tradition and experience in classic philately since 1919

Lot# 1828 - Auction 244-249

  • Lot# : 1828 Papua New Guinea

    1 / 3
    Download main picture Share
    Papua (British New Guinea) 1888 (Sept. 22): Cover from Granville - Port Moresby to Surbiton Surrey bearing Queensland 4 d. yellow, creased before being affixed, tied by superb strike of scarce "N.G." obliterator (Lee fig. 2, rated 'D'), very fine strike of the rare "GRANVILLE SP 2. 88 B.N.G." cds (Lee fig. 4, rated 'F') alongside, second day slug omitted, reverse with "COOKTOWN SP 25 88 QUEENSLAND" and "KINGSTON - ON - THAMES NO 27 88" transit cds's. Some cover corner soiling and small repaired tear on top do not distract from the extreme rarity of this elusive Papua cover.rnVery few pre-1891 covers from British Guinea have been recorded. Only three examples of the Granville datestamp are described in Lee to be known with this being the oldest known. The second outgoing cover shows a messy Granville strike from 1889 and was part of the Tom Rybak collection.rnThe envelope includes full original four page letter dated in manuscript "B.N.G. Portmoresby Sept 16 1888" and was signed by "WC English / Post office Portmoresby BNG" who was an early exlorer and hunter in BNG. He is writing to a former colleague, a Mr. Bucher. English was only semi-literate and his letter contains many oddities. The lot includes a transcript of the letter.
    Starting bid : 15,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold