Lot 71207 – 1897 (Jan 31) Envelope from “Capt. Dugmore Commdg Troops Kenia District Masailand” to the USA

Mombasa: 1897 (Jan 31) Envelope from “Capt. Dugmore Commdg Troops Kenia District Masailand” to the USA, with 1896-1901 2 1/2a tied by Mombasa squared circle, reverse with Aden, London and New York transits and Montpelier arrival, toned and roughly opened at right, rare mail from this origin, ex Rossiter.Note: This letter was probably sent down by runner from Ngong before January 1st 1897 when stamps and cancellers arrived at Ndii, Kikuyu and Machakos. The mail normally took 13-22 days to Mombasa but Hall, District Collector of Kiyuku, recorded on January 11th 1897: “We are at present completely cut off from the the coast…everything is being sacrificed and every available man employed on the railway…” If Dugmore was on safari, from his usual forward base at Ngong, his runner probably left before the new system started.