1856 (7 Oct) cover Melbourne to London endorsed 'p 'Kennington to Ceylon/& overland via Marseilles' bearing Campbell & Fergusson Half-lengths 1d Pink and 3d Deep Blue together with 6d Dull Orange (SG 32a) two singles. Having missed this sailing on 29 Sep it is believed this cover was carried on either the barque 'Marion' or the White Star ship 'Golden Era' to Galle, thence per 'SS Bengal' to Suez and then per 'Valetta' Alexandria to Marseilles. Paying 6d ship letter rate and 10d double French transit at 5d per 1/4 ounce. Superb 1/4d rate ½oz cover
Lot 61
Estimate: $5,000
1858 (Jan) cover Melbourne to Walden endorsed 'Columbia/Via Marseilles' bearing Imperf 1/- Octagonal, Woodblock 6d and Emblems 2d, rated '8', carried to Suez, overland to Alexandria, then by 'Wye' via Marseilles to Southampton and by 'Fulton' for crossing to New York where Packet datestamp was applied. Reverse showing superb strike of agent's cachet 'FORWARDED BY/NEWELL HOOPER/&/STEVENS/ MELBOURNE VICTORIA' in blue. Unlisted in Rowe's handbook. A beautiful cover
Lot 62
Estimate: $10,000
Realised Price : $11,000
1858 (1 Feb) cover to Switzerland bearing 6d Woodblock pair, margins in places, tied by BN '5' of Ballarat, reverse with the special handstamp 'Please Direct/to the Care of/Brewer & James/Letter Express/LINTONS', various transit and arrival markings. The only recorded Linton's Express cover and a great rarity of Victoria
Lot 63
Estimate: $10,000
Realised Price : $10,000
1858 (21 Apr) cover to Switzerland bearing 6d Woodblock pair and single with margins in places tied by BN '93' of Ararat, single covering manuscript 'Detained for...', rated 1/-, reverse with oval cachet in blue 'From/J.E.DOBSON'S LIBRARY/MT ARARAT', transit and arrival datestamps. The only recorded Dobson's Express cover
Lot 64
Estimate: $5,000
Realised Price : $13,500
1860 (Jul) registered cover to Lombardia bearing Queen-on-Throne 6d Perkins, Bacon strip of three and Perf 12 Woodblock 2/- tied by BN '4' of Sandhurst, with datestamp alongside in black, two strikes of arc '(crown)/REGISTERED' in red, Melbourne registered datestamp, manuscript '2/-', transit and arrival backstamps. Some cover stains, though most attractive and to an amazing destination
Lot 65
Estimate: $500
1888 Official Postcard inscribed 'Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888' bearing faint strike of 'CHIEF SECRETARY' Frank stamp, addressed to Consul for Austria Hungary and unusually advising of Exhibition Gardens Committee meeting
