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Auction: 21041 - The "Dubois" Collection of Jamaica Postal History and Stamps - Part II
Lot: 27

The Jamaica Bishop March Handstamp
1778 (25 May) entire letter from Halifax, Nova Scotia to John Grant at Spanish Town and showing, on reverse, a very fine strike of the Jamaica Bishop mark for "ju/27 alongside "king/ston" T1a (Proud PS5, rare and of which only about ten examples are recorded) in the same ink, proving that the Bishop mark was indeed struck in Jamaica; the contents mention problems of ships being taken by American privateers with the American War of Independence in full swing at this time and revealing that the letter was taken by "Capt. Hill of the Royal George bound to ye North Side of your Island takes charge of this as he intends crossing over to Kingston" explaining why this was not a Ship Letter

The proving cover with the earliest known example of a Jamaica Bishop mark, some twenty years earlier than the other few examples which are recorded, and believed to be the sole example with a matching "king/ston" handstamp

Considered one of the most important Jamaica pre-stamp covers recorded and an outstanding exhibition item. Photo

provenance:
Bob Swarbrick, September 1995
Francois Piat Dewavrin, December 2014

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Sold for
£3,200

Starting price
£3200