I have been fascinated during my researches into colonial covers, particularly of Victoria, when the term Mechanics’ Institute crops up, but this is a first where it actually appeared on a postal item. The item is a newspaper wrapper which has a pink ‘Half Penny Stamp Duty’ printed stamp of Victoria postmarked by an unframed duplex ORBOST/ ( )/ 94/ VICTORIA with the barred numeral ‘1203′. It is simply addressed
This letter was sent in March 1951 from Auburn N.S.W. to Dr. Rolando Guidotti, Sidi Mesri Experimental Farm, Tripoli L’Africa, Lybia, North Africa by Air Mail. It was franked with 3 stamps, the small 6d Kookaburra, the 9d platypus and the 3d KGVI head stamp, a total of 1 shilling 6 pence. There is a reception postmark in arabic on the front (Figure 1). The reverse shows that it was
The cover was sent Per “Sierra” and it had the blue 2½d New South Wales stamp postmarked with 2 examples of the SYDNEY/ 11AU06-7.–P.M/ 41 cancel (Figure 1). The reverse had the name of the sender on the flap: W.G. PEIR, 60 ELIZABETH STREET, SYDNEY, as well as two reception postmarks, a circular PHILADELPHIA/ SEP 7/ 11-AM/ 1906/ PA and an oval WEST PHILADELPHIA/ RECEIVED/ STATION, with a ‘2′ alongside
Two pictorial postcards from Australian States were addressed to the American Vice Consul in Dawson City, Yukon Territory, Canada.. The first was mailed from Melbourne in February 1906 with the blue 2½d Victoria stamp and was addressed Hon. J. Carlton Woodward, American Vice & Deputy Consul, Dawson City, Y.T. (Yukon Territory), Canada. On its reverse it showed a black & white General View of Collins Street, Melbourne, with a short
Two items of considerable interest were found on Australian stamp auction sites. The first was a rare cover with faint markings dated 5-SET 1930/ PARAGUAY of the first internal flight from Ascunsion to Colonia Nueva (New) Australia (as an arrival cds) franked with 2 Republic of Paraguay stamps (Scott 288, 291), total postage of P2.50 (Peso), and the stamps were postmarked in a diamond with ‘ENSAYO/ SEVICIO/ AEREO/ INTERNO’. It
The cover has a printed advertisement for THE CARRINGTON, F.C. GOYDER, KATOOMBA and it is addressed to F.S. Dore Esqr., Post Office, Queenscliff, Victoria. The blue 2d ‘Emu’ stamp of N.S.W. is cancelled with an illegible barred numeral (Figure 1). The reverse has a postmark of origin KATOOMBA/ FE 17/ (1889)/ N.S.W, a transit of MELBOURNE/ 4 L/ FE 19/ 89, and an unframed arrival postmark QUEENSCLIFF/ FE 19/ 89/
The red KGV Head stamp is cancelled with a near ‘socked on the nose’ THEODORE/ 12 MY/ 32/ QUEENSLAND, named after one of Australian’s most contentious politicians. There is no other Australian town with the name of Theodore (Figure 1). Theodore is a town in Queensland, situated on the Dawson River. The town, like the same-named Canberra suburb,is named in honour of Labor politician Edward Granville Theodore, Premier of Queensland
Australian covers to the former Belgian Congo are not common. The present cover provides information concerning the routing within the Belgian Congo in the year 1937. A registered cover from Melbourne identifies the sender on the reverse as W.I. Urquhart, 125 Domain Road, Melbourne S.E.1. It is addressed to M(onsieur) Fernand Trokay with the simple address of Banningville, Belgian Congo, Africa. The front of the cover has a blue R.6
The On His Majesty’s Service cover has a printed WWW 2 Government advertisement “Lend to Defend Buy War Savings Certificates” and it is addressed to Major R.E. Smith, Secretary, Cradle Mountain Reserve Board, 17 Trevallyn Crescent, Launceston. The sender is identified as the Lands and Surveys Department, Hobart. The red 2½d KGVI stamp, which has a ‘T’ perfin, is cancelled with a roller cancel and a boxed HOBART/ 8-PM/ 2 19 MCH 2/
Two identical Italian postcards for the same Australian soldier came available on eBay addressed to the same unidentified person, Mr. W. Lafranchi, 25 Pender Street, Preston, Victoria. Only one cover was dated in Italy, 22.2.42 (top R.H. corner). The cards were both printed as Poste Italiene Cartolini Postale Per Prigionieri Di Guerra, and both had various Passed by Censor handstamps, most of Italian origin includia a 2-line VERIFICATO/ PER CENSURA.