The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1879 (Aug. 12) cover showing showing the earliest recorded use of the British P.O. duplex in use from Aug. 1879 until June 1882, addressed to Cutch Mandvi, India franked at 3a. rate by India 1/2a. (2), 2a. with framed "T.P.O. ENQUIRY OFFICE/BOMBAY/N. SEP: 2", incorrectly applied "T" in circle officially deleted in red ink, showing red wax seal of Hindu merchant Jairam Sewji, Aden Aug. 22, Sea Post Office B (S.S. "Sumatra") and Mandvi Sept. 6 arrival, slight foreshortening at right as usual. Ex Sturton. "Customs masters at Zanzibar were invariably Indian and often of the Bhadia community. The long serving Jairam Sewji . . . had effectively become a state banker, extending credits to the head of state, to European trading firms, to plantation owners and to caravan merchants alike." (The Cambridge History of Africa, Vol. 6, p. 548). Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1879 (Aug. 31) Bombay Ship Letter cover to Cutch Mandvi, India bearing India 1a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex, original Postage Due handstamp deleted but showing framed "BOMBAY/SHIP LETTER/POSTAGE DUE 1A" for amount due to ship's master, backstamped framed "TOO LATE", Bombay Sept. 29 and Mandvi Oct. 3 arrival, minor faults and very slightly foreshortened at right as is usual. Ex Minto. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1879 (Sept. 18) envelope sent to England "via Brindisi" by Josephine Bartlett of the Universities' Mission at Zanzibar franked at 5a. rate by India 1a., 4a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex with Aden Sept. 26 and Buckingham Oct. 10 arrival on reverse. Ex Knight. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1879 (Oct. 15) envelope from Capt. Bartlett Jefferson Cromwell, commander of the sloop-of war U.S.S. "Ticonderoga" on its world cruise, addressed to his wife in Pennsylvania franked at double rate by India 2a., 4a. pair cancelled by British P.O. duplex, backstamped Aden Oct. 25, London Nov. 10 and Philadelphia Nov. 22, with original enclosed ten page letter written between Sept. 2 and 14. "Ticonderoga" spent a month at Cape Town where 31 of the crew (but not Cromwell) deserted for a new life, many heading for the goldfields. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1880 (Jan. 9) envelope underpaid to Switzerland "via Brindisi" bearing India 1a. (minor ink stain), 4a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex, carried on the S.S. "Zambesi" with Aden Jan. 22 and Milan Feb. 3 transit datestamps, charged "T" in circle with ms. "deficit 60 cents", probably due to overweight, and added Swiss 20c. (fault) and 100c. postage dues cancelled at Davos Feb. 5. Ex Rossiter and Seaton. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1880 (Jan. 11) J. Meyer envelope to Hamburg "via Brindisi" at 3a. rate franked India 1a., 2a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex, carried on the S.S. "Zambesi" with Aden Jan. 22 and Feb. 4 arrival datestamps on reverse. Ex Sturton. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1880 (Aug. 25) attractive 41/2a. single letter rate reduction cover from Walter Thompson serving with the Eastern & South African Telegraph Company (imprint on flap) sent to his wife in London franked India 1/2a., 4a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex with Sept. 16 red London Paid arrival, backstamped Aden Sept. 2 transit. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1881 (Feb. 6) J. Meyer envelope registered to Hamburg "via Brindisi" at 7a. rate franked India 1a., 6a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex and with German receiving registration label, showing on the reverse Zanzibar second type boxed registration handstamp, "JM" red wax seals, Aden Feb. 17, Sea Post Office E (S.S. "Ravenna") and Mar. 7 arrival c.d.s's. Only six examples of the registration handstamp are recorded. Ex Knight. Illustrated in "Zanzibar's Postal History Legacy" by Gary DuBro (2012), p. 60. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1881 (Mar. 7) cover addressed to Cutch Mandvi, India franked on reverse at 3a. rate by India 1a., 2a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex with framed "T.P.O. ENQUIRY OFFICE/BOMBAY/N. MAR21", Sea Post Office A (S.S. "Rosetta") and Mandvi Mar. 27 arrival datestamps, slightly foreshortening at right as is usual from this correspondence. The duplex shows broken "H" in "BRITISH", known to have developed in July 1880 and thus proving this cover's year of sending. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1881 (Apr. 8) attractive 41/2a. single letter rate cover sent by Helen, wife of British Consul-General and noted naturalist John Kirk, franked India 1/2a with 1a. strip of four cancelled by British P.O. duplex (showing broken "H") with Sept. 16 red London Paid arrival, backstamped Aden Apr. 17 transit and Shrewsbury May 2 arrival. Ex Knight. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1882 (Feb. 10) small mourning envelope to Paris with enclosed calling card of Emmanuel Salavy, sent at 3a. rate franked by India 1a., 2a. cancelled by British P.O. duplex with Mar. 4 red Modane ÌÊ Paris c.d.s. alongside, backstamped Aden Feb. 20 transit. Photo. (Image1)

The John Minns East Africa: Zanzibar: British Post Office Duplex: 1882 (June 23) India 11/2a. stationery card addressed to Constantinople, cancelled by British P.O. duplex with Aden July 3, Sea Post Office B (S.S. "Surat") and July 28 Austrian P.O. arrival datestamps alongside, Suez, Alexandria and Naples transit c.d.s's on reverse. Ex Rossiter. Photo. (Image1)