c.1731 Cover from Batavia addressed to Arnoldus Koevoet at the Cape of Good Hope with a fine endorsement on the front indicating carriage by the sail maker Piter van Rijk on the ship "Prattenburg" together with a package marked "A.K". Koevoet was born a slave of the Dutch East India Co. in Cape Town in 1697, obtained his freedom in 1731 and died in 1735. A fine early letter, with research notes on Koevoet and a copy of the original contents of this cover. Photo on Page 92. (Image1)

1736 (June 1) Entire from Westerhof, Holland, addressed to Joachim Nicholas von Dessin, Assistant to the Secretary for Justice serving the Company at the Cape of Good Hope. Endorsed for carriage on the "Magdalena" by Chief Helmsman Gerret Rijnders, together with 100 Silver Ducats for delivery to Von Dessin. The "Magdalena" left Texel on May 6th 1735 and arrived at Cape Town nearly five months later on September 27th, thirteen sailors having died on the voyage. A long note written and signed by Von Dessin within the entire confirms delivery by Rijnders but alleges he received no ducats from Rijnders, nor from anyone else associated with the "Magdalena". A few flap faults, otherwise fine, an early and interesting letter from Holland to the Cape, with a fine wax seal. Photo on Page 94. (Image1)

c.1785 Cover from Holland to C.L Neethling, Secretary of the Council of Justice at the Cape, endorsed for carriage by favour of Daniel Strahle, Senior Helmsman on the ship "de Vrouwe Wynanda Luberta", the reverse with two wax seals impressed with guild marks. A fine cover. Photo on Page 94. (Image1)

c.1788 Entire from Holland to the Cape endorsed by the Packet "Maria Louiza" with circular framed "VOC / 6 St." handstamp, part flap missing, otherwise fine and scarce. Photo on Page 94. (Image1)

c.1788 Entire from Holland to the Weeskamer at the Cape endorsed by the company packet boat de "Faam", with circular framed "VOC/6st" handstamp, reverse with impressed red wax seal, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 94. (Image1)

c.1790 Entire probably from Batavia, to the Cape of Good Hope endorsed by the ship "Cronenburg", Captain de boom. An unusual item sent by a ship of the Danish East India Company. Photo on Page 94. (Image1)

c.1793 Long cover from Holland to N. Kervel, Secretary of the Weeskamer at the Cape with two circular framed "VOC/6st." handstamps indicating the double rate of 12 stuivers, a few minor edge faults, otherwise fine and a scarce double rate cover. Photo on Page 96. (Image1)

1794 (Deb 22) Entire letter to Scotland from a sailor on a British frigate just arrived at Table Bay to strengthen the British naval forces defending the Cape at the invitation of the Dutch (who were then allied to the British and so at war with the French). Endorsed "P. Netunno", carried on the British owned but Genoese registered ship "Il Nettunno" (which could trade with India without breaking the monopoly on British trade granted to the East India Co.), with Portsmouth Ship-Lre handstamp. Unusual.

1804 Entire (with part letter remaining) from the gardener and plant collector David James Niven sent from the Cape during the 1803-06 Batavian Republic, to Lee & Kennedy, nursery men in Hammersmith, carried by the private ship "Magistrate" with fine oval "Ship Lre / (crown) WEYMOUTH", reverse with large part wax seal impressed "BATAVIE ..... AAN TE KAAP DE GOEDE HOOP". The letter includes "Please send by way of Copenhagen part of everything I have collected for Madam Bonaparte and am now in hopes of having an opportunity of transmitting the best part of my present collection. I have before mentioned the trouble I have had with the Hotentotts. This has induced me to buy a slave boy which cost me £60 sterling".

1807 Entires from England to "William Weideman, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope", one endorsed "Pr Alfred Capt. J. Teale" with manuscript "Forwarded p. yr. ob. svts. J.T at Mr Venables's, Strand" on the reverse; the other endorsed "P. the Venus Capt Johnston" charged "3sk" with oval "GR" Cape of Good Hope arms handstamp, a fine and scarce pair. (2). Photo on Page 94. (Image1)

1810 Entire from Huddersfield to Cape Town sent on the private ship "Cape Packet" prepaid at the 8d ship letter rate, with red "PAID SHIP LETTER / LONDON" c.d.s (Rob. S44a, only recorded for 1810), charged 2 skilling. The "Cape Packet" traded between England and the Cape, avoiding the East India Co. monopoly east of the Cape.

1815 Entire letter from Cape Town to London with single oval "SHIP LETTER / (crown) / PORTSMOUTH" (Rob S11, only recorded for 1815), reverse with various London datestamps and endorsements showing various attempts at delivering the letter. A scarce Ship Letter handstamp. Photo on Page 96. (Image1)

1815 Printed Act, introducing India Packet Letter rates on letters between Great Britain and the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius and East Indies. Also covers sent during this period to the Cape, two sent by private ship from G.B charged 2/4 each (one initially charged the packet rate, then reassessed as a ship letter), one from G.B charged 9/6 packet rate, one from the East Indies charged 5/3 packet rate with superb "POST OFFICE / (crown) / SIMONS TOWN" handstamp, and a cover from London endorsed "p. Comet" privately carried. An interesting group. (6).

1816 Long cover to England carried on the "Wellesley", the first packet to leave Cape Town carrying mail at the new India Packet Letter rate of 3/6 per sheet. Handstamped oval "SHIP LETTER / (crown) / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" with "INDIA PACKET LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" arrival datestamp of April 29th, charged the double rate of 7/- increased to 8/4 to include inland postage. This India Packet Letter rate period only lasted until 1819; Cape Packet Letter handstamps for use on outgoing letters were not introduced until May 1816. Scarce.

1816 Entire from London to the Cape "Per Lady Borrington or 1st opportunity" initially rated as a packet letter and charged 3/6 with crowned "INDIA PACKET LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" c.d.s; however no packet was available so reassessed as a ship letter charged 1/2 with a line written through the word "Packet" in the handstamp, an "INDIA SHIP LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" c.d.s then applied. A scarce combination of handstamps and an unusual alteration from a packet letter to ship letter, light folds, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 96. (Image1)

1818 Entire letter to London with oval "CAPE OF GOOD HOPE / 5 JA 5 / 1819 / PACKET-LETTER", London arrival backstamp (June 22), charged 3/6. Carried on the last Cape packet to arrive in London before the act was repealed in July 1819, the Cape Packet Letter datestamp very scarce. Photo on Page 96. (Image1)

1819 Entire from Holland to the Cape sent on the ship "John Bainbridge" which left Liverpool on 4th July and arrived on September 13th, the last ship carrying mail at the packet letter rate before the act was repealed in July 1819. Handstamped faint red "AMSTERDAM" and crowned "INDIA PACKET LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" (June 26) and charged 14/6, the triple packet letter rte of 10/6 + 4/- postage from Holland. The addressee J.S de Lima published the first Cape Post Office directory and various almanacs. An interesting entire.

1820 (May 7) Entire letter written on the chartered East India Co. ship "Duke of York" at sea between Tristan da Cunha and Cape Town, whilst en route to Madras and China. Transferred at sea to the American whaler "Pickering" and taken to Table Bay and then transferred to the "Sarah", with India Letter Deal handstamp; the letter from P.J Claridge includes "I send this by a South Sea Whaler who will put in at the Cape". An interesting letter, with research notes on the whaler "Pickering".

1821-22 Entires from London to the Cape "p. Queen Elizabeth" prepaid 1/8 or "P. Lavinia" prepaid 1/2, both with red oval "POST PAID SHIP LR / LONDON" datestamps. Also a copy of 1822 Cape Almanac entry showing the "Lavinia" arrived at the Cape in July, but was then stranded on rocks between Craig's Tower and the Castle, and was condemned. (2).

1823 Entire letter from Grahams Town to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London with "POST OFFICE / (crown) / GRAHAMS TOWN", a Cape Town "FREE" datestamp applied in error and then overstruck by the correct "POST OFFICE / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" datestamp. An unusual item.

1829 Entire letter from Amsterdam to the Cape "p. Matilda", reverse endorsed "London 31 July 1829 forwarded by yr. ob, servts P&C Van Hotten & Co.", prepaid 1/8 with red oval "POST PAID SHIP LR / LONDON", front and reverse both with crowned "POST OFFICE / CAPE / TOWN / GENERAL" datestamps (Nov. 3), all very fine strikes, exhibition quality.

1831 Entire letter to London per "John Bull" with superb "POST OFFICE / CAPE / TOWN / GENERAL" datestamp, front and reverse unusually both with red boxed "INDIA LETTER / DEVONPORT", very fine strikes, exhibition quality.

1831 Entire letter to London "pr H.M Ship Success" with red boxed "India Letter Portsmouth" handstamp, and 1849 entire "p. H.M.S Brilliant" with boxed "PACKET LETTER", both to London with Cape Town handstamps, both charged the 1/- packet rate for conveyance by naval ships. (2).

1834 Entire to Cape Town "pr Quebec Trader, C.P Bellamy" charged 1/3, with superb crowned oval "GENERAL POST OFFICE / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" (Sep. 25), believed to be the earliest recorded date of use of this datestamp (Goldblatt DLS4); and 1840 entire "p. Bark Glenalvon" to the Postmaster General in Cape Town with fine crowned "POST OFFICE / CAPE / TOWN / GENERAL" datestamp (Oct 5), an unusual late use six years after the oval G.P.O datestamp was introduced for this purpose. A fine pair, the "Quebec Trader" having sailed from Western Australia to the Cape via Mauritius, both exhibition quality. (2).

1838 Entire letter from Cape Town to the London Missionary Society, carried on the barque "Pegasus", backstamped with "SHIP LETTER / DOVER" (S11), crossed through in ink and replaced by boxed "DOVER / INDIA LETTER" (In 4), an attractive and unusual Ship Letter altered to an India Letter from South Africa, charged 1/-. Photo on Page 96. (Image1)