Description:

1866 cover to "Old England"(!) with the rare endorsement "via Cape York and Dutch Mail" with Rough Perfs 6d yellow-green tied by 'QL'-in-Rays, 'SHIP LETTER/AP5/66/=QUEENSLAND=' b/s, London transit b/s of JU6/66 where superb 'VIA MARSEILLES' h/s - the only example we have seen - & 'MORE/TO/PAY' h/s in the same ink applied & mss "4", light Birmingham arrival cds on the face, minor soiling. A rare and desirable cover by a little-known & short-lived service via the Netherlands Indies, and probably a unique postage due usage. Ex Alan Griffiths (in a mixed lot!).



The Queensland Government was an insistent promoter of a mail service via Torres Strait. In 1866, it chartered a steamer, the "Souchays", to make bi-monthly trips between Brisbane & Batavia. Only two return trips were made. Colin Tabeart at page 366 states that the "Brisbane Courier" advised of a mail per "Souchays" departing on 6/4/1866, to meet the French mailboat at Batavia: "Capitole" departed Batavia 27/4/1866; "Imperatrice" departed Singapore 4/5/1866; "Peluse" departed Alexandria 29/5/1866, arrived Marseilles 4/6/1866. This explains why a cover not endorsed "via Marseilles" was carried via that port. The quoted notice stated that "normal rates" would be charged, & 6d was the normal rate for the long sea route. However, the normal rate via Marseilles was 10d. The "Souchays" cover illustrated by Colin Tabeart on the front of his Volume One was endorsed "via Marseilles" & paid 10d.