EARLIEST RECORDED 'SYDNEY VIEWS' 1d+2d COVER TO G.B. - BY SH...

Hammer

£1,900

EARLIEST RECORDED 'SYDNEY VIEWS' 1d+2d COVER TO G.B. - BY SHIP 'PHOENICIAN' EX SYDNEY; 16/18 Jan. 1850 EL (two vertical filing folds, one affecting 1d) from "Mossmans Bay, Sydney" to Ayr in Scotland franked for the outgoing 3d Ship Letter rate by the recently issued 'Sydney Views' 2d Blue (superb margins) and 1d Red (wide margins at top and right, shaved at foot and left; filing crease) tied by very fine Sydney barred oval cancellations with mainly very fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/*SYDNEY*" d.s. (18 Jan.) alongside and black London manuscript "8[d]" incoming Ship Letter rate nearby. The long interesting contents (from one brother to another) includes mention of travelling by Steamer up the Hunter River, meeting the Governor, farming problems and a long discussion of recent devastating bush fires and the ongoing rush of ships taking loads of N.S.W. labourers to "San Francisco" in the gold rush. The very fine red London backstamp of 23 April shows that this letter was carried by the Clipper Ship 'Phoenician' that reached the Isle of Portland on 22 April. This is the earliest usage of the 1d+2d values on cover recorded in Palmer's book. It is also the 2nd earliest stamped Australian States cover to an overseas address. Important Exhibition Item for any Sydney Views or N.S.W. Collection. [Ex Rod Perry, 1976.]Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA