EXTRAORDINARY GB 1d BLACK MULREADY FRONT ADDRESSED TO MAURITIUS; c.1840 usage of a 1d Black Mulready (front only; two light vertical creases and some thins on reverse from old mounts) without postal marks addressed to "Geo. C. Cunningham Esq., Mauritius". This Cunningham (c.1788-1872), was the Collector of Customs in Port Louis from 1836 until 1848 or later, but he was a native of Edinburgh (where he won the coveted "Archer's Arrow" in 1815 when he worked at the Customs House there) and was buried there in 1872. It seems likely that this Mulready was sent to him soon after the 6 May 1840 introduction of Mulreadys, under cover from Scotland by a friend keen to show off the latest innovation in Britain. If only the letter that accompanied it had survived! Unique. Cross Reference: MULREADY STATIONERY & PROPAGANDA COVERS, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS (Image)

1780 COLOURED MAP OF "ISLE DE FRANCE" depicting L. Bourbon, L.De France and L Rodrigue. Vertical fold. (Image)

POSTAL NOTICES:1852-54 A group of three postal notices, all with coat of arms and headed "Notice to The Public" regarding Contract Mail Packets, Books to the East Indies and Optional Payment of Postage all with boxed "LERWICK" ds. Some faults but interesting. Also four reprints. (Image)

GB 1/- EMBOSSED COVER FROM SCOTLAND "VIA PLYMOUTH & GENERAL SCREW STEAMER" TO PORT LOUIS; 10 Jan. 1853 EL (part cross-written family letter) from "FUSHIEBRIDGE" (blue boxed ds on flap) in Scotland to Port Louis via Plymouth with cut-to-shape 1/- Embossed tied by a fine Fushiebridge "151" numeral with mainly fine 3 April double-oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" arrival ds on the front. A rare destination for the Embossed GB issues. Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, EMBOSSED ISSUES, SCOTLAND (Image)

GB 1/- EMBOSSED COVERS FROM SCOTLAND "OVERLAND VIA MARSEILLES & CEYLON" TO PORT LOUIS; 22 Oct. 1855 & 24 Jan. 1856 pair of ELs (interesting family contents inc. recent publication of Dickens' Little Dorrit & Macaulay's History) from "DUNFERMLINE" (blue cds) or from "KINGHORN" (blue boxed ds) in Scotland to Port Louis via France & Ceylon each with cut-to-shape 1/- Embossed tied by unclear Scottish numerals; each with mainly fine 17 Dec./21 Mar. double-oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" arrival ds on the front. A rare destination for the Embossed GB issues. (2 covers) Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SCOTLAND, EMBOSSED ISSUES (Image)

EX NEW SOUTH WALES - PRINTED CIRCULAR WITH 6d GREY CARRIED BY ILL-FATED S.S. "EMEU"; Fine 13/16 Apr. 1860 EL from Sydney (with printed contents inc. "Par Emeu MAIL STEAMER" and "13 April 1860") to Port Louis endorsed "Par Emeu" with 6d Grey (few cut perfs. at top right) tied by fine Sydney duplex of 16 April having a very fine crowned "MAURITIUS/G.P.O" ds slightly across the join on the reverse. The S.S. Emeu had almost been wrecked off Jeddah in 1857, and this time she collided with another steamer when leaving Sydney harbour, but the mail was undamaged and her departure only delayed for a week. Attractive and scarce cover. Cross Reference: NEW SOUTH WALES, CRASH/WRECK MAIL, PRINTED MATTER BY POST (Image)

1860s INGOING MAIL INC. SOME STAMPLESS - EX REUNION, SPAIN, INDIA, GB & FRANCE; 1859-69 covers inc. 1861 ex Calcutta "Pr Hornet" with India 1a pair + red crayon "6d" charge, 1866 EL ex GB "P Messageries Imperiales" with 6d + poor 4d; a range of stamp-removed covers (13) from Australia, CGH, India & GB; plus unpaid/cash-paid group (7) ex Reunion (1861 "P. Armenian" with red crayon "6d" charge), 1860 EL ex Jerez (Spain) posted in London, 1860/4 trio ex France charged "7"/"10d" or "1/-" (latter by the P&O Norna on her positioning voyage under the new contract), and 1860/1 pair unpaid/prepaid ex GB (former with unusual red crayon rates ("4½[+]4½[=]9d" changed to "4½[+]7½[=]1/-"). (23 covers) Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, FRANCE, REUNION, INDIA (Image)

STAMPED INGOING MAIL EX GB (INC. 6½d RATE), NATAL, TRANSVAAL & FRANCE + 4s-4d CASH-PAID EX GB; 1870-c.1899 covers/card inc. rare Jan. 1877 EL ex GB with perfin 2½d+4d at scarce 6½d rate (only in force Jan. 1876 to Mar. 1877), 1891 env. with GB 4d Jubilee "Pr. French Packet", 25 Nov. 1870 cash-paid env. at "4/4" rate ex London "Via Brindisi" (due to Siege of Paris), 1871-4 quartet ex France, 1896 Transvaal uprated ½d PC and 1899(?) "Newspaper only" front ex Mapou with Natal 1d. Plus 1878/85 stamp-removed pair ex India/Reunion. (9 covers, 1 front & 1 PC) Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, FRANCE, NATAL, TRANSVAAL (Image)