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

1840 (Dec 19): Entire letter written from "Ship Perfect, Bass Straits" addressed to Stornoway, Outer Hebrides, Scotland mailed from Sydney on Jan 12, 1841 with endorsement in manuscript and struck with superb oval "PAID SHIP LETTER / ♚ / SYDNEY" in red (Jan 13). Manuscript '3d.' outgoing Ship Fee in red ink and '8d.' in manuscript for incoming Ship Letter charged on arrival (June 3) in London. Reverse with "INDIA LETTER / PLYMOUTH" in black (Robertson IN4) and datestamp in red. Superb.rnrnContents: The writer details the route from Rio de Janeiro, Tristan da Cunha, St. Paul's (French Southern Antarctic Territories), St. George's Sound, Albany, Western Australia and Phillip Bay, Melbourne; "the town of Melbourne is a wonderful place...people and money is what they want more than merchandise"...then (from Sydney)..."completing our journey in half a year and two days".rnrnProvenance: Prestige, Melbourne, 24 April 2009, lot 496.rnrnrn