Incoming Mail via Pacific Ocean 1876 (July 13): Mourning cover from
Christiansted, Danish West Indies to Sydney, New South Wales
bearing
Incoming Mail via Pacific Ocean 1876 (July 13): Mourning cover from
Christiansted, Danish West Indies to Sydney, New South Wales
bearing 1873 Great Britain 3 d. rose, pl. 18 and 1864 1 d. red
boldly cancelled by the St. Thomas “C51” duplex and prepaying 4 d.
plus 1 s. in cash for a 1⁄2 ounce ship letter to New South Wales.
Manuscript “1/-” in black representing the prepayment in cash and
with Sydney arrival on reverse. The rear flap torn on opening just
affecting the top of the cover but not affecting the adhesive. A
charming and delightful cover of great rarity. The only cover
recorded from the Danish West Indies to the Australian Colonies.
Route: Departed Christiansted 13 July 1876 by steamer to St. Thomas
(14 July). Royal Mail Steam Packet Co: Departed St. Thomas (16
July) per “Para” via Jacmel (19 July), Kingston (20 July) to Colon
(24 July); overland to Panama (9 Aug); by steamer to San Francisco.
Pacific Mail Steamship Co: Departed San Francisco (13 Sept) per
“City of NewYork” to Fiji (4 Oct); “Australia” (4 Oct) via Auckland
(8 Oct) to Sydney, arriving 11 Oct 1876 (90 days)
