BECHUANALAND
Postal History, Postmarks
POSTAL HISTORY
|
 |
| AB3133 |
| BECHUANALAND / Forerunner / Outgoing Missionary Mail. 1828 (15th February) large part entire written by Robert Moffat at the London Missionary Society mission at Lattakoo in the future Bechuanaland. Addressed to “Mr. G. Hodson / Mission House / London” and endorsed at lower left “Care of Revd. R Miles / church square / Cape Town” and subsequently crossed through when forwarded. Showing two fine strikes of the Cape Town POST OFFICE / GENERAL crowned circle dated 3 April and 12 April representing the arrival and dispatch dates in Cape Town. Various manuscript rate markings on the front, an ‘INDIA LETTER / DOVER’ boxed cachet and a circular ‘F / 23 JU 23 / 1828’ arrival datestamp both struck on the reverse. Endorsed on flap “recd 23 June 1828 / GH” and also “Lattakoo 15 Feb 1828 / Robt. Moffat”. At this date Lattakoo was situated near present day Kuruman and is where Robert Moffat settled in 1821. Faults including piece excised from around wax seal. Extremely rare. Believed to be the earliest recorded item of mail emanating from the territory which 57 years later became part of British Bechuanaland.
|
| £4,500 |
|