Los 5112

Biafra 1969: Air letter form sent from Mbutu Ngwa to Margate, England, letter internally dated 11 October 1969, with a Aba postmark dated 17 November 1969 alongside a "LIBREVILLE GABON" double circle datestamp in black dated 10 January 1970. To the reverse a violet oval cachet "S.S. PETER & PAUL PARISH / MBUTU NGWA". Rare use of the Biafra aerogramme as intended. The only recorded example. Note: According to Dudley Prestedge the Biafra aerogrammes were sold over the Post Office counters for 2 s. 6 d. and after completion the aerogramme were handed back at the counter unsealed to facilitate censorship, after which they were despatched via the official route, which was via Libreville in Gabon. Reference: The Postal Stationery of Nigeria, by Peter Hørlyck, pg.298 & illustrated pg. 299