Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 1 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD Settlement 1788-1825 - Van Diemen's Land () 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 . 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 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. Provenance: Harmers of London (5/12/1979: Lot 620).

The writer speaks of "...post coming in late on Saturday...before our letters will pass perhaps another fortnight will elapse", and chides Charles, who has suffered minor injury, for behaving like a child. "...do not tell your servants what you hear have an eye to their conduct and when you are satisfied they are unworthy send them off...have more decision of character not lead me to expect you have put on petticoats..."(!) The face has had added to it recipes for two medicinal alcoholic potions designed to induce "farting"! 3,000T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 5 Settlement 1788-1825 - Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1012 1012 C B 1824 lengthy & fascinating entire signed "Fra Atkinson", to London endorsed "Per Allies/Capt Kirton/Jan 19 1824" with a faint but legible strike of the undated 'HOBART/TOWN' handstamp, step-boxed 'SHIP LETTER/FALMOUTH' h/s & rated "3/4" being 1/4d for an inwards double shipletter + 2/- mileage to London. A NSW Order in Council of 19/10/1822 required that all mail "...be stamped with the Mark of the Town from which it goes" but no outgoing postal rate was endorsed as the postage paid was a perquisite of the postmaster. Ex Tinsley (1990).

The writer speaks of "...the intention of establishing a Bank here upon the same principals as the one at Sidney and having received Sir Thomas Brisbane's approval...all the Dollars have disappeared and likewise all the Paper Currency...leaving us nothing but a trash currency...it has had the effect of lowering the prices of most articles...Dollars have disappeared...and i think the Captains of Ships have taken them away...have not sufficient in the Treasury Funds as is wanted to pay the Salaries & orders from the Police Fund..." Some sources state the Bank of Van Diemen's Land was established in 1823 but this letter suggests it was early in 1824, as stated by Graeme Petterwood in "Tasmanian Tokens Revisited". 750T

Lot 1013 1013 CL (B) 1825 OHMS outer (210x90mm) to "Mr Chas Barnard/Rouge Mont/on the/Tamar" with a largely very fine strike of the undated 'GEORGE/TOWN' handstamp, endorsed at lower-left "Commandant/PD" (= Penal Department?), minor peripheral staining & reinforced internally with archival tape along the folds. Very scarce local OHMS mail. A famous cover, bearing the later & by far the finer of only two examples recorded in private hands of this most elusive and desirable of the primitive handstamps. Ex Rigo de Righi (1982) & Groom (1987). The post office opened 11/12/1822.

With the very fine enclosed letter headed "Commandant's Office/George Town Jany 29 1825" and signed "Chas Cameron/Commandant", who refers to two other enclosures to be returned "after you have perused them". Lt-Col Charles Cameron was appointed commandant of Port Dalrymple on 14/12/1822 and was involved in vigorous debate in favour of George Town being regarded as the administrative & military headquarters in the north of the island. In 1824 he was ordered to move his station to Launceston but, as this letter indicates, remained at George Town. This doubtless lead to his being relieved as commandant & he returned to Sydney in April 1825. He then went to India where he died in 1827. 35,000T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 6 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD The Postal Act of 1825 Australia's first Postal Act was proclaimed on 16/12/1825 for the purposes of regulating rates of postage & establishing further post offices. Only on 1/3/1828 did the post office become an official government department. The appointment in 1829 of James Raymond as postmaster was followed by rapid expansion of the postal network. As in Britain, postal rates were based on the number of sheets of paper employed and the distance to be travelled. The internal rate was 4d for a single letter. In 1831 a Sydney town rate of 2d was introduced. However, all official mail was carried free & the Post Office ran at a considerable loss. Note that mail to overseas ports could not be paid to destination, inwards shipletter fees & mileage rates being imposed on recipients.

Lot 1026 1026 C A- 1832 entire to Hobart Town with a good strike of the '[crown]/GENERAL POST OFFICE/30JY30/1832/ NEW SOUTH WALES' d/s (#S3) & large-part 'POST PA[ID SHIP] LT/SYDNEY' d/s of the same date & both in red, rated "3d" for the concessional shipletter rate to Van Diemen's Land. [Covers at this rate are only occasionally encountered. Pre c.1832, all Sydney rate markings were usually in black] 1,000T The Postal Act of 1838 This Act was principally a refining of the 1835 statute, including increasing the rates for overweight shipletters. It's gazetting in November 1838 coincided with James Raymond's introduction of the famous embossed lettersheets, generally considered to be the world's first issue of "postal stationery". The following decade was one of rapid change: in 1840 transportation of convicts to NSW ceased; May 1841 saw New Zealand become a separate Colony; in 1842 the Port Phillip District (Victoria) became a separate postal administration.

Lot 1072 1072 L B 1843 (July 28) British Act of Parliament severing Norfolk Island from New South Wales & annexing it to Van Diemen's Land, 2pp. No photograph. 100T

Lot 1109 1109 C B FREE MAIL 1842 (Aug 6) outer with printed OHMS heading & 'Prin Sup of Convicts Office/Sydney' imprint at lower-left, to "The Police Magistrate/Newcastle" with light strike of the crowned-oval 'FREE' d/s (#F4) in red, endorsed at upper-left "In the/absence of the/Princl Supt Convs/Thomas Ryan", no arrival marking but docketed on the face "Aug 7/3 letters" in red, vertical folds. [Thomas Ryan commanded the troops in northern Van Diemen's Land (1835-39) & was commandant at Norfolk Island (1839-40)] 500T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 7 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD The Postal Act of 1838 - Port Phillip District (Victoria) Excepting the failed 1803 settlement at Sporrento, the earliest settlers in "Australia Felix" arrived from Van Diemen's Land: the Hentys at Portland in November 1834, followed by John Batman & his party at Port Phillip in May 1835, and shortly thereafter, by his rival John Pascoe Fawkner who landed at what is now Melbourne. On 9/9/1836, the Port Phillip District was declared open for settlement. The names Melbourne, William's Town & Hobson's Bay were officially gazetted on 12/4/1837 and the following day the post office at Melbourne was established. Post offices opened at Geelong 1/1/1841 & at Portland 4/12/1841.

Lot 1182 1182 C B 1839 entire to "Allen Vale" (Van Diemen's Land) & signed "PWWelsh", endorsed "pr Henry" & "immediate", poor but discernible strike of the first oval 'MELBOURNE/[crown]/AP*20/1839/ NEW.S.WALES' datestamp (year illegible) & rated "3" in red for an outgoing shipletter, & "7" in black payable by the recipient. Ex Purves (6/4/1982) & Kelly (2003): acquired for $588.

The datestamp was apparently introduced about January 1839: this is the earliest recorded usage. Patricius William Welsh was an early merchant in Melbourne & Geelong. 800T

Lot 1185 1185 C A- 1841 outer from Andrew James Learmonth at Hobart Town to his brother Thomas Learmonth at Geelong "per Naiad", rated "11" on the reverse being 7d for inland carriage to Launceston + 4d for shipletter, good strike of the first oval 'MELBOURNE/[crown]/MA*2/184[1]/NEW S.WALES' transit d/s (no year, as always in 1841) on the face & a very fine strike of the rare hexagonal 'MISSENT TO/MELBOURNE' h/s on the flap, rated "4" for an inwards shipletter. Ex Purves (13/5/1981: Lot 609) & Perry. [Carriage should have been directly from Launceston to Geelong]

The brothers Thomas & Somerville Learmonth were among the earliest squatters in the Port Phillip District. They moved from Van Diemen's Land in April 1837 & established major sheep stations at Boninyong (Feb 1838) & Borrumbeet (April 1838), SE & NW of Ballarat respectively. Their baronial home "Ercildoune", and their brother John's "Laurence Park" homestead at Batesford, are two of the finest Victorian colonial buildings still standing. 4,000T

Lot 1186 1186 C B 1842 (April 19) lengthy entire - actually two letters, from his parents Thomas & Christian Learmonth - headed "Greenponds" (Van Diemen's Land) to "Somerville Learmonth/Boninyong/Geelong/Port Phillip", endorsed "via Launceston" & rated "5" being 4d for outgoing shipletter + 1d for having originated inland, very late usage of the undated 'MELBOURNE/NSW' handstamp (#C37) applied to the reverse, soiled. [The family patriarch writes of agricultural matters & chides his son for not having replied to previous letters] 750T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 8 The Postal Act of 1838 - Port Phillip District (Victoria) (continued) Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1205 1205 C (C) COUNTRY POST OFFICES Munro's Inn: 1849 extensively repaired Leake entire to Tasmania with postmaster's manuscript endorsement "PO/Munro's Inn/Sept 25 49" on the reverse, rated "1/3" being 1/- for carriage between 230 & 300 miles (to Melbourne) + 3d shipletter. PO 1/1/1849; renamed Border Post c.-/12/1849. Ex Purves (13/5/1981) & Kelly: acquired for $515 (2003).

No handstamp has been recorded for Munro's Inn. 500T

Lot 1227 1227 C B REGISTERED MAIL 1849 (April 28) entire to Portland endorsed "Money letter" (Tasmanian terminology) & "Registered" in red, fine 'GEELONG/PORT PHILLIP', good 'MELBOURNE/PORT PHILLIP' & fair 'PORTLAND/NEW S.WALES' backstamps. Ex Max Watson: acquired for $529 (2005). [The letter signed "James Whyte", a prominent pastoralist who arrived in Tasmania in 1832. He lived in Victoria between 1837 & 1852 developing stations at Coleraine & Clunes, where gold was discovered on his property. After his return to Van Diemen's Land he entered politics & became Premier 1863-66] 750T Jul 27, 2009 Prestige Philately - Auction No 148 Page: 9 Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD The Postal Act of 1849 This was the most far-reaching of the early Acts. The free franking privilege for official mail was abolished; the town rate was halved to 1d; 1d postage for newspapers was re-introduced; other internal rates were henceforth based on weight alone, and not the distance carried. Most importantly, from the date the Act came into effect - 1st January 1850 - adhesive postage stamps were available for what was still the optional pre-payment of postage.

Lot 1236 1236 C B 1851 part-entire to Tasmania endorsed "Overland August 15th 1851/p Steamer from Melbourne/to Launceston" with 'PAID/[crown]/SYDNEY' cds (#P7) in red, rated "5" in red being 2d local postage + 3d shipletter fee, 'MELBOURNE/PORT PHILLIP' transit b/s in blue & 'LAUNCESTON/1SP1/1851' arrival b/s where rated "4" in black for an inwards shipletter. [The writer states "The Overland Mail from Melbourne has lately been so irregular..." & "...I fully expect the Town will be but thinly peopled. All who can will be off to the Diggings and labour will be very high..."] 250T