AUSTRALIAN COLONIES, NEW SOUTH WALES, POSTAL HISTORY

Lot 318		Estimate: $25,000 Realised Price : $57,500 1794 (26 Aug) entire written at Sydney from George Johnston to Captain Cox in London concerning pay and official appointments. Struck with the circular 'W' marking applied to mail wrongly posted at a London General Post Receiving House and subsequently transferred to the London Twopenny Post. Also bearing London evening stamp for FE 27 95 and delivery office stamp for FE 28 95 on rear. Remarkably fine and believed to be the earliest letter written in Australia still in private hands, from one of the most important of the ‘First Fleeters’ The letter was carried on the ‘Bonnington’ or ‘Sugar Cane’, both leaving Sydney Cove on 13 October 1794. The addressee, Charles Cox & Co. of Holborn, London, acted as marine and naval agents. The letter outlines George Johnston’s concerns regarding his promotion and the current rank he held, and asking that his back pay (some five months’ worth) be paid to his mother. George Johnston (1764-1823) was born at Annan, Scotland. He volunteered as an officer on the First Fleet, holding the rank of Captain Lieutenant of Marines, and it is claimed that he was the first man ashore at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788. He acted as Adjutant to Governor Arthur Phillip, and in 1792 he transferred to the New South Wales Corps, of which he became Captain, and promoted to Brevet Major in 1800. In that year he was put under arrest by Lieutenant-Governor Paterson for ‘paying spirits to a sergeant as part of his pay and disobedience of orders’. Johnston objected to a court martial in the colony and so was sent to England, where the difficulties of conducting the trial with witnesses in Australia led to the charges being dropped. He returned to New South Wales in 1802 and in command of the New South Wales Corps suppressed the uprising by convicts at 'Vinegar Hill' in 1804. On 26 January 1808 Johnston led the troops in the so-called ‘Rum Rebellion’ which saw the overthrow of Governor William Bligh. Johnston assumed the title of Lieutenant-Governor and illegally suspended the judge-advocate and other officials. He was superseded with the arrival of Lieutenant-Governor Joseph Foveaux from Norfolk Island on 28 July. Johnston sailed to England in March 1809 with William Macarthur and other supporters, and on arrival urged an investigation to vindicate his conduct. However, he was court-martialled in June 1811 and despite being found guilty received the very mild penalty of being cashiered, a sentence that suggests that the court believed he had been the tool of other people (presumably especially William Macarthur). He returned to New South Wales as a private individual in May 1813, and became a farmer and grazier on the lands which had been granted to him during his earlier tenure in the Colony up to his death in 1823. This included land in the area now part of the suburb of Annandale, named after his Scottish birthplace. The main street of Annandale is called Johnston Street in his honour.
Lot 319		Estimate: $350 Realised Price : $400 1821 (16 Jul) entire from Sydney to England sent per 'Coromandel' struck with the framed 'PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LETTER' and the rear with a red London cds. Rated '1/7'd on arrival, central file fold and staining. Written by the Assistant Surgeon of the General Hospital Sydney, Thomas Allen to his uncle describing the expense of manchester, crockery and furnishings and his lack of medicines
Lot 320		Estimate: $400 Realised Price : $460 1822 (2 Sep) entire written at Camden to Inverness and subsequently redirected to Edinburgh. Apparently carried per favour entering the mail with the framed 'SHIP LETTER/PLYMOUTH' on rear. Rated for a total of '3/1½'d upon arrival in Edinburgh. Writer refers to his joint control of livestock with John Macarthur's two sons and that Governor Brisbane had promised him 2000 acres of land. File folds and tears, still presents well
Lot 321		Estimate: $250 Realised Price : $900 1822 (Sep) outer with rejoined tear through centre, sent 'pr H.M.S. Bathurst' to London which departed Sydney on 25.9.1822. Rated '6/4'd representing the quadruple 8d ship letter rate and quadruple 11d Plymouth to London rate. The rear struck with framed 'SHIP LETTER/PLYMOUTH' and London cds in red. HMS Bathurst was captained by Commander Phillip Parker King (1791-1856) son of Governor King, who continued his survey of Australia in this ship. After its departure from Sydney the ship suffered damage in severe weather and pulled in at King George's Sound for repair en-route to the Cape of Good Hope
Lot 322		Estimate: $350 Realised Price : $300 1823 (24 Feb) entire (few repaired tears) sent per 'Marshall Wellington' to England bearing a framed 'SHIP LETTER/GRAVESEND' and cds on rear. Rated '3/6'd and deleted and re-rated '4/6'd total due. Written by the Assistant Surgeon of General Hospital Sydney, Thomas Allen, concerning his uncles legacy of nearly £200. The writer arrived on the convict ship 'Guildford' in 1820 carrying 194 male prisoners
Lot 323		Estimate: $350 Realised Price : $420 1825 (7 Feb) entire (few repaired opening faults) carried per 'Mangles' written at Parramatta to England. The reverse struck with the framed 'SHIP LETTER/PLYMOUTH' and rated '1/8'd probably representing the 8d ship letter rate plus 1/- Plymouth to Nottingham via London rate. Written by the Assistant Surgeon of General Hospital Sydney, Thomas Allen concerning his financial affairs, lease of land and plan to purchase sheep
Lot 324		Estimate: $400 Realised Price : $525 1826 (6 Mar) entire written at Sydney to London 'per Mangles' (a convict ship which arrived in Sydney the month before). Struck with the framed 'PORTSMOUTH/SHIP LETTER' handstamp and arrival cds on rear. Rated '2/8'd on arrival. Written by Robert Campbell (1769-1846) the owner of Campbell's Wharf. Fine and clean
Lot 325		Estimate: $200 Realised Price : $150 1829 (1 Jul) outer sent per 'Alfred' to Wesleyan Mission London apparently carried per favour, the rear with framed 'DEAL/SHIP LETTER' and manuscript endorsed by 'John Hosking, Sydney 1 July 1829 Consents to the South Seas Miss'ry.....' Rated '1/4'd on arrival consisting 8d ship letter charge plus 8d Deal to London rate. Wax seal removed and damaged opening
Lot 326		Estimate: $400 Realised Price : $360 1830 (24 May) entire written at Sydney sent per 'Katherine Stewart Forbes' (convict ship that arrived 3 months earlier carrying 200 male prisoners) to Edinburgh. Struck with the framed '½’d Scottish turnpike and 'INDIA LETTER/DEAL' handstamps. Rated '1/-' deleted and re-rated '1/6'd consisting of the 4d India letter rate and 1/3d Deal to Edinburgh rate plus the ½d Scottish wheeled vehicle rate. Contents concerning commercial interests. Stained a few file folds otherwise fine
Lot 327		Estimate: $400 Realised Price : $320 1830 (24 Jul) outer carried on the 'Australia' to London bearing framed 'SYDNEY/POST PAID' and Sydney cds (PHNSW Type S2 and showing typically worn outer frame) on front and framed 'INDIA LETTER/DEAL' and London arrival cds in red on rear. Rated '1/-' consisting of the 1825 4d ship letter rate plus 8d Deal to London rate. Clean and attractive
Lot 328		Estimate: $350 Realised Price : $300 1830 (12 Oct) entire written at Sydney to Edinburgh, struck with framed '½’d Scottish turnpike and 'INDIA LETTER/DEAL' handstamps. Rated '1/' deleted and re-rated '1/6'd representing the 1/2d Deal to Edinburgh rate, 4d India Letter rate plus ½d Scottish Border Wheel Tax. File folds, otherwise fine
Lot 329		Estimate: $400 Realised Price : $400 1831 (16 Mar) entire Sydney to England 'per Dryade' struck with the framed 'SYDNEY/ POST PAID', Sydney cds (PHNSW Type S2 and showing heavily worn outer frame), framed 'INDIA LETTER/DOVER' arrival marking and London cds in red on rear. Written by Henry Mace, a Sydney chemist, to his brother encouraging emigration and that an entire farm with buildings, livestock and implements could be bought £300. Small opening tear otherwise very clean and neat
Lot 330		Estimate: $300 1835 (14 Feb) entire Sydney to Edinburgh per 'Governor Harcourt' struck with framed '½'d Scottish turnpike and 'INDIA LETTER/RAMSGATE' on rear. Rated '6'd pre-paid with a total of '2/8' due consisting of 4d India letter and double '1/2'd Ramsgate to London rate plus ½d Scottish border wheeled vehicle tax. Heavy file fold though still presentable
Lot 331		Estimate: $300 Realised Price : $480 1835 (18 Feb) entire Sydney to London per 'Sovereign' bearing handstamp 'INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH' on face and prepaid '6'd and '2/4d' due consisting of the triple 8d Portsmouth to London rate and 4d India letter rate. Contents refer to writer being robbed and attacked which was reported in 'The Sydney Morning Herald' six days before. File fold and few tears
Lot 332		Estimate: $350 Realised Price : $525 1835 (13 Apr) entire, few peripheral faults, carried per 'Alice' and written at Windsor to London, rated '1/3'd (4d India letter rate + 11d Liverpool to London). The rear struck with framed 'INDIA LETTER/LIVERPOOL' and cds. Written by William Cox (1764-1837) concerning his retirement from farming, the sale of his 10000 sheep and the lease of his 10000 acres of estate at Bathurst
Lot 333		Estimate: $300 Realised Price : $230 1835 (17 Aug) entire written at Sydney to Huth & Co London, probably carried per favour the rear struck with the framed 'INDIA LETTER/DEAL' and rated '1/-' consisting of the 8d Deal to London rate plus 4d India letter rate. The contents refer to George Rusden who took up the Parish in Maitland. Few file folds and opening damage, red wax seal on rear fully intact
Lot 334		Estimate: $300 Realised Price : $700 1835 (11 Oct) entire Sydney (with rare oval handstamp in black only in use for six months) to Glasgow carried per 'William Harris' and struck with framed '½d' Scottish turnpike and 'DEAL/INDIA LETTER' on rear. Rated '3' pre-paid and '1/6'd on arrival consisting of 4d India letter rate and 1/2d Deal to Glasgow rate plus ½d Scottish wheeled vehicle tax. A very clean and neat cover. Contents refer to the disappearance of the 'Forth' bound for Manila
Lot 335		Estimate: $250 Realised Price : $200 1836 (10 Feb) entire Sydney to London, sent per the convict ship 'Norfolk' struck with framed 'T.P/Rate 2' and 'INDIA LETTER/LIVERPOOL' on rear. Rated '3'd pre-paid and '2/2'd on arrival consisting of the double 11d Liverpool to London rate plus 4d India Letter rate. Letter mentions the loss of a piano when the 'Enchantress' was wrecked. Few file folds and repaired tear
Lot 336		Estimate: $300 Realised Price : $260 1836 (26 Apr) entire Sydney to Glasgow per 'Governor Harcourt' bearing framed Scottish turnpike and 'INDIA LETTER/LONDON' (on rear) handstamps. Rated '3'd pre-paid and '1/5½'d consisting of 1/1d London to Glasgow, 4d India letter and ½d Scottish Border Wheel tax. Contents refer to the 'Edinburgh' being burned and the crew returning in an open boat. Few tears mainly on rear
Lot 337		Estimate: $300 Realised Price : $280 1836 (14 May) entire Sydney to Scotland bearing framed 'INDIA LETTER/DEAL' and '½'d Scottish turnpike handstamps. Rated '3'd pre-paid and a total of '1/7½'d due consisting of 1/3d Deal to Meigle, 4d India rate and ½d Scottish Border Wheeled tax. Contents refer to writers wife and sons injuries after being struck by lightning. Fine with red wax seal on rear still intact
Lot 338		Estimate: $120 Realised Price : $90 1845 (24 Jan) and 1848 (22 Apr) cover (with contents) and entire Sydney to England from the same correspondence both with Kidderminster arrival cds on rear and rated '3' (d) ship letter rate and '8'(d) upon arrival. One with a tear at top but otherwise neat and clean
Lot 339		Estimate: $200 1851 (9 Aug) outer Bathurst to Sydney bearing 2d ultramarine Sydney View Plate V with four large even margins. A few small peripheral faults. L. Miro (Paris) guarantee handstamp below the stamp. Cat from £160 x 2
Lot 340		Estimate: $175 Realised Price : $180 1853 (13 Sep) entire Gundagai to Scotland bearing tied strip of three 2d Laureate margins all around except where torn into at right, nevertheless an attractive country ship letter
Lot 341		Estimate: $175 Realised Price : $150 1853 (6 Dec) entire Yass to Scotland backstamped Sydney and Plymouth bearing 2d (possible double impression) and 3d (wing margin at right) Laureates both roughly separated and defective but still an attractive country ship letter franking
Lot 342		Estimate: $80 1855 (23 Mar) entire 'pr Steamer' Newcastle to Melbourne via Sydney bearing 1d (cut into at left) and 2d (four margins) Laureates. Faint stain and faint central fold nevertheless an attractive cover
Lot 343		Estimate: $150 Realised Price : $115 1855 (9 Jul) cover Parramatta to England bearing 2 x 3d Laureates (both with four close margins) with Sydney and Exeter cds at rear. The front with London and Liverpool cds and large '5' accountancy handstamp. Top left corner of the cover with some paper loss but a scarce franking. Cat from £320 x 2
Lot 344		Estimate: $300 1874 (17 Apr) cover endorsed ‘per Ellora’ and ‘Via Brindisi’ South Head Road to Ireland and b/s Sydney bearing 9d on 10d and 1d De La Rue adhesives cancelled ray type ‘699’ and additionally tied by Limerick arrival cds. Creased at right and a few stains however very few examples of the 1d Galle surcharge recorded
Lot 345		Estimate: $75 Realised Price : $60 1895 (7 Apr) 3d registration envelope foolscap size used Albury to Shanghai bearing 6d Centennial, 5d Diadem and ½d De La Rue. Toned but an unusual destination and use
Lot 346		Estimate: $100 Realised Price : $120 1895 (30 Nov) cover from Bega to Brisbane bearing 2d Centennial Emu. The rear endorsed 'officially registered' in manuscript and the front bearing straight line 'MORE TO PAY (6d)' and ‘REGISTERED/BEGA', this example six years earlier than recorded by White et al (1988). Few peripheral faults but a scarce town specific registration marking
Lot 347		Estimate: $60 1900 (23 Mar) PPC (Wentworth Falls) bearing 1d Shield franking and tied by Pyrmont numeral to England. Underpaid and struck with the 'NSW/T/5' within shield marking and London '1D/F.B./G.' upon arrival
Lot 348		Estimate: $100 1901 (5 Aug) 1d + 1d intact reply postcard each side uprated with ½d De La Rue adhesive used at Orange and addressed to a ship in Canada and redirected on arrival to Portsmouth where the reply side has been reposted with a GB 1½d QV adhesive back to Australia. Faults incl one of the message sides pasted over and all over toned but a very scarce and unusual use
Lot 349		Estimate: $75 1902 (16 Jan) 3d registration envelope to New York bearing solo franking 1/- Centennial Kangaroo tied by Grafton duplex. Fine