Auction No 147 - Prestige Philately

Jul 27, 2009
Prestige Philately - Auction No 147 Page: 23
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA - General & Miscellaneous Lots (continued)
Lot Type Grading Description Est $A
83 PS A
Lot 83
Lot 84
1900 (Dec 18) envelope with a superb strike of the 'GOVERNOR-GENERAL/[arms]/FRANK STAMP/
AUSTRALIA' handstamp in blue uncancelled but with a Sydney duplex of DE18/00 alongside and
superb 'POSTAGE PAID SYDNEY' cds of the same date at lower-left, embossed 'Government House,
Sydney/[arms]' in red on the flap, Brisbane arrival b/s of DE20/00. A highly significant cover, in
excellent condition, and a marvellous first page for an Australian Postal History collection.
84 PS A-
85 C A-/B
86 C A-/B
87
This usage pre-dates Federation (1st January 1901) by 13 days. Although the Earl of Hopetoun had
arrived in Sydney from England in mid-December he was still merely the Governor-General -
Designate. The usage of the Governor-General Frank in this period was therefore unauthorised,
inappropriate and highly irregular. Only one earlier usage is recorded, from the day before, and it is
telling that in both cases the Frank is correctly uncancelled signifying that its validity was not accepted
by the post office. However, neither item was taxed, presumably as a courtesy to the illustrious sender.
{Page 23.1,1}
1901 unused envelope with very fine 'GOVERNOR-GENERAL/[arms]/FRANK STAMP/AUSTRALIA'
h/s in blue & embossed arms in blue on the flap. The only unused envelope we have seen.{Page 23.2}
1919 to Sweden with Roo 2½d + KGV ½d & 5d; 1931 by air to Netherlands Indies with Roo 2/- & KGV
1d strip of 3; PPC to GB with 1d Roo; & 1928 to Sweden with KGV 1½d red x2; a few faults. (4)
1963-67 commercial registered covers with early "cash register"-type labels from Prahran, Reservoir,
Richmond South, Shepparton, Traralgon & Warrnambool, opened-out. Very scarce. (6)
C ADVERTISING COVERS: Selection in very mixed condition but still an appealing lot including an 1884
"Ye Olde Englishe Xmas & Shakesperean Show" [sic] postcard from which some IDIOT has peeled-off
the stamp, some municipal & OHMS items. (100+)
1,250
500
200 T
Offer
Offer
88
89
Ex Lot 88
Ex Lot 90
CPS - All KGV Period & mostly from Victoria with some very attractive items including for carriage builders
at Ultima & Bendigo (unused), a quack optician, MacRobertson's Sweets, Buzacott Gates (on a
postcard), Hotel Grosvenor Victor Harbour [sic], Zevenboom Brushes etc, a few on Postal Stationery,
condition a bit variable but generally a fine and appealing range of this ever-popular material.{Page
23.3} (30)
C - Tourism-related group mostly from Victoria including a 1950s Echuca series, 1933 "Back to Golden
Square", 1939 "Back to Traralgon", 1959 "Back to Grafton" (NSW) etc plus lots of beach resorts &
Jenolan Caves etc mostly from the 1960s & 1970s, condition variable but an attractive lot. (30+)
500
200