VERY RARE "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO GB...

Hammer

£7,500

VERY RARE "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO GB FROM FIRST SAILING OF THE PACKET SERVICE: 16 Sep. 1816 EL (in French, some reinforcing with thin archival tape on inner fold) from "Isle Maurice" to London endorsed in red on the front "PR. H.M.S. Amphitrite" with a mainly very fine strike of the extremely rare oval "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" datestamp (17 Sept., light filing crease) & "10/6" ms charge; reverse with 9 Dec. 1816 London cds. The contents include "The chief of Madagascar, Radama, King of the Hova tribe has just sent two of his brothers to Mr. Farquhar to have them brought up here. They were accompanied by several servants and representatives by two or three other chiefs who presented two dwarves, one male and one female, to the Governor. All this was received to the sound of gunfire and much pomp.". Only a handful of examples of this "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" datestamp have been recorded, of which this is the only one that was carried on the very first Packet Letter Sailing from Mauritius. Highly Important Exhibition item. [Ex James Ruffle; illustrated in his 'Mauritius Maritime Mail 1815-68' on p.8.] Cross Reference: MADAGASCAR, FRENCH COLONIES