RED "1½d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 6d-RATE COVER TO GB VIA SOUTHAMPTON; Attractive 3 Aug. 1865 env. to Dalton in Furness with 6d Green tied by v. fine Port Louis "MAURITIUS/B53" duplex with a mainly very fine strike of the rare red Handstruck "1½d" Accountancy Mark alongside; 1½d due to GB from the 6d rate. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "1½d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 6d-RATE COVER TO GB VIA SOUTHAMPTON; 6 July 1866 env. (some creasing and part flap lost) to Saffron Walden with 6d Green tied by v. fine Port Louis "MAURITIUS/B53" duplex with a mainly very fine strike of the rare red Handstruck "1½d" Accountancy Mark alongside; 1½d due to GB from the 6d rate. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "3d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 1/- RATE COVER TO GB VIA SOUTHAMPTON; Attractive 5 Sept. 1864 env. (minor wear; small closed tear at top centre) sent at the double rate (over ½oz & up to 1oz) to Gloucester with 1/- Orange (crease) tied by fine Port Louis "MAURITIUS/B53" duplex with an inverted superb strike of the red Handstruck "3d" Accountancy Mark alongside; double the 1½d due to GB from the double 6d rate, and so a rare usage. [Ex James Ruffle, 1995; illustrated on the back cover of his 1991 'Maritime Mail' book]. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "3d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 6d-RATE SHIP LETTER COVER TO GB "PER STEAMER ENGLAND"; Attractive 30 July 1868 env. to Bath endorsed "Per Steamer England" with 6d Green (wing margin) tied by v. fine Port Louis "MAURITIUS/B53" duplex with a mainly very fine strike of the red Handstruck "3d" Accountancy Mark alongside as well as a mainly very fine scarce red "PAID/LONDON SHIP LETTER" cds (2 Sept.); 3d due to GB from the 6d rate with Mauritius keeping 1d and the other 2d going to the shipping company. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "3d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON PAIR OF 6d-RATE SHIP LETTER COVERS TO GB "PER STEAMER AJAX [or] DIOMED"; 21 Mar./4 Aug. 1868 pair of envs. (first with edge faults and lost flap) to Bath endorsed "Per Steamer Ajax" or "Per Diomed" each with 6d Green (latter with wing margin) both tied by mainly fine Port Louis "MAURITIUS/B53" duplexes and each with a very fine or mainly fine strike of the red Handstruck "3d" Accountancy Mark alongside, and both with a fine to very fine scarce red "PAID/LONDON SHIP LETTER" cds (4 May or 2 Sept.) nearby; good pair showing the 3d due to GB from the 6d rate - with Mauritius keeping 1d and the other 2d going to the shipping company. [First is ex James Ruffle; illustrated in his 1991 Maritime Mail part 2.] (2 covers) Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "4½d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 9d-RATE COVER TO GB "VIA MARSEILLES"; 6 Aug. 1863 env. to South Molton with 9d Dull Purple (rubbed corner) tied by fine Port Louis "B53" numeral with a very fine strike of the rare red Handstruck "4½d" Accountancy Mark (only recorded 1862/3) alongside; 1½d due to GB & 3d due to France from the 9d rate. Few known. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, FRANCE (Image)

RED "5½d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 10d-RATE COVER TO GB "VIA MARSEILLES"; 6 Nov. 1867 EL (small closed tear at top centre) to London with 6d Green + 4d Rose cancelled or tied respectively by mainly fine Port Louis "B53" numerals with a very fine strike of the scarce red Handstruck "5½d" Accountancy Mark (filing fold at foot) alongside; 1½d due to GB & 4d due to France from the 10d rate. Attractive example. [Ex James Ruffle, 1995.] Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "5½d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 10d-RATE COVER TO GB "VIA MARSEILLES"; Fine 6 Feb. 1867 EL to London with 6d Green + 4d Rose tied (one by indentation) by fair to v. fine Port Louis "B53" numerals with a fine strike of the scarce red Handstruck "5½d" Accountancy Mark alongside; 1½d due to GB & 4d due to France from the 10d rate. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

MADAGASCAR - RED "9d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 1s-4d RATE COVER TO GB VIA MAURITIUS PREPAID EXTRA 6d TO MAURITIUS; [Aug.?] 1869 env. (minor wrinkling & torn flap) addressed to "Messrs S.W. Silver & Co." in London, franked for the 1s-4d rate, which was made up of 6d from Madagascar to Mauritius + the regular 10d rate to GB.; there is a contemporary note inside; "Rainilaiebivony, The Prime Minister of Madagascar. Its Capital is Antananarvo" (was he the sender?). [S.W. Silver was a significant figure within the British and Foreign Bible Society, and is known to have had London Missionary Society connections, as well as an interest in Madagascar.] The London Missionary Society maintained an account with the Mauritius P.O. so that their outgoing Madagascar letters could be stamped en route at Port Louis. This cover has a 4d Rose + 1/- Orange with fair "B53" numerals (one just tied by London "PAID" arrival cds) as well as a very fine 1st-type red Port Louis handstruck "9d" Accountancy Mark (5d for GB + 4d for France). It also has a v. fine blue "MAURITIUS/A" backstamp of 30 Oct., but the letter was probably written in about August (in Madagascar). Very rare Accountancy Marking cover from Madagascar. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, MADAGASCAR (Image)

RED "9d" OR "9d" PORT LOUIS MARKS ON 10d-RATE COVERS TO GB "VIA MARSEILLES"; 18 Sept. 1867 & 18 Jan. 1869 env. (slight creasing) and EL both to London and both with 6d Green + 4d Rose (tied to each other or just tied to the cover) by v. fine or mainly fine Port Louis "B53" numerals; each with a very fine or mainly fine strike of the the two different types of the scarce red Handstruck "9d" Accountancy Mark (Proud A21 & A22 - with and without the underline below the "d"; each crossed by filing fold) alongside; 5d due to GB & 4d due to France from the 10d rate. Good pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "10d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON REGISTERED 1s-3d RATE COVER TO PONDICHERRY "VIA BOMBAY" & ADEN; 11 Oct. 1875 E (short top flap removed and all reinforced internally) to "Pondichery" endorsed "Per Messageries Maritimes Via Bombay" but also having a mainly fine "ADEN STEAMER POINT" transit cds (25 Oct.) on the front; with 1/- Orange + 3d Red tied by a single large Port Louis "B53" numeral with a mainly very fine blue oval "REGISTERED/No./MAURITIUS" ds alongside, as well as a superb strike of the red Handstruck "10d" Accountancy Mark; 10d due to GB from the 1s-3d rate with Mauritius keeping 2d postage and the 3d fee. Rare usage of an Accountancy Mark on Registered Mail. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, INDIA, REGISTERED MAIL, ADEN (Image)

INDO-CHINA - RED "10d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 1s-2d RATE COVER TO SAIGON ON 1st CAPE TO CEYLON VOYAGE; Fine and attractive 6 July 1866 E to "Saigon, Cochin Chine" endorsed "Via Galle per Steamer Natal" (the second leg of the very first Union Line Steamship Direct sailing from Cape Town to Ceylon) franked for the 1s-2d rate with 4d Rose strip of three + 1d Brown pair all tied by fine Port Louis "B53" numerals having a very fine strike of the red Handstruck Port Louis "10d" Accountancy Mark alongside; 10d due to GB from the 1s-2d rate with Mauritius keeping 4d postage. Rare destination. Exhibition Quality.Cross Reference: FRENCH COLONIES, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, CEYLON/SRI LANKA (Image)

INDO-CHINA - RED "10d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 1s-2d RATE COVER TO SAIGON "VIA ADEN" ROUTING; 7 May 1866 E (small part of one flap lost) to "Saigon, Cochin Chine" (same address as the previous lot) endorsed "Via Aden" franked for the 1s-2d rate with 1/- Orange + 1d Brown pair (all with faults) all tied by mainly very fine Port Louis "B53" numerals having a very fine strike of the red Handstruck Port Louis "10d" Accountancy Mark (filing crease) alongside as well as a blue crayon "1 2" (presumably the sender's note of postage to be paid?); 10d due to GB from the 1s-2d rate with Mauritius keeping 4d postage. Rare destination.Cross Reference: FRENCH COLONIES, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

BALANCE OF THE PORT LOUIS RED H.S. "ACCOUNTANCY MARKS COLLECTION - "1½d" + "10d" (2) COVERS, ETC.; 6 May 1869 env. (minor faults) from "BLACK RIVER" (part very early cds on reverse) to GB "Via Suez & Southampton" with 2d+6d tied by unclear 2-ring numerals but also having a very fine rare red P. Louis "1½d" mark alongside; 1872/6 env. (stain) & E (minor faults) pair to Calcutta "Via Aden" franked by 1/- Blue or 1/- Orange pair tied by larger "B53" numerals and each with a mainly very fine red Port Louis "10d" mark. Plus a group of covers (7) from which some or all of the stamps have been removed with mainly fine to superb red Port Louis Accountancy Marks "4d" (to India), "5½d" (2 to GB), "9d" (the 2 types; to GB), "11d" (to GB), and "1/8d" (to India). (10 covers)Cross Reference: INDIA, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, ADEN (Image)

INDIA - RED "10d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON PAIR OF COVERS (11d OR 1/- RATES) TO BOMBAY/CALCUTTA VIA ADEN; 18 Apr. 1868 & 26 June 1873 pair of envs. (second-language annotations on address sides) to Bombay or to Calcutta franked for the 11d or 1/- rates respectively. The first with 9d Dull Purple + 2d Light Blue (on reverse; latter with fault) cancelled by mainly very fine Port Louis "B53" numerals, the second with 1/- Blue tied by fine "MAURITIUS/B53" duplex on the address side. Both have mainly very fine strikes of the red Handstruck Port Louis "10d" Accountancy Mark; 10d due to GB from the 1s-2d rate with Mauritius keeping 4d postage. The later cover also has a very fine large oval Aden to Bombay "SEA POST OFFICE/F" transit ds. Great pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, INDIA, ADEN (Image)

RED "11d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON 1/- RATE COVER TO GB "VIA MARSEILLES"; 6 Nov. 1865 env. (printed address; slight faults) to Kent with 4d Rose (2) + 1/- Orange cancelled or tied by fine Port Louis "B53" numerals with a very fine strike of the red Handstruck "11d" Accountancy Mark (rare; only used on double-rate letters via France to GB such as this) alongside; 3d due to GB & 8d due to France from the 1/- rate leaving just 1d for Mauritius. Attractive example. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

RED "1s/-" PORT LOUIS MARK ON SHORT-LIVED 1s/1d RATE COVER TO GB "VIA BRINDISI"; 10 Feb. 1871 env. (slight wear) to Wiltshire with 1d Brown + 6d Blue (both 6d's with faults) tied by partly fine large Port Louis "B53" numerals with a mainly very fine strike of the rare red Handstruck "1s/-" Accountancy Mark (seldom seen) alongside; 9d due to GB & 3d due to Italy from the 1s/1d rate leaving just 1d for Mauritius. This 1s-1d rate via Brindisi (due to the Franco-Prussian War) was only in effect from Mauritius from 9 Jan. to 31 Mar. 1871, hence the rarity of this 1s/- marking. Attractive example. [Ex Ted Proud.] Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

INDIA - RARE RED "1/8d" PORT LOUIS MARK ON COVERS AT 2/- RATES TO CALCUTTA VIA ADEN SEA P.O.; 21 Aug. 1873 env. (faint sender's ds and filing note on address side) to Calcutta "Per Str. Dupleix via Bombay" franked for the double 2/- rate with pair of 1/- Blues tied by fine large "B53" numerals and also tied by a very fine rare red Handstruck Port Louis "1/8d" Accountancy Mark; 1s-8d due to GB from the 2s-0d rate with Mauritius and India each due for 2d postage. There is also a mainly fine large oval Aden to Bombay "SEA POST OFFICE/B" transit ds on the reverse. Rare thus. Cross Reference: INDIA, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, ADEN (Image)

INGOING MAIL EX G.B. WITH RED LONDON "4d½" OR "1d" ACCOUNTANCY MARKS; 1860-66 covers from GB to Port louis inc. 1864/5 pair of envs. with Small Letters 6d+4d or White Letters 6d tied by Brighton or Belfast duplexes each with mostly v. fine red London "4d½" marks on the front, 1866 trio of large part Es ex London with 6d+4d frankings with the same red London "4d½", 1860/1 cash-pair ELs pair ex Liverpool with the same "4d½" London marks, a sad stamps-removed 1861 EL ex London with a BLACK hs "4d½" cancelled by a red one, and 1865 EL ex Manchester "Per French Packet" with 6d+4d but with red London "1d" mark. Plus 2 other stamp-removed covers. Useful research lot. (11 covers) Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, SUSSEX (Image)