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 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
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 cover is addressed to Joshua Bray Esq. J.P., Kynnumboon, Tweed River, via Casino (New South Wales). The blue ‘TWO PENCE’ QV stamp of N.S.W. is cancelled with the rays ‘21′ of Campbelltown, as well as an unframed CAMPBELLTOWN/ MY 25/ 1871/ N.S.W, alongside. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1). The Brisbane Courier (Qld.) of 5 January 1872 on p. 3 has a heading ‘THE TWEED RIVER DISTRICT, dated January 1:
The cover has the blue ‘TWO PENCE HALFPENNY SWAN’ stamp of Western Australia cancelled with a SHIP MAIL ROOM/ 1/ SP 17/ 98/ PERTH W.A and there is a fine printed ‘Belt and Buckle’ corner advert for De BAUN’S PALACE HOTEL/ PERTH, W.A. It was addressed in blue crayon to J. R. Hayes, Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A. The reverse was not seen (Figures 1 &2). The Palace Hotel, Perth was built for
This unpretentious cover had a roller cancel of a boxed MELBOURNE/ 3.15 AM/ 1 MAR/ 1949/ VICTORIA with the obliterating slogan CHECK ADDRESS/ IF INCOMPLETE/ ADVISE WRITER which cancelled the red 2.5d KGVI stamp. It was addressed to Mr. L. Provan, Principal, Dookie Agricultural College, Dookie, Victoria. The reverse was not seen (Figure 1). Dookie Campus is Victoria’s oldest agricultural college and Australia’s second oldest. Dookie’s association with the University