£2,200
ABYSSINIA FIELD FORCE - RARE RED C.D.S. WITH "F.F." DIAMOND CANCEL ON 6a 8pi GREY ON COVER TO G.B.: Fine 19 Mar. 1868 env. (opened out for display; small closed tear at top does not detract, likewise closed flap tears) with mainly fine (overstruck) strike of the very rare RED "FIELD FORCE POST OFFICE/ABYSSINIA" cds on the reverse with matching very fine red "INDIA PAID" (also struck in the F.F. P.O.) on the front. Endorsed "Officer's Letter, C. Martin Capt., A.D.C. to General Stewart" (in Sanafe at this date) on the front and addressed to Cheltenham "Via Marseilles" and so franked with single 6as 8pi Grey tied both by very fine "F.F." Diamond Field Force cancel and by the sender's "Stamped" endorsement. There are fine BOMBAY (13 Mar.) and BANGALORE (17 Mar.) backstamps. Only a handful of the Abyssinia FF PO cds's struck in red have been recorded, and this matching Field Force P.O. "INDIA PAID" mark is equally rare. Exhibition Quality. [A similar cover - but in poor condition - to India but without the "INDIA PAID" mark, although having this red cds realised £3,800+BP in Spink's 'Important Stamps' auction of 19 Jan. 2021; lot 3070.] Cross Reference: MILITARY, INDIA
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