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

Sideface 1890/94: 2 d. blue, a single example used on 1894 printed cover for "Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science" to Port Chalmers, New Zealand tied by "215" barred numeral obliterator with "South Brisbane" despatch cds adjacent (Oct 20). Struck with two line "Saved from the wreck of the  / WAIRARAPA" in violet. Reverse with Sydney, Auckland and Port Chalmers datestamps. A scarce Wreck cover - in foggy conditions the "Wairarapa" crashed into the rocks at the base of a 200 metre high cliffs of Great Barrier Island. The ship tilted to one side and only two lifeboats were successfully launched and 50 people rescued. The rest, some 120 passengers and 65 crew, remained on board being battered by huge waves. A further 50 people were rescued on the following day, taking refuge in the rocks and rescued by Maori's, however there was a total of 155 fatalities. Just weeks before the tragedy, the "Wairarapa" had broken the speed record for a cross-Tasman crossing from Sydney to Auckland.rnrnProvenaance: Collection Alan Griffiths, Spink, London, 24 Oct 2012.