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Auction: 14024 - The Philatelic Collector's Series Sale featuring the Award-winning Collection of Province of Otago Postal History formed by Greg Francis, and the Cliff Wheatley Rhodesias
Lot: 1331

(x) New Zealand
The Postal History of the Province of Otago
Ship Letter Mail Featuring Early Handstamps
1852 (15 Sept.) soldier's entire letter "From Gunner & Driver John Bower Rl Arty" at Cape Town, whilst on his way back to England, to his brother David in Otago, marked "Via Capt. Commanding The Troops on Board The Lady Mc.Naughton Freight Ship", a ship bound for Australia and then to New Zealand, apparently sent without pre-payment of the 1d. Soldier's and Seamans concessionary rate and charged "2" on delivery, and showing Auckland (5.12), Wellington (22.2) and Otago (4.3) c.d.s., all on face; fascinating contents with mention of his trip from Hong Kong to the Cape where "there is no Soldiers hear at Present they are all up the frontiers fighting the caffirs", comments on Cape Town, the cost of food and reference to visiting St. Helena on his way home. Photo

Note: David Bower and his mother and sister arrived in Otago on the immigrant ship "Philip Laing" on 15 April 1848

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Sold for
£1,400