1938 £1 Robes First Day Cover

1938 £1 Robes on thick paper, dated November 1, 1938. Used on registered Brisbane cover to England. In superb condition and the scarcest KGVI to acquire.

Interesting cover.

To put that £1.00 stamp into context, the airmail rate to England at the time was 5d under the "All Up" Empire Airmail Scheme whereby, from August 1938, overseas airmail rates were reduced to domestic air mail rates for letters up to half an ounce.

The Registration rate was 3d for mail addressed within Australia or overseas at that time. The Registration rate was additional to the postage rate.

So, total "real" cost of sending the letter to J. Stephen at 12 Cook Street was the princely sum of 8d. There were 240 pence in the Pound, so £1.00 equal a 3,000% overpayment of the official rate.

Interestingly, the sender of the letter could receive an acknowledgement of delivery by paying an additional fee (in this case 3d). This service was known as Avis de Reception (AR) or Acknowledgement of Delivery.

I'm yet to see see an international cover and its AR receipt presented together. Sightings of Lord Lucan are less rare.

Hi Black Swan.

Interesting post, I didn't know that.

Rob

Pretty cover and striking stamp, interesting how inexpensive Registered mail really was back then too! I can just picture the sender carefully watching the postal person canceling the letter.

That "Guaranteed Genuine" backstamp is neat, all but guaranteeing a philatelic item. Nice!

Nice clean cover. Great find.

Hi KGV Collector

It was a great find, I couldn't believe the condition it is in. The cover is very rare and not many exist. It makes my Coronation collection more interesting.

Hi Partime

I believe it may be a philatelic cover, I will speak to the specialist tomorrow about it. The registered cover has become the most important part of my Coronation collection, Hopefully there may be another cover for sale. I'll be looking for the FDCs on the other values as well.

Rob

Understatement of the year. According to my 2015 ACSC, the 216y, first day cover on Chalk-Surfaced Paper, is valued at about AUS$3500. I'm sure it's value has increased since 2015, and yours is in impeccable condition. Excellent find!

The same stamp in the Multiple Crown, C of A watermark on Unsurfaced Paper is valued even higher in a First Day Cover. According to the ACSC, 3 of them exist on P.M.G. Department envelopes cancelled at the Sydney GPO, dated April 4, 1949. Good luck on finding that one, with a 2015 ACSC value of AUS$7500.

Keep them coming.

Hi landoquakes

It's definitely a striking cover. £1 for registered mail is not the norm. Australia was still in the depression in 1938. The average wage was for men was £5/1/5d (£5/1 shilling/5d, and women's wages was £2/14/2d (£2/14 shillings/2d.
£1 would be quarter of a male's wages and literally half of a woman's wages. The high value was used for airmail, telegrams and bulk mail. To find such a high value on a cover is very rare and seldom seen.

Rob

Looks like J Stephen Cook St Liverpool UK had an amazing Australia collection. Great foresight all those years ago.

Hi Partime

In the ACSC 2019, the catalogue value for this FDC is $3,750, the same amount I paid for the cover. In the same 2019 issue, the thin paper FDC is catalogued at $8,000. Unfortunately I haven't seen a thin paper cover, if one comes along with a cover in VF condition and with the stamp undamaged, I'll definitely buy it for that price.

The condition of my cover is the finest the dealer has ever seen. Finding any of the thin paper versions will be a find of epic proportion, I do have valuable stamps that are a one-of-a-kind, and only two of, and other stamps that are one in ten, one of 30, etc, all valuable items.

When I obtain more, especially any of the FDCs I will definitely post them.

Hi KGV Collector

He probably did have an amazing Aussie collection, he must have been particular about the condition of his collection, like me.

Rob

This would go nicely with the £1 cover

Hi zendo59

It definitely would, do you have a negotiable price to it or is it for your collection only?

Rob

Your collection Rob has gone onto new depths. You have a very important collection. A total treasure in all ways.