Lot 321
Used to Germany: 1881 (1 Oct.) private ship single rate envelope from Port Elizabeth to Berlin, Germany bearing 1864-77 6d violet, 1871-76 ½d grey-black and 1d carmine-red, neatly tied by barred oval "2" handstamps, endorsed "Per s.s. ‘Dunrobin Castle’" and bears PORT ELIZABETH OC 1 81 c.d.s. and two strikes of large red "2½d" handstamp, credit to the U.K. on fully paid single rate letters from the Cape on mail to U.P.U. countries transiting through the U.K., backstamped with CAPE TOWN OC 4 81 CAPE COLONY transit c.d.s. and Berlin receiver of 28 October 1881, envelope with pretty blue Port Elizabeth L. Lippert & Co., Cape of Good Hope merchant’s oval on back flap, a beautiful and fresh three-color franking, ex Dillaway (SG 25b, 28, 29).
Estimate $200 - 300
The reputation of the Dunrobin Castle was much enhanced by that ship’s involvement in the Zulu War in January 1879. The British forces had been almost wiped out at Isandhlwana and reinforcements from home were urgently required. As yet no cable service was operational between the Cape and England (introduced in 1880). To save the situation the Dunrobin Castle sailed from Table Bay on 27 January steaming full ahead for St. Vincent which then marked the limit of the Western Telegraph. From there the news of the Isandhlwana defeat was cabled to London. The two covers in the sale inscribed as required to nominate carriage on the favored Castle liners were both delivered exactly 28 days after posting in Port Elizabeth. Speed premiums were additional incentives to the Mail Contract and from 1883 the time allowed for passage between the Cape and England was reduced from 26 to 21½ days.
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| Opening Bid $95 |
