£220 - £300
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - RARE 4s-0d BOOK-POST SPECTACULAR "NPB/N" - CANCELLED FRANKING; c.1874 large brown paper front (presumably from a parcel of books) with a dramatic franking for the 4s-0d Book Post rate; two Blocks of Twelve 1d Reds (pl.137 & pl.149 - the Blocks inevitably with some faults but of different shapes) and Block of Four 1874 6d Grey (pl.13; one torn - SG146/J83) all tied by very fine scarce London dotted "NPB/B" cancels (used on Book Post mail). The 1870s Book Post rate to CGH was 3d per 4ozs, which would suggest that this package originally weighed 64ozs (4lbs). Unique franking? Plus c.1873 open-ended wrapper (red imprint of "EXPORT MERCANTILE ADVERTISER/Per Royal Mail Steamer" from London to Cape Town with single 1d Red (pl.148) tied by unclear barred "FB[?]". (2 covers) [The first item ex Gilbert Wheat, Cavendish June 2009; lot 244, realised £380+BP. Illustrated in BPPP, p.446.] Cross Reference: CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, 1864-79 1d PLATES, SURFACE-PRINTED ISSUES
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