British East Africa, 1896, Queen Victoria, 2½a Deep Blue, Inverted "S" in "Annas", tied by blue "Mombasa, 12 Oc, 98" cds with second strike below on cover from the White Fathers to their leader in Algeria, in combination with Uganda 1896, 2a black, marginal pair (S.G. 56) canceled by purple "Smith Mackenzie & Co., Mombasa" oval handstamp, reverse with Zanzibar and Suez transit and Algeria (13.11) arrival cds; some minor cover staining, otherwise Very Fine, the earliest recorded use of the Smith Mackenzie & Co. oval handstamp, ex-Krieger. Scott No. 76a. SG No. 68b  Estimate $3,000 - 4,000. A VERY RARE BRITISH EAST AFRICA AND UGANDA COMBINATION FRANK USAGE TO ALGERIA. Uganda postage was only valid within the colony until it joined the UPU in 1901. Foreign mail required postage of a UPU member, British East Africa (BEA). The Uganda mail rate to BEA was 4 annas per oz. while the BEA and UPU rates were 2½a per ½oz. Initially the BEA postage was added in Mombasa requiring mailers to maintain accounts there. $0 (Image)