2690

Sale number: 108

Tonga: Tin Can Mail: 1921 envelope with mourning band to Auckland, endorsed ''Per Tin Can/Mail/Niua Fo'ou'' and ''p S.S. Tofua'', bearing 2d. with indistinct cancellation and Apia Sept. 25 transit alongside, initialled ''C.S.R.'' in pencil on reverse. A very early cover, possibly the earliest from this service, its originator, Charles Stuart Ramsay, having arrived on the island in June. Photo.

Price Realised £2200

2691

Sale number: 108

Tonga: Tin Can Mail: Incoming Mail, 1936 (July 1) O.H.M.S. envelope registered to the Postmaster, Niuafoou from Nukualofa with two light strikes of Government Frank and July 10 arrival, 1937 ''Pacific Islands Monthly'' newspaper wrapper sent from Sydney Feb. 21, signed by Walter Quensell on reverse, both with usual cachets. (2 items) Photo.

Price Realised £150

2692

Sale number: 108

Tonga: Tin Can Mail: Censored Mail, two outward and two incoming items, with cachets, comprising 1940 cover (slight faults) to France with P.C.90 label and enclosed cover bearing patriotic message of encouragement signed by Walter Quensell, 1941 registered to U.S.A. with Tongan H2.2 diamond cachets, 1942 from Wellington and 1943 from Maine envelopes to Quensell censored by U.S. authorities. (4 covers)

Price Realised £210

2693

Sale number: 108

Tonga: Tin Can Mail: 1946 Evacuation, Two envelopes sent by Postmaster Sione Malekamu to Dr. H.G. Brown at Nukualofua, both signed, the first, believed unique, being an O.H.M.S. (deleted) envelope sent during immediate aftermath of the volcanic eruption and carried by the Tongan government yacht ''Hifofua'' bearing 21/2d. cancelled Sept. 27 on arrival in Nukulaofa with explanatory ms. note ''No/cancelling/stamp/available/Destroyed/in Eruption'', the other with Dec. 21 ms. cancellation tying 11/2d., carried on the M.V. ''Matua'' with purser's datestamp and Dec. 22 arrival on reverse, (Oct. 6) William Finau printed Evacuation envelope with 11/2d. tied by ms. cancellation by the Purser of the ''Hifofua''. (3 covers) Photo.

Price Realised £1800

2694

Sale number: 108

Tonga: Tin Can Mail: Collection of covers etc. in three albums, various addressed and franked with a full range of colourful cachets incl. specific visits and printed envelopes, with 1930 U.S. Naval Eclipse Expedition (3), 1934 South Seas Exploration Cruise (3), some incoming incl. O.H.M.S. from Nukualofa and Vavau, range of Niufoou cancellations with seven line ''NIUAFOOU'' and ''TIN CAN MAIL'' straight line in violet on 1931 cover to N.S.W. bearing 1897 2d. and 21/2d. and undated cover to Auckland with 1/2d. (4), 1934 scarce c.d.s. with inverted slugs on cover to Christchurch and early ''Canoe mail'' cover to Hawaii, 1935 signed letters (2) from Walter Quensell (one claiming that he started the service in 1919), 1936 uncacheted cover to Australia with signed letter from Postmaster J. Nete explaining cachet payment system, 1937 registered to England with scarce provisional registration label, 1937 'Markle' cartoon covers (2), 1940 Fiji 2d. stationery envelope registered to Sydney with added Tonga 1/2d., 5d., 1946 (Oct. 6), (Dec. 21) Evacuation covers with ms. cancellations, 1957 cover with late use of Service Ended label and Quensell printed reply letter, photographs and ephemera incl. 1958 and 1959 letters written and signed by C.S. Ramsay. Photo.

Price Realised £1500