From Bombay, India to Hamburg, Germany
With 1anna multiples on front and back
It have the Appollo Bander pier,Bombay cancellation and Sea Post Office Cancellation on the reverse
The mystery was the peculiar cancellation marks on the stamps. I sought the help of experts. The explanation was astounding.
The cancellation is the result of a very badly damaged and clogged Roller Type Cancellation, which was in use at the Apollo Pier Receiving House (later renamed Apollo Bandar PO) from 1874 onwards for a very long time, even to King George V issues.
The original cancellation(Renouf type 4XII/Cooper type B4f) consisted of a small diamond, formed with 10 parallel lines, with number '1' inset.
It was used for expediting cancellation of multiple stamps affixed on late fee paid articles, which were posted at the last minute at the Apollo Bandar to catch the Steamer before sailing.
So the original purpose of this cancel was to obliterate stamps on late fee mail.
The overseas letter rate from India to all UPU countries including Germany (except Britain and its other colonies) was 2½A for every 14.18gm (½oz) from January 1,1891 to 1921 and the late fee for letters sorted by the Mumbai–Adan Sea PO and the Mumbai–Karachi Sea PO was 2A from 1902 to 1911.
So this cover weighed 56.7gm (2oz) to attract 10A sea postage and 2A was paid as late fee.
Also the story wont be complete without telling about the ship RMS Arabia
Read about it and more at http://stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=68282
Thanks to
Joy Daschaudhuri, Calcutta
Prashant Pandya, President of Vadodara Philatelic Society, Vadodara
Ajitraj Singhi, President of Philatelic Congress of India, Mumbai
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