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Auction: 14019 - The "Foxley" Collections of British Guiana and British Honduras
Lot: 1488

British Guiana
Covers and Cancellations
1937 envelope to London, bearing 1934 4c. crossed by red and blue crayon strokes, and with "Girl Pat" blue label tied by "Returned from 'Girl Pat'/as illegal Mail." h.s. in red; the envelope with some faults. Photo

Note: The "Girl Pat", a Grimsby trawler, property of the Marstand Fishing Co. Ltd., achieved notoriety in 1936 when it was abducted by its skipper Captain "Dod" Osborne and taken on an 8,000 mile adventure which ended ar Georgetown, the vessel slightly damaged from an attempted boarding. The crew were returned to England, Osborne and his brother tried and sentenced for their act of piracy, and a new crew set out, one of whom, James Storey, arranged the production of the label at the office of the Daily Chronicle for the carrying home of souvenir mail, which was frowned upon by the British Guiana Postal Authorities. The "Girl Pat" eventually ended up being used as a wreck marking vessel and was then moored in the Surrey Dock until about 1968. Whilst there she was used as a film prop.

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Sold for
£200