1929 FIRST MAIL CARRYING FLIGHT FROM FRANCE TO MAURITIUS: 17 Oct. 1929 registered and carried on the 1st mail carrying flight from France. The env. was flown from France to Madagascar and onward by sea due to illness and the journey completed by sea to Mauritius. Signed by Goulette & Marchesseau. A scarce survivor. (Image)

1931-32 AIRMAILS VIA MOMBASA ETC. inc. 28 May 1932 env. from GPO Mauritius to UK with a single 1r. 11 April 1932 env. from Mauritius to Ipswich at the 1r 38c rate. 22 Dec 1932 env. from Phoenix via S. Africa to UK at the 70c rate. 9 March 1932 env. from Mauritius by air from Mombasa to UK. 20 Jan 1932 card from Mauritius to Paris with "MAURICE FRANCE/lere Lasison aeropostale/Avion Roland Garros/Voyage de Retour" hs. Generally fine. (12 items) (Image)

1933 (NOV.) RAID SAMAT FLIGHT COVERS: 10 Nov. 1933 env. from Reunion to Maritius carried on the Raid Samat flight at 6f 50c with special cachet on reverse. 14 Nov. 1933 covers (4, inc. three registered) to Reunion (2) and UK (2) with correct postage and cachets. The examples to UK are pilot signed (Paul Louis Lemerle). Also one other. (6 covers) (Image)

1933 (9 NOV.) RAID SAMAT FLIGHT COVERS from Reunion to Maritius franked at the 8f 50 rate and showing on reverse "1er LIASON POSTALE AERIENNE/REUNION MAURICE/RAID SAMAT/Escarille de 3 avions" cachet. A little folded. Also 1933 (14 Nov.) return flight cover registered from Curepipe Road to Reunion, pilot signed (J Haily) and return cachet on reverse. (2 covers) (Image)

1933-36 COVERS FLOWN FROM MAURITIUS VIA KENYA inc. 31 Oct. 1932 env. from Port Louise to Switzerland with a fine "PAR AVION/JUSQU'A BRINDISI" hs. 10 Nov. 1934 env. from Mauritius to London at the 55c rate. 24 July 1934 env. registered from Mauritius via Nairobi to Lincoln. 3 Jan. 1936 env. registered from Curepipe Road to London at the 70c rate. (7 covers) (Image)

1934-37 FLOWN COVERS TO EUROPE VIA SOUTH AFRICA inc. 18 July 1934 env. registered from Mauritius via S. Africa to Lincoln at the 70c plus 20c registration rate. 2 Mar. 1935 env. from Mauritius "via South Africa" to Glasgow at the 1R 40c double rate. 16 Mar 1935 env. from Rose Hill "via Durban" to London 1r 25c rate. 10 Nov. 1936 env. from Curepipe "via Durban" to Paris at the 90c rate. 15 Feb. 1937 env. from Jamaica via USA, London & S. Africa to Rose Hill at the 1/-2d rate. (9 covers) (Image)

1936-38 INTERESTING GROUP OF FLOWN COVERS inc. 24 Oct. 1936 env. from Souilac "via Tamanartive Madagascar" to Paris with a large boxed red "Premier voyage Madagascar-Europe/(Air Afrique)/par Elisabethville - Stanleyville-/Bangui-Alger-Marseille-Paris" hs. 20 Jan. 1937 envs. (2) carried on the Roland Garros return flight with "MAURICE FRANCE/Iere Liaison aeropostale/Aviaon Roland Garros/Voyage de retour" hs, one pilot signed. 25 June 1937 env. from London to Port Louise carried on the 1st day of the 1½d "all up" rate. A fine lot. (9 covers) (Image)

1947 AIR FRANCE 100th FLIGHT TO MARITIUS, ETC.: Five covers inc. a 6d air letter sheet to Mauritius, one from Reunion to Port Louise, and an env. registered from Mauritius to S. Africa all with large boxed "100eme LIASON POSTALE AERIENNE/REGULIERE EFFECTUEE PAR - AIR FRANCE/ELI MAURICE-LA REUNION-MADAGASCAR" hs. Also 18 Feb. 1948 env from Maritious to Nairobi with boxed "FIRST AIR MAIL/MAURITIUS - NAIROBI/per SKYWAYS Ltd" hs. (6 covers) (Image)

c1858-1960 STOCKBOOK OF ADHESIVES WITH CANCELLATIONS: Stock of adhesives (mostly QV issues) with an interesting range of cancellations inc. numerals, cds's, and concentric circles with numerals. Mostly clear strikes. (few 100s) (Image)

CASCADE HALT CANCELLATIONS: 7 May 1945 small env. to Quatre Bornes bearing a single 2c tied by a fine "CASCADE HALT" hs. 11 July 1945 env. to Port Louise re-directed to Reduit with a 12c tied by a good CASCADE HALT" hs with another strike nearby. (2 covers) (Image)

NUMERAL CANCELLATIONS, ETC.: c1870-c1910 remaindered accumulation of adhesives and covers (2) with various cancellations inc. a good range of "B53" numerals. 31 March 1879 E from Mauritius to France with 25c tied by "B53" duplex. 1863-72 2d blue (23) and 8c on 2d (3) with numeral cancellations comprising 1, 2, 4 to 8, 10 to 12, 14 to 23, and 25 to 30. Mostly fine strikes. (c150) (Image)

1881-1943 PILLAR BOX CANCELLATIONS - THE EXCEPTIONAL THIRTY PAGE DISPLAY COLLECTION of covers/cards (34) and adhesives (112) with various pillar box cds inc. 31 Jan 1892 2c postcard from Mahebourg to Curepipe with ms "Found in Lyon Street Pillar Box". 29 Aug 1899 2c card from Curepipe to Quatre Bornes with a 22 mm "PILLAR BOX/CUREPIPE" cds (unique as a pre 1900 rural pillar box cds). 1907 2c cards (2) with excised "PILLAR BOX/MAHEBOURG" cds. A good range of Port Louise pillar box cds's inc. types 1 to 4. 1905 4c on 18c env. to Pamplemouses with ms "Found these in Pillar Box" and "P Box/C Road" . 1928 env. registered to UK with fine "PILLAR BOX/GENERAL POST OFFICE" cds. Also an 1801 Luffman map of Mauritius. The majority of the cancellations are fine. (Image)

RODRIGUES CDS ON COVER: 1901 large env. from Rodrigues to Port Louise bearing "Arms" 1c, 2c & 15c tied by small type "RODRIGUES/1" cds with a poorly struck boxed Carrier ds on reverse. Scarce. (Image)

THIMBLE CDS CANCELLATIONS: 23 Feb. 1900 env. to Rose Hill bearing 1897 4c tied by a fine "MOKA" thimble cds. 7 Dec. 1900 env. from Rose Hill to India bearing 6c tied by an exceptional "ROSE HILL" thimble cds. 29 Aug. 1902 env. to Port Louise with a good "REDUIT" thimble cancellation. 6 Feb. 1904 8c registered env. uprated with 4c grey green & violet with a fine strike of the scarce "POUDRE D'OR VILLAGE" cds. 1 Jan. 1906 env. to France with 16c tied by a complete "CUREPIPE ROAD" thimble. (6 covers) (Image)

1914-47 TRAVELLING BOX CANCELLATIONS: Collection of items with travelling box cancellations inc. 18 Nov. 1914 PPC from Curepipe to France with 12c tied by a lightly struck boxed violet "TRAVELLING BOX" hs. 23 Oct. 1923 3c wrapper to Moka cancelled by red boxed "TRAVELLING/BOX ML" ds. 1935 5c env. to Quatre Bornes with a lightly struck "TRAVELLING BOX" hs. 1936 3c postcard to Port Louise with a boxed "TRAVELLING/BOX NL" ds. 22 Sept. 1947 Air Letter from Union Vale to USA with KGVI 10c & 12c tied by a single boxed "TRAVELLING BOX" hs. 1947 env. to Palestine with 12c tied by a clear boxed "TRAVELLING BOX" hs, with violet "NO UNIT LOCATION/B.A.R.O. MOASCAR/M.E.L.F." and "RETURN TO SENDER" hs's. An interesting group. (11 items) (Image)

THE RARE 1ST-TYPE (BOXED) "LATE RECEIVED" MARK (ERD) ON INGOING COVER EX FRANCE; 14 Mar. 1845 EL prepaid from Nantes to Port Louis "Pr [Ship] Pionnier" with red boxed Nantes "P.P." on the front, but most unusually also having a mainly very fine boxed Port Louis "LATE RECEIVED" (filing crease) inverted on the front matching the mainly fine 2-ring "MAURITIUS/POST OFFICE/JY 02/1845" ds on the side-flap. This Late mark indicated that the letter was landed from the Pionnier after the local mail despatches for the day had closed; Proud records it (I 6) only from 20/7/1845 to 17 May 1850, and it seems likely that the Port Louis cds on this cover was meant to read 20 July and so this must be the Earliest Recorded Date. Few examples known. Cross Reference: FRANCE, LATE FEE MAIL (Image)

UNIQUE(?) USAGE OF RARE BOXED "FREE." ON INGOING COVER FROM GB REDIRECTED LOCALLY; 29 Oct. 1857 E (some creasing and toning) from London to a "Hotel Keeper, Souillac, District of Savaine, Mauritius" franked with a cut-square Embossed 6d Lilac (margins on 3 sides; cut into at top) cancelled by a London diamond numeral (with faint General Office cds on the flap). There is a mainly fine double-oval "PACKET LETTER/MAURITIUS" ds 11 Jan. 1857) just across the join on the reverse, but the letter was endorsed "Returned" on the front, so presumably the addressee could not be found in Souillac and the letter was returned to Port Louis. There is also a mainly fine rare small boxed "FREE" mark of Port Louis (Proud OPD 29) on the top flap endorsed "Local" which matches the handwriting of the redirection on the front to "Ville Bague". It seems that there was a rule that redirected letters from overseas were not to be charged local postage. Very few covers have been recorded with this FREE mark, and this is thought to be the only known example on ingoing mail. Fascinating and probably Unique cover. Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, FREES, EMBOSSED ISSUES (Image)

PORT LOUIS "TOO LATE" MARKS - ALL DIFFERENT TYPES - TO REUNION PLUS 2 TO INDIA; 23 Mar. 1861 E to Reunion "Par Str. Paul Amsterdam" with 4d Rose (crease) cancelled by void barred oval having a very fine boxed Port Louis "TOO LATE" (Proud I 8; EKD) on the front matching the crowned cds on the lower flap beside a fine blue boxed St. Denis "M & I" mark; plus 19 Oct. 1861/11 Mar. 1870 E/EL to Calcutta/Karachi with 4d Rose tied by "B53" duplex or with 6d+4d+1d (latter damaged) tied by fair"B53" numerals, each with mainly fine Port Louis "TOO LATE" marks (framed or unframed; not recorded by Proud & Proud I 9 respectively). Fine trio of these remarkably elusive Mauritius markings. (3 covers)Cross Reference: TOO LATE MARKS, REUNION, FRANCE, INDIA (Image)

LATER PORT LOUIS FORWARDING AGENT CACHETS - MAIL TO PRUSSIA/FRANCE/GB; 1880/94 envs. + wrapper with fair to very fine strikes of oval-framed FACs of "IRELAND FRASER & CO/MERCHANTS" (1880; to France with 17c Red), "BLYTH BROTHERS & Co." (1885 to Prussia with 4c Red), or "SCOTT & Co." (1894 wrapper to GB with faded 1c + 2c). Unusually late usages for FACs. (3 covers) Cross Reference: FORWARDING AGENTS, FRANCE, GERMANY (Image)

NOVA SCOTIA - SPECTACULAR COVER REGISTERED WITH MAURITIUS 3-COLOUR FRANKING, ETC.; Colourful 7 May 1869 env. (very slight edge wear) from "Port Louis" to "Halifax, Nova Scotia" endorsed "Via Marseilles" and "Registered" with 6d Green, 9d Dull Purple & 1/-Yellow cancelled by fine "B53" numerals (the 1/- tied by the red London 4 June transit d.s.) for the 2s-3d rate (1/- reg. fee + 1s-3d postage) with a very fine red Port Louis "REGISTERED/No.[2]" mark (Proud R4; this example predates his dates by 1 month) alongside. There is also a 16 June Halifax oval arrival ds on the front. The original enclosure is still present; a "Second [Bill] of Exchange for £50 Sterling" and it has a very fine Mauritius 1d Blue "SECOND OF EXCHANGE" stamp tied by the sender's signature. A rare rate, an early registered item, and a rare destination. Wonderful Exhibition Quality Cover. Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, NOVA SCOTIA, REVENUES (Image)

THE MYSTERIOUS PORT LOUIS "R" MARKS - IN RED (1876 REGD. TO FRANCE) OR BLACK (4 LOCAL PCs); Attractive 12 Oct. 1876 EL registered to Nantes "Per Messageries Maritimes" with 1/- Yellow + 4d Rose tied by fair large "B53" numerals (8d postage + 8d reg. fee) with a very fine oval red "REGISTERED/No./MAURITIUS" d.s. on the front but also having a very fine red boxed "R" (Proud I 80; ERD - very rare in red) nearby; this usage of the R mark may suggest a connection at this early period to registered mail. Plus 1879 formula PC with 2c on blank tablet and 1887/97 trio of 2c Brown PCs; all to Port Louis and 3 from different villages which suggests a possible usage for Rural mail, or Ride mail? Fascinating and attractive group. (1 covers + 4 cards)Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, FRANCE (Image)

MADAGASCAR - INGOING "TELEGRAM" COVER REGISTERED FROM PORT LOUIS; Attractive 13 Mar. 1896 "EASTERN TELEGRAPH CO. TELEGRAM" env. addressed to "Tamatave" with Port Louis telegram station oval ds on reverse beside the Mauritius 25c+12c tied by a fine Port Louis cds. The undersea cables did not reach Madagascar at this date, so the telegram probably came from India or Europe and had to be forwarded by ship. Rare and attractive ingoing cover registered to Madagascar. Cross Reference: TELEGRAMS, MADAGASCAR, REGISTERED MAIL (Image)

BALANCE OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL MARK COVERS - BOER WAR, EARLY POSTAGE DUES, "Late Received", ETC.; 1887-1940 covers/cards with varied instructional markings etc.; 1887/99 local PCs pair with CARRIER ds, ingoing WWI 'fags PC', 1901 pair of envs. to Ceylon Boer POW (5 different Diyatalawa Camp censors!) or censored to L. Marques, 1911/29 PC/env. pair with v. fine "Late Received" late usages, 1930 env. with GB PUC 1d tied by v. fine "Ship Letter", and 1933-40 quartet of covers with scarce early Mauritius Postage Dues (4c+10c+2c ex Madagascar, 6c pair ex Reunion, 10c+20c+4c+2c ex Paris, and military 1940 "F.M." env. ex Madagascar with 3x10c + 3x2c), 2 Arms covers, and 4 1930s covers. Good lot. (19 covers/cards + 4 stamps) Cross Reference: POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, MADAGASCAR, LATE FEE MAIL, MILITARY - BOER WAR (Image)

1912-59 INTERESTING GROUP OF COVERS & TWO CARDS inc. 25 Nov. 1906 PPC from Sydney to Curepipe with large "6c/TO PAY" hs; 28 May 1932 PPC from Los Angeles to Mauritius with large "5c/TO PAY" hs; 1919 env. from Beau Bassin to USA with small "DUE 6 CENTS" hs; 6 Jan. 1936 small local Cluny env. with KGV 5c Jubilee and 10c pale green p. due tied by "CLUNY/MAURITIUS" cds; 22 Jan. 1959 env. used with Rose Belle bearing 20c p. due tied by cds. A good group. (12 covers) (Image)

1928-81 SELECTION OF POSTAGE DUE ITEMS inc. 6 Dec. 1938 env. from Phoenix to UK with 12c orange and GB 1d dues (4) and large "3-/I.S./R" hs; 1928 6c on 16c env. uprated with KGV 1c pair used to Paris and bearing French 60c p.due; 1951-59 covers (6) to UK with various p. due hs's; 1952 env. from Petite Riviere to Trinidad with Trinidad 6c & 12c p dues; 21 Sept. 1972 env. from Paris to Curepipe with Mauritian 6c & 50c p. dues. Also a mint selection of p. dues inc. 1933-35 2c to 20c perforated "SPECIMEN". A fine lot. (21 covers + 43 adhesives) (Image)