3 July 1860 Margao FP 1 Cover

3 July 1860

Margão, 3 July 1860 from the President of the Administration Council of the city of Salcete, to the Viscount of Torres Novas, the General-Governor of Portuguese India, in Nova-Goa. MARGÃO/LIVRE in red as official mail (S.N.R.) free of postage granted by Noronha, the court clerk of the District of Salcete (Escrivão da Comarca de Salcete). Siegel - "Margao Livre" Handstamp. Well-struck strike of two-line handstamp in red on back of 1860 official folded cover to the Governor General of India, internal docketing with manuscript "To the very Reverend A. Goiran, Vicar Apostalic at Calcutta", properly marked "S.N.R." on front, dated Jul. 3, 1860, and signed by sender, no other postal markings as usual for official mail VERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE OFFICIAL HANDSTAMP. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED. The word "Livre" indicates that the letter was exempt from postal charges within Portuguese territories. Official letters were identified by writing "S.N.R." (stands for "Servico Nacional e Real"), the date and signature of the sender. The interior name is in reference to Auguste Goiran, who was the Administrator of the Apostolic vicars of West Bengal, a position he held when the vicar post remained vacant from 1858 to 1864.

"Magnolia"