Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: 1859--1870, Use of the Oval Datestamp and other Stampless Mail: 1859 (Jan. 4) unpaid ship letter to Bath, Maine, U.S.A. from agents Carrol & Kimball regarding supplies to whaling vessels, headed "St. Helena/4th January 1859", showing Boston, Mass. receiving c.d.s. of Feb. 26, straight line "SHIP" and charged handstruck "5", being the 2c. ship rate added to the 3c. inland rate. There being no direct service to the U.S.A., packet mail had to be routed via England and it was usually preferred at this time to send letter as ship mail on private vessels. Ex Art Groten and George Montrose. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: 1859--1870, Use of the Oval Datestamp and other Stampless Mail: 1859 (Mar. 28) envelope •ÈÀfrom the 'Goodman' correspondence to London addressed and signed at lower left by S.J. Pritchard, 2nd Officer in the Customs Department from 1852, with oval despatch datestamp and London Paid May 1 arrival, both in red, charged 6d. with "5"(d.) marked for England's share. Prepayment of postage had been made compulsory in Oct. 1858 but pre-payment by postage stamps was not demanded until July 1863. Ex Art Groten and George Montrose. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: 1859--1870, Use of the Oval Datestamp and other Stampless Mail: 1861 (June 4) Paid packet letter wrapper to Spain via London charged a total of 1s.10d. with "10"(d.) marked for England's share, showing St. Helena oval datestamp, July 31 London Paid transit and "PD" in circle in red, framed "FRANCO" and Cadiz arrival of Aug. 5 in blue. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: 1859--1870, Use of the Oval Datestamp and other Stampless Mail: 1862 (July 30) paid ship letter wrapper to Amsterdam "per Royal mail steamer/"Cambria" via England" with indistinct oval despatch datestamp in red, charged 1s.10d. with "8"(d.) marked for England's share and "20" for local delivery Ex Art Groten, George Montrose and Don Lampart. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: 1859--1870, Use of the Oval Datestamp and other Stampless Mail: 1866 (Mar. 7) unpaid packet letter envelope (dated Jan. 30 1866) to Rev. Edward Inman at Bremhill, Wiltshire with strike of the oval datestamp in blue, charged "2/-" at double packet rate due to lack of pre-payment, this being compulsory from 1858, and with fine Devonport Packet Letter transit of Apr. 16. Ex Art Groten. Photo. (Image1)