1818 Patna HG 5 Cover

1818

1818: H.G.5: The letter was written by someone who lived in BHAUGALPUR, but was not posted to LONDON until the writer had traveled to PATNA, where the really astonishing " King's Postmark" was applied along with "P.O. Patna Sea Postage Paid" despatch stamp, for it is the first internal King's Postmark to have been discovered. The English Post Office had control of the sea postage between INDIA and ENGLAND and, the Company's post office being only allowed to collect the postage for the inland journey, if any. This wonderful postmark does not cover the Company's inland journey from PATNA to CALCUTTA, but indicates that the writer had exercised his option to pre-pay the sea postage [or King's postage] at the time of despatch. Previously, this facilities were available for the collection of King's Postage at the port G.P.O.'s of CALCUTTA, BOMBAY and MADRAS only and there was no indication that such facilities existed in up-country post offices. The single letter rate of 3/6d for a packet has been charged & marked in manuscript.

Ex. Giles.