Correspondences
Newspaper note 1897:
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Source:Trove Australia
London Phlilatelist 1936:
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Here are some Hambly covers from other countries - just for fun. All seen in internet auctions.
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John Francis Hambly was born 1860 in Ballarat. From 1899 to 1901 he lived in Suva, Fiji.
J.F. Hambly was a well-known collector of Pacific Islands philately until his death. In earlier years he had connections to a bicycle business in Sydney (please see some of the
covers: Austral Cycle Agency). He was vice-president and treasurer of the "Austral Cycle and Cricket Club". Later (about 1920 - 23) he was connected
to the "Pianola Co. Ltd." and sometimes was in Melbourne. Later this Co. became "The Aeolian Co.", 420 George St. Sydney and Hambly had covers sent to him
from other Pacific regions c/o this Co. He also used the nom de plume of "Tubb". In the 1930s he was Vice-president of the Sydney Philatelic Club and the N.S.W. Philatelic Society.
He died on July 18, 1944 in 219 Willoughby Road, Naremburn.
I'd say that nearly all known New Hebrides "Hambly covers" are shown on this page.
1) The ANHCo / N.S.W. era
22 June 1897
A letter over half an ounce and prepaid 2d interisland postage and twopence halfpenny
for delivery in New South Wales. Cancelled PCH Type 2. (Goron coll.)
22 June 1897
Early Hambly letter prepaid 2d interisland postage and the correct
twopence half penny for delivery in New South Wales.
All stamps cancelled with GK type PU1.
The june date is within the time of existence of the ANHCo which
went into liquidation on or about 30 September 1897.
Ex Nathan Hals coll. illustrated on page 43 in Collectors Club Handbook n°20.
("SeSi" coll., ex Namba 2 coll., ex Nathan Hals coll.)
30 June 1897
Part cover to NSW double the half ounce weight. Internal postage prepaid by 2d in locals
cancelled by PCH type 3. Postage from Vila to Sydney 5d, paid in NSW stamps cancelled with
PCH type 1A Vila 5 July 1897, backstamped Sydney 14 July 1897. (Aore coll.)
4 August 1897
ANHCo 2d cancelled with PCH Type 2 Aug. 4th 1897, a NSW 2d cancelled
with PCH Type 1 on Aug. 4th 1897. Backstamped Sydney Aug. 13th 1897. (Mele coll.)
4 August 1897
A letter over half an ounce and prepaid 2d interisland postage and twopence halfpenny
for delivery in New South Wales. Cancelled PCH Type 2. (Goron coll.)
4 August 1897
A pair of ANHCo 1d cancelled with PCH Type 2 Aug. 4th 1897, a pair of NSW 1d
and a ½d stamp cancelled with PCH Type 1a on Aug. 4th 1897. One additional
strike of 1a below the locals. The Type 1 cancels are very clear for this type.
Backstamped Sydney 18, 8 A.M., Aug. 13th 1897. (Treadwell coll.)
4 August 1897
(new 24 October 2018)
A 2d ANHCo 1d cancelled with the VILA POST cancel Aug. 4th 1897, a NSW 2½d
and a ½d stamp cancelled with the first VILA cancel on Aug. 4th 1897. One additional
strike left of NSW stamp. Backstamped Sydney 18, 8 A.M., Aug. 13th 1897. Carried by the BIRKSGATE which arrived on Aug.12
See at Corinphila Switzerland
4 August 1897
Reverse
4 August 1897
(new 1/2019)
Hambly cover piece with three NSWand a 2d ANHCo stamp - seen in a book or auction catalogue in 2001.
30 December 1897
A pair of ANHCo 2d cancelled with PCH Type 1, NSW ½d and 2d cancelled
with Type 1. Last time seen in Robson Lowe auction catalog 1972 now re-emerged: (Millet coll.)
Here is Alain Millet's writeup:
"Combinaison Nouvelle Galles du Sud (port simple à 2½d) et affranchissement superfétatoire en timbres de l'Australasian New Hebrides Co.
(4d. au lieu de 1d.). Oblitération NEW HEBRIDES VILA DE 30 1897 de l'Agence Postale de Nouvelle Galles du Sud. Au verso arrivée SYDNEY JA 11 98."
30 December 1897
ANHCo 1d and 2d cancelled with PCH Type 1, NSW ½d and 2d cancelled
with Type 1. (Macray Watson Auctions, Australia, September 2000, Schuyler Rumsey December 2005 [$3,250])
30 December 1897
(new 9/2021)
A NSW 2d and a ½d stamp on a Hambly letter to Sydney in conjunction with a 2d 2d ANHCo stamp all cancelled Vila Goyns-Klinger type PM1.
Source Grosvenor Auctions.
30 December 1897
A pair of ANHCo 1d cancelled with PCH Type 1, NSW ½d and 2d cancelled
with Type 1. Backstamped Sydney Jan. 11th 1898. (Picture thanks to Macray Watson Auctions, Australia, October 1999)
30 December 1897
The ANHCo local stamps used in combination with the correct rate NSW 2½d.
The stamps are all cancelled with the new NSW canceller, which was used probably
improperly as ANHCo had it's own cancellors. Backstamped Sydney 11 January 1898. (Namba 2 coll., ex Jersey coll.)
30 December 1897
(new 4 March 2018)
Two 1d ANHCo local stamps used in combination with the correct rate NSW 2½d.
The stamps are all cancelled with the new NSW canceller, which was used probably
improperly as ANHCo had it's own cancellors. ( Grosvenor Auctions))
30 December 1897
A pair of ANHCo 1d cancelled with PCH Type 1, NSW ½d and 2d cancelled
with Type 1. (Picture thanks to Robson Lowe auction catalog 1972: The R.A. Baldwin collection))
30 December 1897
(new 10/2021)
At left the last information I had about this cover. Now nearly 50 years later I found it again in an auction.
In 1972 it was sold for 150 BP and now it was offered for 500 Swiss Francs in the Corinphila November 2021 auction.
Image thanks to Corinphila Auktionen Zürich
All these 30 Dec covers were carried by the Burns Philp & Co. steamer YSABEL which left Sydney 1897-11-26, departed Port Vila 1 Jan 1898 and returned Sydney 1898-01-11.
Definitely this was not ANHCo (Australasian New Hebrides Co.) since they were broke already & BP
took over in December 1897. This trip with the Ysabel is the first under the BP flag.
Hambly must have had a good sense of postal history. (Info thanks to Jeff Blinco)
2) Later covers (what happened with J.F. Hambly in between?)
20 November 1910
A later Hambly letter and different from the other ones: British 5d and a twin
2½d make a "comfortable" registered rate to NSW, cancelled with the double
circle French "Service Maritime" marker which was used from 1910 to 1930 and is
generally found in blue in 1910. It is thought that the cancel was used on board the
Messageries Maritimes ship "Pacifique", which maintained the New Hebrides - Nouméa
- Sydney service from 1906 to 1924. The boxed R registration mark, PCH type R1A,
is similar to that in use in Port Vila. The cover has a 22(?) Nov 10 Nouméa transit
and a NO 27 10 arrival cancel on the back. (Namba 2 coll.)
20 November 1910
Another one from the same day: strip of three British ½d, strip of three 1d,
a pair and a single 2d on a registrerd letter to the "Box 166" address in Sydney, cancelled
with PCH type 83, now month missing. The cover has a 25(?) November 1910 Nouméa transit
and a 27 November 1910 arrival cancel on the back. (Mele coll.)
Where is the similar Hambly cover with the registration number 230?
12 February 1911
1910 British issue: Two 2½d, a 1d and a 2½d stamp prepay a 2d letter
rate to Sydney and the 2½d registration fee. The 2½d stamp is scarce on
cover. Cancelled with PCH type 7 in blue. (Goron coll.) Image thanks to David Feldman, Geneva
10 March 1911
1910 British issue: ½d, a 1d seems underpaid. Cancelled with PCH type 7.
Backstamped Sydney 22 March 1911 on arrival. The writing under the stamp says
registered but was clearly crossed out and the stamp put over it. Lost its corners due
to amateurish storage I suppose. (Treadwell coll.)
11 April 1911
Registered to Sydney, the 6d pair cancelled by PCH type 83, registration handstamp
octagonal framed R, both in blue. Backstamped on arrival in Sydney at 17 April 1911.
As seven days seems to be quite fast one can assume that the cover was posted
on board after the paquebot had left Vila on its way to Sydney. ("JGI" coll.)
11 April 1911
Registered to Sydney, 1s pair cancelled by PCH type 83. (Seen in 1985 Lowe auction, owner unknown)
12 July 1911
Registered letter to Sydney with mixed franking French 10c & British 2d and 2½d tied by PCH type 5 .
Registration mark R1. Backstamped Registered B Sydney JY 25 11 on arrival. The cover was carried to Sydney by the Burns Philp & co. Ltd. steamer MALAITA, capt. Millington, which
arrived in Sydney on 25 Juli 1911. ("SeSi" coll.)
12 July 1911
backstamp SYDNEY.
20 November 1916
Hambly cover registered to Sydney. The three 6d stamps cancelled with GK type PM5C in blue. Noumea transit cancel on reverse.
Image thanks to Chris Rainey Postal History
11 June 1921
Cover to N.S.W., the two 10c overprints cancelled with GK PM4.
Correct letter rate. No backstamps.
Image thanks to Lugdunum Philatelie
15 June 1921
(new 5/2021)
Registered letter from Vila to Mosman NSW Australia.
Franking 45c with the overprinted stamps 10c/5d , 1d/5d,
20c/30c (CA wm) and 05c/40c tied by PM4, registration cachet NR1C.
Underpaid 5c but no problem with the postmaster.
Backstamped SYDNEY 27JE21. Pacifique arrived at Sydney on 25.
The 05c/40c stamp is scarce on letter. ("SeSi" coll.)
15 June 1921
(new 5/2021)
Reverse
15 July 1921
Cover to N.S.W., the two 20c and one 10c overprints cancelled with PCH type 7.
(Sorry, the bottom part was covered by another cover)("JGI" coll.)
22 August 1921
Cover to N.S.W., the two 20c and one 10c overprints cancelled with PCH type 7.
Correct letter rate. Cancelled Sydney in transit 5 SEP 21 (PACIFIQUE arrived on 3 Sep, a Saturday hence
processed on Monday)and arrived Mosman 6 September. ("JGI" coll.)
15 July 1924
(new 1/2021)
Hambly cover with his nom de plume Tubb to N.S.W.
15 July 1924
(new 1/2021)
reverse.
29 October 1930
Another nine years later: British 1925 5d stamp on a cover to Australia. Circular
datestamp LOOSE SHIP LETTER SYDNEY 29OC30. This cancel is recorded from 1930 to 1935,
ex M.V. "Morinda".
This letter is not addressed by him as are the others. Somebody else wrote to J.F.
Hambly, living now at his son's (?) place in Castle Hill. (Aore coll.)
4 April 1940
A French 1938 gold currency 20c and a British 30c stamp as double weight registered
rate on a letter to Naremburn in NSW, Australia, cancelled with PCH type 36 and not
censored. This and the following letter are early examples of the Santo Post Office
activity. This PO was opened on 1 January 1940. The cover carries both the registration
cachet PCH type R31 and the PCH type R34 label. Backstamped Vila 16 April 1940 and Sydney
4 May 1940 in transit and Crows Nest (Naremburn) 6 May 1940 on arrival. (Namba 2 coll.)
10 April 1940
50 cg French issue paying for a 20gr letter and the registration fee. It bears two
registrations: PCH type R34 and type R31. Cancel is PCH type 38. It is backstamped
with a British cancel in Vila on 11 April 1940, the day the Burn Philp M.V. Morinda
from Autralia reached Port Vila; also backstamped GPO Sydney, 4 May and Crows
Nest, Australia 6 May. The vessel stopped at Espiritu Santo Island then at Port
Vila, followed by a trip to Nouméa, New Caledonia and returned to Sydney on 4 May.
(ex Jersey coll - Klinger coll..)
10 April 1940
Two British 1938 gold currency 5c stamps and a 10c stamp on a letter to Naremburn
in NSW, Australia, cancelled with PCH type 38 and not censored either. This was
the rate for a double weight letter in 1940.
The address seems to be written in Mr. Hambly's handwriting. It is known that
he used the nom de plume "Tubb". So this one here has to be considered
a "Hambly" cover too. (Goron coll.)
29 August 1941
Cover with the 5c, 10c and 15c France Libre stamps cancelled with PCH type 38 and
a PCH type 36 below the stamps. The addressee is the same as on [D.1-K]. Registration
mark is PCH type R31, registration label R34 affixed additionally. The cover was censored in the New Hebrides and in Australia. (Merot coll.)
10 October 1941
Cover with the 5c, 10c and 15c France Libre stamps cancelled with PCH type 38.
The addressee is J. T. Tubb too. There are two registration marks: PCH type R34 label
and PCH type R31 handstamp. The cover was censored in the New Hebrides. (Goron coll.)
29 April 1942
(new 1/2020)
So far the last Hambly cover I know: 29 April 1942 registered and censored from Santo to Naremburn N.S.W. The 30c 1938 French stamps are cancelled with
PM 15. Colonial letter rate was 10cg and the colonial registration fee 20 cg so the cover is correctly franked. Backstamped Sydney illegible, Sydney RS
26 May 1942 and Crows Nest 27 May 1942.
29 April 1942
(new 1/2020)
reverse
It is here nearly for half a century that Mr. Hambly was interested in Pacific Islands Postal History and was producing covers which of course were
affected by his philatelic interest but were much nearer to normal covers than those of many American or French "covermakers".
As I wrote at the top of this page he died on July 18, 1944 in 219 Willoughby Road, Naremburn.