Sale 93: The Dale Forster Collection of Australian - United States Mails

Lot 4188    

Australian States: Victoria, 1875 (Jan. 11) Melbourne, Victoria to San Francisco, Cal., cover bearing Victoria, 2d lilac, singles, two with narrow perfs, each tied by "Victoria" barred circles duplexed with "Melbourne, JA 11, 75" cds, Sydney (1.15) transit backstamp and red "PAID ALL" circular handstamp, carried by City of Melbourne from Sydney to San Francisco, partial "San Francisco, Cal. Feb 14" transit cds and "10" due handstamp, "Carrier" (2.15) backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

PAID ALL applied in transit at Sydney (see "Paid All Markings … ", Forster, D., Chronicle, Aug 2008, Aug 2009).

Realized: $450

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Lot 4189    

Australian States: Victoria, 1875 (Jul. 27) Melbourne, Victoria to South Londonderry Vt., cover bearing Victoria, 6d blue tied by "Victoria" barred oval duplexed with "Melbourne, JY27, 75" cds, Sydney (7.30) transit backstamp and red "PAID ALL" circular handstamp, carried by ship Cyphrenes from Sydney to San Francisco, "San Francisco Cal., Sep 4" transit cds and matching "5" due; reduced slightly at right, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

The United States arriving steamship rate from non-contract countries was lowered to 5¢ on July 1, 1875 upon entry in the GPU/UPU.

Realized: $300

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Lot 4190    

1876 (Jun. 13) Port Jervis, N.Y. to Rocky River, New England, New South Wales, registered cover bearing United States, 3¢ green (158) and 6¢ dull pink (159) pair, tied by quartered cork duplexed with "Port Jervis, N.Y. 13 Jun" cds, carried by City of Sydney from San Francisco Jun. 20th to Sydney, reverse with Sydney (7.20) transit and Uralla (7.22) arrival cds; some soiling and toning, Fine and scarce registered use.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Starnes lists an American Packet rate of 5¢ from July 1875 - this should not have applied for mail to NS W who already had signed a postal treaty, but cover went through as franked. Cover was prepaid 5¢ for packet rate plus 10¢ registry fee.

Realized: $170

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Lot 4191    

Australian States: Queensland, 1876 (Jun. 24) Brisbane, Queensland to Cincinnati Oh., blue cover bearing Queensland, 1s violet, tied by sunburst radial cancel duplexed with "Brisbane, JU 26, 76" cds, red "PAID/ALL" circular handstamp, carried by City of San Francisco from Sydney to San Francisco, magenta red "San Francisco, Paid All, Jul 28" exchange cds, blue Cincinnati Received (8.3) arrival backstamp; purple docketing "Ans. 8/4/76"; edge wear and reduced at right, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED BRISBANE "PAID ALL" HANDSTAMP, AND THE ONLY RECORDED STRIKE IN RED.

Device introduced after Queensland and United States signed the postal treaty in January 1876. Recorded period of use from 1876 to 1891. According to a forthcoming book, there are a total of 23 recorded examples of the Brisbane "PAID ALL" marking.

Realized: $475

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Lot 4192    

1876 (Nov. 25) New York N.Y. to Springfield, New South Wales, cover bearing United States, 2¢ vermilion 178), 10¢ brown (161), tied by two strikes of "New-York, E, Nov 25" duplex, red "New York, Nov 25" exchange backstamp, pencil "2" for double-weight, "Insufficiently/Prepaid" two-line handstamp and bold "12" due handstamp, partial Sydney (1.4) arrival backstamp; 10¢ some trimmed perfs at bottom, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

This cover was determined to be overweight at San Francisco and marked 12¢ cents due.

Realized: $210

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Lot 4193    

1879 (Jan. 21) San Francisco Cal. to Rockhampton, Queeensland, cover bearing 3¢ green (184) strip of three and single for the 12¢ treaty rate, tied by quartered cancels, partial magenta "San Francisco, Paid All, Jan 21" exchange cds, carried by PMSC Australia transpacific, Melbourne (2.21) backstamp and framed "MIS-SENT TO MELBOURNE - VICTORIA" handstamp, coastal ship to Brisbane, Rockhampton (3.6) backstamp, forwarded locally with Queensland, 2d blue tied by barred oval, additional Rockhampton (3.17) final arrival cds; stamp faults and cover aging, Fine and scarce mixed franking use.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $475

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Lot 4194    

Australian States: Queensland, 1879 (Mar. 27) Warwick, Queensland to San Francisco Cal., cover bearing Queensland, 2d blue, strip of four and pair, each tied by "8" starburst cancel duplexed with "Warwick, Queensland, MR 27, 79" rimless cds, Brisbane (3.28) transit backstamp and "PAID/ALL" circular handstamp, carried by City of New York from Sydney to San Francisco, magenta red "San Francisco, Paid All, May 21" exchange cds, Very Fine and striking franking.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Second earliest recorded example of Brisbane PAID ALL and earliest in black ink. Brisbane continued to use black ink until 1891 in violation of treaty - Wynn records nine examples.

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Realized: $1,800

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Lot 4195    

Australian States: Victoria, 1879 (Apr. 1) Geelong, Victoria to New Orleans La., cover bearing Victoria, 1s blue, tied by numeral "2" barred oval duplexed with "Geelong, AP 1, 79", Melbourne (4.2) transit backstamp, red "Paid All" framed handstamp, carried by private ship to Auckland, City of New York from Auckland Apr. 29th to San Francisco, reverse with partial purple "San Francisco, Paid All, May 22" exchange cds and New Orleans (5.29) transit; some soiling, Fine and rare use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS FRAMED "PAID ALL" HANDSTAMP.

This boxed "Paid All" handstamp is similar to other recorded types from New Zealand. The late John Woolfe believed this unlisted type is a post office marking applied onboard the "City of New York".

Realized: $625

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Lot 4196    

1880 (Sep. 17) New York, N.Y. to Sydney, Australia, cover bearing United States, 5¢ blue (185) pair tied by "New-York, Sep 17 '80" duplex, matching "N.Y.P.O./One Rate/Short Paid" three-line handstamp and blue crayon "Due 2" rating, partial "New York, D.L.O." cds backstamp, letter returned to sender, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Provisions of postal treaty for mail franked at less than one rate (12¢) was to be returned for postage - if unable to find sender, mail would be sent to the dead letter office.

Realized: $425

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Lot 4197    

Australian States: South Australia, 1881 (Apr. 14) Adelaide, South Australia to Marysville Kans., cover bearing South Australia, 4d violet (68) horizontal pair, tied by partial "P.O. Adelaide" (4.14) duplex with "S. Australia" barred oval, carried by City of Sydney transpacific, reverse with indistinct San Francisco (5.18) transit and Marysville (5.25) arrival cds, bold "5/Cents" due handstamp, five U.S., 1¢ Postage Due (J1) singles affixed overlapping; left 4d faults, reduced at right, Very Fine and attractive postage due use.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

South Australia did not sign a postal treaty with the United States until UPU. It is not clear if an 8d rate applied at this date or if cover was franked for the via Southampton rate.

Realized: $525

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