ILFRACOMBE/MEXICO - VERY RARE STEP-TYPE "ILFRACOMBE/SHIP LETTER" ON COVER TO FRANCE; 11 Sept. 1842 EL from "Colotlan" (Mexico) to France "Via Panama" (charged "32" [decimes] in all) with a fine brown "FRANCO/COLOTLAN" on the front along with a partly very fine and very rare framed downward step-type "ILFRACOMBE/SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S2) which matches the mainly very fine large "ILFRACOMBE" c.d.s. (22 Dec.) nicely placed on the top flap. One of only a handful of Ilfracombe Ship Letters known; the S1 type has never been recorded, so this is the only type of Ship Letter known for this small port. Sold in our Mar. 2013 sale for £1600Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, MEXICO, FRANCE (Image)