Auction 333-341 Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan & Worldwide Postal History - Day 4

1850 (Jan): Plate 1, 1 d. crimson-lake on soft yellowish paper, a horizontal pair, positions 11-12 on the sheet of 25 subjects, of lovely rich colour with good to large margins all round, used on 1850 cover from Port Phillip (Victoria) to Sydney cancelled by two strikes of Melbourne 'Butterfly / 1' handstamps in blue-black ink; reverse with oval Port Phillip despatch (March 18) somewhat over-struck by "SYDNEY / ♚ / NEW SOUTH WALES" arrival (...

1850 (Jan 1): Plate 1, 1 d. reddish-rose on soft yellowish paper, a vertical pair, positions 20/25, sheet marginal from base of the sheet of 25 subjects, clear to large margins all round, used on 1850 cover to Lanyon near Queanbeyan, tied by barred oval obliterators In black. Reverse with "SYDNEY / ♚ / NEW SOUTH WALES" datestamp in black (March 7). The cover with ironed creases, one of which crosses the lower adhesive, now unapparent from...

1860 (Nov 14): 6 d. green, wmk. Large Star, imperforate with close to large margins, imperceptibly touched frame at lower right corner and showing portion of adjoining stamp at right, of rich colour, used on 1860 cover from Brisbane to Axbridge, Somerset endorsed "Per Overland Mail", tied by BRISBANE / QUEENSLAND / QL duplex in black (Nov 14) - the fourth day of use for the first issue. Unrecorded in the Ben Palmer census, however this would...

1853 (Nov 1): Plate I, Second State of the Plate, 4 d. pale orange, a used example with three large margins and just shaved along frameline at top of the stamp, on 1854 entire letter to Launceston tied by "64" numeral obliterator of Hobart on despatch. Oval despatch datestamp (July 24) in red below and reverse with Launceston arrival cds (July 25) in black. The adhesive slightly oxidised but a rare stamp on letter. Cert. RPSV (2024).

1855 (Aug-Sept): Chalon 4 d. blue imperforate, a used example with clear to good margins all round, slightest surface scuff, used on 1856 cover from Hobart to Launceston cancelled by "64" numeral obliterator in black. Circular "PRE-PAID" datestamp (Jan 28) in red below and rectangular framed "PRE-PAID" arrival of the following day on reverse in red.

1851 (June): Half Length 3 d. blue, 2nd State of the Dies, a used example with large even margins all round but crossed by file fold on 1852 entire letter from Melbourne to London endorsed "per Lima" tied by light "V/1" handstamp in black with manuscript "8d." Ship fee due on arrival on obverse and reverse with Melbourne "SHIP LETTER / ♚ / MELBOURNE despatch in red and London arrival cds (Oct 26). The entire with continuation of the letter...

1850 (Jan): Half Length 2 d. grey, 3rd State of the Dies, imperforate with mostly shaved margins (position 8), used on 1850 entire letter from Glenelg to Buninyong endorsed "Stamped 2d.", cancelled by Butterfly "33" handstamp in black. Reverse with three oval "♚"  handstamps of THE GLENELG (Jan 1), THE GRANGE (Jan 6) and GEELONG (Jan 8) all in black. An extremely rare and most attractive entire.
Provenance:  Collection Gary Diffen,...

1850 (May): Half Length 2 d. lilac, 4th State of the Dies, imperforate with good margins for this issue, ised on 1850 entire letter to Sydney, New South Wales and readdressed to Paddington on arrival, cancelled by Butterfly "1" in black. Reverse with "MELBOURNE / ♚ / PORT PHILLIP" despatch (June 28) and "SYDNEY / ♚ / NEW SOUTH WALES" datestamp (July 5) both in black. Obverse with manuscript "2d." charge for redirection to Paddington. Some...

1851 (Feb): Half Length 2 d. cinnamon, imperforate, a fine appearing example with touched to good margins, used on 1852 cover to Melbourne tied by oval framed "V/2" obliterator in black. Reverse with "GEELONG / ♚ / VICTORIA / MA 13" oval datestamp and Melbourne arrival of same day. Previous owner's ink manuscript of identification and small tape stain at top but a not unattractive cover.

1850/53: Half Length covers (4 and a piece), with Original printing Jan 1850 3 d. blue on large 1852 piece cancelled by Butterfly handstamp in blue, April 1851 entire letter with 1851 2 d. lilac cancelled by Butterfly "23" handstamp of Burn Bank in black, 1853 entire letter to Geelong with pair of 1 d. dull red tied by oval "1/V" handstamp; 1854 entire letter used from Geelong to River Leigh with 'white veils' 3 d. blue (two examples)...

1914/15: GRI 6 mm. spacing, 2 d. on 10 pf. carmine fine unused (signed Kilian BPP), 2 d. on 20 pf. ultramarine, Setting IV fine unused; 2½ d. on 10 pf. carmine, Setting IV, fine unused and 2½ d. on 20 pf. ultrmarine, Setting IV, fine unused; all with large part og. A useful and scarce group Gi = £ 385.

1859/60: First Issue 1 d. brown-lake on thick paper, imperforate, no watermark, the famous used example of strong rich colour with large even margins all round, tied to 11 March 1860 most part entire letter to Mrs Eliza Sweeting, Bahamas (presumably based on Sweeting Cay) by the earliest recorded usage of the "27" Out Islands numeral obliterator in black. The letter is written apparently from a Lighthouse keeper (or someone employed to build...