1865 (April) Envelope mailed from the Interior of British Columbia and of remarkable appeal, handstamped at top right with grid "10" numeral denoting prepayment of 9 pence British Columbia postage from William's Creek to Victoria, Vancouver Island - a very rare provisional use of the numeral from a very plausible shortage of postage stamps at the time; red crayon "1/-" for prepayment of US postage to England, covered by the US 24 cent stamp (excised and put back to its original place); shows neat General Post Office 19 APL 1865 transit backstamp, San Francisco MAY 9 1865, New York JUN 3 and London JU 15 65 Paid CDS transit postmarks on front and Liverpool JU 15 65 receiver backstamp. An absolutely remarkable cover, VF (USA 24 cent; Scott #70)

Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1063 - with his original album page.

Literature: Illustrated in Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia of British Empire Postage Stamps, Volume V North America on page 562.

A SPECTACULAR AND IN OUR OPINION, INCOMPARABLE RATE COVER IDEAL FOR THE ADVANCED POSTAL HISTORY COLLECTOR. (Image)

Estimate 2000 $