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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 39

(x) Military Mail
The strategic importance of Bermuda had been apparent from the 18th. Century. In 1795, after the Revolutionary War, the British restored bases its bases on the American continent though it wasn't until the War of 1812 that there was a significant increase in the British naval presence on Bermuda. She became the winter home of the Atlantic fleet and the principal naval port between Halifax and the B.W.I. Halifax was the fleet's summer home
Concessionary Rates
The routing of military mail is not as easily explained as civilian mail. Mail was sent by the most expeditious method, usually by non-military ships. Military vessels carried civilian mail, their sendings were not advertised so their use was very much on an ad hoc basis
Soldiers and Sailors rates
A special rate of 1d. for Soldiers and Sailors was in effect from 1795. The letters needed to be countersigned by the Commanding Officer and had to include the senders and regiments name
Sailors
1842 (4 Feb., docket) envelope from "H.M.S. Illustrious Bermuda" to London, bearing 1840 1d. black Plate II, PF with margins mainly all round and PJ with large margins all round showing portion of adjoining stamp at top, affixed on board with PJ just tied by "a" of "Bermuda" and both lightly cancelled with black Maltese Cross, the reverse with "spe expecto" black wax seal and Portsmouth transit datestamp (21.2); small tear at top and flap imperfections, otherwise fine. The only recorded use of the Penny Black from Bermuda. B.P.A. Certificate (1969). Photo

Note: The stamps on this cover are from the same plate and the same row as those used on a cover to the same addressee, dated March 1842, from Barbados, and would appear to be conclusive evidence that the adhesives were applied to both covers at the time of despatch

provenance:
Sir Henry Tucker, October 1978

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Sold for
£4,200