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

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10 Select Items

Lot 4153    

1866 (Dec. 11) Washington D.C. to Sydney, Australia, cover bearing United States, 90¢ blue (72) pair, right stamp tiny perf tear, tied by two quartered corks, matching "Washington D.C., Dec 11" duplex at upper right, endorsed "by steamer via London and Marseilles", partial red "N.York Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Dec 12" exchange cds and red "142" credit to G.B.; carried by Cunard Line Scotia from New York Dec. 12th to Queenstown arriving Dec. 21st, red London Paid (12.22) transit cds, sent via Marseilles and Galle, P&O Geelong to Sydney, Sydney Ship Letter (2.13) arrival backstamp; light central file crease, Very Fine, ex-Ackerman, Grunin, Ishikawa.
Estimate    $20,000 - 30,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED UNITED STATES 90¢ 1861 ISSUE PAIR ON COVER TO AUSTRALIA.

Cover was prepaid $1.80 for two ounces via Marseilles with $1.42 credit to England indicates 1¼ ounces.

Realized: $45,000

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Lot 4126    

1866 (Oct. 2) Washington, D.C. to Sydney, New South Wales via London, Hogan correspondence cover bearing 90¢ blue (72) along with 12¢ black, 30¢ orange (69, 71), cancelled by matching segmented grids duplexed with "Washington D.C. Oct 2" cds for four-times the 33¢ British Mail rate via Southampton, endorsed "per Steamer via London", red "N.York, Br. Pkt. Paid, Oct 3" exchange cds with magenta "112/4" credit (four-times 28¢), carried by Cunard Line Java from New York Oct. 3rd to Queenstown arriving Oct. 13th, red "London, Paid, 15 OC 66" transit cds, P&O Avoca from Southampton via Suez and Galle, "Sydney New South Wales, DE 19, 1866" backstamp; flaps refolded and mended at top edge, 12¢ creased from vertical file fold, Very Fine appearance, a very fresh and attractive usage, ex-Gibson, Wunderlich, Paliafito, DuPuy; signed Ashbrook.
Estimate    $15,000 - 20,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED 90¢ 1861 COVER TO NEW SOUTH WALES FRANKED WITH ADDITIONAL 1861 ISSUE STAMPS.

One of only five 90¢ 1861 covers to New South Wales, all of which are from the Hogan correspondence.

Literature: Census listing No. 49 from the Herzog and Starnes census, 'Cover Usages of the 90¢ 1861 and 1868 Issues', The Chronicle, No. 140, Vol. 40 No. 4, pp. 260-265.

Realized: $24,000

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Lot 4048    

Australian States: New South Wales, 1850 (Dec.) Sydney, New South Wales to San Francisco Cal. via Honolulu, light gray cover from the Aaron correspondence endorsed "Fav'd by Chas. Mackellar Esqr." by Sydney merchant, carried by British ship Louisa Baille from Sydney Dec. 11th to Honolulu arriving Feb. 12th, entered mails with perfect strike of "Honolulu, Hawaiian Is. / Feb. 26, 1851." two-line postmark and loaded in official mail bag, carried by same ship Louisa Baille from Honolulu Feb. 26th to San Francisco arriving Mar. 25th, red "San Francisco Cal., 25 Mar" cds and two matching partial "Ship 6" clamshell due handstamps, letter was advertised looking for addressee with "Adv 4" rating, forwarded four months later to foothill gold rush town of Sonora with "San Francisco, Cal., Aug. 23" postmark, manuscript "Ford 5" rating totalled to "15" cent due at right; small nick bottom right, a Very Fine use with a choice strike of the Honolulu straightline.
Estimate    $10,000 - 15,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED HONOLULU STRAIGHTLINE COVER ORIGINATING OUTSIDE OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. A REMARKABLE STRIKE AND IN OUR OPINION, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COVER BEARING THE HONOLULU STRAIGHTLINE EXISTENT.

Honolulu's straight-line postmark was manufactured by postmaster H.M. Whitney out of italic type from his print shop. Device was used from December 7, 1850 to June 14, 1851.

Illustrated and Described in Gregory's Hawaii Foreign Mail to 1870, pp. 227-28, fig. 14-7.

Realized: $10,000

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Lot 4200    

1882 (Jun. 24) New York N.Y. to Sydney, New South Wales, legal-size cover bearing United States, 90¢ carmine (191), used with 2¢ vermilion (183) two singles, and 10¢ brown (209) single and two pairs, all tied by "New-York Jun 24 '82" duplex cds on preprinted envelope to Sydney, New South Wales, endorsed "Via San Francisco", transcontinental railroad to San Francisco, carried by PMSC City of New York transpacific, Sydney (7.31) arrival backstamp; small faults, 2¢ and 90¢ removed for cleaning and replaced, F.-V.F.; with 1996 R.P.S.L. and 1997 P.F. certificates.
Estimate    $7,500 - 10,000.

AN EXCEPTIONAL $1.44 FRANKING PAYING TWELVE-TIMES THE 12¢ TREATY RATE TO AUSTRALIA. THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USAGE OF THE THE 1879 90¢ CARMINE.

Since the Australian colonies did not charge postage due on either non-treaty or treaty mail, the United States "Paid All" markings required by the postal treaties were redundant and often not applied.

There are only two recorded 90¢ Banknote frankings to Australia. The other example is Ex-Braus, Mercedes and dated October 8, 1883.

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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

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Lot 4037    

Australian States: Victoria, 1855 (Nov. 1) Greelong, Victoria to Harrisburg Pa. via New York, registered cover bearing Victoria, 3d blue (SG 31) horizontal pair, large margins with rich color, and Victoria 1s registration (F1), large to huge margins, both tied by strikes of Greelong "2 V" barred numeral ovals, matching "Greelong, Victoria, NO 1, 1855" rimless oval backstamp, manuscript "6" pence debit, Melbourne transit backstamp, carried as endorsed by Clipper James Baines via Cape Horn to England, reverse with "Australian Packet, Liverpool, MR 4 * 55" transit cds and manuscript "Art 2", manuscript "1/" rating and "¢ 24" cent debit to U.S., carried by Collins Line Quaker City from Liverpool Mar. 5th to New York arriving Mar. 21st, "New.York Am. Packet, Mar 21" exchange cds with matching "45" cent due handstamp, Very Fine, ex-Col. Green; with 2002 B.P.A. certificate.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED VICTORIA HALF-LENGTH COVER TO THE UNITED STATES WITH THE WORLD'S FIRST REGISTRATION STAMP.

The "45" due handstamp is the 33¢ collect rate plus 12¢ for British registration. Note that England was still punishing Victoria by not considering transit covers paid to England at the 6d empire rate.

References: Illustrated and Discussed in Milgrams "Foreign Registered Mail: 1855-1875, Part Two: British" in the Chronicle May 2019, p. 181, fig. 21.

Realized: $8,500

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Lot 4044    

Australian States: Victoria, 1857 (Jan. 15) Melbourne, Victoria to New York N.Y., datelined folded letter bearing Victoria 6d yellow orange (17) and 6d Late Fee (I1), jumbo margins, each tied by bold "1" barred numeral, matching Melbourne (1.15) backstamp and red "1d" packet credit handstamp to G.B., carried as endorsed by Clipper Royal Charter packet sailing via Cape Horn to England, red "Australian Packet, Paid, Liverpool, AP 12 '57" cds, Liverpool (4.13) oval backstamp and matching "19/Cent" debit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Africa from Liverpool Apr. 18th to New York arriving May 1st, New York bold "24" cent due handstamp; some edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Shenfield.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

THE ONLY RECORDED VICTORIA TOO LATE STAMP USED TO THE UNITED STATES.

The New York "24" due handstamp is the earliest strike recorded (May 1, 1857).

Realized: $6,500

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Lot 4135    

Australian States: South Australia, 1874 (Jul. 16) Adelaide, South Australia to Philadelphia, Pa., cover with "Government House, Adelaide S.A." flap seal and bearing South Australia, Official 4d dull violet, pair overprinted "P.S." for Private Secretary, each stamp tied by "Adelaide, S.A., JY 16, 74" cds, additional strike adjacent, red crayon "2", carried by P&O via Southampton, red London Paid (9.7) transit cds and matching "2/Cents" credit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Calabria from Liverpool Sep. 8th to New York arriving Sep. 20th, Very Fine and exceptionally rare departmental use.
Estimate    $4,000 - 6,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED SOUTH AUSTRALIA DEPARTMENTAL OVERPRINT COVERS TO THE UNITED STATES.

Reduction of the transatlantic rate to 3d in January 1870 reduced the via Southampton rate to 8d.

Realized: $5,500

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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

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Lot 4119    

Australian States: Queensland, 1863 (Jun. 1) Maryborough, Queensland to San Francisco Cal. via London, cover from the Aaron correspondence bearing Queensland, 1d deep rose (7), 2d blue (8) and three 6d yellow green (10a) singles, each tied by numeral "96" radial cancels, matching "Maryborough, Queensland, JU 1, 1863" rimless cds, partial Brisbane (6.2) transit backstamp, red manuscript "1/1d" credit to G.B. rating, carried from Sydney by P&O Northam, red London Paid (8.19) transit cds, closed mail via New York to San Francisco, red "San Francisco Cal, Paid, Sep 21" exchange arrival cds; some edge wear and stamp flaws, Very Fine.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

AN ATTRACTIVE QUEENSLAND THREE-COLOR FRANKING ON COVER TO THE UNITED STATES.

THE SECOND EARLIEST RECORDED USE FROM QUEENSLAND TO THE UNITED STATES.

Note the credit of 1/1 claimed by England conforms to the 1863 rate reduction to 1/7. In July 1863, the United States transcontinental rate would be reduced from 10¢ to 3¢, lowering via England rates to west coast.

Realized: $2,900

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