Lot 61006 – 1845 (Sep. 4) letter written from Wellington New Zealand

1845 (Sep. 4) letter written from Wellington New Zealand and sent registered to Devonport with endorsement in letter via Sydney. New Zealand marks of origin are not evident so the letter was possibly carried privately to Sydney where the postmaster applied the rare two-line « Registered/SYDNEY ». handstamp (White Type R2) in red at right for local 6d. registration payable in cash (the signature in red of H.W. Petre is possibly that of the Sydney Postal Official confirming prepayment of registration) and 2/4 payable by the recipient as 1s.4d. double private ship letter rate + 1s. registration fee endorsed at origin 6 in red denoting prepayment of double overseas ship letter. The White Type R2 registered handstamp was probably only used August to October 1845 with only two previously recorded examples in private hands – this possibly being unrecorded.

Ex Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL.