1d vermillion (1896) SG 229 - Examples on cover

The 1d vermillion (1896) SG 229 is priced in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue as being 100 times more expensive on cover. As more and more examples come to light, this may need to be revised. Here are examples of SG 229 on cover, in date order where known, with a focus on the postal rates used

1896

Letter from Dunwich on Stradbroke Island to Brisbane at the 1d town rate dated 26 October 1896. Seen in Premier Postal auction no 117. Ex Smithies

1896 1d dated Rockhampton 27 October 1896 to Lakes Creek where it arrived the following day and paying the town letter rate. Ex Griffiths. Now in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

Uprated newspaper wrapper of 2d posted in Brisbane on 12 November 1896 to Berlin, Germany where it arrived on 20 December 1896. The postage included a single SG 229 1896 issue. The rate was 1d for the first 4 ounces and then ½d per each additional 2 ounces. From the collection of Dave Elsmore

1897

Letter to Washington D.C, USA at the 2½d overseas letter rate including a horizontal pair of 1d 1896 SG 229 stamps posted in Brisbane on 8 January 1897. Seen on Ebay

Uprated 1d. letter card with an SG 229 1896 issue dated Kilkivan Junction 23 January 1897 and sent to an address there. The letter card was uprated to 2d as at the time of posting the letter card rate was 2d. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Letter to Ireland at the 2½d overseas letter rate including a horizontal pair of 1d 1896 SG 229 stamps posted in Brisbane on 3 February 1897 and arriving in Ballymena, Ireland on 16 March 1897. In the collection of Andrew Mortlock

1896 1d dated 6 February 1897 from Thursday Island to Georgetown, Queensland and missent to Georgetown, British Guiana! The country rate was 2d per half ounce, but this was not picked up as the letter was not taxed for deficient postage. In the collection of Dave Elsmore

Spink Auction: 15030 - The Philatelic Collector's Series Sale Lot: 3751 Queensland 27 Feb 1897. Printed matter "Returns Only" letter from Brisbane addressed locally and bearing 1896 1d. cancelled by octagonal datestamp and with arrival c.d.s. (27.2) on reverse; a very rare example of the printed matter rate within Brisbane. Ex Griffiths. Now in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

Two SG 229 examples 'On Her Majesty's Service' envelope with a Brisbane Pillarbox inserted into the correct international pillar box, PXB 3 type 14 date stamp of 5 April 1897 and sent by the Registrar-General's Office, Statistics Branch to the US Treasury, Washington D.C., USA. Standard international letter rate of 2.5d per half ounce. Seen on Ebay

Letter from Yeppoon to England dated 6 April 1897 bearing 10d postage including 1 x SG 229 1896 1d stamp and arriving in Stafford, England on 16 May 1897. Quadruple international letter rate. Seen on Facebook

Registered letter posted in Nambour on 20 April 1897 to Brisbane bearing 5d of postage including a single 1896 SG 229. The rate comprised the 2d Queensland rate plus 3d for registration. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Letter from Clifton to Brisbane dated 27 April 1897 bearing 2d postage including a single SG 229 1896 1d stamp. Queensland letter rate of 2d per half ounce. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1328. Ex Griffiths

An SG 229 example used for the book post rate of 1d per 2 ounces, with a Brisbane type 20 date stamp of 4 June 1897 and sent by A. S. Russell, a Brisbane based stamp importer, to Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. From my collection

Registered letter from Dalby to Finland dated 15 June 1897 bearing 5½d postage including a single SG 229 1896 1d stamp. The overseas letter rate was 2½d per half ounce and 3d for registration. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1331. Ex Griffiths

Postcard bearing a TPO railway cancel of 24 June 1897 and addressed to Dulwich Hill in Brisbane. The postcard rate at the time was 1d within Queensland. It was re-addressed to the post office in Sydney and as the postcard rate to NSW was 2d, an additional 1896 SG 229 1d stamp was added when re-posted on 14 July 1897. Seen on Ebay

Letter from Cooktown to Hobart dated 24 June 1897 with 6d postage including 1 x SG 229 1896 1d stamp. Triple intercolonial letter rate. Seen at Grosvenor auction no 119

Uprated ½d newspaper wrapper to Berlin, Germany, dated 27 June 1897 and including a single SG 229 1896 issue. The rate was 1d for the first 4 ounces and then ½d per each additional 2 ounces. Seen on Ebay

Registered letter from Mitchell to England dated 2 July 1897 bearing 8d postage comprising a block of eight SG 229 1896 1d stamps. The overseas letter rate was 2½d per half ounce and 3d for registration so this was a double rate letter. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1330. Ex Griffiths

Uprated ½d newspaper wrapper to Berlin, Germany, dated 27 July 1897 and including a single SG 229 1896 issue. The rate was 1d for the first 4 ounces and then ½d per each additional 2 ounces. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Uprated ½d newspaper wrapper to Berlin, Germany, dated 27 July 1897 and including a single SG 229 1896 issue. The rate was 1d for the first 4 ounces and then ½d per each additional 2 ounces. Seen on Delcampe

Letter from Brisbane dated 28 July 1897 to Gympie with 3d of postage including a vertical pair of the 1896 SG 229 issue. It was taxed 2d due the postage being deficient by 1d. So presumably a double weight letter as the Queensland rate was 2d per ½ ounce. Seen at Abacus auction no 234 lot no 178. Ex Manning

Front from Beenleigh dated 2 August 1897 to Birmingham, England with 3d of postage including 2 X single 1896 SG 229 stamps. The overseas letter rate was 2½d per half ounce then an additional 2½d for each additional half ounce so I am unsure why the postage was 3d - unless it was a commercial paper, which was charged 3d per 2 ounces. In my collection

A redirected postcard (originally from the USA) from Bundaberg to Bavaria, Germany dated 5 August 1897 with 1½d postage which was the single postcard rate. Seen in Antonio Torres auctions December 2024

Letter from Southport to Rockhampton dated 1 September 1897 with 2d of postage being the correct rate within the colony

Letter from Fortitude Valley in Brisbane to San Francisco USA at the 2.5d overseas rate dated 24 September 1897. From the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

Letter posted on a train (TPO no 2 Central Railway line) dated 2 October 1897 to possibly Rockhampton with 3d of postage including a single 1896 SG 229. The rate is probably the 2d Queensland rate plus a late fee of 1d. Seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Registered letter from Brisbane to Germany dated 5 October 1897 bearing 9½d postage including 2 x single SG 229 1896 1d stamps. The overseas letter rate was 2½d per half ounce and 3d for registration so this was probably a triple rate letter and should have born 10½d in postage. Seen at Spink auction no 12043 lot no 1331. Ex Griffiths

Uprated newspaper wrapper of 2d posted in Brisbane on 19 November 1897 to Wesel, Germany including a single SG 229 1896 issue. The rate was 1d for the first 4 ounces and then ½d per each additional 2 ounces. From my collection

Letter to Switzerland at the 2½d overseas letter rate including 2 x 1d 1896 SG 229 stamps sent from Toowoomba on 27 December 1897 and then on arrival redirected to Rome, Italy. Seen in an auction

1899

Registered letter from Brisbane to Germany dated 20 September 1899 bearing 10d postage including a block of four SG 229 1896 1d stamps. The overseas letter rate was 2½d per half ounce and 3d for registration so the correct postage probably should have been 10½d. Seen on the Internet and almost certainly philatelic in nature

1901

Letter to Switzerland from Brisbane dated 24 November 1901 bearing 5d postage including 2 x single 1896 1d SG 229 stamps. 5d was the double rate for international destinations. Very late usage if not philatelic in nature. Seen on Ebay

1903

Uprated 1d printed envelope to Samuel Dalby at Parson's Point, Gladstone bearing an additional 1896 SG 229 issue. It appears to have been posted in Gladstone in 1903. Given the late usage (this issue was replaced in 1897) and the fact that Dalby was a noted Queensland philatelist, this item is philatelic in nature. Seen on Ebay

1906

Uprated 1d printed envelope to Samuel Dalby posted in Gladstone on 29 March 1906 and addressed to South Brisbane bearing an additional 1896 SG 229 issue. Given the late usage (this issue was replaced in 1897) and the fact that Dalby was a noted Queensland philatelist, this item is philatelic in nature. Seen in Leski auctions June 2021. Ex Beston

Undated

Uprated newspaper wrapper of 2d to Scotland including a single SG 229 1896 issue and bearing a Townsville barred numeral number 59. The rate was 1d for the first 4 ounces and then ½d per each additional 2 ounces. From my collection