Lot
4006 
Australian States: South Australia, 1850 (Jun. 2) Adelaide, South Australia to Albany N.Y. via Great Britain, datelined folded letter sent with 6 pence ship letter paid in cash, sent by private ship via Cape Horn to Great Britain, reverse with framed "9 OC 1850, Liverpool Ship" transit and matching "ART-2" straightline and "8" handstamp for 8d ship letter, manuscript "32 Cents" debit rating, carried by Cunard Line Asia from Liverpool Oct. 12th to New York arriving Oct. 23rd, red "New-York, Oct 23" exchange backstamp and ms. "37" due rating, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
This is the earliest of fifteen 37¢ collect covers recorded by Winter and Forster (Chronicle Nov 1990). Earliest of twelve ART-2 covers recorded by Ben Palmer in Sydney Views, and one of only two with the handstamp on the front of the cover. The ART-2 device was sent from London to Liverpool on 21 Feb 1850 to be used to show letter-bill accounting number on unpaid transit mail from a foreign country to the United States.
Realized: $1,300
Lot
4007
Australian States: Victoria, 1853 (Dec. 3) Melbourne, Australia to New York N.Y. via Liverpool, England, blue folded letter bearing Victoria, 4th Printing, 3d blue (SG 11) tied by "1 V" barred oval, matching "Melbourne, Victoria, DC 3, 1853" rimless oval, endorsed "p Great Britain" and sent via Cape Horn arriving about Feb. 14th, "Liverpool / Ship Letter" two-line backstamp and matching "8" handstamp for 8d ship letter rate, sent transatlantic privately on Cunard Line, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
4008
Australian States: Victoria, 1853 (Jun. 1) Melbourne, Victoria to New Bedford Mass., datelined folded letter with partial indistinct "Paid at Bendigo CK." and red manuscript "Registered" and "2" pence prepaid to Melbourne, reverse with partial "Melbourne, Victoria, JU 1, 1853" rimless backstamp, carried by private ship Typhoon via Cape Horn to England, red London (9.29) transit backstamp with "1/2" due rating updated to "28" cent debit to U.S., carried by Havre Line Humboldt from Southampton Oct. 1st to New York arriving Oct. 14th, "New.York, Am. Packet. Oct 15" exchange cds with manuscript. "49" cent due rating; cover tears and wear, Fine and rare. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED REGISTERED COVER FROM AUSTRALIA TO THE UNITED STATES.
The 28¢ debit (1s/2d) to U.S. for 8d private ship rate plus 6d G.B. registration. The 49¢ final due rating for 37¢ collect private ship letter rate plus 12¢ British registration fee.
Reference: Illustrated and described in article "Foreign Registered Mail: 1855-1875, Part Two: British" by Dr. James Milgram, Chronicle 262, May 2019, pp. 178-180, fig. 19.
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Realized: $850
Lot
4009
Australian States: Victoria, 1853 (Aug. 9) Sydney, New South Wales to Boston, Mass., blue folded letter bearing New South Wales, 3d green (17), pos. 16, margins to touched, tied by barred oval, matching "Ship Letter, Sydney, AU * 9 1853" rimless crown backstamp, endorsed "Argo via England", carried as endorsed by non-contract sailing of GSSC Argo via Cape of Good Hope to England, red London (10.28) transit backstamp with manuscript "1/4" due rating updated to "64" cent debit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line America from Oct. 29th to Boston arriving Nov. 13th, "Boston Br. Pkt. Nov 13" exchange cds with matching "74" due handstamp for double the 37¢ rate, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE BOSTON "74" RATING HANDSTAMP.
This Boston "74" cent rating handstamp was unrecorded in the Blake & Davis "Boston Postal Markings to 1890".
Realized: $1,250
Lot
4010
Australian States: New South Wales, 1853 (Aug. 16) Melbourne, Victoria to Wooster Oh., cover bearing Victoria, Half-length, Third Printing, 1d dull red (SG 8a) single and abnormal pair, position. 22, 23-21 with 21 being substituted transfer, tied by "1 V" barred ovals, matching "Melbourne, Victoria, AU 16, 1853" rimless datestamp, carried as endorsed by non-contract sailing of GSSC Argo via Cape of Good Hope to England, red London (10.28) transit backstamp with manuscript "8" due rating updated to "32" cent debit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line America from Oct. 29th to Boston arriving Nov. 13th, "Boston Br. Pkt. Nov 13" exchange cds with matching "37" due handstamps for the 37¢ rate, "Worcester Mass., Nov 14" cds and manuscript "Missent" rating; some edge wear, F.-V.F. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL VICTORIA HALF-LENGTHS USE TO THE UNITED STATES.
The 1d dull red pair is positions 23-21 on Ham's lithographic stone, 21 being a substituted transfer. Described and referenced in Barwis's Half-Length book on pages 59 and 61.
Realized: $9,000
Lot
4011
Australian States: Tasmania, 1853 (Oct. 24) Oatlands, Tasmania to Kings Ferry N.Y., cover docketed "Oatlands, 24/10/53" at left and with red Hobart "Paid, 25 OC 25, 1853" postmark and manuscript "9" pence prepaid rating for two-times 4d ship letter plus 1d internal, carried by private ship via Cape Horn to England, red London (2.9) transit backstamp and manuscript "64" cent debit rating, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Feb. 11th to New York arriving Feb. 25th, "New-York Br. Pkt., Feb 25" exchange cds with manuscript "75" cent final due rating; small opening tear at left, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
New York's 37 handstamp was already in use by this date, but no 74 handstamp has been recorded from New York.
Realized: $550
Lot
4012
1853 (Oct. 26) Newburgh N.Y. to Penrith, New South Wales, orange cover with red "Newburgh N.Y., Oct 26" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red crayon "37" cent prepaid rating, red "New.York, Am. Packet, Oct 29" exchange cds and magenta "16" cent credit to G.B., carried by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Oct. 29th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 9th, red London Pad (11.10) transit cds, carried by City of Sydney via Cape of Good Hope, "Penrith N.S.W.AP 15, 1854" rimless backstamp and matching large "5" pence due rating for ship letter fee to inland town, original enclosed letter; some edge wear, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED 37¢ RATE COVER FROM THE UNITED STATES ROUTED BY PRIVATE SHIP FROM ENGLAND.
Realized: $600
Lot
4013
Australian States: Victoria, 1854 (Jun. 27) Melbourne, Victoria to Philadelphia Pa., blue cover bearing Victoria, Half-length, 3d blue (SG 25) block of four, margins to touched, and G.B. 1s green embossed (5), both tied by "1 V" ovals, matching "Melbourne, Victoria, JU 27, 1854" rimless oval, carried by ship Eagle via Cape Horn to England, reverse with "Liverpool Ship" (9.29) framed and oval transits with matching "8" pence due rating, manuscript "32 Cents" debit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line Europa from Liverpool Sep. 30th to Boston arriving Oct. 12th, "Philadelphia Br. Pkt. Oct 13" exchange cds and matching "37" due rating; edge repairs, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
A REMARKABLE VICTORIA USE ATTEMPTING TO PREPAY THE 1S TRANSATLANTIC POSTAGE.
The sender attempted to pay transatlantic postage with a British shilling embossed stamp that had been carried out to Australia. Note that the shilling stamp was tied by the Melbourne barred oval cancel. Prepayment of transatlantic charge was not allowed and 37¢ was charged to the addressee. One of only two recorded Philadelphia "37" handstamps. .
Realized: $4,500
Lot
4014
Australian States: Victoria, 1854 (Sep. 4) Melbourne, Victoria to Monmouth County, N.J., U.S.A., blue folded letter bearing Victoria, 1s blue (18), margins to touched, tied by "1 V " barred oval, matching "Melbourne, Victoria, SE4, 1855" rimless oval, carried as endorsed by ship Croesus via Cape Horn to England, red London (12.15) cds with ms. "8" pence due for ship rate, manuscript "16" cent debit to U.S., carried by Collins Line Atlantic from Liverpool Dec. 18th to New York arriving Dec. 31st; some edge wear, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED UNITED STATES DESTINATION FROM THIS INTERRUPTED SAILING.
The steamship "Croesus" sailed from Melbourne on 10 September 1854. Her propeller broke near New Zealand and she limped around Cape Horn under sail. After repairs were attempted at Ascension Island, the "Croesus" finally arrived at Southampton on Dec. 15th. This letter was in transit for 112 days.
Realized: $850
Lot
4015
1855 (Feb. 22) Rushville N.Y. to Melbourne, Australia, cover endorsed "Adams & Co. Express" at left with blue "Rushville N.Y., Feb 22" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript. "37" cent prepaid rating, red "New-York, Br. Pkt. Feb 27" exchange cds backstamp with magenta "28" cent credit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Asia from Boston Feb. 28th to Liverpool arriving Mar. 10th, red London Paid (3.12) transit cds and matching "1d" colonial credit handstamp for contract sailing, carried by Marco Polo to Melbourne, partial arrival backstamp; flap tears and edge wear, F.-V.F. Estimate $500 - 750.
Endorsed to be sent by Adams & Co. outside the mails, but mailed instead because Adams was in financial difficulties and was about to shut down its Melbourne branch. This is one of several United States covers recorded prepaid 37¢ cents but sent by contract packet from England, so overpaid 33¢ rate.
Realized: $290