Queensland Covers with NSW Loose Ship Letter Handstamps

Ship Letter Page

Loose Ship Letters were letters posted in boxes aboard ships, the contents of which were handed in to the post office at the next port of call. This meant that loose ship letters posted onboard the Brisbane to Sydney route had NSW Ship letter handstamps applied. Three Types are known used in conjunction with Queensland Stamps

NSW Ship Letter Type 1 - no stops, 1873 - 1878 

NSW Ship Letter Type 2 - stops, 1876 - 1887

NSW Ship Letter Type 3 - Maltese crosses, 1903

Type 1  An undated double oval handstamp with "LOOSE SHIP" at the top and  "LETTER" at the bottom. White type SL15. Dated 1873 - 1878 and rated 5R

• (31 July 1873 - 12 April 1878) rated 5R - $60, $100 on cover

Type 2  An undated double oval handstamp with "LOOSE SHIP" at the top and  "LETTER" at the bottom and large stops either side. White type SL16. Dated 1876 - 1887 and rated 5R

• (21 September 1876 - 1 December 1887) rated 4R - $40, $80 on cover

Type 3  An undated double oval handstamp with "LOOSE SHIP" at the top and  "LETTER" at the bottom and Maltese crosses  either side. White type SL18. Dated 1903 and rated 5R

• (1903) rated 5R - $100 on cover

Left to Right: NSW Ship Letter Type 1, NSW Ship Letter Type 2, NSW Ship Letter Type 3

NSW Ship Letter Type 1

1873

NSW Ship letter Type 1 dated 31 July 1873. Rated 5R. Seen in Abacus auction no 247 lot no 1102

1875

NSW Ship letter Type 1 dated 16 April 1875. Rated 5R. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

NSW Ship letter Type 1 dated 14 October 1875. Rated 5R. Seen in Abacus auction no 247 lot no 1103

1878

NSW Ship letter Type 1 dated 12 April 1878. Rated 5R. Seen in Abacus auction no 248 lot no 2327

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NSW Ship Letter Type 2

1876

NSW Ship letter Type 2 dated 21 September 1876. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 247 lot no 1105

1877

NSW Ship letter Type 2 dated 26 October 1877. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 257 lot no 836

1880

NSW Ship letter Type 2 dated 14 July 1880. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 234 lot no 191

1881

NSW Ship letter Type 2 dated 6 June 1881. Rated 4R. Seen in Cavendish auctions in 2014. Ex Wise (1951)

1882

NSW Ship letter Type 2 dated 5 June 1882. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 250 lot no 908

NSW Ship letter Type 2 dated 1 December 1887. Rated 4R. Seen in Abacus auction no 247 lot no 1108

Unknown date

NSW Ship letter Type 2 Rated 4R

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NSW Ship Letter Type 3

1903

NSW Ship letter Type 3 dated 1903. Rated 5R. Seen in Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1422. Ex Griffiths