Queensland 1 shilling mauve / lilac/ violet covers

A census of Queensland one shilling 2nd Sideface covers with details of the postal rates used. Most of these stamps, being of a high value, were used for fiscal purposes. When used for postal purposes, it was mainly for parcels, so covers are scarce

1883

Bundaberg to Herrnut, Germany dated 30 November 1883. The postage paid was 3s 10d including 6d registration. The letter rate was 8d per half ounce, so this was a quintuple (5x) rate letter. Seen at Heinrich Koeler auction no 382 lot no 1678

1884

Townsville to Bradford, England dated 1 March 1884. The postage paid was 1s 10d including 4d registration. The letter rate was 4d per half ounce, so this was a quintuple (5x) rate letter. Seen at Leski auctions 

1885

Townsville to Brisbane dated 16 February 1885. The postage paid was 1s 6d. The Queensland letter rate was 2d per half ounce and 4d for registered so this is a 7 x (septuple) rate cover. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Cooktown to Troppau, Austria dated April 1885. The postage paid was 1s. The letter rate via England was 6d per half ounce so this is a double rate cover. Seen in Prestige Philately auction no 161 lot no 362

1886

Brisbane to Middlesex, England dated 27 October 1886. The postage paid was 1s 4d including a registration fee of 4d. The letter rate was 4d per half ounce so this is a triple rate cover. Seen in Spink auction no 12015 lot no 2346

Maryborough to Scotland dated 18 November 1886. The postage paid was 1s. The letter rate was 4d per half ounce so this is a triple rate cover

1887

Rockhampton to North Shields, England dated 16 April 1887. The postage paid was 1s 10d including registration of 4d. The letter rate was 4d per half ounce so this is a quadruple rate cover

South Brisbane to Manchester, England dated 8 September 1887. The postage paid was 1s. The letter rate was 4d per half ounce so this is a triple rate cover

1888

Mackay to Staffordshire, England dated 16 June 1888. The postage paid was 1s 4d including a registration fee of 4d. The letter rate was 4d per half ounce so this is a triple rate cover. Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1293. Ex Alan Griffiths

Brisbane to Glasgow, Scotland dated 13 July 1888. The postage paid was 3s 6d plus a missing stamp. The letter rate was 4d per half ounce so this could be an 11 x rate cover with the missing stamp being 2d!

Bundaberg to Hamburg, Germany dated 19 November 1888. The postage paid was 3s 9d. The letter rate via the French packet boat was 9d per half ounce, so this was a quintuple (5x) rate letter. Seen at Abacus auctions no 234 lot no 122

Bundaberg to Graz, Austria dated 19 November 1888. The postage paid was 1s 10d including a registration fee of 4d. The letter rate via the French or German packets boats was 9d per half ounce, so this was a double rate letter. Seen at auction

1889

Brisbane to Meriden, Connecticut, USA  via Brindisi dated 14 May 1889. The postage paid was 1s 10d. The letter rate to the USA via England was 8d per half ounce, so this is a triple letter rate with a shortfall of 2d; and accordingly 4d to pay (2d + 2d fine) is noted in manuscript in red. Seen in Rumsey auction no 93 lot no 4167

Brisbane to Erlof, Sweden dated 10 June 1889. The postage paid was 1s. The letter rate via the French or German packets boats was 9d per half ounce, so this was a single rate letter and registration incorrectly charged at 3d. Seen in Corinphila auction no 291

Bundaberg to Freetown, Sierra Leone dated 12 June 1889. The postage paid was 1s 1d including a registration fee of 4d. The letter rate was 9d per half ounce via England. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

1890

Cooktown to Halle, Germany dated 21 January 1890. The postage paid was 1s 6d.The letter rate via the French packet boat was 9d per half ounce, so this was a double rate letter. Seen at Cavendish auctions in December 2017

Goondiwindi to Oberhessen, Germany dated 22 July 1890. The postage paid was 1s, including 4d registration. The letter rate via the French or German packets boats was 9d per half ounce, so this was a single rate letter and registration incorrectly charged at 3d. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane to Boston, USA  via San Francisco dated 4 August 1890. The postage paid was 1s 6d. The letter rate to the USA via San Francisco was 6d per half ounce, so this is a triple letter rate. Seen in Gaertner auctions no 25 lot no 6322

1891

Brisbane to Leipzig, Germany dated 27 May 1891. The postage paid was 1s 4d, including 4d registration .The letter rate was 6d per half ounce, so this was a double rate letter. Seen on Ebay

Brisbane to London, England dated 23 September 1891. The postage paid was 2s 9.5d. including a registration fee of 4d. The letter rate was 2.5d per half ounce, so this is a 11 x  letter rate with 2d left over or else a 12 x letter rate underpaid by half pence? Seen in Abacus auction no 240 lot no 608

1893

Gympie to Budapest, Hungary dated 1 May 1893. The postage paid was 1s. including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate was 2.5d per half ounce, so this is a 3 x  letter rate with 1.5d left over or else a 4 letter rate underpaid by one penny? Seen in Corinphila auction 2023

1895

Brisbane to New York, USA  via San Francisco dated 31 May 1895. The postage paid was 1s 4d including registration of 3d. The letter rate to the USA was 2.5d per half ounce, so this is a 5 x letter rate with halfpence left over. Seen on Ebay

1898

Brisbane to Baden, Germany dated 12 February 1898. The postage paid was 3s including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate was 2.5d per half ounce, so this is either a 13 x rate (highly unlikely and a ha'penny too much) or, more likely, a philatelic cover. Seen at Abacus auction no 239

Philatelic use after the 1s stamp was withdrawn from sale in June 1899

The 3rd Sideface 1s stamp went on sale in June 1899, replacing the 2nd Sideface 1s stamp. Therefore any examples of the 2nd Sideface 1s on cover from mid-1899 onwards, especially if posted in Brisbane or a larger regional post office, are most probably philatelic

1900

George Street, Brisbane to Salzburg, Austria dated 2 January 1900. The postage paid was 3s 6d including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate was 2.5d per half ounce, so this is either a 14 x rate (highly unlikely and 2d left over anyway) or, more likely, especially as the 1 shilling 3rd Sideface issue went on sale in June 1899, a philatelic cover. Seen at auction

1901

Brisbane to Sydney dated 23 March 1901. The postage paid was 1s 3d including a registration fee of 3d. The letter rate was 1d per half ounce, so this letter was either the 12 x rate or, most likely, philatelic, especially as the 1 shilling 3rd Sideface issue went on sale in June 1899. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

1913

South Melbourne to Paris, France dated 21 August 1913. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock. Ex Butler

1916

Thursday Island to Wellington, New Zealand, dated 11 April 1916. Seen on Stampboards

1965

Sydney to Birmingham, England via American Samoa dated 11 July 1965. Seen on Ebay