THE SHORT-LIVED BOXED "SHIP ." MARK ON COVER "P PRINCE ALBERT" FROM CALCUTTA: 31 May 1850 ELs from Calcutta to Port Louis "P Prince Albert" with crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" cds on the front along with mostly fine boxed "SHIP ." Recorded used from 27/12/1849 to 15/7/1850 only (Proud, SL10, p.268). Cross Reference: INDIA (Image)

EARLY RARE RED "Foreign Letter" MARK ON COVER TO FRANCE VIA CEYLON: 16 Nov. 1850 EL from Port Louis to Bordeaux "Par Futty Allum - via Pointe de Galle" with mostly fine red "Foreign Letter" mark; the earliest recorded usage by Proud for this short-lived mark (I4, p.262, 16/11/1850-18/7/1851 usage). Also, "10" decimes hs charge, fine red oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" (13 Nov. 1850 earliest known) & Marseilles 'Paq' marks on the front & Bordeaux backstamp. Cross Reference: FRANCE, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)

THE SHORT-LIVED BLACK "Foreign Letter" ON INGOING COVER FROM FRANCE VIA EGYPT: 24 Feb. 1851 EL (some ink etching) from Bordeaux to Port Louis "par Marseille voire de Suez" with red oval "PACKET LETTER/AP 28/1851/MAURITIUS" ds & black "Foreign Letter" marks on the front. French "P.P" & cds's on front & back plus ms "2s/-" charge. Cross Reference: FRANCE, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)

EARLY RARE RED "Foreign Letter" MARK ON COVER TO FRANCE VIA CEYLON: 16 Nov. 1850 E (creased) from Mauritius to Bordeaux "[Par] Fut[t]y allum, Via Celyon, Pointe de Galles" with mostly fine rare red "Foreign Letter" on the front along with red "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds, "10" decimes hs charge & Marseilles cds; Bordeaux backstamp. Tarry notes: "Only some 12 examples of the sl "Foreign Letter" hs recorded" with 16 Nov. 1850 being the earliest recorded by Proud. Cross Reference: FRANCE, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)

THE RARE RED "Foreign Letter" MARK ON COVER FROM FRANCE VIA CEYLON: Pair of Sept. 1850 ELs (ink etching or some reinforcing) from Bordeaux or London to Mauritius "Par voie de Packet de Ceylon" both having black or red oval "PACKET LETTER/NO18/1850/MAURITIUS" ds's on the front with the French EL also bearing fine rare "Foreign Letter" hs in red as well as boxed "PD" & "P.P" marks & ms "2/-" charge in blue; attractive cover. (2 covers) Cross Reference: INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS, FRANCE (Image)

THE BLACK "Ship Letter" MARK WITH MATCHING "PAID" IN CIRCLE ON COVER TO LONDON: 1 Dec. 1850 from Port Louis to London (20 Feb. 1851 backstamp) "p P&Ont S.CoyS.S'Bentinck'" with a mostly fine "PAID" in circle predating Proud's earliest recorded usage (3/12/50-3/8/1862, PD4, p.250) plus crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" & short lived "Ship Letter" mark all in the same ink on the front. (Image)

THE SHORT-LIVED RED "Foreign Letter" MARK ON COVER TO FRANCE VIA CEYLON: 11 Dec. 1850 EL from Mauritius to Bordeaux "P Harlequin via Ceylon & Marseilles" with a mostly fine strike of the rare red "Foreign Letter" mark (partly overstruck by "10" decimes hs charge & Marseilles entry) on the front along with red oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds Also, 24 Oct. 1850 EL from London to Mauritius endorsed "overland" & having oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" & "LONDON/PAID" ds's (2 covers) Cross Reference: INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS, FRANCE (Image)

REUNION - TRIO TO FRANCE VIA MAURITIUS OR DIRECT INC. PORT LOUIS AGENT ENDORSEMENT: April or July 1850 E or EL from Reunion to Bordeaux via Mauritius & both having boxed "PACKET" & crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" on the front; one also with St. Denis backstamp & other with Mauritius forwarding agent's endorsement "acheminer par M. Elias Mallac & Co/Port Louis le 24 Juillet 1850". Also, April 1855 E from Reunion to Marseilles via Havre. (3 covers) Cross Reference: REUNION, FRANCE, FORWARDING AGENTS (Image)

UNIQUE(?) COVER TO FRANCE WITH OVAL "PACKET LETTER" DS IN BOTH RED & IN BLACK + RED "Foreign Letter": 14 Dec. 1850 E from Mauritius to Bordeaux with a rare combination of oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds's clearly struck twice individually in red & in black on the front along with an early usage of the sought-after "Foreign Letter" mark in red, "10" decimes hs charge & Marseilles entry. Bordeaux backstamp. [Ex. Spink 'Marion' Sale, 2013; lot 4503 £400 +BP]. Cross Reference: INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS, FRANCE (Image)

INGOING MAIL EX. INDIA (MAINLY CALCUTTA) - "Ship Letter" OR "PACKET" MARKS, ETC.: 1850-59 group of E/ELs from India to Mauritius having mostly fine black "Ship Letter" marks (4), black boxed "PACKET" or Packet Letter/GPO mark and includes two 8 or 9 June ELs from Madras "Via Galles" with fine "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds's missing date in centre. (16 covers) Cross Reference: INDIA, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)

PREPAID OR UNPAID MAIL TO GB VIA MARSEILLES AT VARIOUS RATES: 1850-59 group of E/ELs + env. from Mauritius to Aberdeen (2), Dunfermline, Sussex or London (2) all having mostly fine to very fine types of the black (4) or red (2) oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds and various ms rates (3) or paid marks (2 + one endorsed "Paid"). (6 covers) (Image)

COLLECTION OF PREPAID INGOING MAIL FROM GB VIA EGYPT & CEYLON, ETC.: 1850-59 group of E/ELs + env. from GB to Mauritius all having all having mostly fine to very fine types of the black (10) or red (2) oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds. Also inc. a boxed "PACKET" mark or Mauritius GPO/PO cds's plus various ms charges or paid marks. Diverse range with some focus on Langlois' types. (19 covers) (Image)

MAIL TO GB VIA CEYLON OR CAPE ROUTES INC. RED "DEAL/SHIP LETTER", ETC.: 1850-58 group of E/ELs & Dec. 1855 printed circular from Mauritius to GB inc. small study on "Langois' Theory" for types of the oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds with attractive examples and 23 Feb. 1854 "Consignee's Letter" from Port Louis to Aberdeen (green 29 May backstamp) "per 'Centaur'" with fine stepped-boxed "DEAL/SHIP LETTER" mark in red (crease) & ms "8" charge on the front but no Mauritius marks thusly routed via the Cape to London (28 May Backstamp). (8 covers + 1 printed matter) Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS (Image)

ATTRACTIVE PAIR TO FRANCE WITH "PAID" IN CIRCLE IN RED OR IN BLACK: 30 Mar. 1853 EL from Mauritius to Marseilles "Per Shaw Allum - via Bombay" with very fine red "PAID" in circle on the front along with crowned "MAURITIUS GPO" ds, red "INDES.OR/MARSEILLES" cds & "20" decimes hs charge. 21 Jan. 1851 env. from Mauritius to Bordeaux "p Phoenix" with fair black "PAID" in circle on the front along with a fine early usage of the "Ship Letter" mark (Proud, SL11, p.268 ERD 8/11/1850), crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" ds & "OUTRE-MER/MARSEILLES" cds. (2 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

RARE RED "Ship Letter" ON PREPAID INGOING COVER FROM CALCUTTA: 19 April 1851 EL from Calcutta to Mauritius "Per 'San Sonnet'/Prepaid" with a fine early example of the rare red "Ship Letter" on the front along with fine crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" ds. Boxed red "CALCUTTA G.P.O." ds on reverse. Cross Reference: INDIA (Image)

RARE PAIR TO BURMA - WITH V. RARE FRAMED "Via Ceylon" OR "Ship Letter": 21 June 1851 E (repairs) from Mauritius to Akyab, Arracan with a framed "via Ceylon", the only example recorded by Proud (fine strike, repaired hole in "via"; I51, p.264). Also having red oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds on the front & framed "CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER/Bearing" ds on reverse. Also, 11 Oct. 1851 EL (partly printed) of the same correspondence with fine "Ship Letter" hs & crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" ds on the front & boxed "CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER/Inland[...]/Ship[?]/Total". Tarry notes that these are the only two covers to this destination he has seen. Cross Reference: BURMA (Image)

UNPAID COVER TO MADEIRA HELD IN LONDON WITH "Detained" & "Return'd/for Postage" MARKS: 19 Sep. 1851 EL (mostly printed matter; ink mark bottom right) from Mauritius to Madeira "p Govt. Packet/via Ceylon" with mostly fine red boxed "No./DetainedforPostage" on the front & boxed "Return'd/for Postage" very finely struck on the back. Front also having red London ship letter cds & oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" along with ms "1/8" & "160" reis hs charges. Cross Reference: INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL (Image)

REUNION TO FRANCE - WITH MAURITIUS FAC + BLUE "GREENOCK/SHIP LETTER", ETC.: 30 Sep. 1851 EL (mount remnants on flap) from St. Denis to Nantes endorsed "Fleetwood (ship) via Clyde" on the front & with blue oval "AUGTE SEURIN/acheminee par/PORT LOUIS (ILE MAURICE)" Mauritius FAC on reverse. Also having "GREENOCK/SHIP LETTER" & "GREENOCK" backstamp cds in matching blue-green ink, crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" ds & "Ship Letter" on the front along with "15" decimes hs charge, Calais entry & boxed "COLONIES/&c.ART.13." accountancy mark. London & Nantes backstamps. Unique forwarded cover with an unusual routing. [Ex. Hugh Wood]. Cross Reference: REUNION, FRANCE, FORWARDING AGENTS, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

COVER TO FRANCE VIA GB WITH "Ship Letter" + RED BOXED "COLONIES/&c.ART.13.": 26 Dec. 1851 EL from Port Louis to St. Malo "per City of Poonah - via London (direct)" with crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" ds & "Ship Letter" on the front along with boxed "COLONIES/&c.ART.13" accountancy mark, Calais entry, ms "1/-" & "15" decimes charges. London, Paris & St. Malo backstamps. Mostly fine strikes for all, attractive cover. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, FRANCE (Image)

COLLECTION OF COVERS TO FRANCE ALL WITH DOUBLE-OVAL "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" DS: Group of 1851-59 E/ELs or env. from Mauritius to France (mainly Bordeaux) all having fair-very fine different types of the oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" in red (12) or black. Many with routing endorsements (inc. via Aden) & several endorsed by named ships with various ms or hs charges. (13 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

GROUP OF COVERS TO FRANCE ALL BUT ONE WITH DOUBLE-OVAL "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" DS: 1854-59 group of E/ELs all to France & all but one with fine-very fine oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds's (all black). Some with routing endorsements & several endorsed by named ships inc. 13 Sept. 1854 EL "par le Steamer Propontis via Cape" (unusual route). (9 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

INGOING MAIL FROM FRANCE, NATAL, ETC. WITH VARIED MAURITIUS MARKINGS: 1851-1859 group (couple repaired) of ingoing E/ELs (1 with stamps removed) from France (4), Galle or Natal (2) inc. 14 Sept. 1854 EL from Port Natal endorsed "Per Princeza/Consignees Letter" & 8 Aug.(?) 1851 EL from Natal with fine crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" & "Ship Letter". Some with routing endorsements & several endorsed by named ships. (7 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, NATAL, CEYLON/SRI LANKA (Image)

REUNION - PREPAID INGOING COVER BY THE RARE ROUTE VIA GB, THE CAPE & MAURITIUS: 10 Feb. 1853 EL (some slight toning) from Bordeaux to Reunion endorsed "Voie d'angleterre / le Cap de Bonne Esperance et Maurice" with oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" on the front along with Bordeaux cds, boxed "PD" mark & London "PAID" cds. St. Denis backstamp struck on the join. Henri Tristant records only two examples at this date travelling by this rare route (France & Colonies Philatelist; Whole no. 185 Vol. 37 No.3, July 1981). Cross Reference: REUNION, FRANCE (Image)

PREPAID COVER TO C.G.H WITH UNIQUE(?) RED BOXED "MAURITIUS./SHIP POSTAGE/BRITISH" DS + "BRITISH POSTAGE/PAID": 7 Feb. 1854 env. (flap lost) from Mauritius to Cape Town (20 Feb. backstamp) with the only recorded example of the octagonal red "MAURITIUS/SHIP POSTAGE/BRITISH." ds (fair-fine, partly under filing note; Proud, p.268, SL12) on the front along with red crayon "1/-" charge & faint very rare "BRITISH POSTAGE/PAID" beside oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds (both in same ink). Cross Reference: SOUTH AFRICA, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - UNPAID PAIR EX. MAURITIUS INC. "MISSENT - TO LONDON": 7 May 1854 E from Mauritius to Cape Town (19 Aug. backstamp) "p. Screw Steamer Calcutta" with oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds & red "MISSENT-TO/LONDON" both finely struck on the front. 14 July 1856 env. from Mauritius to Cape of Good Hope (1 Sep. backstamp) with crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" on the front. Both covers with ms "1/-" charge. Cross Reference: SOUTH AFRICA, INSTRUCTIONAL MARKS (Image)