Worldwide & Great Britain - Mar 2022, Lot 514

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - RARE OVAL "CAPE OF GOOD HOPE/PACKET-LETTER" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO G.B.; 24 Jan. 1818 EL (file folds) to London (Huth & Co) with a very fine strike of the rare oval "CAPE OF GOOD HOPE/PACKET-LETTER" d.s. on the front, Rated '10/6' (treble Packet rate). Carried on the East India Co. Richmond and rear with red wax seal and London arrival d.s. Perhaps 15 examples of this mark - the only C.G.H. Packet Letter mark - have been recorded; the majority are crossed by filing creases. Similar example in our June 2006 sale sold for £1000. Important Cape Ship letter. Ex 'Lady Hope' (2003) Cross Reference : LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, MARITIME MAIL, INDIA