Corinphila Auction 291-297 Day 2

1854: Swan 1 d. black, a horizontal pair, margins huge at top and at right with portion of adjoining stamp and single lithographed 4 d. blue, used on 26 May 1857 second sheet of entire letter from Australind to Malta endorsed "By Indian Mail" tied by three strikes of the mute obliterator in black. Oval framed "POST OFFICE / ♛ / AUSTRALIND / WESTERN AUSTRALIA" in black and "POST OFFICE / ♛ / FREMANTLE / WESTERN AUSTRALIA" applied in transit. Carried on the Steamer "European" as far as Suez and on the "Ripon" from Alexandria to Malta, backstamped with ♛ oval Fremantle and on arrival in Malta (Aug 24) by double arc cds in black - the cover opens well for Exhibit display. A splendid and extremely rare cover to an unusual destination.rnProvenance: Harmers, London, 20-21 May 1963, lot 548; Corinphila sale 74, 21-28 March 1987, lot 4668.