Royal Reels: Gambling

Missionaries and Religion

SIGMOND HOFFNUNG, INTERNATIONAL WHOLESALE MERCHANT, SYDNEY

Two postal items associated with Messrs S. Hoffnung, Sydney were found in the same week. The first was a cover addressed to an individual care of Mess S Hoffnung & Co, Sydney NSW, Australia, sent from New York via San Francisco and the pink pair of the 6 cent Lincoln stamp (Scott #186, issued 1879) was postmarked with a NEW YORK/ JUL 22/ PM/ 1881 postmark (Figures 1 &2). The reverse

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EMANUEL SOLOMON (1800-1873) CONVICT, MERCHANT & POLITICIAN

The cover is addressed to Messrs E. Solomon & Co., Adelaide and has the pale red 2d South Australian stamp (S.G. 24a) cancelled with the diamond numeral ‘106′ of Woodchester, and there is a manuscript ‘Private’ at the lower left (Figure 1). The reverse has a transit mark of MOUNT BARKER/ (   )/ 1859/ S-A and a manuscript on the right side, written vertically, of ‘P.O./ Woodchester/ 28.5.59 plus a

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S. BENJAMIN, TEMPLE HOUSE, HOBART TASMANIA

Two covers destined for Tattersalls came up on Ebay auctions, both addressed to S. Benjamin Esq. at Temple House, Hobart. Both showed the presence of a filing hole and one showed the tell-tale lilac label, usually applied by Tattersalls on receipt. The first showed two 2d Victoria stamps cancelled by two barred numerals ‘836′ of Whitfield, Victoria with an additional framed WHITFIELD/ OC 20/ 05/ VICTORIA, and there was a

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MOSES MOSS COMPANY, MERCHANTS SYDNEY from VAN DIEMEN’S LAND

The entire was franked with a blue 4d imperforate ‘Chalon’ Van Diemen’s Land stamp and there was a framed red GENERAL POST OFFICE/ HOBART TOWN/ [Crown]/ 10 FE 10/ VDL/ 1857 postmark. There was a ms. per ‘Tasmania’ and it was addressed to Moses Moss Esq., Sydney. The reverse was not seen, but the vendor stated that there was a ‘SHIP LETTER SYDNEY FE 19 1857′ arrival backstamp. The contents

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CHARLES HINCKLEY WETMORE M.D., HAWAIAN MISSIONARY

This cover was seen at auction for an amount that was surprisingly high, namely a reserve of AUD 600. In addition it was described as a commercial cover, but I found evidence that suggested that this was probably an incorrect surmise. The quality of the cover suggested that it was a philatelically inspired registered cover with 4 strikes of REGISTERED/ A/ MY 27/ 98/ SYDNEY, N.S.W, plus a large ‘R’

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JAMES M. PEEBLES, PREACHER, HOMEOPATH, SPIRITUALIST & AUTHOR

The cover was addressed to Dr. J.M. Peebles, San Diego, Cal, Residence, 3121 H Street, U.S.A and the address was crossed out in red ink and readdressed to Battle Creek, Michigan. The blue 2½d QV stamp of New South Wales was cancelled with a duplex SYDNEY/ JY 4/ 11-A-M/ 00/ 36 with the N.S.W obliterator. There was a duplex reception postmark of SAN DIEGO/ JUL30/ 1 P.M./ 00 (Figure 1).

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JULIA LORE, MEDICAL MISSIONARY, MORADABAD, INDIA 1874

This cover was sent to Dr. Julia Lore, American Mission, Moradabad, N.W.P., India and the blue on blue paper One Shilling laureate of Victoria was cancelled with a duplex of MELBOURNE/ 1K/ DC 30/ 74 with VICTORIA as the obliterator (Figure 1). The reverse had two transit marks, the first a circular cancel of IM/ BOMBAY/ 26 JA, the second an octagonal cancel for ALLAHABAD/ 28 JAN, and a third

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SELWYN AMOR NATHANIEL OXLEY, ENGLISH EDUCATOR of the BLIND

This cover has several points of interest, the English couple that were addressed, the printed kangaroo in the top left corner and the unusual name of their house in the address.  There is a red King George V Silver Jubilee stamp depicting the King on the horse “Anzac” postmarked with a slogan cancel of ADELAIDE/ 1 JUN/ 430 AM/ 19(35) ‘AIR (MAIL)/ SAVES (TIME).  The cover is addressed to Mr.

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MONTAGU JOHN STONE-WIGG, ANGLICAN BISHOP of the SEE of NEW GUINEA

The ‘Four Corners’ blue Queensland 2 penny stamp was cancelled with the 9-bar B.N.G. and the unframed SAMARAI/ 25 JUN 00 postmark was nearby. The envelope was addressed to Rev. F.A.C. Livingston, St. John’s Church, Milson’s Point, Sydney, N.S.W. (Figure 1). The reverse has a transit postmarks of an unframed COOKTOWN/ 2 30 P/ JU 28/ 00/ QUEENSLAND and SYDNEY/ JY 6/ 1-P-M./ 00/ 2 as well as a reception

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ARTHUR HENRY VOYCE (1899-1984) Missionary, Philatelist, Conchologist, Hymenopterist & Horticulturist

Reverend A.H. Voyce first came to my attention when I acquired a cover of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra 5½djoined pair which were issued on February 10, 1958. This cover was not a first day cover, but it was postmarked with a special postmark: R.S.L. NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS/ 14TH B.E.S.L./ CONFERENCE/ 17-21 FEB 1958/ 20 FEB 58/ CANBERRA AUST. It was addressed to ‘Rev. A.H. Voyce/ Methodist Mission, Kihili, Buin, Bougainville,

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