Corinphila Auction 291-297 Day 2

1840 (Jan 14): Prepaid entire letter headed 'Geelong, Port Philip, New South Wales', from Benjamin Hurst to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London endorsed 'first ship'; struck with framed "MELBOURNE / PAID" in red (and manuscript '3d.' alongside in red ink) with circular "MELBOURNE / NSW" handstamp in black displaying well on flap. Struck on arrival with two line "INDIA LETTER / DARTMOUITH" in red (Robertson In3 - in use for less than two years) with London cds (July 25) in red, charged '8d.' due for incoming Ship Letter in manuscript. A superb and rare entire - the earliest recorded letter from Geelong whose Post Office had yet to open.rnNote: The writer, Benjamin Hurst, arrived at Geelong in 1838. Together with Francis Tuckfield, he established Victoria's first Aboriginal mission at Buntingdale near Birregurra.rnProvenance: RL, London, 8 July 1977, lot 783; Collection Rod Perry, DF, Zurich, 23-25 May 1988, lot 10984.