Incoming Mail Overland via Brindisi & Suez 1887 (May 25): Cover
from Zahle, Ottoman P.O. in Lebanon to Malta, redirected to Sydney,
New
Incoming Mail Overland via Brindisi & Suez 1887 (May 25): Cover
from Zahle, Ottoman P.O. in Lebanon to Malta, redirected to Sydney,
New South Wales bearing Turkey 1884 1 pi. blue (Mi. 47) cancelled
by a light "Zahle" datestamp (Coles & Walker fig. 206) and
prepaying 1 piastre for a ½ ounce ship letter to Malta. The cover
is addressed to a Mr. Bellamy, a passenger on the S.S. “Massillia”,
c/o P&O at Malta. The “Massilia” had already left Malta where
the boxed “T” handstamp was applied and endorsed “Via Suez per
first P&O steamer” at top for the redirection to Sydney, where
the manuscript “11d” in black applied. Multiple transit datestamps
on the reverse. Rare usage from Zahle in Eastern Lebanon and one of
the rarest origin/destination covers to the Australian Colonies.
Route: Departed Lebanon 25 May 1887 via Syracuse, Italy (5 June) to
Malta (13 June); by steamer to Alexandria. P&O Line: Departed
Alexandria (17 June) per “Ganges” via Suez Canal and Aden (21 June)
to Colombo (28 June); “Massillia” (28 June) via King Georges Sound
(11 July) to Adelaide (13 July); by rail via Melbourne (19 July) to
Sydney, arriving 21 July 1887 (57 days). Note: The only Pre-UPU
cover recorded from the Turkish Post Offices in Lebanon to the
Australian Colonies. Provenance: Collection Hornung
