The final paragraph in the Australian Dictionary of Biography’s account of Billy Hughes really sums him up: To some a great patriot, to others a renegade and mountebank. He aroused extremes of admiration or hatred, but never indifference. Abrasive and ruthless, he could also be charming and amusing. Often mean, he could sometimes be very generous. He would fly into violent rages, which would soon be forgotten. A gift to
Over the past five years I have seen at least 5 covers addressed to one of the De Salis family members, but I have not felt that I could do justice to the Australian family members until now. This was not because of insufficient information, of which there is an abundance, but because much of it is difficult to access by way of the internet. However with 2 covers addressed
This stampless ‘complete’ is addressed to Frederick L. Steiglitz Esquire, Fingal (Van Diemens Land) and the cancellation has no name of the town, but is dated 28 MY 28/ 1847. The letter was rated ‘4′ (Figure 1). Such un-named Tasmanian cancels originated from Hobart and were used only for local mail. There were 2 such Hobart cancels struck in black, both 28 mm diameter, and classified as Figure 19 used
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
This entire is another example of an inadequately addressed cover that was delivered in the 19th century. It is addressed to Barker Esqr, Clerk of Council, Melbourne and it has an olive-drab 2d ‘Half Length’ stamp of Victoria tied by a Barred Oval ‘2′, paying the inland letter rate from Geelong to Melbourne. The reverse was not seen but showed the date of sending and reception of 10 January 1852 (Figure
This cover was addressed to James Brewster Esq., Harvey, Albert County, New Brunswick, British North America, and a manuscript ‘Per Overland Mail’ and the perf. 12 greenish-blue One Shilling stamp of Victoria was postmarked with an indistinct barred numeral ‘230′ (of Indigo). There was a red transit stamp of LONDON/ J(U?) 16/ 60/ PAID. In addition there was a manuscript rating mark which could not be determined, plus a manuscript ‘#
The entire is addressed to W.T. Mollison Esq J. P., Pyalong, Kilmore and the 1853 Ham printing Queen on Throne violet-brown (S.G. 18b) has the ‘1/V Barred Oval’ of Melbourne cancel and a reception postmark of KILMORE/ AP 12/ (—-)/ VICTORIA (Figure 1). The reverse shows that it was sent the same day from MELBOURNE/ [CROWN] AP/12, but the year was not legible (Figure 2). William Thomas (1816-1886) and his
There is no doubt in my mind as to whom this cover was addressed, but there are several ‘disconnects’ in this philatelically contrived cover. The slate blue 5½d ‘Emu’ definitive had a date of issue of 12.2.42 and the partially legible postmark reads AIR MAIL BRISBANE/ 8-12 ( )( )/ QLD AUST. There is an BY AIR MAIL vignette, the usual purple ‘Crown over Royal Geographical Society of Australasia/ Queensland’
The entire raises more questions than answers, for aspects of the letter are in doubt, particularly the name of the convict, but the story is worth reporting. The vendor describes it as follows: “1858 (16th Nov) entire from Port Arthur to Newtown, Hobart from the convict John Lester to the Governor of Tasmania appealing for a reduction of his sentence, franked with (the imperforate blue) 6d tied by barred numeral
This long cover has a manuscript ‘No 14 of 1820’at upper left, ‘On H.M.Service’ at upper right and it was addressed to The Right Honble Earl Bathurst K.G., Downing St., London, plus a further manuscript at lower left, Govr Macquarie (Figures 1 and 1A). An additional Macquarie item was the letter he wrote to Messrs Wilson & Son, Bannockburn, Stirling, Scotland on 7 May 1810, relating to provision of the uniforms for the regiment ….. “purchased by the