UNIQUE(?) 1840s "POST OFFICE/BARBADOES" WAX BAGSEAL ON LETTER FROM THE POSTMASTER TO G.B.; Remarkable 4 Oct. 1847 EL written & signed by the Barbados Packet Agent and Postmaster, "Joseph Gillbanks" (with mainly fine "BARBADOES" cds on the top flap) to Cumberland (9 Nov. backstamp) endorsed on the front "P[er] R[oyal] S[teamer] 8th Octr." & charged "1/-" Packet rate. The address panel is also initialled "J.G." (Joseph Gillbanks, the Barbados Packet Agent & Postmaster at the time). It was also sealed with a red wax "POST OFFICE/[Arms]/BARBADOES" Bagseal (90%-complete). The letter is to his father and includes news of a bad outbreak of diarrhoea and mentioning that he plans to apply for an impending vacancy in Jamaica (at the P.O.?). This is thought to be the earliest recorded cover with a West Indies Post Office Bagseal. (Image)

FOREIGN & COLONIAL P.P.: 1893 package (worn) ex Barbados with London transit label, franked ½d green stamps (16!) and with relevant "BARBADOS/No. 8/Parcel Post" label (rare) on front, having a complete Customs form on the reverse declaring "Unused B'dos envelopes + newspaper wrappers" & a fine F.C.P. transit label. Rare. [ex Keith Parker].Cross Reference: PARCEL POST LABELS (Image)