Seychelles 1884 (JY 11) Cover to London – Mauritius 16c on 17c Rose, SGZ63
A highly attractive and rare 1884 cover from Seychelles to Lady Barkly in London, franked with the Mauritius 1883 16c on 17c rose (De La Rue surcharge), tied by a superb ‘B64’ numeral cancellation.
Below the stamp is a crisp strike of the second type ‘SEYCHELLES’ circular date stamp (JY 11, 1884), with a clear London arrival backstamp dated 'AU 1 84'.
This cover was correctly paid at the Universal Postal Union (UPU) letter rate, and addressed to 1 Princes Gardens, South Kensington.
Minor wrinkling does not detract from the overall exceptional quality and philatelic importance of this early Seychelles postal history item.
Provenance: from the Dale-Lichtenstein collection (Harmer New York, 16 March 1970, Lot 263).
Lady Anne Maria Barkly was the second wife of Sir Henry Barkly. From 1870, Sir Henry became Governor of the Cape Colony and Lady Barkly accompanied him, sharing his public duties.
Lady Barkly was an accomplished botanist collecting and documenting plants across Mauritius, South Africa and the Cape. Her drawings and collections are now preserved in the National History Museum.
The connection of Lady Barkly as recipient of this postal cover is that Sir Henry Barkly’s administration extended to Seychelles, where their son, Arthur Cecil Stuart Barkly served as Commissioner from 1877 to 1888.
The historical significance and value of this cover:
- Addressed to a prestigious botanical and social figure within the colonial aristocracy enhances its postal history significance.
- The Mauritius surcharge and early Seychelles postmark link to the Barklys' official and residential ties, adding historical resonance to the piece.
This is more than just a philatelic cover, it is an important social history artefact. The recipient’s scientific standing and colonial service elevates it from a mere mail piece to an item reflecting colonial governance, science, and elite networks in the Indian Ocean.
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