Victoria 1900 - 2d (2/-) on cover

Genuine use of either of the 1900 Patriotic Fund stamps is extremely difficult to locate. There are many covers which bear one of the stamps or both but which do not pay the correct rate. There are however some covers which, although perhaps fabricated to some extent, still pay correct rates and also appear to have been through the appropriate postal procedures.

First Day Cover for the 2d Victorian 1900 Charity stamp
single franking of the 2d Victorian 1900 Charity stamp;
mixed frankings of the 2d Victorian 1900 Charity stamp;
combination frankings of both the Victorian 1900 Charity stamps;
mixed frankings of both the Victorian 1900 Charity stamps with another issue.

First Day Cover.

2d (2/-) stamp on First Day Cover (22 May 1900).

There is only one set of First Day Covers recorded. They were prepared by Mr. William Rundell who worked in the General Post Office building.

Matthew Bennett February 2003 Lot 579;
Prestige Philately May 2007 Lot 577 and April 2011 Lot 522.

The 1d FDC is shown elsewhere.

Single franking.

Both of the covers shown below have their counterparts with the 1d (1/-) stamp attached.

Melbourne (?) to Perth.
Cancellation is very indistinct.

2d inter-colonial letter rate.

Prestige Philately June 2010 Lot 684.

Other covers with a single franking are:

and cancelled at Moonee Ponds 22 March 1905 with additional strike at the left. Status Auctions February 2007, Lot 1680.

Listing of covers with a single franking of the 2d (2/-) stamp.

Date	From	To	Seller/Reference & Date (lot)
22 May 1900 (FDI)	Melbourne	Melbourne	Matthew Bennett February 2003 Lot 579; Prestige Philately May 2007 Lot 577 and April 2011 Lot 522.
8 May 1901	Melbourne	Perth	Matthew Bennett April 2003 Lot 2836; Prestige Aug 2011 Lot 496.
22 March 1905	Moonee Ponds	Rose Park, SA	Status May 2006 Lot 1477; Status 2007 Lot 1680; Status August 2011 Lot 1737; Feb 2012 Lot 1697. National Bank of Australasia envelope addressed to Miss Nesbitt at Rose Park, South Australia. stamp rotated 90º clockwise. Correct interstate rate.

Mixed franking.

Melbourne to Perth.
27 June 1900.

5d inter-colonial registered letter rate:
Illustrated advertising cover front.

Prestige Philately May 2004 Lot 1073.
Prestige Philately June 2010 Lot 690A.

This cover - and its companion with the 2d (2/-) Boer War stamp - is on a cover advertising Alcock & Co., Billiard Table Manufacturers of 212 Russell Street, elbourne. Alcock is credited with bringing the game of billiards to ite high level of popularity in Australia during the 1800s.

Brunswick to Auckland, NZ.
25 June 1900.

5d registered inter-colonial letter rate:

Millennium Auctions August 2005 Lot 472,
December 2005 Lot 756;
Prestige Philately June 2010 Lot 684.