Lot 272
Used from British Kaffraria to England: 1865 (14 Feb.) single rate cover from King Williams Town to Hastings, Sussex bearing 1864-77 1s green, tied by bold large triangular obliterator, cover is endorsed "Via Diamond Line" and marked "Stamped 1/-" by sender, docketed at left, backstamped with red double oval KING-WILLIAMS-TOWN FE 14 1865 datestamp with Hastings receiver and bears CAPE TOWN FE 21 65 CAPE COLONY c.d.s. and LONDON MR 30 65 PAID transit c.d.s. very scarce, Ex Goldblatt, Dillaway. SG 26a.
Estimate $300 - 400
This cover, unusually franked at 1s. (rather than the correct private ship rate of 4d) is photographed and described in Goldblatt (1983) on page 139. The unpublished explanation for this increased franking is found in a report by the Postmaster General to the House of Assembly dated 20 July 1865 dealing specifically with the Diamond Line: "rates charged upon the mails dispatched in August and November 1864 were 4d…the usual packet rate of 1/- has been charged upon all letters subsequently." This presumably temporary measure was possibly confined only to the Diamond Line.
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| Opening Bid $145 |
