Rare cover to Novia Scotia
In the sale of the Dave Tarry Mauritius collection on 17 April, the very rare ‘MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER’ of 1816 that was carried on the very first packet letter sailing from Mauritius, which was highlighted in last month’s edition of Stamp Collector, surpassed its £2,000 estimate to sell for £9,000 (lot 18). Another highlight from the sale was a cover of 7 May 1869 sent from ‘Port Louis’ to ‘Halifax, Nova Scotia’ that combined a rare rate, an early registered item and a rare destination (lot 232). It was endorsed ‘Via Marseilles’ and ‘Registered’ with a 6d green, 9d dull purple and a 1/-yellow that were cancelled by fine ‘B53’ numerals. Additionally, the 1/-was tied by a red 4 June transit datestamp for London at the 2/3d rate (1/-fee plus 1/3d postage). Alongside, there was a very fine Port Louis ‘REGISTERED/No.[2]’ mark in red. There was also an oval Halifax arrival datestamp of 16 June on the front. Internally, the original enclosure was a ‘Second [Bill] of Exchange for £50 Sterling’, with a very fine Mauritius 1d blue ‘SECOND OF EXCHANGE’ stamp tied by the sender’s signature. From an estimate of £300, this cover realised £8,000
SOLD FOR £8,000
Complete India 1854 franking
On 28 March, Baldwins’ offered part 1 of items from the former Singapore Philatelic Museum, giving collectors the opportunity to obtain rare and highly coveted Singapore material. One of the highlights from this first part, covering Queen Victoria material, was a unique usage from Singapore, then
