Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 1Feb 22, 2013Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

MISCELLANEOUS** Lighthouse hingeless album with Christmas Island 1958-2008 issues complete including setenants

& M/Ss & Cocos Islands 1963-2006 issues complete including setenants, M/Ss & 1990-91 Provisionals (the Official $10 CTO as always), unmounted. (100s)

1007 A

500

COCOS ISLANDSThe Cocos material in this auction is the most extensive we have offered since our sale of Kim Dwyer's Gold Medal collection on 24/6/2006. Many of the covers offered were formerly in Kim's collection.

Ex Lot 1413

C Photographs of island-related subjects including island life & buildings, John Clunies-Ross, ships & planes, plus a post-WWII RAAF group reproduced from originals at the RAAF Museum (Laverton, Vic); also 1936 unused real photo PPC with light pencil annotation on the address side "Cocos Islands/.../from RMS Mayolu(?)/1936", second-generation photos of the "Orion" trailing a Tin Can barrel, and barrel from the "Otranto" on Home Island Jetty, and PPC of SS "Morea" which initiated the Tin Can service. Useful background material. (38)

1413 A

250T

Ex Lot 1414

CD Consignment remainders with 1946 cover from RAF PO 301 (poor cds, letter included), Coronation Aerogramme to GB, 1952 South African flight with 'RAAF PO/COCOS ISLAND' cancel, Malayan 'COCOS/ISLAND' cds on selection of pieces & three Bailey covers to Perak, etc & a few KGVI pieces with Christmas Is cds. (7 covers etc)

1414

250T

Lot 1415

** 1985 Birds of Cocos 33c+60c+$1 block of 6 Imperforate Vertically SG 132ab with printer's colour bars in the margin, unmounted, Cat £1700. A rare & spectacular error. [A similar block of 6 - without the colour bars - sold for $1300 at Gary Watson's auction of 18/3/1989, at which time the catalogue value was £500]

1415 A

2,000T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 2Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Ex Lot 1416

** 1990-91 'POSTAGE PAID' Surcharges set SG 234-9, unmounted; plus 'OFFICIAL PAID' CTO as always; Cat £125. (7)

1416 A B1100T

COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - Pre-World War II Mail[Prior to World War II the only postal facility was a Straits Settlements Agency that operated between 1933 & 1937. Otherwise mail was processed through various unofficial channels.

Lot 1417

PS 1908 usage of Western Australian 1d Postal Card to "Mrs Pfordten/Malta" with brief message "From Cocos/April 12th. Expect to leave in about a fortnight's time...", Perth machine cancel of APL13/1908, 'MALTA' & 'SLIEMA BO' arrival cds & postman's '6' h/s, faults. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $506. [Items like this were once thought to have originated on Cocos. It is now recognised that telegraphic messages were sent from Cocos to Perth where they were transcribed onto postal cards and then placed in the mail]

1417 C

200

Lot 1418

PS 1908 a similar usage with brief message headed "Cocos 5 5 07", to Scotland with Perth machine cancel of MAY6/1907. [Most such usages are to Malta. This is both an earlier usage and to a different recipient, making it an unusually significant item]

1418 A

500

Lot 1419

C 1909 Stavers PPC from England to "Eastern Extension/Telegraph Co/Cocos Islands/..." with 'SINGAPORE/+' transit cds, a couple of very minor blemishes. Rare & very early inwards mail. [Kim Dwyer had no inwards mail from before 1939]

1419 A-

750T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 3Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - Pre-World War II Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1420

C 1909 Stavers PPC from England to "Eastern Extension/Telegraph Company/Cocos Islands/..." with 'PENANG TO SINGAPORE/+' marine sorter cds, a couple of very minor blemishes. Rare & very early inwards mail.

1420 B

850T

Lot 1421

A 1936 usage of Straits Settlements 25c Silver Jubilee with large-part strike of Proud's second 'COCOS ISLAND/ 24AU/1936' cds (thick bar at base). Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $776. [Kim Dwyer stated that only 10 examples of this postmark have been recorded]

1421 A B2

500

Lot 1422

CL 1938 (May 24) Archbold Trans-Pacific Flight commemorative cover to New York with US 2c tied by New York machine cancel of MAY24/1938, then on the return flight with Netherland Indies 10c & 'HOLLANDIA/10.5.39' (Dutch New Guinea) cds, Australian 5d with 'ROSE BAY EAST' cds & Seychelles 6c (uncancelled), fine double-circle 'C.&W.LTD/12JUN39/COCOS' transit b/s, signed "Richard Archbold" on the face, two vertical folds. [Kim Dwyer's long return flight cover from Australia to the USA via Africa - with the Cocos cds on the face - sold for $2300]

1422 B

750T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 4Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - Pre-World War II Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1423

CL 1939 Indian Ocean Survey Flight per Flying Boat "Guba" long commemorative cover with printed Indian Ocean map, flown from Port Hedland (Western Australia) with stamps of Australia, Netherlands Indies, Seychelles & Kenya Uganda Tanganyika all tied by the appropriate cds, fine 32½mm 'C.& W. LTD/8JUN39/COCOS' backstamp and the personal handstamp of John Clunies-Ross on the face, small photograph of the crew affixed, signed by the pilot "PGTaylor", a little soiled. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $1322. [Kim Dwyer stated that only 6 such covers have been recorded]

1423 B

1,200

Lot 1424

C 1939 Indian Ocean Survey Flight per Flying Boat "Guba" cover to Sydney with stamps of Australia, Seychelles & KUT all tied by the appropriate cds, superb 'C.& W. LTD/12JUN39/COCOS' b/s, registered at 'KISUMU' (Kenya) for the return journey & with Sydney arrival b/s of 6JY39. [Kim Dwyer's similar cover sold for $1610]

1424 A

1,000T

Lot 1425

CO 1939 Indian Ocean Survey Flight per Flying Boat "Guba" oversize cover (255x176mm) with handwritten list of the "Guba" crew, endorsed "carried in safe hand pouch from Rose Bay Flying Boat Base...to Port Hedland & thence to Mombasa" and signed by "Jack Percival", KUT 5c & 15c tied by 'MOMBASA' cds, wrinkles. [Percival was the radio operator & official journalist on the flight]

1425 B

600T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 5Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - Pre-World War II Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1426

CL 1939 Indian Ocean Survey Flight per Flying Boat "Guba" long cover registered at 'KISUMU' for the return flight, neatly endorsed by hand "CARRIED ON FIRST INDIAN OCEAN SURVEY FLIGHT PER/GUBA BY COURTESY DR R ARCHBOLD", double-circle 'C&W LTD/12JUN39/ COCOS' transit & Sydney arrival b/s of 6JY39. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $1092. [The American adventurer Richard Archbold owned the "Guba". It was chartered by the Australian government for the flight & Archbold went along as a crew member]

1426 B

1,200

Lot 1427

C 1939 Indian Ocean Survey Flight per Flying Boat "Guba" cover originating on Cocos with the personal handstamp of John Clunies-Ross & date h/s '12JUN1939', Chagos postmaster's initials & Seychelles 2c strip of 3 cancelled on arrival, endorsed on the reverse "carried between/Diego Garcia & Seychelles/.../Jack Percival". Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $437.

1427 A-

400T

Lot 1428

PS 1939 usage of Straits 2c Postal Card with message headed "From: GW Summersell - Cocos Keeling - 30.10.39" by air to his wife in England with Straits 1c 2c & 25c tied by Singapore cds of 31OC/1939, 'PASSED/FOR/ TRANSMISSION' h/s. Rare. [This is the only WWII civilian mail item we have recorded from Cocos]

1428 A

750T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 6Feb 22, 2013Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1941-46 World War II Military AdministrationA small Ceylonese army detachment was sent to Cocos in 1941. Some of the troops were pro-Japanese. This created unrest & there was even an unsuccessful mutiny. Three soldiers were returned to Colombo where they were executed. No postal material from the mutiny period has been recorded. The Japanese twice bombed Cocos in 1944, prompting Mountbatten to send Indian Army & RAF personnel to the islands to construct an airstrip. All military personnel were withdrawn by late-1946.

Lot 1429

C 1945 stampless OAS cover to England with 'RAFPOST 301/31AUG45/+' cds, minor faults. Dated the day after a "Liberator" crashed off-shore shortly after taking off for Perth. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $437. [With a photo of the memorial on Cocos to the four Australians & two Britons who perished]

1429 B

400T

Lot 1430

PS 1945 usage of Forces Air Letter to Wales with very fine strike of the Indian pattern 'FPO/No 46/23AUG45' cds & 'UNIT CENSOR/R722' cachet - that has been "tied" to Cocos - in violet. [The writer states "...I promise to keep you in touch about...the release & demob scheme...I believe things are under way already...". Superior to Kim Dwyer's similar item that sold for $529]

1430 A-

450T

Ex Lot 1431

C 1945 stampless OAS cover to England with fair 'RAFPOST 301/9NOV45/+' cds, readdressed on arrival, with the enclosed letter headed ".../RAF STATION COCOS/RAF/CEYLON AIR FORCES" that contains a detailed description of the tide movements and "...even though I have been on Cocos Islands over 3 months the beauty of nature still fascinates me". Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $345. (2 items)

1431 A-/A

300T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 7Feb 22, 2013Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1945-1952 Local AdministrationFor most of this period, there was again no official post office. ER Leigh-Parkin, an employee of Cable & Wireless Ltd, was the de facto postmaster. A RAAF PO opened at the end of 1951, from which time most mail was then processed through that channel.

Lot 1432

C 1950 cover to England with Leigh-Parkin's endorsement on the flap & unframed 'Cocos- Keeling/Is.' circular h/s on the face, Singapore 50c for airmail tied by Singapore cds of 26AUG50, 'HULL' arrival b/s & redirected to Scotland. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $506.

1432 A

400T

Lot 1433

C 1950 commercial airmail cover to England with 'Cocos-Keeling/"6/6/50")/Is.' h/s & Singapore 50c tied by Singapore cds of 16JUN50.

1433 A400T

Lot 1434

C 1950 commercial airmail cover to the USA with 'Cocos-Keeling/"6/6/50")/Is.' h/s, Singapore 20c 25c & 50c tied by Singapore cds of 16JUN50, 'FOUND POSTED OUT OF COURSE' h/s (Proud #I50) & blue & black/white registration label, 'GHENT' arrival b/s. [There were no registration facilities on the island, hence the Posted Out of Course h/s]

1434 A-

750T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 8Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1945-1952 Local Administration (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1435

C 1951 (June) Qantas return flight Cocos-Australia AAMC #1273c (through to the United States) with Federation 1/6d cancelled on arrival at Sydney, superb strike of the double-circle 'C.&W.LTD/11JUN51/COCOS' cds ties type- written 'PER QANTAS/CATALINA/VH-EBA' label to the reverse, minor spotting. [20 covers were prepared by ER Leigh-Parkin, who also created the labels & "lightning flash" cachet on the face. A similar cover sold for $3105 at our auction of 24/5/2008] [Illustrated above Lot 1434]

1435 B

2,000T

Ex Lot 1436

C 1952 commercial airmail covers to Australia with ½d Roo + KGVI 3½d or 4d Koala tied by 'RAAF PO/COCOS ISLAND' cds of 8MY52 or 16JY52, both with 'RAAF/SERVICE' cachet in violet, the first opened-out. (2)

1436 B

100T

COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1949-52 Tin Can MailWhile not as well-known as the more popular Tongan service, the Cocos Tin Can Mail is an important part of Cocos postal and social history. Originated in 1909 by Captain Brown of the P&O's SS "Morea", no distinctive markings were employed until 1949. Most surviving covers are to or from ER Leigh-Parkin. Though he was a keen philatelist, many of the surviving Tin Can Mail covers are undoubtedly from personal correspondence.

Lot 1437

C 1949 commercial airmail cover from England addressed "FOR COCOS/PO Box 146/Singapore", with UPU 1/- tied by 'TORQUAY/DEVON' slogan cancel, oval 'COCOS Is/PER ("Frigate")' b/s in violet & circular 'Cocos-Keeling/ {"15/12/49") /Is.' b/s in black. The earliest recorded cover & the only 1949 cover we have recorded with Tin Can cachets. Previously, our understanding was that the cachets were introduced early in 1950]

1437 A-

750T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 9Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1949-52 Tin Can Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1438

C 1949 a similar airmail cover but with superb strikes of 3-line 'Mail From the/STRATHAIRD/Barrel - Cocos' b/s & 'C.& W.LTD/28JAN50/COCOS' arrival b/s, a few blemishes mainly on the face. With Hoffmann real-photo PPC of the ship. [Kim Dwyer had no "Strathaird" Tin Can cover]

1438 B

600T

Lot 1439

C 1950 (Sep 17) commercial airmail cover from England addressed ".../FOR COCOS/PO Box 146/ Singapore", 'COCOS Is/PER ("Islander")' oval cachet on the reverse with superb 31mm 'C.& W. LTD/10NOV50/COCOS' arrival b/s. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $483. [The "Islander" was owned by the Christmas Island Phosphate Co & from the 1930s called about 3 times each year at Cocos with provisions and mail]

1439 A

500T

Lot 1440

C 1950 cover to Gibraltar(!) with Leigh-Parkin's endorsement on the flap & superb strike of his new boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s in violet, also endorsed "Per RMS Orion" at lower-left, Australian 1/6d applied for airmail & cancelled with Perth slogan. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $1840. [With lengthy letter in which Leigh-Parkin states "...I decided to make it 2 years in Cocos...I shall be here until Nov 1951...I hope to get all my letters off on the tin can mail...This is the first time a special cachet has been impressed...I am mainly responsible..."]

1440 A

1,250T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 10Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1949-52 Tin Can Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1441

C 1950 cover to "The Postmaster/Cocos Keeling Islands" with GB 2½d tied by Bedford machine cancel, superb strikes on the reverse of circular 'ORION/Barrel' & boxed 'COCOS/5JAN51' d/s, minor blemishes & creasing. Both markings were absent from Kim Dwyer's collection. They are probably the two rarest Cocos markings.

1441 B

750T

Lot 1442

C 1951 commercial airmail cover to England with very fine strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s & straight-line 'Per WAVE BARON' h/s both in violet, Ceylon 75c for airmail affixed & tied by Colombo cds of 22JA/51. This was the only Tin Can Mail per "Wave Baron". [Kim Dwyer's similar cover sold for $2185]

1442 A-

1,250T

Lot 1443

C 1951 Stanley Gibbons registered cover from London to ".../Cocos Islands/PO Box 146/ SINGAPORE" with Singapore transit b/s of 12SEP51, very fine strike of the 'COCOS Is/("2-12-51"/PER ("Islander")' oval cachet in violet on the reverse but unusually without the Cable & Wireless arrival cds. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $345.

1443 A

300T

Lot 1444

C 1951 cover to the Purser of the "Orion" at Sydney with very fine strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s & circular 'Per RMS ORION' h/s both in violet, 6d Kookaburra tied by Perth slogan cancel of 16APR/1951, Sydney arrival b/s & redirected to Melbourne.

1444 A-

400T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 11Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1949-52 Tin Can Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1445

C 1951 stampless cover to the "Purser, RMS Orion/Sydney" with 'ERL PARKIN/COCOS' cachet on the flap, very fine strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s & circular 'Per RMS ORION/("12.8.51")' h/s both in violet. Unusual.

1445 A

250T

Lot 1446

C 1951 cover to the "Staff Commander/RMS Orion/Sydney" with Leigh-Parkin's endorsement on the flap, very fine strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s & circular 'Per RMS ORION/("12.8.51")' h/s both in violet, minor blemishes. [From the same mail as the previous cover, but someone has erroneously "enhanced" the handwritten date "52"]

1446 B

250T

Lot 1447

C 1951 cover with Orient Line imprint on the flap, to England with typed endorsement "Per SS Orontes...24.9.51", very fine strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s & the circular 'Per RMS ORION', Australian 2½d block of 4 affixed & tied by Perth slogan cancel of 23NOV/1951", a little soiled & repaired tears that affect the boxed cachet. [According to Kim Dwyer, the intended collection by "Orontes" did not occur because of poor weather & the mail was delayed until the next collection by "Orion" on 18/11/1951. But, see the next lot]

1447 (B)

350T

Lot 1448

C 1951 cover to England with woodcut 'ERL PARKIN/COCOS' h/s on the flap & very fine strike of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s in violet, '[crown]/ORIENT LINE OF ROYAL MAIL STEAMERS/SS/ORONTES' cachet, ½d Roo & 3d Barton tied by Perth slogan cancel of 28SEP/1951.

1448 A-

500T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 12Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1949-52 Tin Can Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1449

C 1951 cover to England with very fine strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s & circular 'Per RMS ORION' h/s both in violet, 2½d Scout pair tied by Perth slogan cancel of 23NOV/1951, minor spotting.

1449 B

300T

Lot 1450

C 1952 philatelic cover to Melbourne with Australian ½d & 3½d tied by fine 'RAAF PO/29FE52/COCOS ISLAND' (leap year) cds, very fine strike of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS-KEELING IS' h/s in violet. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $552. [RAAF personnel usually sent their mail by air but occasional use was made of the tin can service. Such covers, while obviously philatelic, are very scarce]

1450 A

500T

Lot 1451

C 1952 (May 5) inwards cover from Ceylon to "Flight Officer Prune/co Post Office/RAAF/Cocos Islands" & endorsed "Via Tin Can Mail" with 'RAAF PO/5JE52/COCOS ISLAND' arrival b/s, returned to Colombo with a verse of doggerel added about Prune having departed Cocos, some toning/soiling. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $632.

1451 B

500T

Lot 1452

C 1952 cover endorsed on the flap "From/WHJowett/DCA/Cocos Island" to his wife in Tasmania with fine boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS KEELING IS' h/s & circular 'Per RMS ORION' h/s both in violet, Australian 1d & 5½d affixed for "internal" airmail & tied by Perth slogan cancel of 23NOV/1951 & also Hobart arrival cds, a little stained (possibly from the barrel leaking!?). Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $506. [From the last tin can mail out of Cocos]

1452 B

500T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 13Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1949-52 Tin Can Mail (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1453

C 1953 cover to England endorsed on the flap "EBHawkey/Direction Island//Cocos-Keeling" to England with an indistinct triple-oval '[ ? ]/3MAY1953/COCOS' d/s (inverted) & two good strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS KEELING IS' h/s, 2/- Crocodile tied by Perth slogan of 8MAY/1953, a few blemishes. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $368. [Kim Dwyer stated this cover is dated 6 months after the Tin Can Mail service was terminated. The 5-day gap between the Cocos & Perth markings is consistent with seamail. However, the cover was probably flown a few days after the withdrawncachet was applied per favor] [Illustrated above Lot 1452]

1453 B

300T

COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1952-1955 Malayan Postal AgencyA Malayan Postal Agency was opened 2/9/1952 and closed 6/11/1955. During this period civilian mail could no longer be sent through the RAAF Post Office. Most mail in this period is overtly philatelic, with commercial covers being very scarce.

Lot 1454

C 1953 commercial airmail cover to England with Singapore 10c pair & 50c tied by two strikes of the Malayan 'COCOS/ISLANDS' cds, minor blemishes.

1454 B200T

Lot 1455

C 1953 (Dec 31) commercial usage of local PPC (sign reading 'COCOS ISLAND/ALTITUDE 10 FEET') to Belgium - an unusual destination from Cocos - with message in French, Singapore 20c pair tied by 'COCOS/ISLAND' cds, faint strike of the rare boxed 'BY AIR/FROM/KEELING COCOS/ISLANDS' h/s in violet, some toning. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $437. [The earliest of the 5 recorded items with this cachet]

1455 C

350T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 14Feb 22, 2013COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1952-1955 Malayan Postal Agency (continued)Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

Lot 1456

C 1953 Singapore KGVI Perf 17½x18 10c 20c 25c 35c & $1 each with per favor part-strike of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/ COCOS KEELING IS' h/s in violet, full unmounted o.g. BPA Certificate (1988) for the 20c 25c & $1. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $414.

1456 C

350T

Lot 1457

C 1953 Singapore KGVI Perf 17½x18 5c 10c 20c 25c 35c & $1 - the first 3 marginal with Plate Number - all tied to a plain cover by 3 strikes of the boxed 'TIN CAN MAIL/COCOS KEELING IS' h/s in violet, toning. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $264.

1457 C

250T

Lot 1458

C 1954 commercial cover to Singapore with 10c for "internal" airmail & 20c for registration tied by cds of 30OCT54, blue/black registration label, 'NEWTON/SINGAPORE' arrival b/s of 12NOV54 suggesting it was actually carried by seamail. Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $632.

1458 A

500T

Lot 1459

PS 1955 (Nov 6) commercial usage to England of formular aerogramme with Singapore Sailing Craft 5c 10c & 20c tied by 'COCOS/ISLAND' cds. Interesting letter from a Department of Civil Aviation employee on the island to his family: "Letters by air mail from now have to be addressed VIA DARWIN and sea mail VIA PERTH WA..." but later "...all (mail) should be addressed COCOS ISLAND AUSTRALIA...the Australian govt take over on the 21st of this month then postage will be much cheaper..." Ex Kim Dwyer: acquired for $747. [Carried on the last mail from the Malayan agency. Items posted after this date were held until the transfer to Australian control]

1459 A

600T

Prestige Philately - Auction No 179 Page: 15Feb 22, 2013Lot Type Grading Description Est $AUD

COCOS ISLANDS POSTAL HISTORY - 1955-1963 Australian External TerritoryThe Australian post office opened on 23/11/1955. Australian stamps and postal stationery were used until 1963 when the first Cocos pictorials were issued.

Lot 1460

C 1957 commercial airmail usage to England of local PPC with 'BY AIR/FROM/KEELING COCOS/ISLANDS' & 1/- Lyrebird tied by Cocos #1 cds. Rare usage. [Kim Dwyer had two covers with light strikes. That of 4/9/1953 - with Singapore stamp - and stated to be the latest of only five recorded examples sold for $575. This example is four years later, and the only example recorded in the Territory period]

1460 A-

500T