CLASSIC CINDERELLA MYSTERIES - AUSTRALIA
Printed From: Cinderella Stamps Forum
Category: Cinderella Stamps
Forum Name: Cinderella Stamps
Forum Description: Discuss your stamps and collections here, latest acquisitions, wish lists and favourites...
URL: https://www.cinderellastampsforum.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=511
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 16:48
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: CLASSIC CINDERELLA MYSTERIES - AUSTRALIA
Posted By: ambrofos
Subject: CLASSIC CINDERELLA MYSTERIES - AUSTRALIA
Date Posted: 08 February 2012 at 22:03
|
Hi, I thought I would start up a thread on these unusual stamps. I will add more later when I have time. Not much is known about these stamps. Hence the "mystery." Read on... The stamps below are from the Murray Steam Navigation Company which operated a service along the Murray River in Victoria. The company issued four stamps in denominations of 1/2d (black), 1d (red), 2d (blue), and 3d (green). Some 25 sets are known. There is a single cover with a 3d stamp. This is accompanied on the cover with a stamp of Victoria with the two pence Laureate design. That cover is dated 1869. Click on the images below to enlarge. http://www.freeimagehosting.net/us8sz">
 http://www.freeimagehosting.net/rc4ue">  http://www.freeimagehosting.net/ozh7m">  http://www.freeimagehosting.net/y7jfa">  ------------- AMB |
Replies:
Posted By: ambrofos
Date Posted: 08 February 2012 at 22:18
|
Ozrevenues (Dave Elsmore Australian Revenue and Railway Stamps) reports that these stamps may be bogus! He writes: Survival of stamps being 98% mint, with only 2 loose stamps with odd cancels, a cover bearing a 2d postage stamp and a 3d Murray label is also recorded, why it would cost 3d to forward a single intrastate letter is questionable to say the least. The J K M initials tying the stamp to the cover are purported to be that of K J Mayne who was manager of the Echuca branch of W McCulloch & Co delivery company but research shows Mr Mayne never signed with his initials, he always signed ‘K J Mayne’. Each value appears to be struck singularly from secondary dies (each showing separate die characteristics) & poorly line perforated. The 1d is known as a die proof struck in green also the 1d does not have the value numeral in the upper corners unlike the other three in the series, the 1⁄2d is found ‘HALF PENNY’ & ‘HALF PENCE’. ------------- AMB |
Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 09 February 2012 at 10:29
|
An interesting set of stamps, even if they do turn out to be bogus. Nearly all the online information about the Murray S N C seems to come from a single source. And information about the stamps would appear to be likewise, though a brief trawl has provided images of three distincet sets. Those illustrated above are almost certainly the set currently on eBay marked down to just under $5000. They are, of the three sets I have seen, to be in the best condition and most accurately perforated. There are a http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=221&start=50 - couple of posts here with this set illustrated.  But the author here suggests only 10 sets exist rather than 25 of others. Why have so few stamps survived? If there is a HALF PENNY and a HALF PENCE variety it suggests a reprint of this value, though the PENCE stamps may have been withdrawn as being gramatically incorrect, and replaced. One could argue that saving/collecting stamps were low on the priorities of the early settlers of the Murray Darling basin, but post goes both ways. Goolwa at the mouth of the river was a large port by the standards of the day and would have had residents who share our hobby. There seems to be no contemporary records of the post. This is perhaps why some suggest these may be bogus. A used cover is harder to mock up than stamps, but not beyond the capabilities of some. Surely there must be some company records and accounts stored in some dust covered box in an archive library in Adelaide. ------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look! |
Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 09 February 2012 at 10:53
|
Oh I nearly forgot something for the Discworld fans here. One of the write ups on the history of steamships on the Murray River is very reminiscent of the last book Snuff. It could have easily been part of his background research, although much could probably be applied to rivers on any continent. ------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look! |
Posted By: OlFella
Date Posted: 10 February 2012 at 23:21
|
Have a read here
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/murray/content/riverAsHighway/steamIntro.htm - http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/murray/content/riverAsHighway/steamIntro.htm Interesting long though :) OlFella ------------- Also OlFella on http://www.thegomc.com |
Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 10 February 2012 at 23:27
|
This is the article I was referring to in the post above. ------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look! |
Posted By: OlFella
Date Posted: 11 February 2012 at 12:32
|
Oops sorry people :) Was so into this that I did not realise it was the same.. Olfella ------------- Also OlFella on http://www.thegomc.com |
Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 11 February 2012 at 12:41
No, I should have pointed to the article after mentioning it. I'm glad you have posted the link now. But this is a good subject. Awaiting some futher information. ------------- https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look! |
OlFella wrote: