Lot
4108 
Australian States: Victoria, 1858 (Sep. 27) Ararat, Victoria to Blackstone Mass. via London, cover bearing Victoria 1d yellow green (Sc 37) pair, 1s blue (Sc 18), tied by two bold strikes of numeral "93" barred circles, matching sharp "Ararat, Victoria, SE-27, 58" backstamp, partial Melbourne transit backstamp and magenta "8" pence credit to G.B., carried by E&ARM Victoria to Galle where mails transferred to Oneida, red London Paid (12.21) transit cds and red manuscript "16" cent credit to U.S., carried by Inman Line City of Manchester from Liverpool Dec. 22nd to New York arriving Jan. 11th, "Boston Am. Pkt., Jan 12" exchange cds and matching bold "5" due handstamp; reduced at left, fresh and Very Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
"Victoria" arrived at Galle with 9 feet of water in her engine room and in danger of sinking. Mails were transferred to Oneida while repairs were made. E&ARM sailings were generally slow and undependable.
Realized: $1,600
Lot
4109
1858 (Oct. 23) Washington D.C. to Sydney, New South Wales via London, blue cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) pair and 12¢ black (36), strip of three and pair, tied by strikes of partial Washington D.C. cds, red "New-York, Br. Pkt. Oct 27" exchange cds and magenta "56" cent credit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Oct. 27th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 7th, red London Paid (11.8) transit cds, then by E&ARM Oneida via Suez and Galle, Sydney (1.23) arrival backstamp; 12¢ strip trimmed at top, pair with pulled perf and cert mentions small staining that we cannot see, Very Fine, ex-Brown, Grunin; with 1990 P.F. certificate. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A RARE 1857 ISSUE DOUBLE-WEIGHT USE TO AUSTRALIA AT DOUBLE THE 33¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE VIA SOUTHAMPTON.
Mail from the United States to Australia could be prepaid to destination with no internal postal charges levied in Australia.
Realized: $2,400
Lot
4110
Australian States: Victoria, 1859 (Jul. 15) Maryborough, Victoria to Albron Ill. via London, blue cover originally franked with Victoria, two 2d gray lilac singles, each tied by numeral circular grids, Maryborough (7.15) backstamp and "Detained for Postage, Maryborough" double-circle handstamp with manuscript "10d" rating on face, additional 1s blue tied by numeral circular grid and matching "Maryborough, Victoria, JY-22 59" backstamp, Melbourne (7.27) transit backstamp and red manuscript "8" pence credit, carried by P&O Salsette via Mauritius, Suez and Southampton, red London Paid (10.14) transit cds, carried transatlantic by Cunard Line Africa from Oct. 15th to New York arriving Oct. 26th, "N.York Br. Pkt. '5' Oct 26" due exchange cds; cover and stamp faults, Fine and rare detained for postage use. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE MARYBOROUGH DETAINED FOR POSTAGE CIRCULAR HANDSTAMP.
When P&O service resumed in 1859 following the Crimean War, for about a year sailings went via Port Louis Mauritius rather than Galle Ceylon - then on to Suez.
Realized: $800
Lot
4111
Australian States: Victoria, 1860 (Jul. 13) New Inglewood, Victoria to Albion Ill. via London and Chicago, blue cover bearing Victoria, 1s blue (25) vertical strip of three, tied by bold numeral "296" barred circles, matching "New Inglewood, Victoria, JY-13, 60" rimless oval backstamp, red "Registered, Melbourne, JY-16, 60" rimless circle, red manuscript "1/6" credit to G.B., carried by P&O Ottawa from Melbourne Jul. 26th to Suez arriving Sep. 4th, then P&O Pera from Alexandria Sep. 5th to Southampton arriving Sep. 19th, red Registered London (9.19) transit oval and matching "Registered" crown handstamp, red manuscript "16" credit to U.S., carried by Allan Line North American from Liverpool Sep. 20th to Quebec arriving Oct. 2nd, then rail to Chicago, blue "Chicago Am. Pkt. '5' Oct 4" exchange cds for 5¢ inland due, cover and stamp faults, Fine and rare use. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY THREE VICTORIA REGISTERED USES PREPAID 3S TO THE UNITED STATES.
This cover was not treated as registered mail in the United States, and also not treated as paid to destination since Great Britain credited only the 16¢ transatlantic fee for American packet service. Great Britain should have credited 6¢ for half the registration fee for letter to be properly handled.
References: Illustrated and Discussed in Milgrams "Foreign Registered Mail: 1855-1875, Part Two: British" in the Chronicle May 2019, p. 182, fig. 22.
Realized: $1,050
Lot
4112
Australian States: New South Wales, 1861 (Jan. 5) Bathurst, New South Wales to Rockaway, London Island N.Y., gray cover bearing New South Wales, 2d blue (36) and 6d violet (40) pair cancelled numeral radial, reverse with Bathhurst (1.5) origin cds and Sydney (1.7) transit cds, red manuscript "8" pence credit, carried by P&O Behar from Sydney, P&O via Suez to Southampton, red London Paid (3.21) transit cds and matching red "16/Cents" handstamp credit to U.S., carried by Allan Line Nova Scotian from Liverpool Mar. 21st to Portland arriving Apr. 3rd, "Portland Me., Am. Pkt. '5' Apr 4" exchange due cds for 5¢ inland, Very Fine and scarce Portland exchange use from Australia. Estimate $500 - 750.
An exchange office was established at Portland, Maine for mail by Allan Line steamships.
Realized: $650
Lot
4113
Australian States: Victoria, 1861 (Mar. 25) Creswick Creek, Victoria to New Bedford Mass. via Marseilles, cover bearing Victoria, two 6d blue (30) singles, 1d yellow green and 4d rose, latter s.e., all tied by numeral "7" barred circles, Creswick (3.25) and Geelong (3.26) backstamps, red "Insufficiently Paid, Via Marseilles" double-oval, red crayon "8" pence credit to G.B., carried by P&O Jeddo via Southampton, red London Paid (5.21) transit and matching "16/Cents" credit handstamp to U.S., carried by HAPAG Borussia from Southampton May 22nd to New York arriving Jun. 4th, partial "N.York Am. Pkt '5' Jun 4" due exchange cds; cover wear and edge flaws, Fine and attractive three-color franking. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Cover was ¼ ounce - underpaid for the fast mail via Marseilles, so sent by sea from Alexandria through the Strait of Gibraltar to Southampton.
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Realized: $625
Lot
4114
Australian States: Victoria, 1861 (Apr. 6) Castlemaine, Victoria to Boston Mass. via London, registered cover bearing Victoria, 1s blue (25) three singles, each tied by numeral barred oval, matching "Castlemaine, Victoria, AU 6, 61" rimless oval backstamp, red "Registered, Melbourne, AU 8, 61" rimless cds, red manuscript "1/6" (32¢) credit to G.B. rating, carried by P&O Northam from Melbourne Apr. 26th to Galle arriving May 15th, P&O Simla May 19th to Suez arriving Jun. 5th, and P&O Ceylon from Alexandria Jun. 6th to Southampton arriving Jun. 20th, red Registered London (6.20) oval transit and matching "Registered" crown handstamp, magenta "21/6" crossed out and updated to "5/6" credit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line Persia from Liverpool Jun. 22nd to New York arriving Jul. 3rd, bold red "Boston Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Jul 3" exchange cds; some edge wear, one 1s faulty and second folded over edge, a Very Fine and rare registered use to the United States. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED PAID-TO-DESTINATION COVER TO THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.
Published rates in Victoria and NSW show a 3/ registered rate to the United States, which consisted of 1/ Victoria registration, 6d Empire Rate to England, 6d British registration plus 1/ transatlantic (including USA and GB internal postage). Great Britain original credited "21/6" for 16¢ American packet, 5¢ inland and 6¢ registration fee, but updated to "5/6" as letter sent by British packet so only 5¢ inland and 6¢ registration fee credited. The 5¢ inland credit was in error
References: Illustrated and Discussed in Milgrams "Foreign Registered Mail: 1855-1875, Part Two: British" in the Chronicle May 2019, p. 183, fig. 23.
Realized: $1,300
Lot
4115
1862 (Feb. 2) Junction City, Cal. to Newcastle, New South Wales, orange cover with manuscript "Junction City. Cal. Feby 4/62" postmark and matching "Paid 29c" updated to correct "38c.", red "New York 'Paid' Mar 14 exchange backstamp and magenta "28" cent credit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Mar. 19th to Queenstown arriving Mar. 30th, carried by P&O via Suez, P&O Bombay to Sydney, reverse with Sydney (6.13) transit and Newcastle (6.14) arrival cds; couple edge tears, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
THE ONLY RECORDED 38¢ UNITED STATES WEST-COAST RATE TO AUSTRALIA.
Realized: $375
Lot
4116
Australian States: Tasmania, 1862 (Apr. 24) Launceston, Tasmania to Birds Run Oh., mourning cover bearing Tasmania, 1d carmine (11) and 6d blue gray (15), two singles of each tied by "52" barred ovals, red "Post-Office Launceston, 24 AP 24, 1862" triangular crown postmark, carried by P&O to England, red London Paid (7.19) transit cds and pencil "8" pence rating, carried by Cunard Line Australasian from Queenstown Jul. 20th to New York arriving Jul. 30th, "N.York, Br. Pkt. '5' Jul 30" exchange due cds; couple light stains, F.-V.F. and scarce Tasmanian mourning cover use. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,450
Lot
4117
Australian States: Queensland, 1862 (Dec. 18) Maryborough, Queensland to San Francisco, Cal. via London, mourning cover from the Aaron correspondence bearing Queensland, 1d deep rose (7) three singles, 1s dull violet (11) diagonal bisect and single, each tied by numeral "96" radial cancels, matching "Maryborough, Queensland, DE 18, 1862" rimless cds, partial Brisbane (12.19) transit backstamp, red manuscript "1/3" credit to G.B. rating, carried from Sydney by P&O Bombay to Galle and Suez, P&O Pera Alexandria to Southampton, red London Paid (3.23) transit cds, closed mail via New York to San Francisco, red "San Francisco Cal, Paid, May 6" exchange arrival cds; some edge wear and partial flap, 1d stamps faulty from placement over edge, still Very Fine and exceptional use. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF A QUEENSLAND SHILLING BISECT.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE FROM QUEENSLAND TO THE UNITED STATES.
Great Britain received a 1s3d credit from Melbourne that included the ½d overpayment due to the lack of ½d stamps. The sender could have tried bisecting a 1d stamp to create an even more spectacular double bisect use.
Realized: $13,000