Auction of British Empire and Foreign Countries Postage Stamps and Postal History

Ceylon: Queen Victoria Decimal Issues on cover: Official Mail, 1874 (Dec. 20) stampless envelope addressed to the Governor at Queen’s House in Colombo showing fine “KALUTARA/DE 20/74/FREE” c.d.s. in red at left, endorsed “On H.M.S.” with signature at lower left, with next day red Colombo Free c.d.s. and contemporary ms. notation on reverse. This notation presumably by the recipient, Sir William Gregory, pays tribute to the sender who had died shortly after sending the cover, the contents of which may have pertained to the appointment on Dec. 24 of an additional Assistant Agent at Kalantara as the population of Western Province had increased from 554,000 to 776,000 between 1846 and 1874 without any increase in the number of civil servants. Photo.
[Proposed price: £150-180]