Lot 932 15c rate 1889 cover to Australia, mailed from St John’s on FE.9.1889 and addressed to Melbourne, Australia, through San Francisco (FEB.20 transit on back). Originally franked with a strip of three of the 5c dark blue Harp Seal and somewhere along the way a large part of the middle stamp got removed (remaining two are damaged), with “Stamp Lost / In Transit” boxed handstamp. There is also a red “PAID ALL” handstamp on front. Once arrived in Melbourne on APR.11, several attempts were made to try and find the addressee, with many hand written notes to that effect, as well as pink Letter Carrier handstamps on front. Both front and back show a boxed “Unclaimed At / Melbourne” handstamp, and the cover was opened at bottom and re-sealed with stamp selvedge, with a pencil “2/9/89” date, as well as an interesting note on back reading “Opened by Mrs. Strachan but not for her, 11/4/89.” The back then shows several circular and boxed datestamps, mostly Dead Letter Office, dated OCT.10 and DEC.3. Very fine, and a rare destination for Newfoundland, plus a great story to boot. Estimate $500.
newfoundland
Lot 734, Newfoundland 1928-31 Pictorial issue group of 47 covers, sold for C$643
Lot 734 Newfoundland #145/170 group of covers franked with the 1928 and 1929-31 Pictorial issues, with 47 covers in all, with most denominations up to the 15c (no 6c, 8c, 12c). We note a good variety of rates and usages including several single use, a great variety of postmarks including many small towns, many registered, a few first flights, corner card covers and more. Overall fine or better, with the odd fault here and there. All covers are scanned online. Estimate $250, sold for C$550.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 343, Newfoundland Prince of Wales group in mint blocks with six distinct shades, sold for C$409
Lot 343 Newfoundland #41-45 Group of Prince of Wales shades, with six distinct shades, all in mint blocks, with Unitrade #s 41 (bottom two NH), 42 (no gum), 43, 43 shade block of six, 44 (serious crease across two top stamps) and 45 (bottom two NH). All stamps hinged unless noted, and centering ranges from fine to very fine. Estimate $150, sold for C$350.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 740, Newfoundland collection of interesting varied covers neatly written-up on pages, sold for C$555
Lot 740 Newfoundland Collection of Interesting Varied Covers Neatly Written-Up on Pages, starts off with three registered stationery covers mailed to the US plus another air mail registered cover, followed by a study of several different Newfoundland meter frankings, a study of three covers having gone through the Newfoundland sorting office in North Sydney, NS, followed by a study of “Stampless covers of 1918-1920” with four covers, then on to “Official Mail” with nine covers, then “Stampless covers of the forties” with eight covers and ends with a page showing five packing slips that were used to sort mail on trains. Overall very fine and interesting, all pages photographed online. Estimate $200, sold for C$475.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 366, Newfoundland 1933 Sir Humphrey Gilbert Issue advanced mint collection, sold for C$789
Lot 366 Newfoundland #212-225 1933 Sir Humphrey Gilbert Issue Advanced Mint Collection, all in black mounts on twelve well written-up quadrille pages, starting with a basic set of mint singles, as well as a mint block of every value, with a mix of hinged (usually lightly hinged) and never hinged. Also includes an imperforate (no gum) block of the 1c value, a few line and comb perforation varieties, and a stock sheet with eight additional mint blocks of four. Very clean and overall fine to very fine. Estimate $250, sold for C$675.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.