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Auction: 16010 - The Philatelic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 420

Bermuda
The Unique American-Style "PAID AT IRELAND ISLAND" Datestamp
1863 (22 Jan.) mourning envelope from Midshipman John Hemery Robinson, R.N. at Ireland Island to his mother on Campobello Island, New Brunswick, showing a fine strike of the previously unrecorded American-style 32mm. "paid at ireland island/bermuda" circular datestamp and with locally made handstruck "6d" (the latest recorded date of use) at upper right, both struck in red, the "6d" handstamp crossed through in blue crayon and replaced with manuscript "4" in red crayon, the correct pre-paid rate to Nova Scotia whilst in transit to New Brunswick, on arrival in Halifax then handstamped "more to pay", the 4d. charge being for the sea postage only, and with "5/cents" handstamp and manuscript "5" in blue crayon, all on face, the reverse with Ireland Island (22.1) and St. Georges (24.1) PM 5 datestamps, St. John (date unclear) and arrival (2.2) datestamps. A remarkable cover that was only discovered in amongst an original family correspondence in the mid-1990s. Photo

Notes: Midshipman Robinson died late in 1870 at the tender age of 25 whilst serving as a Lieutenant on board H.M.S. "Endymion". He was buried at sea in the Sea of Japan
in 2000 Geoffrey Osborn provided evidence confirming the purchase of an Ireland Island Paid datestamp in records for the year ending October 1863, the cost of the instrument being £1/19/6d.

Literature: Original corresppondence from Morris Ludington and Geoffrey Osborn

"An Unrecorded "PAID AT IRELAND ISLAND" datestamp by Denis Littlewort, "Bermuda Post", Part 1 - September 1995, Part 2 - December 1999 and Part 3 - Sep 2000. The complete 3-part article provides a comprehensive & important story as regards the cover, unique datestamp''s, analysis of postal and manuscript markings

"Bermuda - An Extraordinary "Paid at Ireland Island" handstamp by Denis Littlewort, Gibbons Stamp Monthly, December 2001
"Bermuda Mails to 1865"; A Ten-Year Update by Michael Forand and Charles Freeland

Copies of all correspondence and these articles accompany the cover offered above



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Sold for
£14,000