Royal Reels: Gambling

Mining

COCHIN, INDIA to RAVENSTHORPE, W. A.: PHILLIPS RIVER GOLD & COPPER MINE

This fine postcard was produced in British India and it has a red printed ‘ONE ANNA’ King Edward VII head stamp, postmarked COCHIN/ 7DE. 10/ AM. It is addressed to H.B. Hallam Esq., C/o Phillips River G (old) & C(opper) Co. Lrd., Ravensthorpe, West Australia (Figure 1). The reverse is addressed Cochin, S. India and it was sent to “Dear Alge(rnon?) Just a line to wish you a Kerry Christmas,

Read More »

COOLGARDIE CYCLE EXPRESS: LOCAL POSTS EASTERN GOLDFIELDS 1894-7

Western Australia gold field memorabilia are not infrequent finds at auction sites, and the Coolgardie Cycle Express Service, Coolgardie, W.A., 1894 postcard reproduction is a reminder of the past. It was produced in 1964 to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the service in 1964. The front shows reproductions of the blue 1/- and 2/6 “cinderellas” postmarked with a special cancellation (Figure 1). The reverse of the postcard has a fine

Read More »

O.K. COPPER MINE, CHILLAGOE, NORTHERN QUEENSLAND: A TATTERSALL COVER

This cover is one of the many Tattersall Lottery applications sent to a ‘blind’ to thwart the Tasmanian postal authorities, as shown by the puncture in the cover. Mr. H. Athol of ‘ Highfield Hall’ Murray St. Hobart, Tasmania has not been identified. The blue ‘TWO PENCE FOUR CORNERS’ stamp of Queensland has a rare postmark of O.K. MINE/ 6 JUL 06/ QUEENSLAND. This post office opened in 1905 and

Read More »

MINING OF TIN: WHO WAS JOHN MOFFAT of IRVINEBANK?

I am no great fan of philatelically inspired covers, having outgrown the habit some 40 years ago, but I had no reservations about buying this Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Queensland) cover. It celebrated the life of John Moffat by unveiling a plaque of him at Irvinebank some 32 years after his death. The unveiling occurred on May 24, 1950, the same day of the IRVINEBANK/ 9-A 24MY50/ QUEENSLAND postmark

Read More »

LONDON & HAMBURG GOLD RECOVERY CO.: DIEHL, GUNTHER & HAMILTON

Three postal items were found addressed to an important Western Australian gold mining company at Kalgoorlie, W.A., and three men were identified to be significantly involved with the gold mining industry. The first man identified was the least important and he was the addressee on 2 of the items. In dated sequence, the first item was an ‘On Public Service Only’ cover addressed to E. Gunther Esq., London & Hamburg

Read More »

LEVI NEWSOME & SONS, SAPPHIRE via ANAKIE, to BIENNE, SWITZERLAND

This insured parcel label was addressed to The Manager, The Banque Cantonale de Berne, Bienne, Switzerland and was sent from Levi Newsome & Sons, Sapphire, Via Anakie, Central Queensland, No 10 S.  There were nine stamps made up of five ‘Roos on Map of Australia’ and four KGV Heads, a total postage of 7 shillings and half pence.  The stamps were cancelled with PARCEL POST/ 27 AUG 30/ ROCKHAMPTON, and

Read More »

KALGOORLIE W.A. to POQUETANUCK, CONNECTICUT

This cover with the blue 2½d Swan stamp (A.S.C. # 28) travelled 6½ weeks across Western Australia to the east coast of America, its journey being well documented by its multiple postmarks and manuscript routings. The front is postmarked by an unframed KALGOORLIE/ 6/ AU 26/ 01/ W.A duplex (top rarity rating of ‘1’). It is addressed to Miss Juliet Gier, Poquetanuck, Connecticut, N(ew) London Co(unty), U.S.A. In manuscript its

Read More »

BARRACLUFF’S OSTRICH FARM, DIAMOND BAY, SOUTH HEAD, SYDNEY

Every now and then a postcard speaks to our family personally. It was late1950’s and we bought our first home. One of our 3 sons was born whilst we lived there. It was a bungalow built on rock with 8 inches of sandy topsoil. Its address was 8 Marne Street, Vaucluse, but the locals called it Diamond Bay. It was perched high on a massive rock formation with glorious views

Read More »

AUSTRALIAN BANK to CALCUTTA BANK with FRENCH CONNECTION, 1899

This 1891 1½d overprint on the 2d Victorian postcard with the red ‘UNIVERSAL P0STAL UNION’ overprint, deletion of the ‘FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM’ and ‘by the long sea route’ came about when Victoria joined the U.P.U.  As a result cards could be sent for 1½d to any member country of the Union, which by then comprised most of the rest of the world.  It is addressed to the Manager, Comptoir

Read More »

AUSTRALIA & THE EARLY SWEDISH CONNECTION

I was surprised to learn of the past and present Swedish connection with Australia when I came across a very ordinary cover on Ebay listed as an advertising cover. It hardly lived up to expectations for the very plain commercial cover with the 3½d KGVI stamp was sent from Sydney in 1952 to a firm in New Zealand. An address for return was given as ‘SWEDISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SYDNEY

Read More »