DEAL INDIA LETTER IN RED ON RARE ABOVE 3oz WEIGHT COVER FROM...

Hammer

£750

DEAL INDIA LETTER IN RED ON RARE ABOVE 3oz WEIGHT COVER FROM MADRAS; 6 Sept. 1833 large E (some creasing and toning) from Madras (v. fine oval "SHIP LETTER" d.s. on flap) to London "P. [Ship] Elphinstone" with mainly v. fine scarce red boxed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" nearby. The letter - most unusually - weighed above the 3-ounce limit and so was charged 4d per 1/4 ounce (letters over 3oz were charged at 1/- per ounce instead of the minimal 4d India Letter rate). It was endorsed "31/4 oz" and was therefore charged 3 times the India Letter 1/- ounce rate + 13 times the 8d Deal-London inland rate for 74 miles (i.e.8s-8d) making the high rate of "11/8" (= 3s-0d + 8s-8d) that was charged... Very few India Letters that weighed above 3 ounces have been recorded.Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE MARKS, SHIP LETTERS, KENT