Auction 333-341 Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan & Worldwide Postal History - Day 4

1867: 1½ c. on India ½ a. blue, a used horizontal pair on 5 March 1868 entire letter written from Mauritius and internally endorsed "per S.S. Agamemnon via Penang" to Calcutta, carried by hand and mailed from Penang to Calcutta endorsed "p. Madras", tied by "PENANG / D17" duplex in black (March 26) and by manuscript pen strokes. Reverse with circular "STEAMER LETTER / GPO / CALCUTTA" arrival in blue (April 11). Just three covers are recorded bearing the #1 on letter. Some acid ink in the address but a most attractive and unusual first issue cover.
Note: Mail from Mauritius to Calcutta was normally scheduled via Galle, Ceylon. It must be presumed this entire had missed the sailing and was transmitted by hand to be posted upon arrival in Penang.
Provenance: Spink, Singapore, 24 June 2000, lot 202.