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

Ceylon: Queen Victoria Decimal Issues on cover: Registration, 20c. registration fee, 1878 (Apr. 25) 4c. stationery envelope from Trincomalee to Bombay with added 4c. grey, 8c. yellow and 16c. pale violet cancelled “70” numerals with ms. “Stamped & Registered”, Trincomalee Paid c.d.s. and earliest known use of double oval registered marking at left (oxidised to black), endorsed “By Dawk” for catamaran route via Jaffna and Point Calimere, with Jaffna transit and May 5 arrival backstamps, also front from 1877 (Nov. 26) mourning envelope registered to Governor Sir William Gregory in London (redirected within city) showing “KALUTARA/REGISTERED” double oval in red, endorsed “Via Marseilles” and thus 4c. overpaid for 1/2oz. rate by 24c. green pair. This the earliest known use of the rare 20c. registration fee, of which only six examples (including these two) have been recorded. (2 items) Photo.
[Proposed price: £350-400]