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c.1785 Cover from Holland to C.L Neethling, Secretary of the Council of Justice at the Cape, endorsed for carriage by favour of Daniel Strahle, Senior Helmsman on the ship "de Vrouwe Wynanda Luberta", the reverse with two wax seals impressed with guild marks. A fine cover. Photo on Page 94. £150-180
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c.1788 Entire from Holland to the Cape endorsed by the Packet "Maria Louiza" with circular framed "VOC / 6 St." handstamp, part flap missing, otherwise fine and scarce. Photo on Page 94. £280-320
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c.1788 Entire from Holland to the Weeskamer at the Cape endorsed by the company packet boat de "Faam", with circular framed "VOC/6st" handstamp, reverse with impressed red wax seal, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 94. £300-350
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c.1790 Entire probably from Batavia, to the Cape of Good Hope endorsed by the ship "Cronenburg", Captain de boom. An unusual item sent by a ship of the Danish East India Company. Photo on Page 94. £200-240
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c.1793 Long cover from Holland to N. Kervel, Secretary of the Weeskamer at the Cape with two circular framed "VOC/6st." handstamps indicating the double rate of 12 stuivers, a few minor edge faults, otherwise fine and a scarce double rate cover. Photo on Page 96. £300-400
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1794 (Deb 22) Entire letter to Scotland from a sailor on a British frigate just arrived at Table Bay to strengthen the British naval forces defending the Cape at the invitation of the Dutch (who were then allied to the British and so at war with the French). Endorsed "P. Netunno", carried on the British owned but Genoese registered ship "Il Nettunno" (which could trade with India without breaking the monopoly on British trade granted to the East India Co.), with Portsmouth Ship-Lre handstamp. Unusual. £100-120
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1804 Entire (with part letter remaining) from the gardener and plant collector David James Niven sent from the Cape during the 1803-06 Batavian Republic, to Lee & Kennedy, nursery men in Hammersmith, carried by the private ship "Magistrate" with fine oval "Ship Lre / (crown) WEYMOUTH", reverse with large part wax seal impressed "BATAVIE ..... AAN TE KAAP DE GOEDE HOOP". The letter includes "Please send by way of Copenhagen part of everything I have collected for Madam Bonaparte and am now in hopes of having an opportunity of transmitting the best part of my present collection. I have before mentioned the trouble I have had with the Hotentotts. This has induced me to buy a slave boy which cost me £60 sterling". £120-150
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1807 Entires from England to "William Weideman, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope", one endorsed "Pr Alfred Capt. J. Teale" with manuscript "Forwarded p. yr. ob. svts. J.T at Mr Venables's, Strand" on the reverse; the other endorsed "P. the Venus Capt Johnston" charged "3sk" with oval "GR" Cape of Good Hope arms handstamp, a fine and scarce pair. (2). Photo on Page 94. £300-350
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1810 Entire from Huddersfield to Cape Town sent on the private ship "Cape Packet" prepaid at the 8d ship letter rate, with red "PAID SHIP LETTER / LONDON" c.d.s (Rob. S44a, only recorded for 1810), charged 2 skilling. The "Cape Packet" traded between England and the Cape, avoiding the East India Co. monopoly east of the Cape. £100-120
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1815 Entire letter from Cape Town to London with single oval "SHIP LETTER / (crown) / PORTSMOUTH" (Rob S11, only recorded for 1815), reverse with various London datestamps and endorsements showing various attempts at delivering the letter. A scarce Ship Letter handstamp. Photo on Page 96. £180-220
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1815 Printed Act, introducing India Packet Letter rates on letters between Great Britain and the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius and East Indies. Also covers sent during this period to the Cape, two sent by private ship from G.B charged 2/4 each (one initially charged the packet rate, then reassessed as a ship letter), one from G.B charged 9/6 packet rate, one from the East Indies charged 5/3 packet rate with superb "POST OFFICE / (crown) / SIMONS TOWN" handstamp, and a cover from London endorsed "p. Comet" privately carried. An interesting group. (6). £250-300
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1816 Long cover to England carried on the "Wellesley", the first packet to leave Cape Town carrying mail at the new India Packet Letter rate of 3/6 per sheet. Handstamped oval "SHIP LETTER / (crown) / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" with "INDIA PACKET LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" arrival datestamp of April 29th, charged the double rate of 7/- increased to 8/4 to include inland postage. This India Packet Letter rate period only lasted until 1819; Cape Packet Letter handstamps for use on outgoing letters were not introduced until May 1816. Scarce. £150-180
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1816 Entire from London to the Cape "Per Lady Borrington or 1st opportunity" initially rated as a packet letter and charged 3/6 with crowned "INDIA PACKET LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" c.d.s; however no packet was available so reassessed as a ship letter charged 1/2 with a line written through the word "Packet" in the handstamp, an "INDIA SHIP LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" c.d.s then applied. A scarce combination of handstamps and an unusual alteration from a packet letter to ship letter, light folds, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 96. £150-180
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1818 Entire letter to London with oval "CAPE OF GOOD HOPE / 5 JA 5 / 1819 / PACKET-LETTER", London arrival backstamp (June 22), charged 3/6. Carried on the last Cape packet to arrive in London before the act was repealed in July 1819, the Cape Packet Letter datestamp very scarce. Photo on Page 96. £700-800
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1819 Entire from Holland to the Cape sent on the ship "John Bainbridge" which left Liverpool on 4th July and arrived on September 13th, the last ship carrying mail at the packet letter rate before the act was repealed in July 1819. Handstamped faint red "AMSTERDAM" and crowned "INDIA PACKET LETTER / G.P.O / LONDON" (June 26) and charged 14/6, the triple packet letter rte of 10/6 + 4/- postage from Holland. The addressee J.S de Lima published the first Cape Post Office directory and various almanacs. An interesting entire. £130-160
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1820 (May 7) Entire letter written on the chartered East India Co. ship "Duke of York" at sea between Tristan da Cunha and Cape Town, whilst en route to Madras and China. Transferred at sea to the American whaler "Pickering" and taken to Table Bay and then transferred to the "Sarah", with India Letter Deal handstamp; the letter from P.J Claridge includes "I send this by a South Sea Whaler who will put in at the Cape". An interesting letter, with research notes on the whaler "Pickering". £100-120
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1821-22 Entires from London to the Cape "p. Queen Elizabeth" prepaid 1/8 or "P. Lavinia" prepaid 1/2, both with red oval "POST PAID SHIP LR / LONDON" datestamps. Also a copy of 1822 Cape Almanac entry showing the "Lavinia" arrived at the Cape in July, but was then stranded on rocks between Craig's Tower and the Castle, and was condemned. (2). £150-180
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1822 Cover from Batavia to the Cape, endorsed by the ship "Borneo", Capt. Boss, charged "2". £80-100
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1823 Entire letter from Grahams Town to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London with "POST OFFICE / (crown) / GRAHAMS TOWN", a Cape Town "FREE" datestamp applied in error and then overstruck by the correct "POST OFFICE / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" datestamp. An unusual item. £140-160
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1829 Entire letter from Amsterdam to the Cape "p. Matilda", reverse endorsed "London 31 July 1829 forwarded by yr. ob, servts P&C Van Hotten & Co.", prepaid 1/8 with red oval "POST PAID SHIP LR / LONDON", front and reverse both with crowned "POST OFFICE / CAPE / TOWN / GENERAL" datestamps (Nov. 3), all very fine strikes, exhibition quality. £120-150
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1831 Entire letter to London per "John Bull" with superb "POST OFFICE / CAPE / TOWN / GENERAL" datestamp, front and reverse unusually both with red boxed "INDIA LETTER / DEVONPORT", very fine strikes, exhibition quality. £150-180
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1831 Entire letter to London "pr H.M Ship Success" with red boxed "India Letter Portsmouth" handstamp, and 1849 entire "p. H.M.S Brilliant" with boxed "PACKET LETTER", both to London with Cape Town handstamps, both charged the 1/- packet rate for conveyance by naval ships. (2). £100-120
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1834 Entire to Cape Town "pr Quebec Trader, C.P Bellamy" charged 1/3, with superb crowned oval "GENERAL POST OFFICE / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE" (Sep. 25), believed to be the earliest recorded date of use of this datestamp (Goldblatt DLS4); and 1840 entire "p. Bark Glenalvon" to the Postmaster General in Cape Town with fine crowned "POST OFFICE / CAPE / TOWN / GENERAL" datestamp (Oct 5), an unusual late use six years after the oval G.P.O datestamp was introduced for this purpose. A fine pair, the "Quebec Trader" having sailed from Western Australia to the Cape via Mauritius, both exhibition quality. (2). £160-200
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1838 Entire letter from Cape Town to the London Missionary Society, carried on the barque "Pegasus", backstamped with "SHIP LETTER / DOVER" (S11), crossed through in ink and replaced by boxed "DOVER / INDIA LETTER" (In 4), an attractive and unusual Ship Letter altered to an India Letter from South Africa, charged 1/-. Photo on Page 96. £650-750
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1838-43 Entire letters from Cape Town comprising 1838 letter to London "p. Perfect" endorsed "forwarded by your very obt. servt. Geo. Grey, Cape Town Jan. 24 1838", light India Letter handstamp; 1838 letter to Bordeaux "p. La Lydia via Nantes" with a Nantes c.d.s and boxed "PAYS D'OUTREMER"; and 1843 letter from Graaff Reinet to Scotland with manuscript "G. Reinet" and "1/4 PP", G.P.O Cape Town datestamp and boxed "INDIA LETTER / DEAL". Also 1834 entire letter from "Simla, Hymala Mountains" to England "P. Tapley" with Calcutta datestamp and "India Letter Liverpool" handstamp. (4). £150-180
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1838 Entire letter written on the "Clyde" convict ship at Simons Bay, sent to London on H.M.S "Rayleigh" with boxed "INDIA LETTER / PORTSMOUTH". The writer John Smith was Surgeon-Superintendent on the ship, which made three voyages to Australia with convicts, arriving in Simons Bay in July 1838 on her third such voyage, carrying 216 prisoners to New South Wales; a further 20 convicts (all court-martialled soldiers) were taken on board at Simons Bay. £100-120
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G.B Uniform 4d Post. 1839 Entire letter to England with G.P.O Cape Town datestamp and London arrival backstamp (Dec 25), boxed "INDIA LETTER / PORTSMOUTH". Received during the Uniform 4d Post period, charged 4d India Letter rate + 4d inland postage, carried on the "Courier". £120-140
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1839 (Dec 17) Entire letter from Cape Town, written by a British army officer to "Bermuda, by way of Boston, U. States" with superb crowned oval G.P.O Cape of Good Hope datestamp and a "HALIFAX / NOVA-SCOTIA" c.d.s (Mar. 10?), flap with partial forwarding agents endorsement of W. J. Skinner (Feb. '40), rated "4" in black (Cape charge), again rated "4" (sea postage at Halifax) and "7d Stg" (the final Bermuda charge, the 4d sea postage + Bermuda inland postage). Part flap missing, otherwise fine and an exceptional destination from the Cape at this early date, carried on the American ship "General Scott" to Boston where it was apparently collected by the forwarding agent W. Skinner who reposted the letter at Halifax. Photo on Page 96. £250-300
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1840 (Feb 16) Entire letter written from the Cape Royal Observatory by Mary Maclear, wife of the Royal Astronomer in the Cape, addressed to Lady Herschel in Kent, wife of the famous astronomer Sir John Herschel (who had spent four years in the Cape), privately carried to London and posted as an inland letter prepaid 1d, with red Paid c.d.s (Apr. 29) and handstruck "1". £100-120
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1840 Entire letter from Cape Town to the London Missionary Society with superb crowned oval G.P.O Cape of Good Hope datestamp and fine red boxed "INDIA LETTER / LYMINGTON" on the reverse. £100-120
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1841 (Apr 13) Entire signed and endorsed from the Admiralty, to "Thomas Maclear, Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope" with a red crowned "PAID" c.d.s and oval "PAID SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp, charged "4"; and a cover also endorsed from the Admiralty and addressed to Maclear in the Cape, privately carried endorsed "By H.M.S Arab", both with Admiralty seals. An unusual pair. (2). £150-180
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1845 (Oct 26) Entire letter written on H.M.S "Sappho" at the Cape, engaged on anti-slavery patrol, prepaid 7d and charged 8d upon arrival. The "Sappho" had just returned from Mozambique, and was due to go there again shortly. The writer also says "we are anxiously waiting for instruction from England about this Madagascar business. If we do nothing in it we shall go on cruising for slaves" (In June Britain & France had attacked Tamatave in a punitive action to show displeasure at the Hova authorities treatment of Europeans). An interesting letter carried on the "Emerald Isle". £100-120
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1846 Entire to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London with oval G.P.O Cape of Good Hope datestamp and fine "PACKET-LETTER / PORTSMOUTH", Portsmouth and London backstamps, charged 1/-. An uncommon Packet Letter handstamp. £120-150
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1846 Entire letter from London to Cape Town posted unpaid with two differing "Returned / for Postage" handstamps, resent once 8d had been paid with oval "PAID SHIP LETTER / LONDON" datestamp, carried on the schooner "Bailey". Redirected upon arrival to Uitenhage and charged 4d, with boxed "TO PAY", unusual. £120-150
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1847 Entire from Cape Town "P. Flibberty via S. Helena" with G.P.O Cape of Good Hope datestamp and blue "GREENOCK / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S13), charged 8d. £100-120
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1848 Entire letter from Cape Town to Lyon with G.P.O Cape of Good Hope datestamp, carried on the "Seringapatam" to Torquay with "Torquay / SHIP LETTER" (Rob. S1), charged 8d, backstamped at Torquay, London and Lyon. An uncommon Ship Letter. Photo on Page 96. £200-240
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1851-52 Entire letters and entires carried by ships of the General Screw Steam Shipping Co., operating under its first contract with the Post Office, six from Cape Town to G.B all with G.P.O Cape Town handstamps, carried on the "Hellespont" (2), "Bosphorus" (2), "Harbinger" or "Sir Robert Peel", one from London to the Cape carried on the "Propontis". This initial contract signed in December 1850 and replaced by a new contract in May 1852, one letter carried on the final sailing under this first contract from the Cape. (7). £250-300
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1852 Entire letter from Amsterdam to Cape Town "P. Queen of the South", senders cachet on the front and "P. & C. VAN NOTTEN & Co / LONDON" forwarding agents cachet on the reverse dated June 14, posted in London prepaid 1/-, charged 4d upon arrival. Carried on the first packet to leave London under the second General Screw Steam Shipping Co. contract. Minor discolouration, otherwise fine and scarce. £150-180
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1852-53 Entire letters and entires carried by ships of the General Screw Steam Shipping Co. operating under the second contract with the British Post Office, including two letters to Holland (one with oval "Prince-Albert" backstamp), four items from the Cape carried on the "Lady Jocelyn", "Hydaspes", "Mauritius" or "Calcutta", also one cover from London franked embossed 1/- green (cut square, cut into or close on two sides) carried on the "Bosphorus". (5). £200-250
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1853 Entire to Utrecht with G.P.O Cape Town backstamp, endorsed "Per Mail Steamer Harbinger via England", prepaid 4d and charged 1/4, handstamped "PREPAID" with a London backstamp (Aug 19). Carried on the only departure from Cape Town of a General Screw Steam Shipping Co. steamer operating as a private ship from Australia to England. Also 1853 (July) printers proofs for entries in the Cape Govt. Gazette Post Supplement (2) showing shipping arrivals, including details of cargo and passengers on the "Harbinger". (3). £150-180
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1853 Entire to Utrecht endorsed "per steamer Melbourne via England" prepaid 4d and charged 1/4, backstamped with G.P.O Cape Town handstamp and a London c.d.s (July 2), carried by the Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Co. This company signed a contract for a bi-monthly service calling at the Cape in June 1852, but the contract was cancelled in 1853 after the February sailing failed to leave the Cape and no vessel was available in April. Very scarce, little mail known from this short lived packet service. £150-180
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1853 Entire to London "pr Victoria Steamer" (which departed Cape Town on November 7th), charged 1/4, Cape postage paid by a 4d triangular (S.G. 2, three margins) tied by "C.G.H" obliterator, London arrival backstamp (Dec 3). A scarce sailing of the short lived Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Co. service and one of the earliest recorded entires addressed overseas to bear a Cape triangular adhesive. Photo on Page 100. £500-600
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1854 (July 24) Entire letter from Cape Town to New York "P. Str Argo via England" with London and Liverpool datestamps (Sep 6/7), "NEW-YORK / BR PKT" c.d.s (Sep 21), charged 45c with a 1/- charge crossed out. Carried on the final packet to depart Cape Town under the second General Screw Steam Shipping Co. contract. £160-180
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1854 Cover from Exeter to Mrs Maclear, Royal Observatory, Cape Town, bearing 2d blue strip of four, sent as a ship letter at the 8d rate as no packet service to the Cape existed between July 1854 and August 1856. An attractive 2d blue cover, backstamped at Exeter and Cape Town. Photo on Page 100. £180-220
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1855 Entires to the Cape, sent from Dartmouth prepaid 8d, or from Amsterdam sent via England, with Cape Town arrival datestamps, also 1854 cover from Cape Town to Scotland "per steamer Natal" charged 8d (stamp removed), all sent as ship letters during the period when no packet service existed. (3). £100-120
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1855 Entire letter from Cape Town to Copenhagen endorsed by the Swedish schooner "Solide" to Falmouth, datestamps of Falmouth, London and Danish P.O in Hamburg, and "3 1/2 / GROSCHEN" accountancy mark, an unusual destination from the Cape. £100-120
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1855 Entire letter from Cape Town to Copenhagen endorsed by the White Star Line clipper "Blue Jacket", handstamped boxed "PACKET LETTER" and charged 1/-, backstamped at London and Danish P.O in Hamburg, an unusual destination from the Cape. £100-120
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1856 (Nov 8) Entire letter from London to Cape Town endorsed "p. S.S Madagascar", privately carried on John Rennie's steamer "Madagascar" which sailed from Aberdeen to Cape Town via Falmouth. John Rennie, who sailed on this voyage, was then campaigning for the new packet mail contract to the Cape and Natal. Also 1850 cover from Cape Town to England endorsed "Per Madagascar", charged 8d. (2). £100-120
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1856-57 Entire letters carried by the Lindsay Packet service to Cape Town all prepaid 1/-, two letters from London prepaid in cash endorsed "p.s.s Scotland" or "p. steamer W.S Lindsay", the other franked embossed 1/- green (cut to shape) tied by Brighton 132 sideways duplex endorsed "Per Steamer Tynemouth", all with Cape Town backstamps showing voyages of 41 - 59 days. The packet contract with W.S Lindsay & Co. was terminated in September 1857 after just one year because the ships used were unable to meet the contracted time schedule. Three fine and uncommon entires. (3). £200-240
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1857 Entire from Cape Town to the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London bearing Cape 4d triangular (three margins) tied by "C.G.H" obliterator, backstamped at Cape Town (July 2), London, and the very scarce "CAPE-PACKET / B / BRISTOL / SP4 / 57" c.d.s (Rob. P2), with a "1/-" charge mark. Carried on the final sailing of the Lindsay Packet to arrive at Dartmouth, this rare Bristol Packet c.d.s only used in 1857 on Cape mails landed by the Lindsay Line, this being the final date of use. Also a piece with similar Cape Packet Bristol c.d.s dated Mr 17 57, the first recorded use of the c.d.s. A rare Packet Letter c.d.s on a fine entire carried on the "W.S. Lindsay". (2). Photo on Page 100. £350-400
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