VOID BARRED OVAL UNUSUALLY USED ON INGOING STAMPLESS COVER F...

Hammer

£550

VOID BARRED OVAL UNUSUALLY USED ON INGOING STAMPLESS COVER FROM INDIA; Fine 23 Jan. 1860 unpaid EL from "Cocanadah" to Port Louis "Per [Ship] Grasmere" with a very fine blue oval sender's cachet on the front, as well as a fine strike of the void barred oval matching the v. fine 2-ring "G P O/MAURITIUS" arrival cds (9 Mar.) on the flap, which also has a fine offset of another cover's strike of the barred oval. There is no obvious explanation for the use of this stamp cancellation on a stampless cover, but the lack of any postal charge may suggest that it was accidentally treated as a prepaid stamped local letter when handed into Port Louis P.O. by the Captain of the ship Grasmere?? Very attractive and rare.Cross Reference: INDIA