Australia - Decimal Commercial Covers

ozedavid · **Posted:** Mon May 21, 2012 18:31:18 pm

Thanks Tassie.....I have been meaning to post it here for ages but have been v.busy. I have lots of covers I want to share but finding the time to do it is a challenge.

here is one...looks like we know the same source

Robert1 · **Posted:** Tue May 22, 2012 19:30:24 pm

ozedavid wrote:

Thanks Tassie.....I have been meaning to post it here for ages but have been v.busy. I have lots of covers I want to share but finding the time to do it is a challenge.

here is one...looks like we know the same source

Amazing..... have so many of these on paper (kiloware) and off paper in my stockbook :lol:

if only the blessed soul who snipped and soaked them had kept them all on cover..... :roll:

Oh well.....

Nice examples there anyway - thanks for sharing.....

R

hutch · **Posted:** Fri May 25, 2012 20:22:29 pm

I could cry at the number of stamps that I routinely tore off envelopes over the years :cry:

Since being a member here on SB I've learned so much and...Now I keep everything!

I think we'll be moving soon :shock:

the house is not going to be big enough for all of us!!

Oh, and by the way, :evil:

I make all our kids keep the envelopes when I send them any mail...to pick up later of course! I try to choose nice commemmoratives that aren't commonly found (as well as a set of the obligitory definitives...fish

)

Now I'm starting to get the "Mom, I've got a box full, what do you want me to do with it?"...EASY!!!!

POST IT TO ME....with lots of nice stamps!

1606 · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 11:07:47 am

Robert1 wrote:

... if only the blessed soul who snipped and soaked them had kept them all on cover..... :roll:

If that was the case, then these things would be worthless! God bless the snippers and soakers, I say, they have made it much more interesting (and expensive) for the rest of us!

LP

Robert1 · **Posted:** Sat May 26, 2012 11:13:23 am

1606 wrote:

Robert1 wrote:

... if only the blessed soul who snipped and soaked them had kept them all on cover..... :roll:

If that was the case, then these things would be worthless! God bless the snippers and soakers, I say, they have made it much more interesting (and expensive) for the rest of us!

LP

Well yes you are correct.

Good old laws of economics; supply and demand.

Keep them coming I say, must be plenty more very interesting examples of correct use, commercial mail out there in the world. I just sold an interesting lot on StampBoards yesterday (Pre Dec and Decimal) as it was all out of my collecting period - I prefer more modern stamps on cover, but none the less, there looked to be an interesting number of covers in there.

I have a few more in my covers box, will scan a few more next week and post

Cheers,

Rob

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 16:53:41 pm

estonia1991 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 05:15:45 am

A few to England

torstenweller · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 15:53:02 pm

Here are a few new items that caught my eye -

Australia 1966 (22 Feb) QE2 5d blue embossed envelope sent surface mail to USA with QE2 3c green added mixed pre-decimal / decimal franking tied ISLAND BEND / NSW-AUST datestamp paying 7c foreign surface letter rate [the conversion rate was 1c = 1.2d so that 5d = 4c; pre-decimal stamps remained valid for use until 14 February 1968; Island Bend was a construction township on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme]

Australia 1967 (Nov) picture postcard (Sydney Harbour Bridge) sent airmail to Japan with single franking 8c Coral Fish tied Sydney slogan cancel paying Zone 3 postcard airmail rate

Australia 1970 (Aug) Captain Cook Bi-Centenary illustrated tourist cover sent airmail to Japan with single franking Japan Expo 70 20c Southern Cross Stars tied Liverpool, NSW slogan cancel paying Zone 3 airmail letter rate [this stamp commemorating Expo 70 held at Osaka, Japan was issued specifically to pay the Zone 3 airmail letter rate]

Australia 1970 (Aug) Buderim Ginger Factory, Qld illustrated tourist cover showing Map sent airmail to New Zealand (flap unsealed) with single franking Primary Industries 20c Wheat tied Brisbane "Plant Quarantine" slogan cancel paying fourth weight-step (up to 2ozs) reduced 5c per oz Zone 1 airmail greeting card rate [probably containing a small bundle of picture postcards]

Australia 1970 (Jan) cover sent airmail to England by British serviceman "S/Lt DJ Stiles RN" (return address) with violet boxed NAVY POSTAGE / CONCESSION RATE cachet on face and single franking Flowers 6c Kangaroo Paw tied H.M.A.S. CERBERUS WESTERNPORT / VIC-AUST datestamp paying the 6c per 1oz United Kingdom Forces in Australia concessional airmail rate [this only applied to British servicemen sending mail home to the UK; the regular airmail rate was 30c per oz]

Australia 1970 (Sept) picture postcard (Australian War Memorial, Canberra) sent airmail to New Zealand with single franking QE2 5c blue tied Canberra slogan cancel paying Zone 1 airmail postcard rate, on arrival forwarded by airmail to USA with New Zealand 7c Pictorial added alongside tied WELINGTON / N.Z. / AIRMAIL datestamp

Australia 1973 (Dec) cover endorsed "Forces Mail" sent airmail to Australia (flap unsealed) with single franking QE2 3c green tied ANZUK F.P.O. 5 / 1 machine cancel used at Butterworth Airforce Base, Singapore paying Defence Forces concession airmail greeting card rate

Australia 1975 (Nov) Geo. Tall & Co Locksmiths, Sydney merchant cover endorsed "Keys Only" sent to Dural, NSW with red Cash On Delivery Post C.O.D. label on face indicating $4.98 to be collected franked with Paintings $2 Heysen, 50c Pioneer Transport and Gemstones 8c Opal tied HAYMARKET / NSW-AUST datestamps paying 18c domestic letter rate plus $2.40 COD Post fee, unclaimed and returned to sender [most likely refused to avoid payment; COD Post was sent as Registered Post (note red pencil crosses on cover but without R label affixed) and the $2.40 fee comprised $2 registration fee plus 40c commission for collection of payment]

Australia 1977 (Dec) cover endorsed "Card Only" sent airmail to Singapore (flap unsealed) with single franking 15c Christmas 1977 tied Sydney "Christmas Greetings" slogan cancel underpaying the 20c Zone 2 airmail greeting card rate, taxed with Sydney "T 5 / 25" cachet and large boxed "T / PAYABLE BY ADDRESSEE / 65c ..." cachet on face, Singapore Postage Dues 50c olive, 10c red, 4c brown and 1c green affixed tied Singapore datestamp

Australia 1997 (31 July) Emergency Services cover sent airmail to Sierra Leone franked with 45c Emergency Services se-tenant pair (2) and 30c Frama (code B23) tied ALBANY CREEK / QLD. 4035 datestamp paying $1.20 Zone 5 airmail rate with large black boxed SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER cachet on face [the Sierra Leone government was overthrown in May 1997 as part of the ongoing civil war and postal services to the country were suspended]

These items are available in our Postal History Auction 11 featuring 300+ lots of Australian and Pacific Postal History including material from Australia (KGVI and QE2 Pre-Decimal and Decimal), Christmas Island, Cocos Island, Nauru, Norfolk Island, and Papua & New Guinea. Auction 11 is now available on our auction website http://www.torstenweller.com/auctions and closes on Tuesday 19 June 2012.

Robert1 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 18:54:18 pm

torstenweller wrote:

Australia 1997 (31 July) Emergency Services cover sent airmail to Sierra Leone franked with 45c Emergency Services se-tenant pair (2) and 30c Frama (code B23) tied ALBANY CREEK / QLD. 4035 datestamp paying $1.20 Zone 5 airmail rate with large black boxed SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER cachet on face [the Sierra Leone government was overthrown in May 1997 as part of the ongoing civil war and postal services to the country were suspended][/centre]

Attractive cover and a decent reserve / estimate ($80) & shows that modern covers are a worthwhile excercise.

Question - are there any backstamps on this cover or just the front stamped "SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER" ?

Regards,

Rob

torstenweller · **Posted:** Fri Jun 08, 2012 19:16:44 pm

Robert1 wrote:

torstenweller wrote:

Australia 1997 (31 July) Emergency Services cover sent airmail to Sierra Leone franked with 45c Emergency Services se-tenant pair (2) and 30c Frama (code B23) tied ALBANY CREEK / QLD. 4035 datestamp paying $1.20 Zone 5 airmail rate with large black boxed SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER cachet on face [the Sierra Leone government was overthrown in May 1997 as part of the ongoing civil war and postal services to the country were suspended][/centre]

Attractive cover and a decent reserve / estimate ($80) & shows that modern covers are a worthwhile excercise.

Question - are there any backstamps on this cover or just the front stamped "SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER" ?

Regards,

Rob

There are no backstamps, the only thing on the back being the sender's name and address

I believe the cachet was applied in Australia and that the cover never left Australia, but I can't be sure of this - does anyone else know for sure?

davo · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:18:39 am

Robert1 wrote:

torstenweller wrote:

Australia 1997 (31 July) Emergency Services cover sent airmail to Sierra Leone franked with 45c Emergency Services se-tenant pair (2) and 30c Frama (code B23) tied ALBANY CREEK / QLD. 4035 datestamp paying $1.20 Zone 5 airmail rate with large black boxed SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER cachet on face [the Sierra Leone government was overthrown in May 1997 as part of the ongoing civil war and postal services to the country were suspended][/centre]

Attractive cover and a decent reserve / estimate ($80) & shows that modern covers are a worthwhile excercise.

Question - are there any backstamps on this cover or just the front stamped "SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER" ?

Regards,

Rob

The bar code on the Frama on the front looks like one from the UK so perhaps West Africa mail went that way. Maybe the handstamp was applied in the UK?

norvic · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 18:49:48 pm

Well spotted! I don't think any other administration uses that format of mechanised sorting marks. Looks like one to refer to the British Postmark Society.

pertinax · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 20:05:23 pm

PeterS · **Posted:** Sat Jun 09, 2012 22:21:55 pm

Your point is??? :lol:

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Sark · **Posted:** Tue Jun 26, 2012 06:21:10 am

I know there are many rates and routes that even for modern items are seldom seen but this is the first Braille picture postcard I have seen from Australia.

The datestamp is not clear but the pencil annotation states 1986. Did/does the Australian PO have special postage rates for mail to and from the Blind community.

Unless anyone can advise me to the contrary I will assume that the 60c rate is straight forward, but would be more than happy to be told it was a special “blind” rate!

flip138 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 27, 2012 06:29:20 am

Quote:

Robert1 wrote:
torstenweller wrote:

Australia 1997 (31 July) Emergency Services cover sent airmail to Sierra Leone franked with 45c Emergency Services se-tenant pair (2) and 30c Frama (code B23) tied ALBANY CREEK / QLD. 4035 datestamp paying $1.20 Zone 5 airmail rate with large black boxed SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER cachet on face [the Sierra Leone government was overthrown in May 1997 as part of the ongoing civil war and postal services to the country were suspended][/centre]

Attractive cover and a decent reserve / estimate ($80) & shows that modern covers are a worthwhile excercise.

Question - are there any backstamps on this cover or just the front stamped "SERVICE SUSPENDED / RETURN TO SENDER" ?

Regards,

Rob

The bar code on the Frama on the front looks like one from the UK so perhaps West Africa mail went that way. Maybe the handstamp was applied in the UK?

Yes, that is definitely a British marking. Here's another example from 29 Jan 1998.

Phil

mstary1 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 28, 2012 19:48:59 pm

Been along time since I added to the thread, but picked this one up for $1 last week.
Have it on cover but not postcard, couldn't resist.

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 17:25:48 pm

A few Living Together Australia covers.

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 17:26:31 pm

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 17:27:08 pm

Robert1 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 04, 2012 18:40:09 pm

Tassie_Stamps wrote:

One of the all time decimal classics was the "Living Together" series - in my opinion!

They are some really lovely examples !

Robert1 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 18:05:18 pm

Another Decimal Commercial Cover I would like to share.

Doesn't look very special, it came in the mail this week. Whats interesting though is the fact that the cancellation still carries the 2011 Queens visit to Perth slogan, from 2011.

I think its nice that its a modern issue stamp, genuine commercial use, cancelled and an advertising slogan from 2011, postmarked 2012. It has a little bit of everything.

Robert1 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 20:59:43 pm

What I find interesting is here is an example sent a day earlier, same sender & both covers were sent to the same company and yet, it carries no slogan cancellation, just the "spray dots".

Strange when both are seen in the context of each other.

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Tue Jul 10, 2012 21:13:21 pm

I agree that the top cover has an interesting slogan Rob.

Have a few interesting covers I'll add scans of over the next few days. :mrgreen:

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Wed Jul 11, 2012 17:11:30 pm

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Wed Jul 11, 2012 17:12:08 pm

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Wed Jul 11, 2012 17:12:50 pm

john6625 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 11, 2012 22:30:57 pm

Tassie_Stamps wrote:

Interesting Tassie, a 50c franking to Finland. Was there any postage due markings on the back?

ozedavid · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 14:58:03 pm

Here are some nice items...

Australia Cover 24c Animal Science Solo - Rod Perry says this is only the 3rd known Solo domestic usage on cover!!!!
25-7-1972 sent from Yass NSW to The Electricity Comission of New South Wales Sydney - paying the 4th weight step Domestic surface letter rate.
24c Animal Science with variety - Blue dot on dress above knee.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... RK:MESE:IT

Australia Cover 12c Animal Science
28-7-1972 sent from Sydney NSW to The Electricity Comission of New South Wales Sydney - paying the 2nd weight step Domestic surface letter rate.
local solo use on cover.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... RK:MESE:IT

Australia Cover 12c Animal Science Pair
7-7-1972 sent to Registrar Generals Department Sydney - paying the 4th weight step Domestic surface letter rate.

Australia Cover 18c Animal Science Solo
7-7-1972 sent from Coonabarabran NSW to Registrar Generals Department Sydney - paying the 3rd weight step Domestic surface letter rate.
Scare Solo Use
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... RK:MESE:IT

Australia Cover 25c Scarlet Robin Liverpool to Sydney - solo use on cover.
16-10-1968 sent from Liverpool NSW to Registrar Generals Department Sydney - paying the 6th weight step Domestic surface letter rate.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... RK:MESE:IT

pertinax · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 17:05:03 pm

ozedavid,

Are the above covers opened on one side or on three sides?

Scott

ozedavid · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 19:34:50 pm

pertinax wrote:

ozedavid,

Are the above covers opened on one side or on three sides?

Scott

Scott,

The 24c solo - 12c solo & 25c solo are opened on 3 sides.

Global Administrator · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 20:06:27 pm

Some great covers in recent posts - how big is the 25c Bird one!

pertinax · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 23:04:21 pm

ozedavid wrote:

pertinax wrote:

ozedavid,

Are the above covers opened on one side or on three sides?

Scott

Scott,

The 24c solo - 12c solo & 25c solo are opened on 3 sides.

Well to not mention that on your eBay listings is the same as not mentioning a stamp has a bad crease or bad thin. :idea:

ozedavid · **Posted:** Fri Jul 13, 2012 14:44:53 pm

These two are Rippers.....

$2 Bass pair on Cover
13-4-1969. Sent from Price Waterhouse Melbourne to Brown and Root Inc Houston Texas USA marked “Private and Confidential”
$4.25 paying the 17th weight step (8 1/2oz) Letter Rate to USA
$2.00 Bass x 2 + Cooktown Orchid
Opened at right

$4 “Shearing Rams” on Cover
1-2-1979 (Late Usage Stamp withdrawn from use 14/3/1979) Sent from Doncaster, Victoria to Stanley Gibbons Currency, London England.
$4.25 paying the $2.00 Registration fee and $2.45 3rd weight step Printed Matter rate (up to 150gm) to England
$4.00 Shearing Rams + 45c Wildflower
Opened at Top

Both Items will be on ebay from tonight

norvic · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 06:26:21 am

This one's decimal by virtue of its date. I'm surprised at the $1.45 surcharge - how would this have been calculated?

PeterS · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 08:21:38 am

That is a strange one, Ian. Should, on the face of it, have been 45c postage. Double deficiency comes to 90c. Although, there may have been a change to teh calculation by 1992 (not my area) and there was a fee, plus postage. If the fee was $1, then the amount would be correct.

Hopefully, someone with more recent knowledge will come along and give us the correct answer.

dwhopper · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 09:35:30 am

From the Austrlai Post Guide

Underpaid items $1 per article in addition to the deficient postage.

PeterS · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 09:43:19 am

There you go, Ian. Somewhere in the deep, dark (scary) recesses of my brain I must have made a note of the penalty for not paying correct postage.

Thank you dwhopper!

norvic · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 19:54:18 pm

dwhopper wrote:

From the Austrlai Post Guide

Underpaid items $1 per article in addition to the deficient postage.

Thanks - that's the way it works here, NOW, but knowing when it changed from double the defiiciency is crucial. Clearly if 1p/1c underpaid it wasn't worth collecting 2p/2c, so the penalty was introduced.

PeterS · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 21:15:39 pm

Probably another instance of the introduction of the "fee for service" principle. Used to be, banks didn't charge fees for allowing you to have a bank account with them, for example.

jrg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 22:37:49 pm

At Koroit in 1975 it was still worth chasing the 2c ...

pertinax · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 22:54:28 pm

jrg wrote:

At Koroit in 1975 it was still worth chasing the 2c ...

Philatelic, surely.

jrg · **Posted:** Mon Jul 16, 2012 23:13:23 pm

Quote:

Philatelic, surely.

Not necessarily.

If I wanted to generate such a cover for my collection, I wouldn't send it "c/- Post Office" - I'd have it delivered.

I also worked as a postman/clerk in a similar country PO in the 1960s during the Christmas rush, and I was told to tax all underpayments. Even on my paltry wage, I'm sure it cost more than 2c for the time I spent in writing each one up in the Tax Book - but they were the rules.

PeterS · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2012 08:39:25 am

pertinax wrote:

jrg wrote:

At Koroit in 1975 it was still worth chasing the 2c ...

Philatelic, surely.

I agree, postmarked the same day and sent c/- post office? Nice and neat application of both stamps and cancels, just to add to teh suspicion.

pertinax · **Posted:** Tue Jul 17, 2012 09:35:15 am

PeterS wrote:

pertinax wrote:

jrg wrote:

At Koroit in 1975 it was still worth chasing the 2c ...

Philatelic, surely.

I agree, postmarked the same day and sent c/- post office? Nice and neat application of both stamps and cancels, just to add to teh suspicion.

Yes despite protestations to the contrary, this item screams philatelic!

Scott

Robert1 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:50:16 pm

Interesting one here -

Its a 36c PSE with a 14c stamp to uprate it for the 50c standard letter rate. Problem is the person posting the letter used a Norfolk Island stamp (not valid for postings within Australia) and this was posted from 3175 (Dandenong).

Amazing what people will try to get away with and what Australia Post will allow.

john6625 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 17:13:40 pm

I picked this up from one of my customers today. I sent him an invoice on 20 Jul 12 as can be seen from the postmark.

The thing I like most about this cover is that this stamp is not due to be released until tomorrow the 24 Jul 12.

I actually sent two full sets off to different customers, now I just have to retrieve them all. :!:

Robert1 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 17:17:59 pm

john6625 wrote:

I picked this up from one of my customers today. I sent him an invoice on 20 Jul 12 as can be seen from the postmark.

The thing I like most about this cover is that this stamp is not due to be released until the 24 Jul 12 in two days time.

I actually sent two full sets off to different customers, now I just have to retrieve them all. :!:

Well spotted John...... and now for my rant ..... "dear God, another new issue from Australia Post" ..... we just had more Olympic stamps last week....... ahh well something else to collect (can't wait for 2nd August, more Cocos Stamps

).

john6625 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 17:27:01 pm

I agree Rob it's silly how much they bring out. I will only collect modern Australia on cover in period. And I have given Australia Territories away completely.

Tassie_Stamps · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 17:50:52 pm

john6625 wrote:

I agree Rob it's silly how much they bring out. I will only collect modern Australia on cover in period. And I have given Australia Territories away completely.

Just wait until AP start putting out the Olympic Games 2012 Gold Medallist stamps... There will be dozens. :mrgreen:


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