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Auction: 11033 - Autumn Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1448

Victoria Travelling Post Offices Sea Mails The "R.M.S.S. Hobson´s Bay" Service From August 1861 additional time was given to the public for posting their letters up to the time of sailing of vessels anchored in Hobson´s Bay, Port Melbourne. The letters were collected by officers of the Post Office from Sandridge and cancelled on board the vessel concerned by a Victorian postal agent. Up to July 1864 - No late fee was payable July 1864 to September 1865 - A late fee of 2/- was imposed September 1865 to December 1887 (when discontinued) - Late fee reduced to 1/- The R.I.C. Holland collection contains no less than seven covers from this service with three previously unrecorded 1868 (24 May) front and part back (two flaps) "Via Marseilles" to Edinburgh, bearing Laureated 4d. rose (watermark V over Crown and 6d. blue single (watermark double-lined "4") and a vertical pair (watermark "six pence") cancelled with three "r.m.s.s./hobson´s bay/victoria" code "t" duplex (Type 1, letters closely spaced), the reverse with Edinburgh (16.7) and Preston Park (16.7) c.d.s.; diagonal crease and some faults around the adhesives, which have been taken off to determine the watermarks, pressed and replaced, nevertheless a rare franking and the earliest known cover bearing the 1/- late fee. Photo Estimate £ 400-500 provenance: Col. Harvey, November 1976

Sold for
£280