Royal Reels: Gambling

Family History

WILLIAM JAMES FARRER, WHEAT BREEDER & SURVEYOR

This O.H.M.S. cover was sent from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Richmond, 27-3-1904 to W. Farrer Esq, Wheat Experimentalist, Lambrigg, Tharwa Via Queanbeyan (NSW).  The blue 2d N. S.W. stamp is perfinned OS/ NSW and it has an illegible ‘Rays’ cancel, probably numeral ‘4′ of the originating Richmond N.S.W.   In addition there is a RICHMOND/ MR 28/ 1904/ N.S.W , as well as a reception postmark of THARWA/ MR 29/ 1904/

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W.J. CRYER & CO., COMMERCIAL & ART PRINTERS, REDFERN, SYDNEY

This cover has a colourful and stylized advertisement for W.J. Cryer & Co. Pty. Ltd. Commercial & Art Printers, 99 Marriott St, Redfern (Sydney). It has a green 1½d QE stamp with a roller cancel of REDFERN/ 5 30 PM/ 11 OCT/ 1946/ N.S.W. AUST. with a slogan SEND MONEY/ BY POSTAL NOTE/ OR MONEY ORDER. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1). The growth of W. J. Cryer &

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W.H. SCHMALZ, MAYOR, BERLIN ONTARIO, PHILATELIST, BUSINESS MAN

The postcard was addressed to W.H. Schmalz Esqre, Secretary, Economical Insurance Co., Berlin, Ontario, Canada and it had a blue 2½d ‘Swan’ stamp of Western Australia with 2 cancellations, a duplex PERTH/ 1/ AP 10/ 01/ W-A with a barred obliterator GPO/ D, as well as a SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 1/ AP 10/ 01/ PERTH. WA (Figure 1). The reverse has a dramatic depiction of an Australian aboriginal dance involving

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THOMAS PROUDFOOT’S BOATHOUSE on HOPKINS RIVER, WARRNAMBOOL

The postcard displays a colourful scene on the Hopkins River with the beflagged boathouse, the boats at moorings, with much people activity in the foreground (Figure 1).  The reverse has a message of love from George to Maud at Albert Park, Melbourne and the red 1d Victoria stamp has a fine WARRNAMBOOL/A/ MY 27/ 08/ VIC postmark (Figure 2).  The vendor gives considerable information concerning the postcard as follows: “Victoria

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THE SMYTHE BROTHERS, HENRY & GEORGE, SURVEYORS IN VICTORIA

The cover is addressed to H.W.H. Smythe Esq. J.P., Commissioner of Crown Lands, Murray District, Broken River, Sidney Road and it was sent by Saml Watson, June 30/(18)46. There is a fine MELBOURNE/ [crown]/ JU 30/ 1846/ PORT PHILLIP postmark, a red manuscript 1/8 rating as well as red boxed PAID AT/ MELBOURNE. The reverse was not seen and the vendor supplied the following information: “The Broken River crosses the (present

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THE EARLY SETTLERS & HISTORY of CHARCOAL CREEK, UNANDERRA N.S.W.

I have been intrigued in the past 10 years by Australian postmarks, particularly those of my native State of New South Wales. In part this is due to the fact that I dropped Australian history and geography from my early studies in Sydney and I am now playing ‘Catch-Up’ by looking out for places that interest me. This common red 1d ‘Shield’ stamp of N.S.W. had the earliest postmark known

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TASMANIAN REVENUE STAMP COVER to HIRAM HILLER Jr., KAHOKA MISSOURI

This taxed Tasmanian cover has a 6d platypus revenue stamp which has the barred numeral ‘61′ of Latrobe as well as the unframed LATROBE/APR 25/ 83/ TASMANIA postmark. It was posted to Hiram Hiller Jr. Esq, Kahoka, Clark County, Missouri, United States America. There is a manuscript ‘Via Sanfrancisco and a black handstamp U.S. CHARGE/ TO COLLECT/ 5 CENTS, and there is a part US duty stamp folded over from the reverse

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SYDNEY to PROF. COLLIER COBB, GEOLOGIST, CHAPEL HILL N.C.

I admit that I have not found any confirmatory information of an association of Professor Collier Cobb with Australia, but I was impressed with the man and his talents. I also admit that I admire the University of North Carolina and its surrounds, having visited it several times over a period of 10 years, when I was actively associated with it when I was one of the Directors of a

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WILLIAM THOMAS MOLLISON J. P., PYALONG, KILMORE, VICTORIA

The entire is addressed to W.T. Mollison Esq J. P., Pyalong, Kilmore and the 1853 Ham printing Queen on Throne violet-brown (S.G. 18b) has the ‘1/V Barred Oval’ of Melbourne cancel and a reception postmark of KILMORE/ AP 12/ (—-)/ VICTORIA (Figure 1). The reverse shows that it was sent the same day from MELBOURNE/ [CROWN] AP/12, but the year was not legible (Figure 2). William Thomas (1816-1886) and his

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