Oct 12, 2012 Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 1Fund & 'FIJI/GIFTS/TO BRITAIN' labels, US...

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 1Oct 12, 2012Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

MISCELLANEOUS

Ex Lot 6

C Odd little group comprising Fiji 1927 commercial cover to France damaged in transit & repaired with PO labels at London; New Zealand 1941 commercial airmail to Aden & 1941 cover to an Australian POW in Bulgaria! (superb!); and Tonga 1934 Tin Can Mail covers with huge South Seas Exploration Cruise cachet in violet to the USA or Papua. (5)

6 A/B

400

Ex Lot 7

C Shoebox of covers with New Zealand including a bundle of KEVII-KGV Period machine cancels many with slogans, 1896 OPSO wrapper to NSW with 'PRINTED MATTER ONLY' h/s, 1900 OPSO address label on parcel piece, commercial airmails, group of early PPCs etc; also a bundle of covers & postcards to Fiji from around the world; etc. Ex Patterson Family. (200+)

7

250

COINS & BANKNOTES

Ex Lot 10

$ FIJI: WWII provisional notes comprising 1d x11 (8 are Unc), 1/1/1942 Hayward/Barling 1/- & 2/- x2 (one EF) plus two defective bisected notes (that our vendor advises were used during a shortage of 1/- notes) & 1/9/1942 Barling/Martin 1/- x3, condition rather mixed. Ex Gerald Patterson. (19 items)

10

250

Ex Lot 11

$ FIJI: QEII banknotes with 5/- 1962 x2 & 1964 x8 (including 4 consecutive), 10/- 1965 x2 (one very worn) & £1 1965 x2, then an array of Decimal issues - face value $F190 - to $20 x6, condition variable but including a few Unc. Ex Gerald Patterson. (37 items)

11

250


PICTURE POSTCARDSIn our auction of 29/3/2008, we successfully offered some 300 Pacific Islands PPCs from the "Cartophile" Collection. On this occasion, courtesy of Max Shekleton and Dr Don Welsh (Fiji only), we are delighted to bring you almost 1500 of these elusive and popular cards. The emphasis is on pre-1920 cards, with many "real photo" & other elusive types throughout. Please note that mixed condition is the order of the day. Having said that, the quality is generally good to fine, with very few cards of lesser standard, and many that qualify as very fine to superb.

Ex Lot 19

C FIJI - Fiji Based Publishers: LN Anderson Levuka Series 1 x6, 1a "Street Scene Levuka" (the only recorded view), 2 x6; Gus Arnold Suva Series 1 x4, 2 x7 & 3 x1; Arnold & Co Series 1 x2 & 2 x4; AM Brodziak & Co Suva Series 1 x24 including a few terrific subjects, 2 x1, 3 x3 & 4 x8; and J Butler Suva x4.

The Fijian cards in this sale were collected by Dr Don Welsh from Canada. Don collaborated with Elsie Stephenson for her book "Fiji's Past on Picture Postcards" (1997) & with John Dear for his catalogue "The Picture Postcards of Fiji" (2008). The collection was assembled as per the latter book so we have chosen to present it in the same manner. With a total of almost 900 cards, Don Welsh's collection offers a fascinating social blueprint of Fiji in the early years of the 20th Century. However, several thousand views are recorded, so a great opportunity exists to adopt an exciting new collecting interest. [The same comments as apply to Max Shekleton's cards are relevant here. The major difference is that a high proportion are used. We have not had the time to check for postmarks, destinations etc so close inspection is likely to be rewarded] (71)

19

500T

Ex Lot 20

C FIJI Volume Two with FW Caine Suva Series 1 x6, 2 x2, 3 x4, 4 x1, 5 x21, 5a x5 & 5b x1, 6 x3 & 6a x3; Caine's Studios/Caine Jannif Ltd Series 1 x5, 2a x5 & 2b x8; Fiji Museum x2; Fiji Post Card Coy Levuka "English Harbour, Fanning Island"; FW Gardiner Suva Series 1 x2 & 2 x6. (75)

20

500T

Ex Lot 21

C FIJI Volume Three with FW Gardiner Suva Series 4 x11, 4a x3, 4b x1, 5 x6, 6 x2, 6a x3, 7 x4 & 8 x1; GL Griffiths Suva x13; Hedemann & Co Levuka Series 2 x2 (both defective), 4 x2, 5 x1 & 6 x9; Le Faivre's Art Studios Suva x2; Henry Marks & Co x11; and EP Mendoza Levuka x1. (72)

21

500T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 3Oct 12, 2012PICTURE POSTCARDS (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 22

C FIJI Volume Four with Carl Meyer Suva x5; Michelmore Suva Series 2 x6 & 3 x1; Arthur Mills Suva Series 1 x6, 3 x12 & 4 x11; Morris Hedstrom & Co Levuka Series 2 x6, 2a x1 & 4 x14; Robbie & Co Levuka Series 1 x8. (70)

22

500T

Ex Lot 23

C FIJI Volume Five with Robbie & Co Levuka Series 2 x9; Stinson Studio Suva Series 1 x13, 3 x1, 4 x1 & 5 x5; Stinson-Perks Series 1 x38; Co-Operative (Anon) x16; Co-Op Copyright Series 1 x1 & 2 x9; many are from the 1940s. (93)

23

500T

Ex Lot 24

C FIJI Volume Six with Stinsons/Stinsons Ltd Series 1 x3, 1a x2, 3a x1, 3b x11, 3d x1, 3e x5 & 4 x75; mostly 1950s colour photos. (98)

24400T

Ex Lot 25

C FIJI Volume Seven with Stinsons/Stinsons Ltd continuation of Series 4 x27 & 5 x1 (1950s or later colour photos); L Turley x1; JW Waters Suva Series 1 x4, 2 x1, 3 x22 & 5 x23 (one of the most attractive series of Fijian cards); and Western Pacific Herald Suva Series 2 x4. (83)

25

500T


Ex Lot 26

C FIJI Volumes Eight & Nine with Whites Aviation x2 (of only 4 recorded, 1950s); and an array of modern cards x106. (108)

26200T

Ex Lot 27

C FIJI Australian & New Zealand Publishers: Volume Ten with a very scarce array including Hussey & Gillingham Adelaide x8; Kerry & Co Sydney x6; Sheldon Drug Co x5; etc, & a few modern cards. (56)

27500T

Ex Lot 28

C FIJI British & European Publishers: Volume Eleven including Raphael Tuck x22; Valentine & Sons x4; Bergeret & Cie France x3 (one used at Fanning Island); British & Foreign Imports Italy x9; a few US & a few modern cards. (49)

28

300T

Ex Lot 29

C FIJI Miscellaneous Publishers: Volume Twelve including two French missionary cards, a good range without publisher details including 'Pacific Island Series' complete set of 10 (56)

29400T


Ex Lot 30

C FIJI Volumes Thirteen to Fifteen with the balance of the collection, lots of anonymous publishers, Zieher-type "stamps" cards x8 (5 with inset views), real-photo types, advertising for President Suspenders x3, QSL ham-radio cards x10, a few oversized cards & some related items including an immaculate stereo card. (134)

30

500T


FIJI - MISCELLANEOUS LOTSVirtually all the untaxed Fijian lots are from the fine and extensive collection formed by our long-time client, Levuka-born Gerald Patterson, now from New South Wales. The collection was largely assembled prior to 1980, with most major purchases being in the 1960s & 1970s. In 1970, Gerald Patterson was presented with the Mail Coach Award, the top honour at Stampex in London. It can thus be seen that the vast majority of the collection is "new" to the market.

Ex Lot 82

OCPS Oddments including Fiji Times Express 1d SG 5 with manuscript cancel (Cat £2000), WWII Bomber Fund & 'FIJI/GIFTS/TO BRITAIN' labels, US Forces covers with various postmarks (8, & an airgraph), Postal Stationery including KGV 1d & 2d Envelopes & 2d Letter Card (optd 'SPECIMEN'), 1942 1d banknote, 1930 2d 3d & 6d meter impression proofs, carte de visite signed "Sir Harry Luke" etc. Ex Donald Welsh. (49 items)

82

500T

O Small plastic tub full of mostly KGV low values, plus some KEVII. Research opportunity. (1000s)83 100

Lot 84

*OC Postage Dues 1918 & 1940 sets mint; packet of Frank cutouts, fronts (9) & wrappers (4); and a duplicated array of brass straight-line cancels (60+) including some very fine strikes.

84200

Ex Lot 85

*O 1903-52 Issues on leaves, mostly mint including KEVII 1903 to 5/-, 1904-09 set, 1906-12 New Colours to £1, KGV MCA to £1 Die I plus most listed shades, Script set, KGVI Pictorials to £1 plus most listed perfs & dies, 1940 Postage Dues x2 sets, etc, generally fine, Cat £1950+. (200 approx)

85

600

Ex Lot 86

*O QV Issues annotated on leaves with 'VR' Underprints trial sheets selection including imperf 1d, 2d on 3d, 4d on 3d & 6d blocks of 6, 1d with 'VR' Inverted & 1d Double Print, Perf No 'VR' 3d & 6d blocks of 4 etc plus issued stamps including 1d Void Corner (repaired) & 6d mint pair; Altered Dies Perf 10 mint 4d on 1d, 4d on 2d Type A x2 & 4d x2 and used 4d on 2d Type B; QV 1/- Fournier forgery imperf sheet of 16, 5/- on 1913 philatelic cover & imperf block of 4 CTO; Surcharges '2½d.' on 2d mint x5 & used x6 (three with Wider Spacing), '½d.' on 1d used strip of 3, '5d' on 4d mint x3 & used x3, 'FIVE/PENCE' on 6d mint x4 & used x4; New Designs range including a few large blocks; generally fine to very fine. (200+)

86

1,000

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 7Oct 12, 2012FIJI - MISCELLANEOUS LOTS (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 87

O KEVII to KGVI remainders including 1908 New Colours 1d to £1 (ex 1/-) optd 'SPECIMEN', KGV MCA ½d with the Watermark Inverted & Reversed SG 126y, 1/- x4 different blocks of 4, 5/- block of 4 & £1 both Dies plus 2½d pair 1/- & £1 optd 'SPECIMEN', 'WAR STAMP' duo both with the Overprint Inverted (no certificates), KGVI 3/- booklet (faults) etc, generally fine to very fine. (102)

87

750

Ex Lot 88

W*O 1870-1902 Issues on leaves, mostly unused/mint including Fiji Times Express 1d SG 5 & 1/- SG 9 (both with problems; separate Ceremuga or BPA Certificates respectively), 'CR' 1d & 6d, 1872 Decimal Surcharges, Gothic 'V.R.' 1d SG 16 & '2d.' on 12c on 6d SG 26 (major repaired fault; not included in the catalogue value), a few 'VR' Underprints plus a group of imperfs from the trial sheets, 1878-99 Altered Dies largely complete mint &/or used, QV 1/- various perfs mint & used and 5/- CTO, 1891-93 Surcharges including '2½d.' Wide Surcharge, 1891-1902 New Values & Designs largely complete mint &/or used, condition variable, Cat £9000+. (160+)

88

2,000

Ex Lot 89

*/** All-different array of Plate Number blocks (mostly) & pairs including KEVII 1903 5d & 1/-, KGV MCA 4d x2 different papers, 5d, 2/6d & 5/-, 'WAR TAX' ½d pane of 60, and Script ¼d x5, 1/-, 2/- & 2/6d x4 (one a pair), etc, generally fine to very fine, many units and some blocks are unmounted. Very scarce material. (50 items)

89

600


FIJI - 1870-1871 Fiji Times ExpressThese locally printed primitives are among the most sought-after Pacific Islands stamps. For the first issue, the sheet of 24 positions comprised four rows: 6d x6/1s x6/1d x6/3d x6. For the second printing, the last three 3d positions were replaced with 9d x3. Rodger & Duberal established that only 100 sheets of 24 were printed on quadrillé paper, so a mere 600 stamps of each value were issued. The printing on bâtonné paper ran to 400 sheets. This means 2400 each of the 1d 6d & 1/- were issued, but only 1200 of the 3d & 9d. While listed as being printed on "rose" paper, the passage of 140 years has caused fading: examples that are still obviously "rose" are rarely seen. Both papers are very thin & brittle, contributing to a low survival rate. Most examples have faults. All values are scarce to rare. Plate positions as assigned by Charles Phillips in "Postage Stamps of the Fiji Islands" are given in square brackets: eg [8]. Collectors are also directed to "Fiji's Times Express Stamps" by David Gillis (2011).

Ex Lot 90

W* Batonné Paper 1d x2 (one with large-part o.g.) & 3d x3 (one with large-part o.g.), very presentable but a few faults, Cat £7000; also First Imitations x8 & Second Imitations on mauve x9 or on off-white x4. (26)

90

1,000

Lot 91

W Quadrillé Paper: 1d black/rose SG 1, margins close - at right - to large with black rouletting at left, small surface thin at upper-right & a little soiled, unused, Cat £3750. [Absent from the collections of Lester Meis and Sir Gawaine Baillie. Colonel Harrie Evans' very fine example with large-part o.g. sold for $7150]

91 B

1,500

Lot 92

F Quadrillé Paper: 1d black/rose SG 1 horizontal pair [17-18], margins good to large with black rouletting except at right (the first unit thus with rouletting on all sides), separation faults at the base (first unit) & top (second unit, which also has a small cut at the base & a tiny pinhole), very fine large-part strike of the rare 'BUA' "star" cancel (& small part of a second strike at lower-left, showing only the 'A'), Cat £8000+. Despite the faults, a very attractive multiple and a great rarity. BPA Certificate (1959). Illustrated by Alford at page 11.

This and Lot 98 are the only used multiples of any Fiji Times Express stamp that we are aware of. None of the dozen or so major sales we consulted included any used multiple. There is no used multiple in the Royal Collection, and Alford records only the two here. Bua was the only office that used a canceller - all others applying manuscript cancellations - and the "star" exists only on Fiji Times stamps. This is one of the finest strikes we have noted.

92 C

4,000

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 9Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1870-1871 Fiji Times Express (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 93

W Quadrillé Paper: 3d black/rose SG 2, margins close - at the base - to large with black rouletting at the top & right, unused, Cat £4250. A remarkably fine Quadrillé Paper stamp. Rare. [There was no unused example in the Lester Meis and Sir Gawaine Baillie collections. This stamp is far superior to Colonel Harrie Evans' fine example that sold for $2530]

93 A

4,000

Lot 94

F Quadrillé Paper: 3d black/rose SG 2, margins close to large, small repaired scissor-cut at the top, unusually cancelled with Sydney duplex of '70/OC10', Cat £4250. Very attractive & significant, being the earliest recorded usage of any Fiji Times Express stamp. BPA Certificate (1959). Not illustrated by Alford.

The only other Fiji Times Express stamps we have recorded with only a transit cancel are all on covers illustrated by David Gillis at pages 103-8. These include the fantastic Mrs John Dodds cover - Ex Karl Lagerhoef, Marcel Burrus and Lester Meis - on which exactly the same Sydney duplex and of the same date as the stamp offered here cancels the added NSW 3d & just ties the Fijian 3d. Despite the cover many years ago having received a negative opinion from the RPSofL, we have never doubted its genuineness. We consider that the stamp offered here is compelling evidence supporting the authenticity of the Mrs Dodds cover. We also draw attention to the erudite article by Dr Geoff Kellow RDP in "The Australian Philatelist" (March 1988), where that esteemed researcher confirmed the genuineness of the cover and stated it is "...the earliest known use of the Fiji Times Express, and the only known example from the first [short-lived] rates period". Of course, those statements apply to this stamp as well. By the by, it also negates David Alford's objection to the cover "I would be concerned that the Times stamp is not manuscript cancelled": Alford at page 17.

94 (A-)

2,500

Lot 95

W Quadrillé Paper: 6d black/rose SG 3, margins good to large with black rouletting except at the top, ironed-out horizontal crease & some staining/soiling but apparently unused, Cat £2500.

95 C500


Lot 96

V Quadrillé Paper: 6d black/rose SG 3, margins close - at the top - to large with black rouletting at left, small separation fault at the base & repaired 8mm tear at the top (through the 'M' of 'TIMES' to the top of the '6'), very fine complete strike of the rare 'BUA' "star" cancel, Cat £2500. BPA Certificate (1959). Not recorded by Alford. [The finest example we have seen of the "star" cancellation. Illustrated above Lot 95]

The handstamp has been attributed to Mr Wilkinson, who was postmaster at Bua, & secretary to the local chief, Tui Bua. Wilkinson later became the official interpreter for King Cakobau's administration.

96 (B)

500

Lot 97

V Quadrillé Paper: 6d black/rose SG 3, margins close - at the top - to large with black rouletting at left & base, neat manuscript "#" cancel, Cat £2500. An outstanding used stamp. Not illustrated by Alford. [More attractive than Colonel Harrie Evans' fine used example that sold for $2750. Illustrated above Lot 95]

97 A

2,500

Lot 98

F Quadrillé Paper: Vertical Se-Tenant Pair 6d & 1/- SG 3 & 4 [2/8], margins close - at top - to large with black rouletting except at the top & the lower unit with rouletting on all sides, the 1/- with expertly repaired 5mm tear at the base that in no way detracts from the exceptional appearance, neat manuscript "#" cancels, Cat £4750++ (as singles). One of the most important items in all of Fijian philately, being one of only two recorded used multiples of the Fiji Times Express series - see also Lot 92 - and the only used se-tenant multiple. [See Alford at page 11]

We have identified only two comparable items on the Quadrillé Paper. Lester Meis had an unused 6d + 1/- pair SG 3/4 with virtually no margins that sold for $US2415; and William Frazer had an ugly unused 1d + 9d pair SG 5/8a that sold for £4025. In our opinion, this is a far superior item to either of those pairs.

98 A/(A-)

5,000


Lot 99

* Quadrillé Paper: 1/- black/rose SG 4, margins good to large with black rouletting at the top & base, a couple of tiny thin spots, large-part o.g., Cat £2000. Unusually fine for this fragile paper. [Superior to Colonel Harrie Evans' unused example that sold for $1650]

99 A-

1,500

Lot 100

W Quadrillé Paper: 1/- black/rose SG 4, margins close - at lower-right - to large with black rouletting except at the base, unused, Cat £2000. Another unusually fine stamp.

100 A1,400

Lot 101

*W Batonné Paper: 1d to 1/- SG 5 to 9, all with good to large margins, the 1d [14, Short Second 'N' in 'PENNY'], 3d [19] & 6d [5] each with minor thinnings, the 9d [22, with Comma after 'EXPRESS,'] with a minor stain & with splitting along the printer's rule at left (where there has been an amateurish attempt to rejoin the left-hand margin), the 1/- [7] has a very minor separation fault at lower-left but is otherwise very fine, the 1d 3d & 6d have part- to large-part o.g., the 9d & 1/- are unused, Cat £9550. Separate BPA Certificates (1959). A remarkable opportunity to acquire a complete set of the Fiji Times Express stamps.

All of the certificates state "defective" - which is most uncharitable for what are relatively minor problems - except for the 9d which is noted as "stained" but, perversely, there is no mention of the split at left! Frankly Messrs Lowe, Pemberton, WE Lea and another with an indecipherable signature should be ashamed of themselves for expressing such unnecessarily negative opinions. This was not their "finest hour".

101 A-/B

4,000


Lot 102

* Batonné Paper: 1d black/rose SG 5 [17], good to large margins unusually with black rouletting on all sides, large-part o.g., Cat £1000. Ex Sir Lacon Threlford. [All values were on the one printing plate, producing a sheet of 24 positions (6x4). Because the black rouletting was not applied at the outer edges of the sheet, only the eight central positions (1/- x4 over 1d x4) can exist with the black rouletting on all sides. Examples are rare.

102 A

750

Lot 103

* Batonné Paper: a rather similar but slightly larger stamp [16], also with black rouletting on all sides, tiny corner bend at lower-left that in no way affects the exceptional appearance, large-part o.g., Cat £1000.

103 A-

750

Lot 104

* Batonné Paper: 3d black/rose SG 6 [20], margins close - at base - to large with black rouletting at the top & right, small repaired scissor-cut in the margin at upper-left, large-part o.g., Cat £1700. [For the printing on Batonné Paper, three of the six 3d positions were converted to 9d values. Illustrated above Lot 102]

104 (A)

500

Lot 105

W Batonné Paper: 3d black/rose SG 6, large margins with black rouletting at top and right, unused, Cat £1700. [A larger stamp than Sir Gawaine Baillie's example with part o.g. that sold for £1035. Illustrated above Lot 102]

105 A

1,000


Lot 106

* Batonné Paper: 3d black/rose SG 6 [21], margins close - at base - to large with black rouletting on three sides, large-part o.g., Cat £1700. [Superior to Colonel Harrie Evans' example that sold for $1650]

106 A1,250

Lot 107

W Batonné Paper: 6d black/rose as SG 7 [2, Foot of 'P' of 'PENCE' Missing] but with unusual "Ribbed Paper", margins close - at the top - to large with black rouletting on three sides, minor separation faults at lower-left & lower-right, unused, Cat £1400+. [As early as 1882, Major EB Evans identified a third type of paper but his distinction between "Laid paper" & "Laid batonné paper" was later disregarded. The case for the third paper was revived by David Gillis who calls it "ribbed": see pages 44-58. This stamp exhibits the characteristics identified by Gillis]

107 A-

1,000

Lot 108

W Batonné Paper: 9d black/rose SG 8 [24], margins close - at right - to large with black rouletting at left & top, a couple of tiny thin spots, unused, Cat £3000. [Don Welsh's very fine example sold for $1840]

108 B1,000

Lot 109

W Batonné Paper: 9d black/pale rose SG 8, good margins with black rouletting at right, unused, Cat £3000. [Superior to Sir Gawaine Baillie's significantly faded example with large-part o.g. that sold for £1725]

109 A

1,750


Lot 110

* Batonné Paper: 9d black/rose with Comma after 'EXPRESS,' SG 8a [22], margins close - at lower-left - to large with black rouletting at top & right, separation/rejoining along the printer's rule at left, large-part o.g., Cat £3750.

110 (A)

1,250

Lot 111

* Batonné Paper: 1/- black/rose SG 9 [11], margins close - at right - to large with black rouletting on three sides, minor separation fault at upper-left & ironed-out crease at lower-right, large-part o.g., Cat £1700.

111 (A-)

600

Ex Lot 112

W* "OFFICIAL" IMITATIONS: 1876 First Imitations (4 values - no 9d - on off-white paper) reconstructed sheet of 40 (8x5) including two blocks of 15 (one irregular) plus extras x13, a few faults; Second Imitations (5 values on rosy mauve paper) very fine block of 15 (3x5) with minor separation, plus extra set of 5, large-part o.g. (73)

112

250

FIJI - 1871 Cakobau 'CR' IssuesNote that these stamps, and the subsequent surcharges and 'V.R.' overprints, are on thin brittle paper. Short or pulled perforations are to be expected, as are surface cuts caused by steel cancellers. Numbers issued were 1d x10000, 3d x5000 and 6d x2500 only.

Ex Lot 113

*WO Complete sets mint/unused x2 plus extra 1d x2 (one thinned, the other in deep blue) & 3d x2 (shades), and used sets x2 plus extra 1d x2 (early usages dated JA21/1872 & FE2/1872) & 3d x2, one 6d with small-part undated 'GPO/FIJI' cancel, condition a bit mixed but generally fine to very fine, Cat £3400+. (20)

113

1,000

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 15Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1871 Cakobau 'CR' Issues (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 114

A-/B 1d 3d & 6d SG 13-15, a few small faults, each with a part- to large-part strike of the rare undated 'G.P.O./FIJI' cancel, Cat £770.

114 P350

Ex Lot 115

OW* FORGERIES: Spiro Brothers 1d x3, 3d & 6d x4, condition very mixed, plus 3d very fine complete sheet of 25; also genuine 1d (unused), 3d & 6d SG 10-12 with large-part o.g., Cat £315. (36)

115250

FIJI - 1872 'Cents' Surcharges on 'CR' IssuesThese overprints were not applied to remainders of SG 10-12 but rather to new printings made for the purpose of overprinting!

Ex Lot 116

O Used study comprising 'Two/Cents' on 1d x13 (one with Wmk Letter 'O' - perf faults - and a pair), 'Six/Cents' on 3d x15 (one with Wmk Letter 'I' - very fine) & 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d x16 (one fiscally used with superb Bank of NSW Suva d/s - repaired), a couple of varieties noted, condition variable, mostly with Levuka cds, Cat £3000+. (44)

116

750

Lot 117

* 'Two Cents' on 1d deep blue SG 13a horizontal strip of 3, one toned perf, large-part o.g., Cat £150++.117 A/A- 150

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 16Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1872 'Cents' Surcharges on 'CR' Issues (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 118

* 'Two/Cents' on 1d deep blue to 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose x3 SG 13a-15 blocks of 4, the 'Six/Cents' on 3d with tropicalised gum, large-part o.g., Cat £960++. Rare multiples.

118 A/B1,000

Lot 119

*/** 'Two/Cents' on 1d deep blue SG 13a marginal block of 4 from the right of the sheet, the first unit very lightly mounted otherwise full unmounted o.g., Cat £200++. Rare multiple, especially in this condition. [Colonel Harrie Evans' two blocks of 4 of the 'Six/Cents' on 3d - each with two units unmounted - sold for $440 & $687 respectively]

119 A B1

400

Lot 120

V 'Six/Cents' on 3d green as SG 14v with Fat 'i' in Six, characteristic rough perfs, Levuka cds, Cat £80+. Superb!

120 A+ C2100

Ex Lot 121

O* FORGERIES: Spiro Brothers 'Two/Cents' on 1d to 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d x3 sets, a few faults, plus 'Six/Cents' on 3d very fine complete sheet of 25; also genuine set SG 13-15 with large-part o.g., Cat £245. (37)

121

250


FIJI - 1874 Local 'V.R.' (Crown Colony) OverprintsThis was essentially a commemorative issue, to celebrate Cession as a British Colony. The earlier 'CR' issues were declared invalid from 25/11/1874. Sheets comprised 5 rows of 10 stamps. Because of a shortage of Gothic type, the two lower rows in each sheet were overprinted with Roman type. Approximately 20% of the Gothic stamps and 11% of the Roman stamps exhibit varieties of printer's type. Charles Phillips at page 33 states that these issues are "the most interesting and the most valuable of all Fiji stamps". Gibbons' valuations do not reflect their relative scarcity.

Ex Lot 122

O Partly annotated range on leaves with some better stamps noted including some mostly minor varieties, generally of pleasing appearance but many have problems including a few repaired or cleaned, also a few forgeries identified, Cat £9000+. An opportunity to plug some "difficult gaps" without breaking the bank. (33)

122

1,000

Lot 123

* GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue SG 16, large-part o.g., Cat £1000. [Sir Gawaine Baillie's better centred example sold for £518]

123 A C1600

Lot 124

F GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue SG 16 (horizontal pair, the second unit with Break in Top of 'R', minor toning & a few short perfs), 'Six/Cents' on 3d green SG 17 & 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose SG 18, all with Levuka cds, Cat £1400+.

124 A/B

750

Lot 125

F GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue SG 16 horizontal pair, well centred, light Rays cancels, Cat £500+. Very fine & scarce multiple. [Alford at page 41 records - but doesn't illustrate - one used pair only! See also Lot 124]

125 A B1

500

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 18Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1874 Local 'V.R.' (Crown Colony) Overprints (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 126

F GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue with Round Raised Stop after 'V' SG 16c [28, with Watermark Letter 'G'], light Levuka cds clear of the variety, Cat £1000. BPA Certificate (1949) as the then SG 29.

126 A B1

750

Lot 127

G GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue with Inverted 'A' for 'V' SG 16e, hint of a small repair at lower-right, Sunburst cancel just clear of the variety, Cat £1000. [The Inverted 'A' has a small upwards protrusion on the central bar]

127 (A) C1

500

Lot 128

O GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Six/Cents' on 3d green SG 17 horizontal pair [27-28, with Watermark Letters '...AG...'), the second unit with Round Raised Stop after 'V' SG 17c, parallel lines manuscript cancellation removed, Cat £2500+ (as used singles). RPSofV Certificate (2012). A very rare, possibly unique, multiple. Unrecorded by Alford.

Excepting the rare Gothic/Roman Se-Tenant Pairs, we could find no other record of any listed variety in these issues in a multiple, either unused or used. With a copy of Ritchie Bodily's 1961 letter offering this item to Gerald Patterson for £50 & stating "In unsplit se-tenant pair this is a real rarity". [Illustrated above Lot 127]

128 B

2,000


Lot 129

O/**? GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Six/Cents' on 3d green [29, with Fat 'i' in 'Six' and Watermark Letter '...E...' Reversed] in Vertical Se-Tenant Pair with Roman Overprint 'Six/Cents' on 3d green SG 17f [39], parallel lines manuscript cancellation removed from the upper unit only but still with large-part o.g., the upper unit very lightly mounted & the lower unit possibly unmounted (!), Cat £12,000+ (plus a premium for the variety on the upper unit). RPSofV Certificate (2012). A highly significant rarity that may well be unique. [Alford at page 41 records - but does not illustrate - only this pair]

With a copy of Ritchie Bodily's 1961 letter offering this item to Gerald Patterson for £35. It may seem perverse that Bodily's price was only 70% of what he charged for the horizontal pair in the previous lot. However, at the time, none of the vertical se-tenant pairs was listed by Gibbons. In fact, it was only after our sale of Colonel Evans' collection in 2001 that this situation was rectified. Since their 2003 Edition, Gibbons have listed and priced vertical se-tenant pairs for all three values. But note that we we have found no record of any 'Two/Cents' on 1d pair SG 16f (Cat £9000), and this pair is the only example of SG 17f of which we have a record. By comparison, 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d pairs SG 18g (Cat £6500) are relatively "common". Charles Phillips stated he knew of 10 pairs, of which he illustated four - including a block of 4!! & a used pair (whereabouts unknown & not priced used by Gibbons) - on his Plate IX. Two of these pairs appeared in the collections of Colonel Evans and William Frazer and sold for $2310 (2001, when unlisted by Gibbons) & £3450 (2003, or almost double the new catalogue value of £1800, based on the Evans realisation). It is telling that Phillips makes no specific mention of any similar pairs of the other two values.

129 A

5,000

Lot 130

F GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Cross Pattée Stop after 'R' SG 18b, a few small faults, Sunburst cancel clear of the variety, Cat £1000. Ex Colonel Harrie Evans: acquired for $715. RPSofV Certificate (2001). [Don Welsh's superior example sold for $862]

130 B B2

600

Lot 131

W GOTHIC OVERPRINT: 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Round Raised Stops after 'V' & 'R' SG 18d, a little soiled, unused, Cat £2500. RPSofL Certificate (1970). [Illustrated above Lot 130]

131 B D11,000


Lot 132

* ROMAN OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue SG 19, expertly repaired at the base, large-part o.g., Cat £1100. RPSofV Certificate (2012).

132 (A) C1250

Lot 133

V/F ROMAN OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue (very fine) & 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose SG 19 & 21, Cat £500.

133 A/A-400

Lot 134

V ROMAN OVERPRINT: 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue with Large Round Stop after 'R' SG 19f, well centred, lightly cancelled clear of the variety, Cat £1000. RPSofV Certificate (2012).

134 A B1750

Lot 135

* ROMAN OVERPRINT: 'Six/Cents' on 3d green SG 20, very well centred, one pulled perf at the top & a minor thin spot, large-part o.g., Cat £2250. RPSofV Certificate (2012). [The Surcharges were issued on 21/10/1874. Fewer than 1300 of SG 20 were sold, before the balance of the printing was revalued '2d.' from early-1875]

135 B B2

1,000


Lot 136

O ROMAN OVERPRINT: 'Six/Cents' on 3d green as SG 20 but with the 'R.' of 'V.R.' Largely Omitted, cancelled with two parallel ink lines (such as we have seen on a number of other early Fijian stamps), largely clear of the affected area, a few short perfs, Cat £700++. RPSofV Certificate (2012). [This variety not previously seen by us]

Phillips at p48 draws attention to [34, with 'V' Omitted] on his Plate X. He considered that a small piece of paper obstructed the printing of the sheet & created this transient variety. However, on the stamp here, there are traces of the 'R.', suggesting a different cause for the variety, and one that may be constant, although particularly rare.

136 B C2

750

Lot 137

W ROMAN OVERPRINT: 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose SG 21, a few short perfs & minor thinning at the top, unused, Cat £900. [Sir Gawaine Baillie's fine mint example - Ex Colonel Harrie Evans - sold for £575]

137 B C2400

Lot 138

G/F ROMAN OVERPRINT: 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose SG 21, two examples with minor unlisted varieties 1) with 'V.' Lower; and 2) with No Foot on 'T' of 'Twelve', Sunburst cancels clear of the varieties, Cat £450+.

138 A-

250


FIJI - 1875 '2d.' Surcharges

Lot 139

F RED SURCHARGE: '2d.' on 'Six/Cents' on 3d green with Gothic 'V.R.' SG 22, & '2d.', 'LEVUKA' cds; and with Roman 'V.R.' SG 23, a few short perfs, Sunburst cancel; Cat £475.

139 A/A-250

Lot 140

* RED SURCHARGE: '2d.' on 'Six/Cents' on 3d green with Roman 'V.R.' SG 23, well centred, a couple of short perfs, large-part o.g., Cat £800.

140 A- B2500

Lot 141

G RED SURCHARGE: '2d.' on 'Six/Cents' on 3d green with Roman 'V.R.' as SG 23 but with '2d.' below 'V.R.', two examples (one with corner fault at upper-right), both with poor Levuka cds, Cat £550+.

Phillips at Plate X illustrates a large-part reconstruction showing several positions with the '2d.' below the 'V.R.'. These stamps would be from sheets on which the 'V.R.' was Misplaced, requiring the printer to purposely misplace the '2d.' surcharge as well. This point does not seem to have dawned on Phillips who at page 47 makes only a passing & desultory reference to the placement of the '2d.'. In our opinion, this should be listed by Gibbons as a major variety, at least as important as the various 'V.R.' varieties.

141 A-/C

500

Lot 142

* BLACK SURCHARGE: '2d.' on 'Six/Cents' on 3d with Gothic 'V.R.' SG 24, characteristic rough perfs, some toned perfs & a bit aged, large-part o.g., Cat £1700. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2004) states "Very rare". [Superior to Sir Gawaine Baillie's faded example with large-part o.g. that sold for £1725]

142 C C2

600

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 23Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1875 '2d.' Surcharges (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 143

F BLACK SURCHARGE: '2d.' on 'Six/Cents' on 3d green with Gothic 'V.R.' SG 24, rounded corner at upper-right; and with Roman 'V.R.' SG 25, well centred, minor thins; both with Sunburst cancels, Cat £1300.

143 B

500

Lot 144

F BLACK SURCHARGE: '2d.' on 'Six/Cents' on 3d green with Roman 'V.R.' SG 25, tied to small piece by Levuka cds & Sunburst cancel, Cat £750+.

144 A C1500

Lot 145

F BLACK SURCHARGE: '2d.' on 'Six/Cents' on 3d with Roman 'V.R.' SG 25, clean-cut perfs, 'LEVUKA/AP22/187-/=FIJI=' cds, Cat £750. Ex Don Welsh: acquired for $1265 at our auction of 2/9/2006. RPSofV Certificate (2012). [A very underrated stamp. Tippett, Robertson, Colonel Evans, Frazer, Meis et al didn't have a used example. Gordon Rodger's less attractive example - with shallow thin - sold for $1485 at the Macray Watson auction of 12/11/1996]

145 A C1

1,250


Lot 146

G/F '2d./V.R.' PRINTED IN ONE OPERATION: '2d.' on 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Gothic 'V.R.' SG 26 very fine horizontal pair remarkably in combination with 'Six/Cents' on 3d green with Roman 'V.R.' SG 17 & 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Gothic 'V.R.' SG 18 horizontal pair (the right-hand unit - small tear - with Dropped 'V'), all tied to an envelope piece by Sunburst cancels, Cat £3050++ (as used singles). RPSofV Certificate (2012). An extraordinary & rare franking, especially as it includes two pairs: what a bobby-dazzler of a cover this would have been! Very few 'V.R.' Overprint multiples - all pairs only - have been recorded: see Alford at pages 41-44. [The rate of 54c = 1/7d is correct for a letter weighing between ½oz & 1oz to the UK via Galle & Brindisi: see Alford at page 46 & Proud at page 151]

146 A/A-

2,000

Lot 147

W '2d./V.R.' PRINTED IN ONE OPERATION: '2d.' on 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Gothic 'V.R.' and Inverted 'A' for 'V' SG 26c, unused, Cat £3750. RPSofV Certificate (2012).

147 A-1,500

Lot 148

* '2d./V.R.' PRINTED IN ONE OPERATION: '2d.' on 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Gothic 'V.R.' and Inverted 'A' for 'V' SG 26c, large-part o.g., Cat £3750. RPSofV Certificate (2012).

148 A C12,000

Lot 149

W '2d./V.R.' PRINTED IN ONE OPERATION: another example, additionally with Raised Round Stops after 'V' & 'R' SG 26e, minor thinnings & a pinhole, unused, Cat £4000. BPA Certificate (1998).

149 C C1750


Lot 150

G '2d./V.R.' PRINTED IN ONE OPERATION: '2d.' on 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Gothic 'V.R.' with Double Overprint SG 26f, a couple of small faults, Cat £4500. Ex Don Welsh: acquired for $1437 - a red-hot bargain - at our auction of 2/9/2006. RPSofV Certificate (2012). [Compare that result with Colonel Harrie Evans' example - additionally with Inverted 'A' for 'V' - that sold for $6600 at our auction of 21/7/2001]

150 B C2

2,000

Lot 151

F '2d./V.R.' PRINTED IN ONE OPERATION: '2d.' on 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d rose with Roman 'V.R.' SG 27, a few slightly short perfs, Sunburst cancel, Cat £900. RPSofV Certificate (2012). [Considering that only 19 positions on the sheet of 50 had the Roman 'V.R.', SG 27 is significantly undervalued relative to SG 26. Colonel Harrie Evans' very fine example sold for $1650]

151 A- C2

1,000

Lot 152

G/H '2d./V.R.' PRINTED IN ONE OPERATION: ditto, two examples in deeper shades, a few minor blemishes, untidy cancels, Cat £1800.

152 B1,000

FIJI - 1876-1877 Script 'VR' UnderprintsWhile having the appearance of being overprinted, this issue was produced by printing the 'CR' designs on paper on which the fancy 'VR' Monogram was already printed!

Lot 153

* WOVE PAPER: 1d dull blue with Pronounced Double Print SG 28b, the lighter impression misplaced 2mm to the left, large-part o.g., Cat £550. [Superior to Colonel Harrie Evans' example - rounded corner at upper-right - that sold for $462]

153 A

400

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 26Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1876-1877 Script 'VR' Underprints (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 154

* WOVE PAPER: 6d dull rose with Double Print SG 30c with the second characteristically weak impression being 1½mm higher & slightly to the left & most evident in the upper margin, a few short perfs, large-part o.g., Cat £2500. Chris Ceremuga Certificate (2005) states "Extremely rare...probably due to a kiss print".

154 B C2

750

Lot 155

P LAID PAPER: 1d deep blue imperforate plate proof upper-left corner block of 4 with Pronounced Double Print, the second impression misplaced 1mm to the right & ½mm down, the third unit with the Major Void Corner as SG 31b, large-part o.g. the lower pair being unmounted. Visually stunning!

155 A

400

Lot 156

C LAID PAPER: 1d deep blue & 2d deep green imperforate plate proof pairs plus Altered Dies 2d (corner fault) all tied by Suva cds of 26AU/1890 to 1890 cover to England, fine 'BISHOPS AUCKLAND' arrival b/s, two light vertical folds between the pairs & affecting the 2d single. A remarkable albeit philatelic franking, paying the correct 8d rate, current 7/12/1888 to 10/10/1890 only.

156 B

500

Lot 157

O LAID PAPER: 1d deep blue SG 31a block of 12 (6x2) with the first unit being the Void Corner SG 31b, manuscript "GM" cancels (presumably fiscal usage?), Cat £830++ if postally used. A rare block in any circumstance, all the more so for including what Charles Phillips called "Fiji's classic flaw".

157 A/A-

300

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 27Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1876-1877 Script 'VR' Underprints (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 158

* LAID PAPER: 1d blue horizontal pair Imperforate Vertically Between & at Right SG 31c(var), large-part o.g., Cat £700+. [All other examples of this variety offered in recent years were completely imperforate vertically. However, Peter Robertson's similar pair to this sold for £286 (1992): see Alford at page 53]

158 A

600

Lot 159

* LAID PAPER: 1d blue as SG 31 but with the 'VR' Underprint Inverted & Misplaced (part of a second impression at far-right), large-part o.g. Unlisted by Gibbons. BPA Certificate (1966) states "...is genuine". [As noted by a previous owner, "...the inverted overprint may have escaped notice by reason of it being so much off-centre, the inverted 'V' being at first sight easily mistaken for an 'R'...". Of course, because the underprint was printed before the design, technically it is the design that is inverted!]

159 A B1

1,000

Lot 160

* LAID PAPER: 1877 'Four Pence' on 3d mauve horizontal pair Imperforate Vertically SG 34a, large-part o.g., Cat £850. Ex Peter Braga. RPSofL Certificate (1965) as the then SG 90a.

160 A750

Lot 161

* LAID PAPER: ditto, marginal pair from the right of the sheet Imperforate Vertically also with 'Four Pence' Misplaced at the Top' SG 36a(var), large-part o.g., Cat £850+.

161 A1,000

FIJI - 1878-99 'VR' (Altered 'CR') Dies SeriesF PERF 12½: 1d ultramarine SG 35a block of 10 (2x5), Sunburst cancels and manuscript registration

line (cleaned-off), oval 'REGISTERED/2JY81/LONDON' arrival datestamp in red, Cat £140++. A rare & desirable multiple.

162 A/B

100

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 28Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1878-99 'VR' (Altered 'CR') Dies Series (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 163

W*/** PERF 10: 1d dull blue (no gum), 2d blue-green (large-part o.g.) & 6d bright rose (no gum) SG 39 40a & 45a plus Perf 11x10 4d mauve SG 44 (full unmounted o.g.), each with italicised 'Specimen' handstamp. Rare. Believed to be Ex Rhodesian Post Office Archives: see also Lots 168 175 & 178. [The 4d is illustrated by Alford at page 65]

163 A/A-

500

Lot 164

*/** PERF 10x12½: 2d green SG 47 marginal block of 9 from the base of the upper pane with three "wing-margin" units at the base, the second & third columns with vertical Papermaker's Watermark '...H SAUN...', variable centring, large-part o.g. with the central row being unmounted, Cat £1440++. A remarkable and rare block. [Four different papermakers' watermarks are recorded for this series: see note in Gibbons above SG 35]

164 A

850

Lot 165

** PERF 11: 6d dull rose Printed on Both Sides SG 57a, full unmounted o.g. (but lightly hinged on the face!), Cat £2000. [See Alford at page 67]

165 A750

Lot 166

G PERF 11: 6d dull rose Printed on Both Sides SG 57a, untidy cds cancel, Cat £1600. Despite the relative catalogue values, used examples are scarcer than mint. [Superior to Don Welsh's example that sold for $977]

166 A

750

** PERF 11x11¾: 4d bright purple SG 58a block of 10 (5x2) from the top of the right-hand pane with margins on three sides, unmounted, Cat £120++ (as mounted singles). Beautiful!

167 A C1200


FIJI - 1881-1899 Queen Victoria Issues

Lot 168

W Perf 10 1/- deep brown SG 64a and 5/- dull red & black SG 69 (defective) each with italicised 'Specimen' handstamp, no gum. Rare. Believed to be Ex Rhodesian Post Office Archives: see also Lots 163 175 & 178. [Illustrated by Alford at pages 77 & 82, and by Duberal at pages 16 & 23]

168 A/D

200

Lot 169

C ONE SHILLING: Perf 11¾x11 1/- brown SG 68 & Pirogue Perf 11x10 5d ultramarine SG 85 with GPO cds of 3/MAR/97 on philatelic cover to Switzerland. This may well be a First Day Cover for the 1/-, for which Gibbons note the ERD as "-/3/1897".

169 A

250

Lot 170

* FIVE SHILLINGS: 5/- dull red & black with Red Arc above 'FIJI' SG 69a, well centred, a couple of tiny blemishes, large-part o.g., £550. [This and the next lot are the only examples we have knowingly offered]

170 A- A2

400

Lot 171

** FIVE SHILLINGS: 5/- dull red & black SG 69 upper-left corner block of 8 (4x2), the fourth unit with the recently listed Red Arc above 'FIJI' SG 69a, well centred, full unmounted o.g., Cat £1000++ (as mounted singles). Superb! An exceptional positional block, and the equal largest recorded unused multiple of the 5/-. [Alford at page 82 records only two mint blocks of 8: it is unclear if this block is one of them]

This major variety was discovered by David Gillis' in early-2010. Both this & Lot 170 include a copy of his article from "Pacifica" (July 2010), in which he illustrates five examples of the variety (but none mint).

171 A+ B1

1,000


FIJI - 1891-1893 Surcharges

Ex Lot 172

W* '2½d.' on 2d both spacings, '½d.' on 1d both spacings, '5d' on 4d both shades, and 'FIVE/PENCE' on 6d both spacings, a few minor blemishes, mostly with part- to large-part o.g., Cat £535. (8)

172 A/B250

Lot 173

*/** 1891 TWOPENCE HALFPENNY: '2½d.' on 2d green SG 70 lower-left corner block of 9 unperforated at the base, the second and fifth units both with Wider Fraction SG 71, large-part o.g. with at least three units being unmounted, Cat £610++ (as mounted singles). A very fine positional piece. [It seems quite bizarre that Gibbons list a spacing variety that occurs on only 4 positions on an overprinting forme of 50 as a whole catalogue number. It used to be an 'a' number & we believe it should revert to that status]

173 A

500

Ex Lot 174

* 1892 HALFPENNY: '½d.' on 1d dull blue SG 72 with Extra Pearl below 'F' of 'FIJI' & Damaged Lower-Left Corner, and the same double-variety on the first unit of a block of 4 in ultramarine SG 72a, characteristic rough perfs, large-part o.g., Cat £275+ (as mounted singles, plus a premium for the varieties). (5)

174 A

175

Lot 175

* 1892-93 FIVE PENCE: '5d' on 6d dull purple SG 73a with italicised 'Specimen' handstamp, large-part o.g. Rare. Believed to be Ex Rhodesian Post Office Archives: see also Lots 163 168 & 178.

175 A C1150

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 31Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1891-1893 Surcharges (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 176

*/** 1892-93 FIVE PENCE: 2mm Setting 'FIVE/PENCE' on 6d bright rose SG 74a block of 10 (2x5) from the left of the pane unperforated at left, the lower three rows with Extra Frameline in the Margin, minor creasing affects the top two rows, large-part o.g. with six units being unmounted, Cat £600+ (as mounted singles). A rare multiple & the equal largest recorded. [Alford at page 85 records one block of 10, which may be this block]

176 A/B

400

FIJI - 1891-1902 New Values & Designs

Ex Lot 177

** Selection of multiples comprising Perf 10 1d black block of 20 (5x4), Perf 11 2d dull green & 2d emerald (a gorgeous shade) blocks of 6 (3x2), Perf 11¾ ½d two blocks of 25 (both with part of the 'NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT' Watermark) & 1d rosy mauve block of 25 (5x5), Perf 11x11¾ ½d block of 15 (5x3), & Perf 11¾x11 ½d block of 25 (5x5), a couple of very minor blemishes, all with full unmounted o.g., Cat £1100++ (as mounted singles). A very scarce group. (6 blocks)

177 A/A-

500

Lot 178

**W PERF 10: ½d slate-grey (full unmounted o.g.) & 2½d chocolate (no gum) SG 76 & 79 both with italicised 'Specimen' handstamp. Rare. Believed to be Ex Rhodesian Post Office Archives: see also Lots 163 168 & 175.

178 A/A-

250

Lot 179

** PERF 10: 1d black SG 77 upper-right corner block of 25 (5x5), a couple of very minor blemishes, full unmounted o.g., Cat £600++ (as mounted singles).

179 A/A-250

** PERF 11¾: ½d greenish slate SG 95 & 1d rosy mauve SG 97 (brown gum) complete sheets of 100, a few mostly minor blemishes, full unmounted o.g., Cat £1275++ (as mounted singles). (2 sheets)

180 A/B400

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 32Oct 12, 2012FIJI - 1891-1902 New Values & Designs (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 181

G PERF 11x11¾: 1d black SG 100, weak corner perf at upper-right, Sunburst cancel, Cat £1500. Rare. RPSofV Certificate (2012). [Colonel Harrie Evans' example - small closed tear & minor creasing - sold for $2310. Lester Meis's example - toning, Ex Robertson - sold for $US1035. They are the only two examples recorded by Alford at page 88. However, Don Welsh had two other examples, that sold for $1344 (26/11/2005) & $1176 (2/9/2006): see the next lot]

181 A- B1

1,000

Lot 182

F PERF 11x11¾: 1d black SG 100, exceptional centring, one pulled perf at the base, Suva cds of 'MAY/96', Cat £1500. Rare. Ex Don Welsh: acquired for $1207 at our auction of 2/9/2006. RPSofV Certificate (2012).

182 A- A2

1,000

Lot 183

V PERF 11x11¾: 2½d orange-brown Printed Double block of 4, well centred, 'SUVA/15/DEC/00' CTO cancels, Cat £600+. Unissued: see Gibbons' note after SG 103d. [Don Welsh's similar block sold for $437]

183 A B1

400

FIJI - King Edward VII Issues

Ex Lot 184

P 1902 Die Proofs of the ½d to £1 'FIJI/[denomination]' only on glazed card each reduced to stamp-size & affixed to two pieces of thick paper (53x54mm & 168x60mm, the latter piece with a couple of repaired tears that have not damaged the proofs), a few with minor burnishing marks, various endorsements including "Oct 10th 1902" in red & "60 leads each". Unique. Ex the De La Rue Day Book. (2 items)

184 A

2,500

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 33Oct 12, 2012FIJI - King Edward VII Issues (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 185

* 1903 Crown/A ½d to £1 stone & ultramarine SG 104-114, lightly mounted, Cat £425. (11)185 A B1 300

Ex Lot 186

*/** 1903 Crown/A ½d to £1 stone & ultramarine SG 104-114 blocks of 4, the first 5d unit has the little-known "Spaven Flaw" (Thickened Frame to Right of Crown), 6d has tonespots, the 1d (2 units) & the £1 are lightly mounted, all others are unmounted, Cat £1700++ (as mounted singles). Rare multiples. (11 blocks)

186 A

1,500

Ex Lot 187

* 1903 Crown/A ½d to £1 stone & ultramarine SG 104-114 overprinted 'SPECIMEN', Cat £300. (11)187 A B1 240

Ex Lot 188

**/* 1903 Crown/A ½d to £1 stone & ultramarine SG 104-114 overprinted 'SPECIMEN', most - including the 5/- & £1 - are unmounted, Cat £300+ (mounted). (11)

188 A B1300

Ex Lot 189

*/** 1903 Crown/A ½d to 5/- SG 104-113 vertical pairs overprinted 'SPECIMEN', all the lower units are unmounted. Very scarce multiples. (10 pairs)

189 A B1200


Lot 190

* 1903 Crown/A 5d SG 110 overprinted 'SPECIMEN' & with 'ULTRAMAR' h/s in violet. Ex Angolan Post Office Archives.

190 A B1100

Ex Lot 191

*/**O 1903 Crown/A the little-known "Spaven Flaw" (Thickened Frame to Right of Crown) selection comprising 1903 2d in complete pane of 60 & 6d in block of 20 both with Plate Number '1' & both unmounted, 2½d 4d (both mint) & 1/- (used) singles, and New Colours 1d x2 in used pairs. [With a copy of John Ray's article in "Pacifica" (Jan 2011)] (7 items)

191 A

250

Lot 192

F 1903 Crown/A ½d to 1/- SG 104-112, plus earlier Perf 11¾x11 ½d greenish slate SG 103b & 2d dull green SG 103d x2 plus Perf 11¾ 1d rosy mauve SG 97, Altered Dies Perf 11x11¾ 2½d SG 103a & 4d SG 58a x2 tied to local cover by Levuka cds of 3/FEB/03, flap removed & the cover a little aged, Cat £330 as used singles. [Gibbons states that the KEVII stamps were issued 1/2/1903. This cover of two days later - addressed to Gerald Patterson's grandmother - is noted as a First Day Cover. However, the 3rd was a Tuesday & the 1st a Sunday. It seems likely that the day of issue was probably the Monday, 2/2/1903]

192 A/A-

150

Ex Lot 193

*/** 1904-09 Chalk-Surfaced Paper ½d 1d (mounted) & 1/- (a few tiny tonespots) SG 115-7 blocks of 4, unmounted, Cat £260++ (mounted). (3 blocks)

193 A/B150


Ex Lot 194

*/** 1906-12 New Colours ½d to £1 purple & black/red SG 118-124 blocks of 4, the 1d & two 5/- units are lightly mounted, all others are unmounted but there is a little natural gum disturbance on a few, Cat £1500++ (mounted). (7 blocks)

194 A B1

1,250

FIJI - King George V Issues

Ex Lot 195

P 1912 Die Proofs of the ¼d (unusual vertical format) to £1 'FIJI/[denomination]' - missing only the 2d 2½d & 6d - each on glazed card (92x61mm), unusually with no handstamps or endorsements, very fine to superb! Mostly Ex Sir Lacon Threlford. [It has been mooted that these proofs relate to the KEVII Series. However, the inclusion of ¼d & 2/6d denominations - neither of which was used in the KEVII period - strongly suggests they are KGV items] (11)

195 A/A+

2,000

Ex Lot 196

* 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA ¼d to £1 Die I SG 125-137 plus 4d Die II SG 131d all overprinted 'SPECIMEN', variable centring, lightly mounted, Cat £515. (14)

196 A350

Ex Lot 197

* 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA ¼d to £1 Die I (lower-left corner example) SG 125-137 plus 4d Die II SG 131d each overprinted 'SPECIMEN', Cat £515. (14)

197 A B1350

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 36Oct 12, 2012FIJI - King George V Issues (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 198

* 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA ½d with the Watermark Inverted & Reversed SG 126y, minor bend, Cat £160. Underrated. [The Gibbons price has increased by £10 each year since 2005, as if someone were trying to flush examples out of hiding!]

198 A- B1

200

Lot 199

* 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA ½d blue-green with the Watermark Inverted & Reversed SG 126y, Cat £160.

199 A B1200

Lot 200

*O 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA 3d purple/yellow with the Watermark Sideways SG 130a, very lightly mounted, and a used example with significant rubbing (to erase blue-pencil registration lines), Cat £850.

200 A/C

500

Lot 201

*O 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA a similar duo, the used example with less pronounced rubbing, Cat £850.201 A/B 600

Lot 202

** 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA 3d purple/yellow with the Watermark Sideways SG 130a, well centred, unmounted, Cat £350+ (mounted). Superb! [Sir Gawaine Baillie's unmounted example sold for £322]

202 A+ B1500


Lot 203

* 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA 4d black & red/pale yellow with the Watermark Inverted SG 131cw, very lightly mounted, Cat £400. [Lester Meis's example sold for $US604]

203 A C1400

Lot 204

** 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA 4d black & red/pale yellow with the Watermark Inverted SG 131cw, unmounted, Cat £400+ (mounted). Superb!

204 A+ C1600

Lot 205

** 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA £1 purple & black/red Die II SG 137a, well centred, unmounted, Cat £250+ (mounted).

205 A B1250

Lot 206

** 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA £1 purple & black/red Die II SG 137a upper-left corner pair with Plate Number '13', well centred, unmounted, Cat £250++ (as mounted singles). Rare & superb! [Lester Meis's Plate '13' single - hinged in the margin only - sold for $US632]

206 A+ B1

800

Lot 207

** 1912-23 Multiple Crown/CA £1 purple & black/red Die II SG 137a lower-right corner block of 4 with Plate Number '10', the right-hand units show clear Doubling of the Right-Hand Framelines, '& REVENUE' and Scrollwork at Lower-Right, in addition the Plate Number also shows clear Doubling, unmounted, Cat £500++ (as mounted singles). Rare & superb!

207 A+ B1

2,000


Ex Lot 208

* 1915-19 'WAR STAMP' Overprints ½d green & 1d carmine SG 138 & 139 handstamped 'SPECIMEN', one set with yellowed gum, one set with white gum, Cat £260. (4)

208 A/A-150

Lot 209

* 1915-19 'WAR STAMP' Overprints ½d blue-green (very fine) & 1d scarlet (tropicalised gum & thinned perf tip) both with the Overprint Inverted SG 138bc & 139ac, well centred, lightly mounted, Cat £1300. Separate BPA Certificates (1998). [Sir Gawaine Baillie's duo with minor blemishes sold for £1116. His very fine 1d - erroneously described as "carmine" - sold for £862]

209 A/B

750

Lot 210

* 1915-19 'WAR STAMP' Overprints ½d blue-green (tonespots) & 1d bright scarlet (marginal) both with the Overprint Inverted SG 138c & 139ac, very lightly mounted, Cat £1300. Separate BPA Certificates (1964) as the then SG 224b & 226b.

210 B/A

750

Lot 211

* 1915-19 'WAR STAMP' Overprints ½d blue-green with the Overprint Inverted SG 138c marginal pair from the left of the sheet, well centred, the faintest evidence of having been mounted, Cat £1200+. A rare & superb multiple! BPA Certificate (1948) as the then SG 224b. [Sir Gawaine Baillie's very fine single sold for £748]

211 A+ B1

1,000

Ex Lot 212

**F 1915-19 'WAR STAMP' Overprints ½d blue-green upper-left corner block of 36 with [R5/4, Bold 'TA' in 'TAX'] SG 138e, unmounted; and 1d deep rose with the same variety SG 139e in a used pair (cds clear of the variety), Cat £280++. (2 items)

212 A

200


Lot 213

** 1915-19 'WAR STAMP' Overprints 1d deep rose SG 139d with Strong 'WAR TAX' Offset on the Reverse SG 139d(var) corner block of 6 (3x2) from the upper-right of the left-hand pane, a couple of very minor blemishes, unmounted.

213 A/A-

400

Lot 214

P 1922 2d imperforate plate proof on Irish Watermark Paper marginal block of 4 from the upper-left of the right-hand pane, the left-hand pair with an ironed-out vertical crease, unusually without the blue-pencil lines with which most units on the sheet were defaced, very lightly mounted in the margin only otherwise unmounted.

214 A/(A)

400

Ex Lot 215

P 1922-29 Script die proofs of the 1½d & 2/- 'FIJI/[denomination]' each on glazed card (92x61mm), both endorsed "11.9.26" at lower-left & with 'AFTER/STRIKING' h/s at lower-right. Superb! (2)

215 A+300

Ex Lot 216

* 1922-29 Script ¼d to 5/- SG 228-241 overprinted 'SPECIMEN', very lightly mounted, Cat £325. Superb! (14)

216 A+ B1240


Ex Lot 217

* 1935 Silver Jubilee 1½d to 1/- SG 242-5 perf 'SPECIMEN', very lightly mounted, Cat £120. Superb! (4)

217 A+ B1100

FIJI - King George VI Issues

Ex Lot 218

*/** 1937 Coronation 1d to 3d SG 246-8 (very lightly mounted) & 1946 Victory 2½d & 3d SG 268-9 (unmounted) all perf 'SPECIMEN', Cat £210. (5)

218 A B1140

Ex Lot 219

**/* 1938-55 Pictorials selection on leaves including 1½d Die I imprint block of 12 (6 **), 5d "Blue Canes" block of 4, 6d Die I (2 **) & Die II Perf 13½ (**) Plate '1' blocks of 4, 6d violet-black Imprint/Plate '1' block of 12 (**), 5/- upper-left corner block of 9, etc, generally very fine, Cat £1000 approximately. [Illustrated above Lot 218] (9 items)

219 A

400

Ex Lot 220

**/*F 1938-55 Pictorials varieties comprising ½d Extra Frond in Plate 1 block of 6 & in used block of 4, 2d Die I Line before 'FIJI' used x2 & Line thru '2d' used x2, 2½d Extra Island Perf 13½ in Imprint/Plate '1' block of 12 (**) & on philatelic cover & Perf 12 used, and 3d Spur on Inside Frame of Medallion (*), Cat £1175. A very scarce lot. (10 items)

220 A

600

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 41Oct 12, 2012FIJI - King George VI Issues (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 221

*O 1938-55 Pictorials annotated varieties including ½d Extra Palm Frond, 2d Map with Line thru Value x2 & 3d Spur on Medallion all used, various others including a few in imprint or plate number strips/blocks, some minor tropicalisation. Very scarce group. (23 items)

221 A/B

750

Ex Lot 222

* 1938-55 Pictorials ½d to 5/- SG 249-266 complete perf 'SPECIMEN', very lightly mounted, Cat £650. An unusually fine set with none of the short perfs that bedevil most of the Specimen sets. [Sir Gawaine Baillie's fine set sold for £402] (18)

222 A B1

750

Lot 223

P 1938-55 Pictorials 1½d Die II (Man in Canoe) imperforate plate proof in dull rose on gummed unwatermarked paper, margins good to large, minor crease at upper-left & a little aged. Possibly unique. Ex De La Rue Archives: stated to be a "working proof". [Lester Meis's imperf but watermarked plate proofs for four values sold for an average of $US1179 each]

223 B

750

Lot 224

*/** 1946 Victory 2½d green & 3d blue SG 268-9 perf 'SPECIMEN' vertical strips of 3, the upper units mounted otherwise unmounted, Cat £300+ (for singles). Rare multiples.

224 A B1500

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 42Oct 12, 2012FIJI - King George VI Issues (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 225

B BOOKLETS: 1939-40 3/- black/greenish buff with Advertising Pages SG SB 3a, two examples stapled at left or stapled at right, each with rusted staples (as always) & some toning within (as usual), adhesive tape remnants on the spines & ink notations within, Cat £2000+. Acceptable spacefillers. (2)

225 C

Offer

FIJI - Postage Dues

Ex Lot 226

*/**O 1917-40 Issues comprising Wide Setting used 2d x5 & 3d, Narrow Setting 1d used x3, 1918 DLR mint set & blocks of 4 (2d x2 units & 4d x3 units with Star Stop below 'd'), used set plus extra 1d x2 2d & 3d x2, and 1940 New Colours mint set & 1/6d block of 4 (**), generally fine to very fine, Cat £1050+. (59)

226

300

Lot 227

G 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper ½d black SG D1, exceptional centring, bold Sunburst cancel, Cat £475. The finest example we have seen of this very scarce stamp, of which only 372 were issued. [Gibbons' note after SG D5 states that the sheet of 96 (8x12) contained 12 rows comprising 1d+1d+1d+½d+4d+3d+3d+3d, and that only 31 sheets were issued. The 2d was printed separately in a sheet of 84 (7x12)]

227 A A1

400

Lot 228

C 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper ½d black SG D1 (excellent centring) & Narrow Setting 1d SG D5b tied to local Monckton cover by Sunburst, ¼d (surface fault) only tied by GPO cds of 14/JAN/1918, boxed 'T ("1½")' h/s, the flap removed, Cat £615 x6+ on cover.

228 A-

1,000

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 43Oct 12, 2012FIJI - Postage Dues (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 229

G/F 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper 1d 3d & 4d SG D2 4 & 5 vertical pairs, the 1d with part-Papermaker's Watermark, the 4d with characteristic rough perfs & unperforated at the top, various cds, Cat £1600+ (as singles). Rare multiples, especially the 4d - of which only 372 were issued - and for which horizontal pairs cannot exist.

229 A

1,500

Lot 230

W 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper 2d & 3d SG D3 & 4, the 3d unperforated at right, both with minor stains on the reverse, unused with no gum as issued, Cat £750.

230 B/A-350

Lot 231

C 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper 2d SG D3 (unperforated at left) & 3d SG D4 vertical pair (unperforated at right, small fault at upper-right) tied to local stampless cover by Sunburst, GPO cds of 4/JUN/1918, boxed 'T ("8")' h/s, light horizontal fold clear of the stamps, Cat £320+ x6+ on cover. A rare commercial cover, and the highest franking we have seen with the early Postage Dues. Not recorded by Alford: his highest franking is a single 4d on two different covers]

231 B

1,250

Lot 232

W 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper 3d black SG D4, unused with no gum as issued, Cat £450.232 A C1 300


Lot 233

G 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper 3d black SG D4 horizontal upper-right corner pair unperforated at the edges of the sheet, neat Sunburst cancel, Cat £240+ (as singles). A scarce multiple & desirable positional piece.

233 A

200

Lot 234

F 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper 3d black SG D4 vertical strip of 3 from the top of the sheet unperforated at the top, neat Sunburst cancels, Cat £360+ (as singles). Multiples larger than pairs of any value are rare. [The face value of 9d exceeds the highest franking of early Postage Dues we have recorded: see Lot 231]

234 A

400

Lot 235

F 1917 Thick Yellowish Laid Paper 4d black SG D5 with part of the Papermaker's Watermark, light Sunburst cancel, Cat £475. Very scarce: only 372 were issued. [This is a more important stamp than the ½d because there was no 4d in the Second Issue. Consequently, there is heightened demand for the 4d to complete even a simplified set]

235 A B1

400

Lot 236

W 1917-18 Second Issue with Narrower Setting ½d black SG D5a, unused with no gum as issued, Cat £475.

236 A B1300


Lot 237

W 1917-18 Second Issue with Narrower Setting ½d black SG D5a with Fraction Bar Closer to 'F' of 'FIJI', characteristic rough perfs, unused with no gum as issued, Cat £475+. [On all other examples we have inspected, the fraction bar ends 1mm above the 'F'. On this stamp, the space is only ½mm]

237 A C2

300

Lot 238

F 1917-18 Second Issue with Narrower Setting ½d black SG D5a horizontal pair, light Sunburst cancels, Cat £950+. Rare multiple.

238 A C2750

Lot 239

C 1917-18 Second Issue with Narrower Setting ½d black SG D5a tied by Sunburst to 1917 cover from Australia to Norfolk Island & redirected to Suva (b/s), mss "T ½d" obscured by the Postage Due, minor blemishes, Cat £300 x6+ on cover. Another rare commercial cover. [The rate was initially correctly paid at the Australian & Territories printed matter rate of ½d per 2oz. However, the rate to other British possessions was 1d. The redirection attracted the deficiency only & no penalty. See Alford at p126]

239 A-

1,000

Lot 240

C 1917-18 Second Issue with Narrower Setting ½d & 1d SG D5a & 5b - both marginal examples - tied by Sunbursts to local Monckton cover franked ¼d only tied by GPO cds of 11/MAR/18, boxed 'T ("1½")' h/s obscured by the Postage Dues, minor blemishes, Cat £440 x6+ on cover. [In the Second Issue, the sheets were perforated on all outer sides]

240 A-

1,000


Lot 241

W 1917-18 Second Issue with Narrower Setting 1d black SG D5b, excellent centring, unused with no gum as issued, Cat £325.

241 A A1200

Lot 242

P 1918 De La Rue master die proof of the frame design with uncleared value tablet in black on glazed card (92x61mm), unusually with no endorsement or handstamp. Ex De La Rue Archives. [Illustrated by Alford at p127]

242 A+

600

Lot 243

P 1918 De La Rue master die proof of the frame design with cleared value tablet in black on glazed card (92x61mm), unusually with no endorsement or handstamp. Superb! Ex De La Rue Archives & Sir Lacon Threlford. [Illustrated by Alford at page 127]

243 A+

600

Ex Lot 244

* 1918 De La Rue ½d to 4d SG D6-10 overprinted 'SPECIMEN' in red, and 1940 1d to 1/6d SG D11-19 perf 'SPECIMEN', lightly mounted, Cat £400. (13)

244 A B1250

Ex Lot 245

*F 1918 De La Rue ½d (mint), 2d & 4d x2 each with unlisted Star Stop below 'd', Cat £65+. [We expect that this variety affects the same positions on all the value plates, and suggest that it is appropriate to be a listed variety] (4)

245 A/A-

Offer


Lot 246

C 1940 New Colours & Denominations 1d green SG D11 tied to 1941 commercial cover from Suva with 2d Map only by 'NAUSORI/8 FEB 41/FIJI' cds, rubber 'T/10' h/s in violet, Cat £70 x15+. [From 1/1/1941, a War Tax of ½d per article was payable. Don Welsh's similarly addressed cover from the same correspondence but with Postage Due 2d sold for $1380 (2006)]

246 A

1,000

Lot 247

C 1940 New Colours & Denominations 2d green SG D12 tied to apparently commercial cover from Hawaii with US 3c only by 'SUVA/3SEP40/FIJI' cds, American rubber 'T20' h/s in purple, minor blemishes, Cat £70 x15+.

247 A-

750

FIJI - "Cinderellas"

Lot 248

C 1892 Cake Fair 6d grey-blue printed on an envelope with elaborate watermark, vertical fold well clear of the "stamp", unused & rare thus. Ex Sir Lacon Threlford. [Superior to Alan Tippett's unused envelope that sold for $575, or more than double the price for his red/yellow label]

248 B

1,000

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 48Oct 12, 2012FIJI - "Cinderellas" (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 249

C 1892 Cake Fair 6d grey-blue on an envelope with Surcharges '½d.' on 1d blue pair affixed & three strikes of the 'SUVA/28JU/1892/ FIJI' cds, to "Hugh Worthington Esq/HMS Curacoa/Suva Harbour", minor blemishes. [Alford at pages 100-101 records 10 used envelopes (several with significant faults). This is the earliest of them, the only one from the first year of use, & perhaps the only "commercial" example. Colonel Harrie Evans' 1893 example & Don Welsh's 1894 example sold for $3960 & $4370 (14/4/2005) respectively]

Research by Gerald Patterson revealed that the earliest Church of England Cake Fair was held on 3/12/1887. Evidence suggests it was an annual event until at least 1894. Gerald also confirmed that HMS "Curacoa" was at Suva on 28/6/1892, and that Hugh Worthington performed at a fundraising concert organised by Postmaster Leslie Walker, in whose distinctive hand this item is addressed, perhaps forwarding the concert details or tickets.

249 B

4,000

Lot 250

O 1892 Cake Fair large piece from 6d 'FIJI CAKE FAIR' Envelope with 1892-93 Perf 11x10 2d pale green SG 83 tied by 'GPO SUVA/19/JUN/94' cds, addressed to Maud Walker, creased through the adhesive. Rare. [A complete envelope with 2d used on the same date, sold for $A2310 at the Macray Watson auction of 29/7/1997. Rodger at page 182 recorded only two complete envelopes, dated 30/AUG/93 and 19/JUN/94]

250

500

Lot 251

P 1892 Cake Fair 6d scarlet/orange imperforate label with large margins, a couple of very minor blemishes on the reverse, no gum. Believed to be a proof. [Far superior to the similar example on yellow paper - cut-into at the right - that sold for $1155 at the Macray Watson auction of 29/7/1997]

251 A-

1,250


Lot 252

P 1892 Cake Fair 6d scarlet/bright yellow label, roughly perforated on all sides, ironed-out crease at lower-left, no gum. [Far superior to the similar example - cut-into at the base - that sold for $1430 at the Macray Watson auction of 29/7/1997]

252 (A)

1,000

Lot 253

P 1892 Cake Fair 6d black/bright blue label, roughly perforated except at right where unperforated, ironed-out horizontal crease, no gum. The only example we have seen of this colour combination, although an example is recorded by Alford at page 100. The only example we have seen of a chocolate/emerald label - creased & with a central ink blob - sold for $1650 at the Macray Watson auction of 29/7/1997]

253 (A)

1,000

Lot 254

D 1940s (?) imperforate 'FIJI/[coat of arms]/POST OFFICE' label x2, one unused & very fine, the other with minor crease & Levuka cds. Status? [These appear to be sealing "wafers" but neither has been gummed]

254 A/A-

Offer

Ex Lot 255

*C 1941 Fiji Bomber Fund pair from the top of the sheetlet of 6 (soiled, part o.g.), and examples on a philatelic FDC with Suva cds of 15FEB41 & on a commercial cover to New Zealand. (3 items)

255500


Lot 256

C 1941 Fiji Bomber Fund label & selvedge from the sheetlet tied on local cover endorsed "First Day Cover" with Suva cds of 15FEB41.

256 A250

FIJI - Revenues

Ex Lot 257

*O 1883 Stamp Duty 1d x10, 3d, 6d x3, 1/- x3, 2/-, 3/-, 4/-, 5/- x2 (one mint), 10/- & £1 x2, various perfs & shades, condition variable. (25)

257200

Ex Lot 258

O 1883 Stamp Duty 1d x4 (one badly damaged on a contrived cover), 3d x3 (one tied to piece, one with NSW Barred Numeral '1426'!), 6d & 1/- all apparently postally used. Status? (8 + cover)

258 A/BOffer

FIJI - Postal History

Ex Lot 259

DC Extensive annotated collection of meter marks with many on cover & many with advertising slogans. Noted 1930 proof strikes of M1 (5) & N1 (3) machines, 1930s usages for Morris Hedstrom (4) & Michelmore Chemist, then an array of later types including a few from Lami, Lautoka, Nadi & Sigatoka. Ex Gordon Rodger. (100+ items)

259

200

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 51Oct 12, 2012FIJI - Postal History (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

C/CL Large carton crammed with a mostly QEII & Republic period quantity of commercial mail with a wide array of Definitives to 5/- Gold, 5/- Pigeon & $2 Bird and Commemoratives including higher values, some unusual rates including Second Class Airmail, 1c local delivery etc, many registered & lots of postmark interest, a few taxed & missent items noted. A goldmine for the "usage" collector. Mostly Patterson Family mail, including numerous airmails to Gerald in the UK. (1000+)

260

200

Ex Lot 261

C Packet of Post Office forms etc including Parcel Post Customs Declaration x3 (one an unused 1944 form printed on an old map), OHMS resealing labels on blue yellow or gold paper, telegrams (one with 'TELEGRAPH OFFICE/ LAUTOKA FIJI' cds) & telegram envelopes etc, mostly used. (20 items)

261 A/B

Offer

Ex Lot 262

C/CO Useful "scraps". Have a look. (60+ items)262 Offer

C/CL Box of mostly post-WWII official mail with an array of imprints, "Franks" etc, noted a registered 'TELEGRAM' envelope (most unusual), lots of duplication but an ideal basis for a new "budget" collection, mostly to members of the Patterson Family. (100+)

263

Offer

Ex Lot 264

C/CL Shoebox of philatelic covers with FDCs, shipboard covers, airmails including 1930 pilot-signed x3 & "Adi Lagi" message printed in red (front only), Oct 1939 Fiji-Tonga & Tonga-Fiji per "Aotearoa", 16/3/1941 Tonga-Fiji (Bryan Jones says less than 25 have survived), 1941 Pan Am x18, 1945 "Coriolanus" pilot-signed x2, etc, generally fine to very fine. (150 approx)

264

500


Ex Lot 265

C/CL Shoebox of covers with some better material including 1896 DLO 'RETURNED LETTER' Envelope, unusual destinations, bundles of official covers & meter cancel covers, some scarce frankings & useful postmarks, condition variable. (200+)

265

400T

Lot 266

C 1848 missionary's lengthy entire letter headed "Ono Feejee June 17 1848" & signed "David Hazlewood", to his brother in Suffolk, British 'SHIP-LETTER' h/s, London transit b/s of 13AU13/1849 & 'BURY-ST-EDMUNDS' arrival b/s in blue across the flap, rated "8" for an incoming shipletter, rather decrepit & amateurishly "repaired" with glassine strips. [Illustrated by Alford at page 2. He records only six pre-1850 covers from Fiji, of which this is the latest. Ono is a small island in the Kadavu Group, south of Viti Levu. 14 months transit time from the Pacific Islands to England was not unusual in this period]

Rev David Hazlewood arrived in Fiji by early 1845 & was active there until 1853. He died in Maitland NSW in 1855. His publications include a Fijian/English Dictionary & a Fijian Grammar. In the letter, he states: "There are on all the islands together perhaps three hundred thousand inhabitants. Till within these last few years they were all heathen and savages, killing and eating one another...the enemies they killed they baked and ate, and then cut up their bones into large needles to sew the sails of their canoes with. They go almost naked, wearing only a bandage of a few inches around their loins. This is the case with men and women...Most of the chiefs have several wives and some of the principal chiefs have a score or two. When a chief dies some of his wives are strangled and buried with their husband...when any one is sick long, or old and infirm...they bury him alive [writer's emphasis]. These things I have witnessed with my own eyes...remember dear brother that England was once nearly as bad". See also Lot 668, under New Zealand]

266 C

1,000


Ex Lot 267

C/L 1861 unstamped cover to "Revd GH Nobbs/Norfolk Island" & endorsed "Favd by Smith Esqr", two rusty pinholes otherwise remarkably fine for a Nobbs cover, most of which were affected by damp &/or rats' droppings. An exceptional origin/destination item: acquired for $1322 at a Sydney auction in 2005. [With the 6pp letter headed "Mount Vernon/Ovalau/Apl 24th 1861" & signed "CBinner" who states "Colonel and Mrs Smythe...have been detained here for nearly 6 months...Col S was sent out by the British Government to inspect and report on Fiji with reference to the cessions now pending..."]

The writer was the wife of Revd John Binner, the training master at the Wesleyan Mission in Levuka. He was also a major trader. In 1858, one of his boats was taken by natives at Waea, who killed and ate the crew, one of whom was an American. A force aboard the US ship "Vandalia" attacked Waea, killing 20 natives & wounding a similar number, then burning their fort and town. (2 items)

267 B

1,500

Lot 268

CX 1872 (Dec 28) complete edition (two separated leaves) of the "Fiji Times" newspaper bearing 'Two/Cents' on 1d blue SG 13 (a couple of surface abrasions) tied by 'GPO/=LEVUKA-FIJI=' cds, the mailing wrapper with the address has been discarded, some foxing but still most presentable. A rare survivor: acquired for $2016 at our auction of 25/1/2003. [Interesting content, including postage rates as at 28/12/1872 including "Newspapers, out of Kingdom of Fiji 2 cents/for Kingdom of Fiji Free..." Also, "A delivery of town letters will be made...at a charge of 2 cents on letters not exceeding half an ounce". Illustrated by Alford at page 28]

268 C

1,500

Lot 269

C 1874 cover to London with rare franking of 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d SG 15 tied by an exceptional strike of the enormous undated oval 'JAMES LEVICK & [CO]/Merchants/LOMA LOMA/FIJI.' cachet, Sydney transit b/s of FE26/74 & London arrival b/s of MY4/74, repaired opening tear clear of the postmark & repaired upper-left corner. By far the finest & most complete strike of this marking we have seen: most examples are small-part strikes on single stamps. Ex Sir Lacon Threlford.

269 (B)

3,500


Lot 270

C 1874 flapless cover to London "Via San Francisco" with rare franking of 'Twelve/Cents' on 6d carmine-rose SG 15 (a couple of surface abrasions) & two strikes of 'GPO/MY12/1874/=LEVUKA-FIJI=' cds, unusual Foreign Branch arrival cds of 6JY/1874 on the face, repaired at upper-left where roughly opened. RPSofV Certificate (2012). [Mentioned by Alford at page 29]

270 B

1,500

Lot 271

C 1876 cover to Melbourne (b/s) with a very fine example of 1874 Gothic V.R. 'Twelve/Cents' on CR 6d rose SG 18 (Cat £200 x5+) tied by light sunburst cancel, 'GPO/AU30/1875/=LEVUKA-FIJI=' backstamp. Quite lovely. RPSofV Certificate (2011) states "has been professionally cleaned, and the stamp belongs to the cover".

271 A

3,500

Lot 272

C 1877 cover to Victoria with 'VR' Underprints Laid Paper 6d carmine-rose SG33a (small fault at top) tied by Sunburst cancel of 'LEVUKA' (cds at left), Melbourne arrival b/s, docketing at left, minor stain at the base.

272 A-

1,000


Ex Lot 273

C/CL 1880-1906 with pre-KEVII frankings including 1883 "Fiji Times" to Lower Rewa but with the stamp ripped-off, 1884 to GB with 2d strip of 4, 1887 part-cover with 1d x6 including a massive corner stamp, 1891 to Melbourne with 1d pair, 1891 to GB with '2½d. on 2d, 1892 bank cover with 'Four Pence' on 1d SG 41, 1893 to NZ with 'FIVE/PENCE' on 6d SG 75, 1897 'Ai Tukutuku Vakalotu' wrapper front, 1899 PPC of Suva Harbour to Germany, 1900 & 1901 long covers with frankings including QV 1/-, condition variable but many are fine to very fine. (31 items)

273

1,500

Lot 274

C 1881 cover to New Zealand "Per SS Southern Cross" with Altered Dies 2d green tied by a largely fine strike of the very rare undated "capsule" 'SUVA FIJI' handstamp, 'LEVUKA/AP17/1881=FIJI=' cds on the face, Auckland transit & Napier arrival b/s. The only recorded example of this marking on cover & the only date of use recorded by Proud: illustrated by Alford at page 69, where he states "Three other incomplete strikes of the handstamp are known". [Message below the flap states : "...I do not wish to miss this mail. Communication is so uncertain between this place [Suva] & Levuka". Two years later the capital - and GPO - was transferred to "this place"!]

274 A-

4,000

Lot 275

C 1882 commercial cover to Saxony with Altered Dies Perf 12½ 2d & 6d SG 37a & 38 tied by 'LEVUKA' cds, very fine strikes on face & reverse of the impressive 'DETAINED FOR ("2D")/ADDITIONAL POSTAGE' h/s, Perf 10x12½ 2d SG 47 (a deeper shade) added & tied by Sunburst cancel, London transit & superb 'KIRCHBERG i SACHSEN' arrival b/s, curious 3-line h/s of a Saxony educator in violet on the face, some soiling. A remarkable cover, illustrated by Alford at page 70. [The only example of this cachet noted by us. Proud at page 301 records only a 'DEFICIENT POSTAGE/FINE' h/s for Levuka, used 1887-93. Proud's 1888 cover to Samoa with Deficient Postage h/s of Suva sold for $3190 at the Macray Watson auction of 26/10/1999]

275 B

2,500


Lot 276

C 1884 cover to New Jersey "via Sydney" with scarce franking of Altered Dies 'Four Pence' 12½mm Overprint on 2d mauve SG 42 x2 tied by Suva cds, 'SAN FRANCISCO CAL/RECD' transit cds & 'US CHARGE/TO COLLECT 5 CENTS' h/s. Most attractive.

276 A-

750

Lot 277

C 1886 (c.) address panel fashioned from a piece of grey card (224x158mm) with a single small hole at each side where attached to a larger article, to GB "via San Francisco" with beautiful 3-colour franking of Altered Dies Perf 10 1d & 6d SG 39a & 45 - both enormous marginal stamps, the 1d from the left of the sheet & the 6d from the base of the pane & perforated at the base - & Perf 10x11¾ 2d SG 51 (issued 3/9/1886) tied by three fine "sunburst" cancels. A remarkably fine, attractive & significant item. [Alford records no parcel items from this period. This may be the earliest recorded parcel article from Fiji]

277 A

2,000

Lot 278

C 1890 commercial cover to France - an unusual destination from Fiji - with rare franking of Altered Dies Perf 10 'Four Pence' 14mm Overprint on 2d dull purple SG 43 (Cat £140 x8+ on cover) & 6d rose SG 48 tied by 'LEVUKA' cds, Suva transit & '...LES LYON/RHONE' arrival b/s, a little truncated on opening at right. A rare 10d rate cover.

278 B

750

Lot 279

CL 1891 Bank of New Zealand cover to Victoria "Per SS Birksgate" with Altered Dies 6d dull rose (an enormous corner example, unperforated at left), Melbourne arrival b/s, vertical fold.

279 B300


Lot 280

C 1893 Captain Herrold cover to Auckland (b/s) with scarce albeit philatelic 'FIVE/PENCE' on 6d 2mm Spacing SG 74 vertical pair (unperforated at left, the lower unit with Retaining Pin-Hole used to secure the sheet for overprinting, Cat £140 x5+ on cover) tied by 'LEVUKA/FIJI' cds, oval 'REGISTERED/LEVUKA FIJI' cachet (Proud #R1, recorded 1874-78 only) at lower-left, some spotting mainly on the reverse. Ex Gordon Rodger (2007): acquired for $1265. [Not listed by Alford]

280 B

850

Ex Lot 281

CL 1897 commercial linen-lined cover (reduced to 228x124mm) with Hedemann Evers & Co Levuka cachet on the flap, to the parent company in Germany "Via Vancouver" with remarkable solo franking of QV 5/- SG 69 (very fine) tied by Levuka cds, Suva (b/s), Liverpool & London transits & very fine Hamburg arrival b/s, two vertical folds well clear of the stamps, a bit soiled & with minor peripheral faults caused by the bulky contents. A highly significant cover, being the only commercial 5/- franking known to us.

Illustrated by Duberal at page 38. Duberal lists &/or illustrates 13 other 5/- covers, all of which are overtly philatelic creations. Alford at page 83 states "All covers seen must be philatelic, given the postal rates of the time". However, this cover passes the usual tests for a commercial usage: the sender was indeed a Levuka branch of a German company; it is reasonable to expect bulky documents to be sent between their offices; and the rate was correct for a letter weighing between 10½ & 11oz (2½d x22 = 4/7d + 4d registration + 1d late fee - see Proud at page 155 - = 60d or 5/-). In 1917, Hedemann Evers & Co was closed down for being an "enemy" business. The lot also includes a 1916 double-rate Hedemann Evers cover to Switzerland with KEVII 4d & 5d] (2 covers)

281 B

2,000

Lot 282

C 1898 usage of complete 'FIJI/PARCEL [coat of arms] POST/[For use for Parcels between Fiji and New South Wales]/FORM OF CUSTOMS DECLARATION.' form affixed to a parcel piece to England, GPO Suva cds & rare commercial franking of QV 1/- tied by bold Sunburst cancel, a bit soiled at the right; also the small associated 'FIJI/FOREIGN/AND/COLONIAL/PARCEL POST' label that had been removed from the parcel & affixed to the larger form by an earlier owner. A rare & desirable item. [Illustrated by Alford at page 79 & by Duberal at page 33. On 19/1/1897, the basic parcel rate to the UK was reduced to 1/- for the first pound (16oz) or part thereof. The packet of photographs weighed 9oz]

282 B

500


Lot 283

C 1898 cover to Victoria with Altered Dies Perf 11 6d dull rose SG 57 (Cat £60 x8+ on cover) tied by GPO cds, superb 'ALEXANDRA' arrival b/s, redirected to "Lorne", Melbourne b/s unusually after the redirection, minor blemishes. [The addressee, Rev HW Lane, was a leading philatelist. However, this may well have been a letter from a missionary. The rate of 2d + 4d registration - reduced from 5d in 1896 - is correct. See above Lot 282]

283 B

250

Lot 284

PS 1901 stampless OHMS 'RETURNED LETTER.' Envelope with 'Dead Letter Office, Fiji.' imprint at lower-left, to Suffolk with 'NEWMARKET' arrival b/s, minor blemishes. A rare & very early DLO item. [This is a good example of Postal Stationery that is excluded from the torturous FIP definition, because it doesn't bear an imprinted value]

284 B

500

Lot 285

F 1903 commercial double-rate cover to France originating at an outlying village or island with scarce franking of KEVII ½d 2d 2½d & 4d cancelled with ink lines, overstruck at Levuka where light boxed registration cachet applied, minor blemishes. [The rate was 2½d x2 + 4d registration = 9d]

285 B

150

Ex Lot 286

C 1904-11 covers with KEVII frankings including 1904 to South Africa with huge '1D' h/s for redirection fee, 1906 to German Samoa with 'APIA' b/s, 1907 double-rate to USA, 1909 Indian indentured labourer's registered cover to India with numerous b/s (opened-out for display), six Fijian PPCs, etc, condition variable. (15 items)

286

250


Lot 287

C 1906 stampless native cover endorsed "OHMS" but also with mss "T2d" in blue, superb strike of the brass straight-line 'LAKEBA' h/s in bluish-black, 'GPO SUVA/15/MAY/06/FIJI' arrival cds on the face, repaired tear at upper-left & minor spotting. A very early straight-line cover that is greatly enhanced by the official usage: the address translates as "The Government Minister, Native Lands Department, Suva". Ex Gordon Rodger (2007): acquired for $3335. [The brass straight-line cancels were issued to country post offices from 1905. Most are very elusive on commercial covers, and very few are recorded on KEVII period commercial covers]

287 B

2,500

Lot 288

C 1907 cover with printed Imperial Eagle over embossed 'KAISERLICH DEUTSCHES/KONSULAT.' to the Governor of Samoa with KEVII ½d & 1d x2 tied by 'LEVUKA' cds, light 'APIA' arrival b/s, minor defects.

288 B

150T

Ex Lot 289

C/CL 1913-36 bundle with KGV frankings including official & registered mail, destinations including Philippines, Samoa & Kenya, two 1914 PPCs to Germany with London 'UNDELIVERABLE/L.P.S.' h/s, very early M2 meter cover, illustrated cover for Davuilevu Boys' School x2, a few useful postmarks, War Stamp 1d pair with Plate '6' & Sheet Number, machine cancels etc, condition variable. (60+)

289

500


Lot 290

CL 1914 stampless OHMS cover with superb strike of the brass straight-line 'WAIVOU' h/s, 'GPO SUVA/28/OCT/ 1914/FIJI' arrival cds on the face, boxed 'T ("2d")' & a largely fine strike of the rare boxed 'PLEASE RETURN ENVELOPE/TO GPO WITH/NAME OF SENDER' (Proud #I27, recorded 5/12/1912 only) both suggesting that this was an unauthorised use of an OHMS envelope, duly endorsed "From S Lalanaisu/Fijian - Waivou", overall soiling & with pinholes at upper-left from being affixed in a Post Office file. Ex Gordon Rodger (2007): acquired for $4140. [The later of only two recorded examples of the boxed handstamp]

290 C

2,500

Lot 291

C 1917 OHMS 'RETURNED LETTER./Dead Letter Office, Fiji.' Envelope with 'RETURNED' & 'Dead' obliterated, 'FIJI/OFFICIAL/C.P./PAID' h/s at lower-left & 'G.P.O./[crown]/FIJI' impressed in wax on the flap, to Yorkshire with late usage of KGV 5d tied by 'SUVA FIJI/REGISTERED' cds & registration cachet at upper-left, London transit & 'BURSTWICK' arrival b/s, minor soiling. A most unusual emergency usage.

291 B

400

Lot 292

CL 1923 solicitor's cover to NSW with 2d grey tied by a superb strike of the very scarce boxed 'VISIT THE FIJI COURT/ British/Empire Exhibition/1924' cachet (ERD) in violet, GPO cds of 8NO/1923 below, central fold & folded at left for display. [Recorded by Proud 9/11/1923 to 2/1/1924 only. A similarly cancelled Wilcox Smith cover - see Alford at page 180 - sold for $1792 at our auction of 24/1/2004]

292 B

1,250


Lot 293

CL 1923 fine but light strike of the 'VISIT THE FIJI COURT/British/Empire Exhibition/1924' cachet (LRD) in violet on OHMS cover to Tonga, GPO cds of 25MR/1924 & Lands Department cachet in rosine, 'NUKUALOFA' arrival b/s, roughly opened at right but folded to mask the defects. Illustrated by Alford at page 179. [Almost 3 months later than Proud's LRD]

293 B

1,000

Lot 294

C 1937 commercial shipboard cover to London with scarce combination franking of Fiji 2d grey & New Zealand 1d Kiwi x2 tied by 'HONOLULU' duplex, very fine "Paquebot' h/s (HDM #1685) in purple.

294 A-350

Ex Lot 295

C 1939 commercial Empire Air Mail Scheme 1) cover from 'BA' with 2d Map but overweight so Ba 'T ("40c")' h/s applied & GB Postage Due 2d pair tied by Leicester cds, opened a bit roughly; and 2) PPC of the "Mariposa" with 1½d Die I (No Man in Canoe); both to GB. [Mail went by surface to Australia, then by air. The EAMS rate commenced 20/7/1938 & was suspended 5/9/1939. Examples, especially of postcards, are very scarce. (2 items)

295 B

250

Ex Lot 296

C 1941-45 partly annotated WWII group with civil censor label 'X 113', 2-line 'Passed by Censor/ 5 ' & '.../ 9 ', oval 'PASSED BY/CENSOR/ 2 ' '.../ 8 ' & '.../ 9 ', others with US or Indian censors, airgraphs to & from GB, NZ Forces x3, US Forces x12, etc, generally fine. (32 items)

296 A/B

250


Lot 297

CL 1949 commercial airmail cover to England with rare franking of 5/- Silver Jubilee & 1/5d Arms, Nausori cds & registration cachet, Suva transit b/s. [The rate was 1/6d per ½oz x4 + 3d registration, so overpaid by 2d]

297 A

200

Lot 298

C 1956 cover to Samoa with the stamp washed-off leaving part-Suva cds only, minor peripheral damage from immersion in seawater, superb 'SOILED MAIL EX VASU' h/s in violet. Very scarce. Ex Oatcroft. [On 14/6/1956, the Burns Philp vessel "Vasu" was abandoned in Tongan waters & sank]

298 B

400

Lot 299

C COMMEMORATIVE COVERS: 1894 1½d(+1½d) Reply Card message-half with woodcut 'EDWARD [crown] SEVENTH/ CORONATION' Pirogue & Palmtree design printed in dull olive-green on the face, Suva cds of AU9/1902 (Coronation Day), pencil address & endorsed "from/Leslie Walker/Fiji", a little soiled. Rare: Don Welsh's example sold for $1344 (2005). [Walker was the Suva postmaster, who was also the initiator & designer of the Cake Fair labels & envelope: see Lots 248 to 253. Edward's Coronation was scheduled for 26/6/1902 but was postponed when the King fell ill. It was finally held, with little pomp, on 9/8/1902]

299 B

750

FIJI - Postmarks

Ex Lot 300

C 1922-31 registered Iremonger covers with brass straight-line cancels of 'DAVUTU', 'LODONI', 'MATUKU', 'RABI', 'UDU POINT' (overstruck with 'SAVU SAVU EAST' cds), and 'WAIMOTU'. Desirable lot. (6)

300 A/A-

1,000

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 63Oct 12, 2012FIJI - Postmarks (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 301

C 1922-31 registered mostly Iremonger covers with 'P.O. ELLINGTON', & similar types from 'BA' (commercial, with reg label), 'LOMA LOMA', 'NADROGA' (with reg label), 'NAILILILI', 'ROTUMA', 'SAVU SAVU EAST', 'SOMO SOMO' x2 (one with day/year/month), 'TAVUA', 'VIRIA' (not registered), 'VUNIDAWA', 'VUNISEA', 'WAIYEVO' etc. (17)

301 A/B

1,000

Ex Lot 302

C 1931 registered Iremonger covers all with cds without 'P.O.' from 'BUCA BAY' in red (also with brass straight-line handstamp), 'KOROVOU', 'KUBULAU' (very scarce), 'MAKOGAI' in violet, 'NAVUA' with reg label, 'SAVU SAVU EAST', 'SAVU SAVU WEST', 'VUNILAGI' etc. (15)

302 A/A-

750

Ex Lot 303

C 1940-51 mostly philatelic covers with unusual cancels including 'C.C. CAMP' (commercial last day usage, faults), undated 'KABARA' (light strike on commercial cover; rare), 'MARTINTAR' (long cover, folded), double-circle 'MATUKU', 2-line 'MATAKULA...', brass 'NATOVI' (mission cover) & 'SOLEVU', manuscript "Lodoni" & "Richmond" (commercial) etc, seven are registered. (13)

303 A/B

750

Ex Lot 304

C Box of KGV to QEII commercial & philatelic covers with an array of postmarks from throughout the islands, many scarce 1970s types noted, many registered. Must inspect! (76)

304 A/B500


Ex Lot 305

SD Selection of mostly 19th century types including 'GPO/FIJI' x2 part-strikes, manuscript "Suva" x4 (one on SG 22), "Bua" & "Nadi" (on SG 18), Lautoka "arrow" x7 strikes on 3 pieces, 'RESIDENT COMMISSIONER/[crown]/ ROTUMAH', 3-line 'GJ MARKS PO/.../NAVUA FIJI' almost complete, oval '___ JOHNSON/POST OFFICE' (with 'STEVENS &' removed), 'POST OFFICE/FIJI/NAVUA' x2, 'TPO/FIJI' x3 (one reconstructed) etc, and two pages of foreign cancels on Fiji stamps & Fiji cancels on foreign stamps, etc. (64 items)

305

500

Ex Lot 306

SDC Ship Mail group on leaves with straight-line 'KIA ORA' & 'TUI MOMA' on 1d pairs & 'MV YANAWAI' on philatelic cover, manuscript "SS Maori" on VR 2d, 1967 commercial cover endorsed "per MV Ratangi", three commercial KGV covers with Honolulu 'PAQUEBOT' (2) or 'PACKET BOAT' h/s, two 1944 commercial covers to Burns Philp at Suva with 2½d tied by manuscript "MV Yanawai/17 8 44" or rubber 'MV YANAWAI' h/s in violet, 1971 commercial cover to Levuka with Suva Paquebot machine cancel, etc. (23 items)

306

500

C/CL Large shoebox of QE (mostly) to modern commercial & philatelic covers from many post offices, quite a bit of duplication. (200 approx)

307Offer

C Large shoebox of mostly post-WWII covers, the majority philatelic 1950s to 1970s from offices throughout the islands, many registered, also noticed taxed & official mail, commercial airmail, instructional handstamps, slogan cancels etc. A good lot. (100s)

308

250

Lot 309

C Dawasamu: undated 'DAWASAMU/FIJI/TAILEVU' four superb strikes on 1931 registered Iremonger cover.

309 A- A+300

Lot 310

C Lodoni: brass straight-line 'LODONI' two superb strikes on 1931 registered Iremonger cover.310 A A1+ 200


Lot 311

C Nadi Airport: undated triple-circle rubber 'NADI AIRPORT/P.O. FIJI.' with separate date h/s of '16MAY1947', two superb strikes in violet on philatelic cover with typed endorsement re opening of the post office & signed by the postmaster. Rare; used for 18 days only. [Gordon Rodger's similar cover sold for $483 (2007)]

311 A A1+

400

Lot 312

C Vala Vala: manuscript "23 9 31/PO Vala Vala/[initials]" & hand-drawn registration cachet in red on Iremonger cover.

312 A+300

FIJI - Postal Stationery

Ex Lot 313

PS Unused group of Postal Cards x13 (including 1895 set, 1903 Surcharges, KEVII set optd 'SPECIMEN' & KGV 1½d of which only 3500 were issued); Letter Card 1½d & KGV 2d x2 (one with No Stop after 'PERFORATION', optd 'SPECIMEN'); Envelopes KGV 1d x3 different & 2d; Registration Envelopes KGV 2d+2d, QE 3d+9d & 2c+8c; Wrapper KGV ¼d optd 'SPECIMEN'; Aerogrammes x9 plus 'AEROGRAMME/FIJI' formular type; very fine to superb. (34 items)

313 A/A+

500

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 66Oct 12, 2012FIJI - Postal Stationery (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 314

PS Mostly commercially used group of Postal Cards x10 (including 1895 1½d to 'TURKS ISLANDS' redirected to GB, & 1½d message-half to Germany, also philatelic 1d+1d to Hungary & 1½d+1½d to Russia, & KGV 1½d of which only 3500 were issued); Letter Card 1½d with the margins intact; Envelopes KGV 1d endorsed "RMS Marama" & 2d to the Governor signed on the flap by the aviator "H Gatty" & QEII x3; Wrapper KGV ¼d to London; Aerogrammes x13 (a few are uprated & formular types x2) plus 1946 very early usage of formular type & 1963 OHMS 'COLONY OF FIJI' to the USA; generally fine to very fine but there are a few problems in the earlier issues. Scarce group. (32)

314

750

Ex Lot 315

PS The balance of the collection comprising Postal Cards x26; Letter Cards x4; Envelopes x11; Registration Envelopes KGV 2d+3d used & QE 3d+9d; Wrapper KGV ¼d used; and Aerogrammes x20; some better items including a few commercial usages, some minor duplication, condition rather mixed. (63 items)

315

500

Ex Lot 316

PS AEROGRAMMES: 1949 3d with Three-Lines Admonition printed within for Methodist Overseas Missions to the Solomons, & 1951 3d with Four-Lines Admonition from a Ba merchant to Melbourne. Rare commercial usages at the 3d rate that applied only to the Pacific region. (2)

316 A-/A

200


Lot 317

PS LETTER CARDS: 1895 1½d Pirogue very late usage in 1905 with KEVII ½d x2 & 3d affixed to pay the 2½d letter rate to Germany + 3d registration & tied by 'LEVUKA' cds, London transit b/s, German TPO 'Vom Auslande/über Bahnp 10' registration label & 'WUERZBURG' arrival b/s, opened in the European manner with the margins intact. A most unusual usage. [While this item may appear to be philatelic because there is no message within, paying the letter rate allowed for a letter to be enclosed. The Letter Cards were very unpopular. 20,000 were printed in 1895. However, three-quarters of them were officially destroyed in 1903]

317 A

500

Lot 318

PS REGISTRATION ENVELOPES: 1910 De La Rue Size G stampless formular 'REGISTERED LETTER' Envelope to Austria with 'FIJI/OFFICIAL/C.P./PAID' "Frank" h/s at lower-left & a desultory attempt to cross-out the compensation instructions on the reverse, late usage of KEVII 2½d & 3d tied by 'SUVA FIJI/31/JAN/1913/REGISTERED' cds & boxed registration cachet at right, small piece of the flap missing otherwise superb. An important rarity: this is stated to be the only used example recorded. [Illustrated above Lot 317]

Duberal at pages 43-49 records that formular envelopes in sizes F G & K were officially ordered & supplied. However, two errors were made: an impressed stamp should have been applied, and the 'FEE PAID' at lower-left & the compensation advice on the reverse should have been deleted as they were not relevant in Fiji. On 21/10/1910, the Acting Colonial Postmaster recommended that the 1450 envelopes in stock be used up by Government Departments. This issue should not be confused with the use of similar Size H2 envelopes in the 1920s: see Duberal at pages 58-59.

318 B

1,000

Ex Lot 319

PS REGISTRATION ENVELOPES: KEVII 1d+3d Size G optd 'SPECIMEN' (some toning) & Size K (only 512 printed, a bit soiled, folded at left); KGV 2d+2d x2 (one 'SPECIMEN'), 2d+3d Size H2 x2 (one 'SPECIMEN'); KGVI 2d+4d & 2d+3d; QE 2½d+6d, 3d+9d G (2, shades) & H, 2c+8c G & H, 4c+8c & 6c+50c Size H; generally very fine unused. A very scarce group. (15 items)

319

1,500


Ex Lot 320

PS REGISTRATION ENVELOPES: KEVII 1d+3d Size G philatelic usage (only 125 issued, toning); KGV 1d+3d Size G, 2d+3d Size G (with 4d Plate '21' single); KGVI 2d+3d (to India with 1/5d pair & Censor 'X/114' label); QE 2½d+6d 'SAVU SAVU' to Buca Bay, & 3c+8c philatelic usage at 'UDU POINT', a few faults. Another very scarce group. (6 items)

320

1,000

Ex Lot 321

PS WRAPPERS - OFFICIAL: Annotated study of the Government Printing Office printed frank stamps on entires (18) & fronts (40) plus with Cracked Electro on a parcel label, usages including to Australia, GB (one with ½d pair over the Frank) & India, condition variable. Interesting lot. (58 items)

321

200

Postal History

Lot 668

C 1850 (Oct 14th) lengthy entire letter signed "D Hazlewood", to his brother in Suffolk with 'AUCKLAND/-NEW- ZEALAND' b/s, London transit b/s of 21MR21/1851 & 'BURY-ST-EDMUNDS' arrival b/s in blue, rated "8" for an incoming shipletter, soiled & internal reinforcing along the folds. Ex Gerald Patterson.

The writer was the missionary David Hazlewood on leave from Fiji: see Lot 266. He states: "...[I was on the John Wesley] when she struck on the reef in going from Somosomo to Rewa. She stuck fast for 10 hours...She has just sailed out of Auckland harbour today with...Rev Joseph Waterhouse for Feejee...There is a population of about ten thousand white people in New Zealand, and perhaps eighty thousand natives...formerly cannibals..."

668 C

400


PAPUA - Missionary MailWhen Rev Roger Lee sold his postal history in our auction of 5/12/2003, he retained his Missionary Mail. Roger, a Methodist minister with a passion for the history of the Methodists, has now decided to release this fascinating material to the market. The collection includes the earliest covers into Papua, and many other rare items, so it is far more than just a topical sideline!

Lot 795

L 1881 4pp letter in French headed "HMS Wolverene [sic] 16 Sept 1881" & signed "N Miklouho-Maclay", to Sir Arthur Gordon (Governor of Fiji) in which he states "...I intend...to undertake...a new excursion in New Guinea probably in the company of Rev James Chalmers...". [The Russian noble Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay was a prominent explorer/ethnologist in the South Pacific. From 1871-74 he was the first white resident of the Astrolabe Bay area. He was an anti-Colonialist, a supporter of indigenous rights, and an opponent of "blackbirding" (the capture of Islanders & their enforced labour in Queensland). HMS "Wolverine" was flagship on the Australian Station 1875-82]

The London Missionary Society (LMS) was the first to establish a permanent presence in BNG. Rev Samuel McFarlane arrived in 1871, followed by Rev WG Lawes in 1873, and Rev James Chalmers in 1877, each with South Seas lay assistants. The Methodists arrived in 1875; the Catholics in 1882; and the Lutherans in 1886.

795 A

400T

Lot 804

C 1905 (Nov 9) PPC to "Figi" [sic] with BNG 1d tied by Port Moresby cds of 5DE05 (another superb strike below), very fine 'SUVA' arrival cds. Unusual destination. The message, from Mrs Fanny Lawes, states "Yours just received per SS John Williams..." [Superb blue PPC of "A Gilbertese Warrior, in armour..."]

804 A

400T

PAPUA - Flight CoversMost of the material in this section is from the collection formed by Tony Williams from England. For convenience, New Guinea flights are included here in the same chronological order as in the "Australian Air Mail Catalogue". AAMC references are from the 8th Edition (2008). References to Roger Lee's collection are to our auction of 9/11/2002. For Tony Williams' commercial airmail covers, see Lots 784 to 794.

Lot 871

C 1936 (Dec 16) endorsed "Christmas Air Mail 1936/per Lockheed Electra/Wau-Sydney" registered at Wau to Fiji, Sydney transit & Suva arrival b/s. Unlisted in the AAMC.

871 A-300T

PHILATELIC LITERATUREL "The Colonel Harrie Evans Collection Part 4: Australian Colonies and Pacific Islands" Premier auction

catalogue (4/5/2002), a few faults, 1142 lots softbound. An important sale.1001 B

25

Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 70Oct 12, 2012PHILATELIC LITERATURE (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

L "The Catalogue of the Royal Philatelic Collection: British Australasia" by Sir John Wilson (1952), being unbound sections from the monumental complete catalogue - which is used by many as a book press! - including the two magnificent colour plates, in the original folio box in which the sections were issued. Far more accessible & user-friendly than the complete work. [The last example we offered - in a damaged box - sold for $250 at our on-line literature auction of 25/1/2008]

1002 A

150

L Box of catalogues all with important Pacific islands content including the "Howard-White" Pacifics, "Robert Taylor" Pacifics, "Robertson" Fiji, "Baldwin" Solomons & New Hebrides, "Shepard" Samoa etc; also Gary Watson/Macray Watson sales including the Fiji of "Rodger" (stamps), "Grady" & "Proud" (postal history), also "Lehmann" Pacifics, "Collins" GRIs, "Courtis" NWPI, "Santo" New Hebrides, etc. Excellent basic library of Pacific references. (31)

1003 A/A-

75

Lot 1004

L FIJI: "On the Stamps of Fiji" by John Gartner (1973) being a booklet produced to support his display to the Collectors Club (New York). Limited edition of 150.

1004 A25

L FIJI: "The Postal Stationery of Fiji" by R Duberal (1998), 113pp softbound. [Prestige retail: $74]1005 A 30

Oct 12, 2012 Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 1Fund & 'FIJI/GIFTS/TO BRITAIN' labels, US...

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Transcript of Oct 12, 2012 Prestige Philately - Auction No 176 Page: 1Fund & 'FIJI/GIFTS/TO BRITAIN' labels, US...