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Auction: 16036 - West Africa Pre-U.P.U. Postal History, The John Sacher Collection
Lot: 1294

Gold Coast
Military Mail
West Africa Anti-Slavery Squadron
1871 (16 July) envelope ex the "Druitt" correspondence to London, written aboard H.M.S. Seagull, complete with original seventeen page letter on headed paper detailing everyday life for sailors off the coast, bearing GB 1867-80 6d. mauve Pl.9 cancelled with "466" barred oval, envelope showing "paid/liverpool/br. packet" c.d.s. (1.9) with London arrival c.d.s. (2.9) on reverse. Faint toning and minor edge wear, nevertheless a rare franking with captivating early correspondence. Photo

Note: Cuthbert Druitt (1850-1876) Entered the Royal Navy in 1864 and retired in 1875 with the rank of Lieutenant., marrying Elizabeth Foulds in Jamaica the same year. Papers documenting his life are held in the national archives and include "All his certificates gained in the navy, as well as lists of clothing required, abstracts of ships passages and other papers". An interesting aside is that his cousin Montague John Druitt, is the chief 'Jack the Ripper' suspect.

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Sold for
£600