VERY EARLY LOCAL 4d RATES CHARGED ON MAIL TO MAHEBOURG & GRA...

Hammer

£420

VERY EARLY LOCAL 4d RATES CHARGED ON MAIL TO MAHEBOURG & GRAND PORT; 29 July 1840 EL (church contents) from "Port Louis to "Mahebourg" with faint red 2-ring "MAURITIUS/POST OFFICE" cds on the front endorsed "Post Paid" but that was crossed out; presumably the sender had intended to pay the 4d local rate but was told at the PO that the addressee, Bishop Clifford, was entitled to free mail. Plus printed "April 1841" EL (bank circular) prepaid from London on 12 May to "Grand Port, Mauritius, Isle of France" with fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LONDON" ds and "1/4" (double outgoing 8d rate) but endorsed "To be Charged" & "1s/4d" (changed from "1/8d") in Mauritius for the incoming double 6d Ship Letter rate plus the local 4d rate from Port Louis to Grand Port (8d was an initial error because the local rate was a uniform 4d). Rare and attractive early pair showing the internal 4d rate. Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, WORCESTERSHIRE