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

Niger Company Territories 1895: Great Britain 1 d. vermilion postal stationery card, used from Burutu to Crossmichael, Scotland, dated 21 February 1898, cancelled by the "THE ROYAL NIGER COMPANY / CHARTERED & LIMITED. / 21 FEB. 1898 / BURUTU" rectangular violet handstamp, with a "PAID / LIVERPOOL / BR: PACKET" maritime transit postmark in red dated 23 March 1898. A handwritten message to back. Hinged to reverse, fine and very rare example; one of two recorded.
Note: The stamps of Great Britain were supplied to the Royal Niger Company for use from 1888. Occasionally postal cards from Oil Rivers/Niger Coast were used in the Territories. Only two British cards cancelled by the 'BURUTU' rectangular handstamp, in sans-serif, are recorded. One in violet and one in black.
Reference: Ince & Sacher, pg. 129 "Use of Oil Rivers or Niger Coast Protectorate Stamps and Postal Stationery in Niger Territories..." ; The Postal Stationery of Nigeria, by Peter Hørlyck, illustrated on pg. 55.