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Here's a nice looking copy !!

What a crude forged cancel!

Indeed the stamp is totally fake too - they are sold on ebay by Spivs for $20-$100 each etc.

Heaps of Mint bridges with heavy gum toning, and heavy hinges etc, also get all that washed off and "improved" with a fake cancel.

GENUINE cancels and stamps are below from a recent column.

http://www.glenstephens.com/snaugust08.html


Australia 1932 5/- Sydney Harbour Bridge stamps

Nearly the entire supply of 1932 5/- Sydney Harbour Bridges in collector hands today derived from these Specimen packs. See the photo nearby.

To find a nice contemporary 1932 dated POSTALLY used 5/- Bridge is a near impossibility. My guess is 99% of existing used Bridges are corner CTO - like the copy shown nearby. They sell for about $A275 each - and up to $350 for really top examples.

The other 5/- Bridge stamp shown next to it is commercially used, with a clear "16 JUNE 1932" date. To many collectors this "heavy" cancel is FAR less desirable to the corner CTO one next to it.

I will list the "heavy" cancel up at about $550 on my Rarity page soon, and it will sell in days. Why? As so few 1932 postally used dated copies exist.

Rarer than you think.

I have been typing that reality for decades, and the wider market is now finally starting to agree it seems. Other than those soaked off tatty or damaged Bridge opening covers from March, almost no other 1932 clear dated copies exist.

The ACSC has even caught up, and now prices postally used at 70% MORE than the CTO ones! A slightly inferior centered 1932 dated copy to the one illustrated here fetched $A535 at the last Prestige auction.

However stamp collectors at large are often slow to catch on. Ask most Australian collectors which of these two illustrated 5/- stamps they'd prefer in their collections, and the vast majority would choose the CTO example, despite it being worth about half as much by today's informed market!

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As an interesting footnote, I had SIX enquiries for the commerical used example at $550, so collectors are waking up to this stamp.

Cheers Glen. Thanks for the info !!

The 5/- Bridge is of course well known on philatelic covers.

Has one ever been seen on a COMMERCIAL postal article?

One was illustrated tied to a parcel post tag in the Australian Philatelist many years ago.

A few members aspire to one of these.

There is one finishing in a couple of hours. Not perfect perfs but it is commercially used. Unfortunately the date is not clear.

Sitting at AU $112.50 with under 2 Hrs to go.

Item: 230460401635 Seller: bgscarf

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Australia-5-Sydn ... 0460401635

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

Here's the only copy of commercially used I have.
Perfs are pretty rough but QLD cancel is nice
regards
Bill

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sirwilliamofpennylot - Wanted- red, blue green purple postmarks on pre decimal Australian stamps, old black and white aboriginal postcards. swap or buy.

I'm guessing this one went cheap ($158) because the cancel is ugly and the perfs are even worse than usual.

No, the perfs are TERRIBLE!

Most at base are not THERE!

THIS one I sold is nice -

This is mine used in the period:


Late fee cancel, what would it have been upon?

Markrm

That seems to be a 1937 cancel, which makes it a bit out of period. I also have a postally used copy dated 1937.

I wonder what made the owners 'cash in' what must have been mint stamps to use as postage.

Clive

Clive, looks like 22 AP 32 to me. Used in the first month of issue.

Those last couple are nice. That one in the auction was UGLY.

Glen,

Compare the '2' of 1932 with the '2s' of the 22 date. Not much of a match, in my view, but we know of different font types on a single canceller so maybe you are right.

Clive

I'd go with 32 instead of 37. The last digit looks too curved at the top to be a 7.

If it were a 37, maybe a collector 'cashing in' mint postage because they were short of money? Of course if you're feeling pinched, you won't be spending 5 bob to mail a parcel , but could always sell the stamp to someone else for use.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

Definitely 1932.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

I know there has been discussion re 1932 v 1937 on the date stamp of the pic I previously posted, I am inclined towards 37, but this one is clearly 1932.



Not perfect but commercially used!

looks like it was ripped from the envelope, so lucky it has stayed intact (or without thins at least)

Probably off a parcel. No thins and orig gum evident on 70% of back.

My only truly commercially used 5/- Bridge. This one cancelled in Emerald, Queensland and dated possibly 16th. (or more likely) 26th March 1932:

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Tony

Nice stamp, Tony.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

One of mine.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

In March 1932 the 16th was a Wednesday and the 26th was a Saturday. Would the Emerald Post Office have been open / working on a Saturday I wonder?

I don't see any reason why not. I have a passable collection of KGV 1d Red dated copies, and Saturday dates are not noticeably scarcer than "Weekday" dates.

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Always on the lookout for Australian pre decimal First Day Covers.

Yes Lambinator I think the post offices used to open on a Saturday what they called a half day.
They used to open from 9:am and closed at 12:30 pm

Even the banks done the same thing.


Kel.

Some smaller post offices and post office agencies in NSW still open 9-noon on Saturdays

My Castlecrag PO is open until 2pm Sat.

I am going up to send 2 parcels after my lunch actually!

Glen

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

When they are not on strike, our local post office is also open on Saturday until noon.....but the mail doesn't go anywhere (just like right now ). They accept and will hand cancel for you to get the Saturday date, if something is time-sensitive, but there is no pickup for that mail to get to the sorting plant and into the system until late Monday.

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Armstrong'sStamps**http://www.armstrongsstamps.ca
Knowledge is Key.....Libraries work!

My local LPO is open all day Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Recently acquired, not the greatest copy ever seen. However, at $100 I couldn't say no.

Interestingly, it appears to have a FEBRUARY 1932 cancel. Not possible, since this wasn't issued till March 1932. A blooper by the postal clerk.

Note: the apparent tone spot is something on the card I got it in, no toning on the stamp.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

So much nicer than those narsty CTOs

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

In this particular instance I will agree with you, Oh Ugly One. Postaly used, the 5/- Bridge is much scarcer than CTO.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Status auction of 15 March has this stamp (item no: 1223)



I initially thought someone had lifted the image of my stamp! But they are different, although both from 1939 and likely the same post office (GPO Melbourne).

So, we are to believe were still stocks in some places 7 years after issue (a GPO at that)?

Alternatively, since it looks like they are both canceled 22 AU 39, we can surmise a canceler error as regards the year (should have been 32?).

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Another, less pleasant, possibility has occurred to me. Both my 5/- Bridge and the one in the Status auction may actually be CTO. The cancel is correct, as far as can be seen, for a CTO, even if it has been applied in a very strange way (across a pair of stamps, instead centrally over 4).

However, the cancel looks to have been applied with a rubber canceler than the steel one used for CTO.

I do have an undoubted 5/- Bridge CTO that has a 1939 cancel (and one of the retouches).

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Just both postally used in 1939 I'd say Peter. Certainly not CTO. What kind of wine did you have for lunch?

A commemorative postally used at Melbourne GPO, 7 years after issue??

I find it impossible to believe that they had stock of 5/- Bridges at the sales counter in what was then the largest (or, perhaps second largest) post office in the country. The 5/- Robes was the usual value at the time, with 5/- Roos still also on issue.

I guess it is also theoretically possible that both these stamps were used by the same sender and came from stamps they had on hand.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Yep.

I mailed a packet to Canada today with a full CTO sheet of the 1974 $1 Light Horseman stamp on it. 38 years old.

So can anyone out there please tell me if the stamp below which i have recently purchased from a well known dealer is indeed a postally used or not as the post mark now that I look at it is not that great.



This is my newest addition and will be upset if it is a fake.

Richard

Definitely postally used. Pity the bottom left perfs look a little short.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Genuine Haymarket NSW AP 32 cancel of course - how could that be fake?

A lot of torn out, short and/or badly stained perfs though, and a wonky, mouse chewed lower left corner.

And that's without even seeing the back!

Well see this is why you guys are here, how on earth you know that that is haymarket NSW is behond me. But thats why your in the field you are I guess.

To be honest it was hoping and assuming it was not a fake but the start of the thread sort of frightened me a little, in particular as I could not see a lot in the way of defined sharp cancel on it which the other examples on here see to have.

All good I am happy it is real

I guess dare I ask an ball park value ?? Only if someone has the time, as i own it now and it's not going anywhere unless I find a better one.

Richard

Richard, the nice sharp, corner cancels are indicative of the CTO version from Specimen sets. Postally used is much scarcer. These were used on parcels, in the main, and got heavy cancels. Given that they are printed on blotting paper, essentially, nice postally used examples are hard to find. Retail is up to $500, depending on condition.

I hope you didn't pay too much for yours, given the damage.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

As far as the magic of working out the cancels, there are only so many names that end RKET in NSW! There is the also PPA reference website.

Went and checked and there is only one name that ends RKET for NSW.

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

Hmmm ok well lets be a little cautious here as this was recently purchased from a dealer, one that is not on this forum that I am aware of and either way will not be named, but lets face it i am here to learn and am looking to buy quality items.

As i have just learnt this is a little less then perfect and i would rather save for a quality item then buy lots of low quality stamps So is anyone willing to give me a ball park price that they would have been willing to pay for this little number ??? Don't be shy, I can take it. If your not keen to post on here then email me richard.burchell[at]broadcastaustralia.com.au

Additional images added for info.




I must say I thought that a postally used example (in good condition) would reatil for up to 900 ???

Richard

The PPA reference website ????

I have no idea what that is ??

I'll bite, $150-$200.
Why? Off centre, badly nibbled perfs and a bit of light rust spots on the back.

Catalogue may go near $900, real world? Doubt it.


PPA Name Finder:
https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/w ... untry=aust

Excellent site.

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

Hmmm ok i payed a little more than that for it but thats life, I just learnt a little.

Thanks for the web link

Richard