrs. S.E. Higgins & Co. in London, England. The strip of three brown Kookaburra stamps were cancelled with a roller postmark NEWCASTLE/ 5-PM/ 24 JLY/ 1950/ N.S.W./ AUST with the slogan POST EARLY/ IN THE DAY. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1). Brambles took its name from Walter Edwin