FERNANDO PO - EARLIEST RECORDED BRITISH POSTAL AGENCY COVER ...

Hammer

£1,400

FERNANDO PO - EARLIEST RECORDED BRITISH POSTAL AGENCY COVER - 6d RATE TO G.B. VIA PLYMOUTH; Remarkable [19] Apr. 1858 stampless mourning env. (closed tear at top left above address and clear of marks) to Froom (Somerset) endorsed "Fernando Po" at bottom left of address, with v. fine Plymouth h.s. "6d" on the front and fine blue "PLYMOUTH/PACKET-LETTER" cds (7 June) on the reverse. This arrival date fits with the R.M.S. 'Ethiope' that arrived at Plymouth on 7 June from Fernando Po (et al); it had left Fernando Po on 29 April (per London 'Express' newspaper of 7 June 1858). The British Postal Agency on Fernando Po opened on 1 April 1858, but no postmarks were issued until 22 February 1859. Only two letters have been recorded sent from the island in this ‘interim’ period after the opening of the Postal Agency and before the arrival of the first handstamps (on c. 1 April 1859 though they have not been recorded used prior to 21 January 1862). The two covers are this April 1858 one and one dated June 1858 (from HMS Myrmidon; ex Sacher) with a G.B. 6d Lilac cancelled on arrival at Plymouth; both have Plymouth Packet Letter backstamps. [With detailed research notes.] Important earliest recorded cover handled by this tiny island's British Postal Agency.Cross Reference: SPANISH COLONIES, SPAIN, SHIP LETTERS, G.B USED ABROAD STAMPS & COVERS