Corinphila Auction 291-297 Day 2

1847 (July 10): Entire letter from Joseph J. Harper at Jerry's Plains, Hunter River to Melbourne, Port Phillip; struck on despatch with framed "JERRY'S PLAINS / FREE" handstamp in black with 'Free' deleted in manuscriopt and '1/7d.' charged in manuscript (4d. for coastal Ship to Sydney and 1/3d. to Melbourne). Struck on reverse with smudged oval "JERRY'S PLAINS / ♚ / JY 10 / 1847" datestamp, transit of circular "GENERAL POST OFFICE / ♚ / SYDNEY" (July 13) and oval "MELBOURNE / ♚ / PORT PHILLIP" arrival (July 19) all in black. Slightly soiled but very scarce entire.rnProvenance: Premier, Melbourne, 20 July 2002, lot 947; Collection Brian Peace, Prestige, Melbourne, 27 July 2009, lot 1119.rnNote: The writer Joseph Jehoshaphat Harper (1810-1878), was a journalist, Member of Parliament and radical reformer. In the 1840's he became a leading member of the abstinence movement.