Two covers sent to this intriguingly named man have been difficult to research in the past two years, other than for information of the English origin of his surname and its variants. As my experience has grown in the use of the National Library of Australia’s Beta search of early colonial newspapers, I utilised this remarkable website to have yet another look at a previously difficult paper. The first entire
This ON HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE envelope has the Minister of Justice/ Victoria Frank Stamping in blue which was introduced in the original 1864 frankstamps allocation. Only one die exists for the handstamped frank, and it is found both in blue and red. The printed frank exists only in black, and at least 9 different electros exist. The Frank is largely obscured by the barred numeral ‘11′ with 3 curved arcs
A French cover is addressed to Monsieur E. Granville Miller, Launceston, Tasmania. The large purple handstamp identifies that the sender is Charles Roussin/ N. 9 SOULS BARBES N. 9/ and it is dated 30 NOV 86. There are 4 strikes of the double circle PARIS/ 3/ NOV./ 86/ GARE DU NORD, ‘26′ in a circle, a large ‘R’ in a box and a ms. ‘338′. There are five French stamps all with
This is the first time I have seen a ‘CIRCULAR & CARTNOTE ONLY’ and it looks like a Newspaper Wrapper. It was sent from R.J. COOMBS & Co., Woolbrokers, Adelaide to The Right Hon. S.J. Way PC, Montefiore, Port Adelaide. The printed green 1d South Australian stamp was postmarked G.P.O. ADELAIDE/ AU 2 ( )/ S.A., but the year date was not seen. However he was made a Privy Cuncillor
Although this cover is addressed to James Barrow Esq, Supd Penal Department, Pentridge, there is considerable research information that the man named was Samuel Barrow. There was a ms. ‘2 To pay’ and the ‘Half Length’ Third State 1d dull orange vermillion S.G. 8 was cancelled with two Melbourne barred ovals of ‘1 over V’. The vendor stated that it was posted in March 1853, and there was a poor but
The cover has a manuscript ‘From Senior Missionary Joh. Flierl, Finschafen New Guinea, via Rabaul and was addressed to Mr. J.A. Ferguson, University Chambers, 167 Phillip Str., Sydney, N.S.W., Australia. It has 3 violet handstamps, with 2 straight line ‘PASSED BY CENSOR’ as well as an oval ‘CENSORED BY/ DISTRICT OFFICER/ WM OGILVY’ cachet. There are 5 green ½d ‘Roo on Map of Australia’ stamps, a single and block of
This Tasmanian cover has an outer made from stiff paper which is inscribed with a manuscript ‘Law papers only from/ Allport Roberts & Allport/ Hob Town 3 Sept 1862’, was addressed to ‘W.D. Grubb Esq/ Solicitor/ Launceston’. It has the 2d green and 4d blue Chalons tied by two impressions of the Hobart barred obliterator plus another impression of PRE-PAID/ 3 SEP 3/ 1862 cancel in red. The total of
The red printed ‘TWO PENCE’ Victorian stamp is postmarked with the GEELONG/ 17/ DE 24/ 94 and the barred numeral ‘2′, and the cover is addressed to Messrs Moule & Seddon, Solrs, 55 Market St, Melbourne (Figure 1). The reverse has a reception postmark of MELBOURNE/ 5A/ DE 2( )/ 94 as well as an illegible purple oval handstamp on the flap of another firm of Melbourne solicitors (Figure 2).
The Underwood name can be traced back to Cockneys from the London dockyard area in the early 1700’s. There were at least 3 generations of Thomas Underwood’s prior to the one addressed on this cover. The best documented of the early Thomas Underwood’s (his father was probably also named Thomas) was born in 1743 in England. Four (possibly 5) of his sons were known to have lived in Australia, the
The cover is addressed to Compton F. Ferrers Esq, The Stafford Club, 2 Seville (sic) Row, Burlington Gardens, London, England and it has a manuscript ‘Via Brindisi’ and an additional manuscript ‘Supplementary Inst(ructions?). The fine blue on blue ‘One Shilling’ Victorian stamp is canceled by the 2nd duplex (state 2, with part of the upper frame missing) GEELONG/ 3H/ FE 2/ 72 with the Barred Numeral ‘2’. In addition there