VERY EARLY LOCAL 4d RATES CHARGED ON MAIL TO MAHEBOURG & GRAND PORT; 29 July 1840 EL (church contents) from "Port Louis to "Mahebourg" with faint red 2-ring "MAURITIUS/POST OFFICE" cds on the front endorsed "Post Paid" but that was crossed out; presumably the sender had intended to pay the 4d local rate but was told at the PO that the addressee, Bishop Clifford, was entitled to free mail. Plus printed "April 1841" EL (bank circular) prepaid from London on 12 May to "Grand Port, Mauritius, Isle of France" with fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LONDON" ds and "1/4" (double outgoing 8d rate) but endorsed "To be Charged" & "1s/4d" (changed from "1/8d") in Mauritius for the incoming double 6d Ship Letter rate plus the local 4d rate from Port Louis to Grand Port (8d was an initial error because the local rate was a uniform 4d). Rare and attractive early pair showing the internal 4d rate. Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, WORCESTERSHIRE (Image)

VERY EARLY LOCAL 4d RATE TO GRAND PORT ON COVER EX GB WITH RARE "Mifsent to/FALMOUTH" DS; 7 July 1843 E from "COWICK" (UDC; village under Worcester) initially sent unpaid (charged "1/-") but sent back from London with v. fine red framed "Return'd/for Postage" on the flap; then prepaid in London ("T.P/St James St." on the front) to "Grand Port, Mauritius" with fine red oval "PAID SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LONDON" ds and "1/4" (double outgoing 8d rate) but somewhere along the line sent to Falmouth in error and so also having a partly fine rare dated "Mifsent to/FALMOUTH/9 JY 1843" ds (very few examples known) on the front. Then endorsed "To be Charged" & "10d" in Mauritius for the incoming 6d Ship Letter rate plus the local 4d rate from Port Louis to Grand Port. Spectacular cover with great variety of scarce markings. Cross Reference: MISSENT MAIL, CORNWALL, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

EARLY PAIR OF 4d-RATE COVERS FROM MAHEBOURG TO PORT LOUIS - "POST PAID" OR "TO BE CHARGED"; Remarkable pair 0f 30 June/23 July 1846 ELs from "Mahebourg" to Port Louis each with a mainly fine 2-ring "MAURITIUS/POST OFFICE" arrival cds; the first endorsed "Post Paid 4d", but the second initially endorsed "Paid 4d, but his was changed to "To be charged 4d". Rare matched pair. (2 covers) (Image)

EARLIEST RECORDED(?) VILLAGE MARKING - BOXED "SOUILLAC" DS ON COVER WITH BOXED "INL[AND]"; Small 17 Feb. 1848 EL (address-panel neatly reinforced to stop ink-etching) sent unpaid from "SOUILLAC." - fine boxed "FE 17 1848" ds nicely placed on the front beside a partial boxed Port Louis "INL[AND]" mark (1st recorded month of usage); charged "2d" local rate. This is thought to be the earliest recorded usage of any Mauritius village mark (Proud D1; earliest recorded for this village by him). Important Exhibition Item. (Image)

EARLY VILLAGE MARKING - BOXED "SOUILLAC" DS ON COVER WITH BOXED "INLAND" & EXTRA 1d TOWN RATE; 14 June 1848 EL sent unpaid from "SOUILLAC." - fine boxed "JU 14 1848" ds (1846 error neatly changed to 1848 in ms at the time) nicely placed on the front beside a fine boxed Port Louis "INLAND." mark; most unusually charged both "2d" local rate plus the extra Port Louis town 1d rate (rarely seen; this example being the EKD?) with a total ms "3d" charge at top left. Exhibition Quality. (Image)

EARLY LOCAL MAIL WITH PORT LOUIS "INLAND" + "PAID" OR CIRCULAR FRAMED "PAID" MARK; 1 Mar. 1849 EL (reinforced internally to stop ink-etching) from Port Louis (2-ring cds on flap) to "Savane" endorsed (in French) on the flap; "To be forwarded as soon as possible by Monsieur Fauque" (who was the Souillac Postmaster) with fine boxed Port Louis "INLAND." and "PAID." marks on the front with ms "2d" (2d from P. Louis to Souillac) "Paid 4d" (paid on delivery incl. the extra 2d from Souillac to Savane. Plus 1 Sept. 1850 EL (printed circular; badly reinforced central vertical fold) from "Paris" privately carried to Port Louis and posted there having a fine 2-ring "G P O/MAURITIUS" cds (25 Feb. 1851) and matching "PAID" in circle on the front. Rare pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

MAHEBOURG - RARE USAGE OF BLUE BOXED DS + "PAID." ON OVERSEAS MAIL - TO GB "OVERLAND VIA CEYLON"; Attractive 10 Mar. 1851 E (family contents; folds neatly internally reinforced with archival tape) from Mahebourg to Essex endorsed "By overland via Ceylon" with very fine matching blue boxed "PAID." (beside ms "2/4d" - the outgoing Ship Letter rate) and "MAHEBOURG/MAR 1851" marks nicely placed on the front. Sent to Ceylon to connect with the P&O service to Suez, and then via Malta and Marseilles;; "2/3" rate charged to above ½oz "4/1" rate. Rare usage of village markings on overseas mail. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: CEYLON/SRI LANKA, EGYPT (Image)

MAHEBOURG - RARE USAGE OF BLUE BOXED DS + "PAID." WITH BLUE "PENZANCE/SHIP LETTER"; 24 Oct. 1850 E (family contents) from Mahebourg to Hampshire endorsed "By Oriental Queen to England" with fine matching blue boxed "PAID." (filing crease; beside ms "6 Ship" - the outgoing direct Ship Letter rate) and "MAHEBOURG/OCR[?] 1850" marks nicely placed on the front. Landed in Cornwall and so with a mainly very fine blue (scarce thus; only recorded 1850-51) boxed step-type "PENZANCE/SHIP LETTER" just across the join on the reverse and charged the single "8[d]" rate. Rare usage of village markings on overseas mail. Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, CORNWALL (Image)

MAHEBOURG - RARE EARLY USAGE OF BLUE BOXED D.S. + "PAID." ON OVERSEAS MAIL - TO GB "OVERLAND VIA CEYLON"; 8 Feb. 1851 EL (family contents) from Mahebourg to Essex (17 April backstamps) endorsed "By overland via Ceylon" with very fine matching blue boxed "PAID." (beside ms "1/2d") and "MAHEBOURG/F[..]Y 1851" marks nicely placed on the front along with fine "PACKET LETTER/ MAURITIUS" ds. Rare usage of village markings on overseas mail. Exhibition Quality. (Image)

LOCAL PORT LOUIS TO GRAND RIVIERE LETTER WITH WARNING ABOUT ABUSE OF POSTAGE DUE CHARGES; Small 1 Aug. 1853 EL (minor faults) from Port Louis to "Grand Riviere" with partly fine crowned "MAURITIUS/GPO" cds and boxed "INLAND" on the front along with the traces of a wafer seal to the left of the address, which may indicate that a 2d stamp was pilfered in transit. The contents include; "J'ai affranchi cette lettre (deux pences); vous devez la recevoir franche de port, ainsi, si de vous reclame quelques chose ne payez pas. Je sais qu'il existe des abus chez quelques personnes qui les distribuent." [I franked this letter (two pence); You must receive it free of postage, so if you are charged something, don't pay. I know there are abuses among a few people who distribute them.] Rare local letter with a story to tell!? (Image)

RARE BOXED "PENNY POST" MARK ON INGOING COVER BY PRIVATE SHIP EX "COCANADAH" (INDIA); Fine 12 May 1859 EL (part of one internal side-flap lost - no loss of text) from "G. CORNET & CHOLET/COCANADAH" (sender's blue oval cachet on the front) to Port Louis endorsed "Par le Ganjaur" with a very fine 2-ring "G P O/MAURITIUS" cds across the join on the reverse beside a matching rare 2nd-type boxed "PENNY POST" mark (Proud A2; 1854-59, only occasional use). Only a surprisingly small number of covers with this Penny Post mark have been recorded. [Ibbotson, p.45 notes that "Very few survive" of either type of the Boxed Penny Post mark.] Exhibition Quality.Cross Reference: INDIA (Image)

FLACQ - RARE OCTAGON-BOXED "Flacq" DS ON COVER AT RARE 6d RATE (2d LOCAL + 4d TO FRANCE); 2 Nov. 1860 E (minor reinforced flap faults) from Flacq "Voie de Suez" to Neuilly sue Seine (5 Dec. backstamp) with a rare octagon-boxed "Flacq/2 NO 60" ds (Proud D2) on the top flap (overstruck by Paris transit cds); franked with 4d Rose + 2d Blue tied by fine void barred Port Louis ovals matching the fine 2-ring "G P O/MAURITIUS" cds on the flap, and charged "8[decimes]" on delivery. Rare example of this extra Local 2d rate on a fully stamped cover to overseas. Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

VERY RARE OCTAGON-BOXED "Grand Bay" DS ON FREE MILITARY "O.H.M.S." COVER TO FLACQ; Very fine 6 July 1861 stampless "O.H.M.S." env. to the Officer commanding the Forces in the "Port of Flacq" with a mostly very fine octagon-boxed "Grand Bay" ds (one of only two recorded examples) nicely placed on the front. The address is also countersigned by "H.F. Johnson, Dty. Qmr., Commanding Post [at Grand Bay]" with no postal charge but having a mainly fine 8 July Port Louis "MAURITIUS" transit backstamp. Remarkable and very rare example of internal Mauritian Military Official Mail accepted for free postage. Unique thus and of Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: MILITARY, OFFICIAL MAIL (Image)

MAHEBOURG - RARE OCTAGON-BOXED "Mahebourg" DS ON COVER WITH 2d BLUE TIED BY PORT LOUIS DUPLEX; 9 Dec. 1861 E (some unnecessarily heavy reinforcing of internal folds; some light creasing) from Mahebourg to Port Louis with a very fine octagon-boxed "Mahebourg" ds on the lower flap, franked by wing-margin 2d Blue tied by a very fine Port Louis duplex (10 Dec.). There is also a red manuscript "1d" on the front for the extra 1d due for delivery in Port Louis, so in effect this was a 3d-rate letter. Attractive and rare usage of this early village datestamp. (Image)

1 IN 2 CIRCLES CANCEL - MAHEBOURG - ON 1860 2d BLUE ON COVER WITH MATCHING CDS TO MOKA; 25 Feb. 1862 mourning env. to "Bagatelle, Moka" with an 1860 2d Blue tied both by a very fine "1" numeral in two circles and by a matching mainly very fine "MAHEBOURG" cds; there is a Port Louis transit cds (26 Feb.) on the reverse. Rare and attractive example of an 1860 Issue cover with 2-Ring numeral cancel. (Image)

1 IN 3 CIRCLES CANCEL - MAHEBOURG - ON 1863 2d PALE BLUE ON COVER WITH MATCHING CDS TO PORT LOUIS; 16 Apr. 1863 E (minor creasing) to "Port Louis" with an 1863 2d Pale Blue cancelled/just tied both by a mainly very fine "1" numeral in three circles and by a matching very fine "MAHEBOURG" cds; there is a Port Louis arrival cds (17 Apr.) on the reverse. Rare and attractive example of an 1863-Issue cover with 2-Ring numeral cancel. (Image)

2 IN 3 CIRCLES CANCEL - FLACQ - ON 1863 4d ROSE PAIR ON COVER WITH MATCHING BACKSTAMP TO FRANCE; 5 Aug. 1863 mourning env. (small repair at top centre; flap faults) from "FLACQ" (v. fine "A"-code backstamp) to "La Ferte sous Souarre, France" (6 Sept. arrival cds on reverse) with an 1863 4d Rose (2) tied by very fine "2" numeral in three circles with red Port Louis transit "P.D." on the front beside red 2-ring "POSS. ANG. V. SUEZ/A MARSEILLE B" cds; there is a Port Louis transit cds (6 Aug.) on the reverse. Rare and attractive example of an 1863 Issue cover with the 3-Ring numeral cancel. Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

6 IN 2 CIRCLES CANCEL - MOKA - ON 1863 6d DULL LILAC COVER TO GB WITH RED "1½d" ACCOUNTANCY MARK; Attractive 3 Feb. 1865 env. (slight toning) from "MOKA" (fine "B"-code backstamp nicely placed on side-flap) to Lancashire with an 1863 6d Dull Lilac tied (both by the ink and by a clear indentation) by very fine "6" numeral in two circles (Proud K1, Value "x3000"; he lists it as "9") with very fine scarce red Port Louis transit "1½d" Accountancy Marking alongside; there is a Port Louis transit cds (4 Feb.) on the reverse. Rare and attractive example of an 1863 Issue cover with this rare 2-Ring numeral cancel. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: ACCOUNTANCY MARKS (Image)

10 IN 2 CIRCLES CANCEL - RIVIERE DU REMPART - ON 1863 6d+2d ON COVER WITH MATCHING BACKSTAMP TO FRANCE; 5 Apr. 1863 env. from "RIVIERE DU REMPART" (fine "A"-code backstamp on side-flap) to "St. Gaudery, France" (5 May arrival cds on reverse) "By Overlan d - Via Marseilles" with 1863 6d Green + 2d Pale Blue tied by fine rare "10" numeral in two circles with red Port Louis transit "P.D." on the front beside red 2-ring "POSS. ANG. V. SUEZ/A MARSEILLE B" cds; there is a Port Louis transit cds (6 Apr.) on the reverse. Rare and attractive example of an 1863 Issue cover with this very rare 2-Ring numeral cancel; only two other "10" numerals on cover have been recorded. Exhibition Quality.Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

10 IN 2 CIRCLES CANCEL - REISSUE TO CALEBASSES - ON COVER WITH MATCHING BACKSTAMP TO GB; 23 Nov. 1894 env. (some toning on reverse) from "CALEBASSES" (v. fine "C"-code fleuron backstamp) to London with 1893 15c Chestnut just tied by a very fine reissued "10" numeral in two circles (late usage); there is a Port Louis transit cds (23 Nov.) on the reverse. Good pair to the earlier "10" usage cover in the previous lot. (Image)

12 IN 2 CIRCLES CANCEL - GRANDE SAVANNE - ON 1861(?) 1d BROWN ON COVER TO PORT LOUIS; Fine 5 Apr. 1863 E (a few tiny pin-holes mainly in flap & clear of stamps) to "Port Louis" with an 1861(?) 1d Brown pair nicely tied by very fine "12" numerals in two circles with a faint matching "GRANDE SAVANNE" cds; there is a Port Louis arrival cds (6 Apr.) on the reverse. Rare and very attractive example of this 2-Ring numeral cancel on cover. Exhibition Quality. (Image)

OFF-COVER PENCE ISSUES WITH HAND-PICKED 3-RING OR 2-RING NUMERAL CANCELS INC. SOME BRITANNIA ISSUES; Attractive page with c.1860-9 stamps having mainly very fine strikes of these scarce numerals on various issues inc. Britannia no value 6d, 4 other Britannia issues, and a wide range of 1860s Pence values ; 3-ring "1" (3" or "2" (3) plus 2-ring types; 1 (4), 2, 3 (3), 4(2), 5(2), 6, 7, 8(2), 9, 10(2), 12(2), 13, 14 & 16. Some very rare village numerals included. The product of many years' search. (30) (Image)

VILLAGE OVAL NUMERALS - Nos. 2 TO 12 - LOCAL POSTAL STATIONERY PCs, REGD., OVERSEAS MAIL, ETC.; 1879-1892 covers/cards inc. mainly fine to very fine numerals, all on local 2c Brown Postal Stationery PCs unless noted otherwise; 2 (Terre Rouge), 4 (Pamplemousses; env. with 16c on 17c to Rome + 6c PC to Austria), 7 (Mapou; faint), 8 (Poudre D'Or x2), 9 (Riviere du Rempart), 10 (Flacq x3; 2c PC + 4c Orange on env. to P. Louis + env. Regd. to Port Louis with 2c x2 + 8c on 2d), 11 (env. with 2c pair to P. Louis), and 12 (Riviere Seche x3; 1879 E to Flacq with 4c on 1d + 2 2c PCs inc. one to P. Louis with boxed "CARRIER" ds unusually cancelled by "B53"). Good lot. (14 covers/cards) Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)

VILLAGE OVAL NUMERALS - Nos. 13 TO 18 - LOCAL POSTAL STATIONERY PCs, REGD., OVERSEAS MAIL, ETC.; 1875-91 covers/cards inc. mainly fine to very fine numerals, all on local 2c Brown Postal Stationery PCs unless noted otherwise; 13 (Grand River SE; env. with 2c on 4c), 14 (Mahebourg; 3 inc. 1876 env. with 2c & 1884 env. with 4c), 15 (Union Vale; 4), 16 (Rose Belle; 2) and rare 18 (Grande Savanna; 1875 EL with 10d to Ireland). Good group. (11 covers/cards) (Image)

VILLAGE OVAL NUMERALS - Nos. 26 TO 43 - LOCAL POSTAL STATIONERY PCs, REGD., OVERSEAS MAIL, ETC.; 1879-93 covers/cards inc. mainly fine to very fine numerals, all on local 2c Brown P. Stat. PCs unless noted otherwise; 26 (Moka), 27 (Beau Bassin; 2 inc. 4c on env. to Curepipe Rd.), 28 (Petite Riviere; 2 inc. 6c Green PC to Germany), 29 (Bambous; 1879 Formula PC with 2d on blank tablet), scarce 31 (Coromandel), 33 (Riviere Dragon; 2 inc. 6c PC to London), 34 (Riviere des Anguilles), 35 (Chemin Grenier; 1890 small env. to France with 16c), 37 (Curepipe Road; 5 inc. rare fine regd. 1890 usage of the 25c P. Stat. env. to Germany, 1880 env. with 17c to France & 1891 usage 8c regd. env. to US with 16c), 38 (Midlands; 2), 41 (St. Pierre; 1885 env. with 4c Orange ), and scarce"43" (Quartiere Militaire). Very good lot. (20 covers/cards) Cross Reference: POSTAL STATIONERY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FRANCE, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)