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Auction: 21045 - The Alan Holyoake Grand Prix Collection of British and International Registered Mail
Lot: 273

(x) Australasia
New South Wales
Mail to the United Kingdom
1849 (12 Feb.) entire letter to Pall Mall, London, boldly marks "Registered" in red ink with the associated "1/6" crossed through and re-rated "3/2" added and London straight-line "ship-letter" in black, the reverse with a weak strike of Portland New South Wales despatch oval and London c.d.s. (9.7). A clean cover, free from the usual filing creases.


Interesting contents include, "...I intend to boil down 2 or 3000 sheep ... and get something out of it in tallow if I cannot in wool ... labour itself continues as extravagantly high as ever ... report of the discovery of a gold mine at the Pyrenees about 150 miles from here ... two or three large lumps of nearly pure gold have been found there..." Gold was not officially discovered in Victoria until 1851, though there were earlier rumours, some of which were obviously true.

provenance:
Rod Moreton, May 2005


6d. registration paid in cash; 3/2d. represents quadruple 8d. ship letter rate plus 6d. registration

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£2,100

Starting price
£450