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Auction Catalogue For148

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Auction Catalogue For148 Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 1 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD Settlement 1788-1825 - Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) Van Diemen's Land was part of New South Wales until 14/7/1825 when it was proclaimed a separate Colony. Settlement of the island had two purposes: 1) to prevent possible settlement by the French; & 2) to create a third convict settlement (Norfolk Island being the second). A small settlelment at Risdon Cove was established in 1803 under Lt John Bowen. Hobart Town was founded by David Collins in February 1804. George Town, in the north of the island, was settled in November the same year. However, Launceston was developed as the principal centre in the north. Lot 1006 1006 C C 1805 (Oct 17) entire headed "Hobart Town River Derwent/Van Diemens Land Octr 17th" & signed "Mattw Bowden", to London, rated "11" for 4d inwards shipletter plus 7d for a single letter conveyed between 50 & 80 miles, largely fine strike of the scarce double-oval 'SHIP Letter/[crown]/DEAL' handstamp on the face & London arrival backstamp of 'MAY11/1807' in red, ironed-out vertical fold. Ex Rigo de Righi (1982); acquired for $6875 at Rodney Perry's auction of 1/2/1989. An item of exceptional postal history importance, being the earliest recorded letter from Tasmania in private hands. [With a related article from "The Australian Philatelist" (Summer 1989)] The writer states: "...We have been for several months eagerly expecting supplies, and have been on a very reduced ration. About a fortnight ago we procured a scanty supply from a whaler...At that time we had not above three weeks provisions in the store...we have been treated with great inattention and neglect by Gov King. Whatever comforts we have received via Port Jackson have been sold at an enormous rate...We are expecting a vessel (the Sydney) daily...She will sail direct for England..." While it is unclear by what vessel this letter was carried, the transit time of 571 days strongly indicates it was by the "Sydney". If that supposition is correct, this letter is also the earliest shipwreck mail recorded from Australia. The "Sydney" departed Hobart 28/12/1805, departed Sydney for Calcutta about 12/4/1806, and was totally wrecked off New Guinea - but without loss of life - on 20/5/1806. Matthew Bowden was Assistant Surgeon at the ill-fated convict settlement founded in 1803 at what is now Sorrento (Victoria). The settlement failed and all the inhabitants were transferred to the site of Hobart Town the following year. He became principal surgeon in 1811, was granted 600 acres of prime land, & engaged in minor exploration of the interior. He was only 35 when he died suddenly in 1814. 15,000T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 2 Settlement 1788-1825 - Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD Lot 1007 1007 C B 1807 entire headed "Hobarttown VDieman's Land/25th Decr 1807" (Christmas Day), signed "David Collins" & endorsed "VDL" on the face, to the writer's agent in London rated "4" for the inwards shipletter rate, 26mm 'SHIP LETTER/[crown]/SEP14/1808/LONDON' cds & London arrival backstamp of 'SE15/1808' in red, two ironed-out vertical filing creases. Believed to be the third earliest letter from Tasmania in private hands. The writer speaks of "...the astonishing ballance that exists against me...[and] the high Price of every Article of Life...I am at present in want for a new Hat & Suit of regimentals which cannot be procured here at any price.." He asks that his wife not be advised of his circumstances and states he has requested from his brother monies "to which I am now entitled by my much lamented Mother's Decease". David Collins arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 as Deputy Judge-Advocate. He was very highly regarded by Governor Phillip who chose Collins to go with him to explore Port Jackson, where they selected Sydney Cove as the site for the first settlement. David Collins was responsible for the entire legal establishment of the new Colony. He sailed for England in 1797 but returned in 1803 as Lieutenant-Governor of the proposed convict settlement on Port Phillip Bay. When that experiment failed, the whole company were transferred to Van Diemen's Land where he founded Hobart. Lieutenant-Governor Collins was an able administrator under difficult conditions including abject neglect of his situation by Governor Bligh. He died, insolvent, in Hobart in 1810. 10,000T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 3 Settlement 1788-1825 - Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD Lot 1008 1008 C C 1813 entire headed "Hobart Town Van Dieman's Land/February 10th 1813" & signed "Ann McCarty", to London with a largely fine strike of the rare undated 'SYDNEY/NEW SOUTH WALES' handstamp applied in transit, a very fine strike of the British 'SHIP/[crown]/LETTER' handstamp & London arrival b/s of '28FE28/1814' in red, overall soiling but a far more appealing item than as presented in a number of publications in recent years. Ex Baetgen (2004). [Brian Peace acquired this extraordinary item by "private treaty" in 2005, for £25,000] This is one of the most important items in all of Australian philately. It bears the earliest recorded strike - by three years - of Australia's first postal marking, introduced by Sydney's first postmaster, the former convict Isaac Nichols. The Handbook lists seventeen covers in the period up to mid-1819 - of which this is #1 - & suggests that the handstamp may have been obtained locally from the engraver William Henshell. Nichols died on 8/11/1819 & was succeeded as postmaster by George Panton who did not use any postal implements. The letter exposes the lack of status of women of the time. McCarty appears to have been the mistress (or housekeeper?) of the recently deceased William I'Anson and regrets that William's best friend Matthew Bowden had not been given his Power of Attorney as I'Anson's estate had been seized "even what he left my daughter or in short what he gave both her and myself have been taken away...the last things sent out...were sold by auction [including] the box with those things intended for me...the memory of him I shall long retain being mother to his unfortunate child, now dead...believe I have done my utmost to acquit myself faithfully as his friend..." She entreats the addressee to act to recover the deceased's estate. A fascinating social insight. The social entanglements in the background are quite fascinating. William I'Anson (usually styled "L'Anson", the "I" presumably having been misread) arrived at Hobart with David Collins. He was the senior surgeon, and Matthew Bowden his assistant: see Lot 6. I'Anson received one of the first land grants at Risdon Cove but sold it to TW Birch. The Irish rebel Denis McCarty was transported to Sydney in 1800, then sent to Van Diemen's Land for disobedience in 1803. In 1808, he was granted 5 acres at Birch Grove Farm: this was presumably part of I'Anson's original grant. McCarty's wife was Mary Ann McCarty, presumably the author of this letter! After Denis McCarty's death by drowning in 1820, she married Thomas Allen Lascelles. His stepson (Mary Ann's son?), Edwin Lascelles, later moved to Geelong where he formed the famous woolbroking firm of Dennys Lascelles Ltd with his cousin Charles Denys (who himself married Thomas Lascelles' daughter!) 50,000T Lot 1009 1009 C B 1817 (Feb 5) entire from his brother to "John Drummond Esqr/Naval Officer at the Derwent/Hobarts Town/Van Dieman's Land" with faint 'PAID SHIP LETTER/[crown]/FE6/1817/LONDON' cds in red & rated "1/9" being the single rate to NSW, colourless embossing at upper-left is thought to have been applied in transit at Cape Town, ironed-out filing creases & some soiling. Believed to be the earliest inwards item to Tasmania (other than from Sydney) in private hands: see Tinsley at page 3. Ex Rigo de Righi (1982), Groom (1987) & Blake (2001). John Drummond was appointed Naval Officer at Hobart Town where he arrived with his family in July 1815. In 1817, he and his sister-in-law were charged with the murder of their infant child, but acquitted for lack of evidence. Drummond returned to England in 1820. 4,000T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 4 Settlement 1788-1825 - Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD Lot 1010 1010 CL B 1823 outer headed "OHMService" to London with light but clear strikes of the undated 'LAUNCESTON' handstamp & the similar 'HOBART/TOWN' applied in transit, stepped 'SHIP LETTER/FALMOUTH' & rated "5/-" representing master's gratuity plus triple mileage rate to London (poor arrival b/s), stain at upper-right, ironed-out horizontal & vertical filing folds. Signed "HThomson" at lower-left & endorsed within "With Lieut Thomson's Affidavit to 30 Sept 1823/received 19 June 1824". Ex Viney (1980). An important cover, being the only item recorded bearing two of the three primitive handstamps, and the only item with the 'HOBART/TOWN' marking applied in transit. 20,000T Lot 1011 1011 C B 1823 (March 9) cross-written entire to "Mr Chas Barnard/Hobart Town" signed by his brother "GWBarnard" with a quite legible & far-above-average strike of the undated 'LAUNCESTON' handstamp. Very scarce internal mail, between the two principal settlements. Only about 15 examples of the handstamp have been recorded - between 9/11/1822 & 17/2/1826 - of which many are quite faint owing to the device being regularly under-inked.
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