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Auction: 17025 - Bermuda, Crossroads of the Atlantic: A Postal History from 1617 to 1877 - The David Pitts Collection
Lot: 43

(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
Officers rates
A special concessionary rate for officers of 6d. was in effect from 1 July 1857 until 31 December 1869. Prior to and after these dates regular rates applied
1862 (26 Dec.) envelope, complete with contents, ex the Oldfield correspondence from Ireland Island to London, per Cunard Merlin to Halifax and Cunard Europa to Liverpool, showing Crowned Circle "paid/at/ireland isle bermuda" (P2) and with "6d" rate handstamp (R2) alongside, the reverse with "ireland-isle/bermuda" datestamp (PM5) and London (19.1) datestamp; the contents confirming that his Commanding Officer has given him permission "...to leave this delectable little island for any sort of change" and that he may return to England on the French ship that is in port. Photo

Note: Other than the one strike of the Crowned Circle known from 1864, this is the last recorded date of use of this handstamp

provenance:
Morris H. Ludington, June 1999

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Estimate
£3,000 to £3,500