Auction 321 - 332 Australian States & Commonwealth of Australia, St. Helena, Basutoland, Bechuanaland, Swaziland, Brazil 1843 –1870 - Day 1

1854: Octagonal 1 s. blue, imperforate, two used examples with close margins, used on 1859 cover to Birmingham, England endorsed "per Overland Mail", tied by barred numeral "3" of Castlemaine in black and by oval "REGISTERED / LONDON" transit in red (May 21). Manuscript notation at left of cover "I certify that this letter contains 10 dwts. of Gold on which 1/3d. Duty has been paid 15 March 1859". Reverse with flap missing but showing Castlemaine despatch datestamp (March 15), Melbourne transit and Birmingham arrival cds (May 21) and wax seal "Sub Treasury / Castlemaine". A rare and appealing cover.rnrnProvenance: Collection Kenneth J. Kutz, Nutmeg, Danbury, 20-21 June 2000, lot 8211.rn                     Collection Max Watson, Prestige, Melbourne, 8 Oct 2005, lot 630.