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Auction: 16036 - West Africa Pre-U.P.U. Postal History, The John Sacher Collection
Lot: 1210

Gold Coast
Early Letters and Handstamps
1771 (21 Aug.) entire letter to Westminster, London, written at "Cape Coast Castle" by missionary "Rev. Mr. Quaque", showing on reverse signature of "Hobson" (Penny Post receiver), "o clock 5 w" circular and "post/paid/penny/gth" triangular arrival markings. Manuscript notation inside reads "Read at Committee/ April 6th 1772" recording a delivery time of approximately eight months. Very rare, the second earliest known item of mail from Gold Coast. Photo


Note: Philip Quaque, 1741-1816 Born in Cape Coast and named 'Kweku' was one of three Fante children taken to England for education by a missionary from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

Kweku took the forename Philip after baptism in 1759, and studied theology in London before being ordained in 1765 , becoming first African to be ordained as a minister of the Church of England.

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Sold for
£900