Lot 277
Used to England: 1867 (1 Mar.) Another private ship single rate cover from Grahamstown to Hastings, Sussex from the Harkness correspondence bearing 1864-77 4d blue, similarly canceled by barred oval "3" handstamp, envelope is docketed at left and endorsed "Per Steamer Achilles" of the Blue Funnel Line, cover red LONDON SHIP LETTER PAID MY 9 67 c.d.s. and red manuscript crayon "2," credit to Cape, backstamped GRAHAMS-TOWN MR 1 67 CAPE COLONY c.d.s. and Hastings receiver. Rare., ex Dillaway. SG 24a.
Estimate $300 - 400
In 1865 the Blue Funnel Line built the "Achilles" and two sister ships, "Agamemnon" and "Ajax," the first ocean going vessels to have tandem compound engines which were to revolutionize long distance sea travel, ultimately sealing the fate of the sailing ships. The vessels of the Blue Funnel Line plied the route between England and China and, although it was not intended that they should enter Cape ports, they were occasionally seen in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth between 1866 and 1870. The opening of the Suez Canal deprived the Cape of further visits from these pioneering steamships.
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| Opening Bid $145 |
