Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: Scarce early incoming entire from India addressed to "Messrs. Balcomb & Co./St. Helena" and endorsed "pr favor of/Captain Bayley", having been carried on the man of war H.M.S. "Wellesley" from the Cape, arriving on Mar. 1 1816, the letter accompanying the supply of a carriage and accessories with payment due in rupees. William Balcombe was rumoured to be a royal birth, having, as a naval orphan, received the King's Bounty and spent much of his time at Carlton House (his brother later served as equerry to the Prince Regent). In 1807 he was appointed Superintendent of Public Sales for the East India Company and the Balcombe family was called upon to host Napoleon in a pavilion in the grounds of their home, The Briars, for two months from his arrival in Oct. 1815. When Longwood House was ready, Balcombe became official purveyor of goods to the former emperor, this letter being preserved among accounts for the household. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: Soldier's mail, 1820 entire from Ireland addressed to Quartermaster Sergeant James Rayside of the 66th Foot Regt., "St. Helena/Africa", endorsed "Post Paid" and sent by Ship Letter due to unavailability of Packets, consequently showing ms. "P3/8" (Paid 3s.8d.) in red comprising 9d. rate from Cashel to Dublin, 2d. Dublin to Holyhead packet, 1s. Holyhead to London and 1s.9d. half packet rate, with Cashel mileage mark, Paid tombstones and "POST PAID SHIP LR/(crown)/14OCT/1820/LONDON" double oval. Ex Art Groten. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: Forwarding Agents' Mail, 1826 (Dec. 25) entire letter addressed to the Governor, Brig. Gen. A. Walker, endorsed "p. Atlas" and privately carried, showing large "FORWARDED BY/J & E. IGGULDEN/DEAL/AGENTS FOR THE HONBLE. EAST INDIA CO." cachet across reverse. Alexander Walker (1764-1831) had been coaxed from retirement in 1822 to become Governor and had been an active influence, promoting schools and libraries, improving the agriculture and horticulture of the island and commencing the phased emancipation of the island's slaves from 1827 onward. During this period of isolation communication with the island was erratic and postal rates unclear but use of a forwarding agent for mail to the island was usually unnecessary and examples are rare. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1830 paid ship letter addressed to Maj. Gen. Sir Jasper Nicolls (then G.O.C. 7th (Meerut) Division, later Commander-in Chief, India) at St. Helena, with enclosed letter for the General's wife Anne, sent Oct. 15 from Cornwall with blue Launceston despatch, endorsed "To go by the first ship" and noted "pd 1/7" being charged at half inland and packet rate, with red London tombstone and unframed oval "POST PAID SHIP/(crown)/27OC27/1830/LONDON". The letter sent during a period when rates to the island continued unclear, is written to his sister-in law by Rev. James Duke Coleridge (1788-1857), a prolific writer but on themes more traditionally religious than those of his own celebrated uncle, the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Ex Art Groten. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1854 (July 11) paid ship letter envelope from Waterford, Ireland endorsed "By "Earl of Derby" or first vessel", rated "8"(d.), the ship rate to St. Helena having reverted temporarily between Apr. and Oct. 1854 due to the absence of packets, with "3" noted for the island's share of the postage. A new packet service had been introduced in Aug. 1848 at a rate of 1s. per 1/2oz. but the ship mail option remained available, the rate falling to 6d. per 1/2oz. after 1854. Ex Art Groten, George Montrose and Don Lampart. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1859 paid packet letter envelope addressed to a passenger "On board Bark Roanoke/of Green Port/Care of Gideon & Sons/St. Helena" endorsed "via English Mail" and showing handstruck "PAID", rated in ms. "33"(c.) with "12"(d.) credited to England and "1"(d.) to St. Helena, with Sag Harbor, N.Y Apr. 22 despatch, next day New York Am. Pk. in red, London and July 5 Devonport transit datestamps. A rate of 1s.2d. per 1/2oz. for the U.S.A. to St. Helena was established between 1854 and 1863, rising to 1s.5d. between 1863 and 1870. Ex Art Groten. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1868 envelope from Oughterard Barracks, Ireland, addressed to Capt. Oliver, R.A., franked at 6d. Officer's rate by Great Britain 1d. pl. 106 (2) and 4d. pl. 10 cancelled by Galway Nov. 7 duplexes, "5" noted for British share, with despatch and London transit backstamps, some flap damage and damp staining. This rate was in use from 1867 to 1869 only. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1888 (Dec. 6) envelope from London addressed to Governor William Grey-Wilson via the Colonial Office in Downing Street, franked 2d. and endorsed "via Dartmouth", without further markings as mail for the Governor could then be sent in diplomatic bag thus saving a further 6d. postage, the cover a little roughly opened with flap missing. Sir William Grey-Wilson (1852-1926) was appointed Colonial Secretary of St. Helena in 1886, was Acting Governor from 1887 to 1889 before his official appointment as Governor from 1890 to 1897. He later served as Governor of the Falkland Islands (1897-1904) and the Bahamas (1904-12). Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1895 stampless O.H.M.S. envelope from London addressed to the U.S. Consul, sent from London with "POST OFFICE/(crown)/SECRETARY" cachet and Apr. 22 Official Paid c.d.s. in red. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1896 Russian 3k. postal stationery card addressed to Solomon Hogg & Co., sent from Moscow Feb. 24, uprated by 1k. for 4k. rate and showing fine strike of "SOLOMON, HOGG/-9 MAY 96/ST. HELENA" double oval receiving datestamp on reverse. Sent shortly before Saint Helena's entry into the U.P.U. with resulting simplification of rates to and from the island. Photo. (Image1)

Stefan Heijtz Saint Helena: Early Incoming Mail: 1899 (Oct. 19) 3c. stationery card to the German Consulate from Amapala, Honduras, with transit and Dec. 9 arrival; 1903 (Nov. 18) p.p.c. to the Eastern telegraph Co. from Delagoa Bay, Louren̤o Marques with Dec. 9 arrival. (2 cards) (Image1)