Lot
4075 
Australian States: New South Wales, 1854 (May 9) Sydney, New South Wales to Clarkstown N.Y. via Panama, datelined blue folded gold rush letter bearing New South Wales, 3d green, tied by barred oval, carried as endorsed by Steamer Golden Age from Sydney to Panama arriving Jun. 19th, across Isthmus by mule and canoe to Aspinwall, then U.S. Mail S.S. Co. vessel to New York where "Steamship 20" in circle due handstamp struck, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
A coaling stop was made at Tahiti, but this route involved unfavorable winds and ocean currents which led to high coal costs for this inefficient paddle steamer.
Apparently only two covers to the United States have survived from this "Golden Age" sailing, the this lot and the following lot. See "Golden Age", Forster, Dale, The Informer, Oct, 2011.
Realized: $475
Lot
4076
Australian States: Victoria, 1854 (Aug. 13) Hobson's Bay, Victoria to Salem Mass. via Callao, Peru and Panama, blue folded letter datelined "Port Philip, Hobson Bay, August 13th 1854" from Capt. of the ship Shirley concerning safe arrival and discharge of cargo, sent by Adams Express agent on ship Albatross to Callao, then ship to Panama, entered mails with red "Forwarded by J.M. Freeman, Agent of Adams & Co. Express" oval handstamp, then privately by ship to New York, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE J.M. FREEMAN & CO. PANAMA FORWARDER OVAL ON MAIL FROM AUSTRALIA.
J.M. Freeman was Adams & Co. Express's agent in Panama until their dissolution in 1855.
Realized: $475
Lot
4077
Australian States: Victoria, 1854 (Aug. 17) Melbourne, Victoria to New York N.Y. via Peru, datelined folded letter endorsed "D. pr. "Crystal Palace" via Callao - Adams Express", carried by Adams Express on private ship to Callao, then privately to New York; horizontal fold, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
Lot
4078
Australian States: Victoria, 1855 (c.) Melbourne, Victoria to Bridgeport Conn. via Callao, Peru and New York, blue cover carried as endorsed by Adams Express on ship Tasmania to Callao, then by ship to Panama, railroad across Isthmus and ship to New York, flap with blue framed "Forwarded by the Adams Express Company from 59 Broadway N.Y." handstamp, overland by Adams & Co. to Bridgeport; some edge toning and flaws, Fine and scarce Adams & Co. Express use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $190
Lot
4079
Australian States: Victoria, 1855 (Apr. 22) Springs Ballarat, Victoria to Concord N.H. via Callao, Peru and New York, gray cover with original letter datelined "Springs Ballarat, April 22, 1855" endorsed "by Adams & Co. Express" at left, carried by Ship Hastings to Callao, then British packet to Panama, across Isthmus by railroad, out of the mails to New York by USMS Co. vessel, entered mails bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), four margins, tied by "New-York, Jul 30" cds; bottom edge repaired, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $500 - 750.
Advertisements in Melbourne newspapers announced the dissolution of Adams Melbourne branch on March 1, 1855. Cobb & Co. succeeded Adams and may have forwarded this letter. The Panama railroad across the Isthmus was completed January 1855.
Realized: $550
Lot
4080
Australian States: South Australia, 1855 (Aug. 23) Adelaide, South Australia to San Francisco Cal. via Panama, cover bearing South Australia, 2d dull carmine (2) strip of three, large margins except touched at right, cancelled by manuscript and circle of bars killers, red "Paid, Adelaide S.A., AU23, 1855" cds and matching "Registered No." straightline, red manuscript "6" pence prepaid rating for registration fee, carried by private ship across Pacific to Valparaiso, then ship to San Francisco where "20" due handstamp for 20¢ steamship rate over 2,500 miles; cover tears and nick at bottom right, Fine; with 1997 Holcombe certificate and signed by him. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE SOUTH AUSTRALIA REGISTERED USE TO THE UNITED STATES.
References: Illustrated and Discussed in Milgrams "Foreign Registered Mail: 1855-1875, Part Two: British" in the Chronicle May 2019, p. 180, fig. 20.
Realized: $2,300
Lot
4081
Australian States: South Australia, 1854 (Mar. 6) Sydney, South Australia to South Easton, N.Y. via Callao, Peru, buff cover bearing New South Wales, Laureate, 3d green (Sc 25) horizontal pair, margins to touched, tied by two strikes of barred oval prepaying double the 3d ship letter rate, matching "Sydney, N.S.W., MR*6, 1854" rimless backstamp, carried as endorsed by South Carolina to Callao, then by ship to Panama City, overland across the Isthmus to Aspinwall, USMSC steamship to New York where "Steam/Ship" two-line handstamp and matching "40" cent due handstamp; top edge and corner repairs, no back flap, F.-V.F. Estimate $500 - 750.
Had this letter found a direct opportunity sailing via Cape Horn to New York, 6¢ postage would have been due. A private ship sailing via England would have resulted in 74¢ due.
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Realized: $950
Lot
4082
Australian States: New South Wales, 1856 (Feb. 14) Sydney, New South Wales to Boston Mass. via Valparaiso and New York, datelined blue folded letter carried privately on ship Cronkbane to Valparaiso, entered mails with partial "Valparaiso, MY 6, 1856" backstamp and red "Paid at Valparaiso" crown mark with red crayon "4" shilling prepaid packet rating for quadruple the 1s packet rate to Panama, railroad across Isthmus, then USMSC vessel to New York where "N.York, Steamship" circular postmark and matching "80" in circle due handstamp for quadruple the 20¢ steamship rate, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE USE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES TO THE UNITED STATES VIA THE BRITISH POST OFFICE AT VALPARAISO.
Realized: $850
Lot
4083
Australian States: Victoria, 1856 (Jun. 24) Melbourne, Victoria to San Francisco Cal. via Valparaiso, Chile, blue folded cover bearing Victoria, 6d yellow orange, three margins, in at bottom, tied by sharp numeral "1" barred circle for 6d ship rate, matching "Melbourne, Victoria, JU 24, 1856" rimless oval backstamp, carried as endorsed by Clipper Crystal Palace to Valparaiso, then British packet to Panama, railroad across Isthmus, PMSC ship to San Francisco where "20" due rating handstamp for 20¢ steamship rate; ruling across stamp and address name excised, Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Clipper Ship "Crystal Palace" sailed from Melbourne via Lahaina to Valparaiso, then around the horn to New Bedford Mass., arriving on November 29, 1856.
Realized: $130
Lot
4084
Australian States: Victoria, 1857 (c., May) Melbourne, Victoria to New York N.Y. via Callao, Peru, blue cover with small "Forwarded by Rogers Carrere & Co., Melbourne" oval on flap, carried as endorsed by Ship Sam'l Appleton to Callao, endorsed "Care of Alsop & Co. Callao" at bottom left crossed out, ship to Panama, railroad across Isthmus to Aspinwall, then USMSC ship to New York where "Steamship, 10 Cts" circular handstamp, readdressed to Baltimore with "New-York, Jul 13, 1857" cds and "Forwarded" straightline with ms. "3" cent due totalled to "13" cents, Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED ROGERS CARRERE & CO. MELBOURNE FORWARDERS OVAL HANDSTAMP.
Realized: $575