Lot 66091 – Sapele: 1898 (Aug 3) Printed telegram envelope sent to the African Direct Telegraph Co. with 1897-98 1/2d and two 1d

Sapele: 1898 (Aug 3) Printed telegram envelope sent to the African Direct Telegraph Co. with 1897-98 1/2d and two 1d tied by Sapele “A” cds, with “FROWARD” hs below (struck twice), reverse with commercial cachet, Warri AU 5 ds and Lagos AU 11 arrival, portion of backflap missing, an attractive and scarce cable letter cover.

Note: With submarine cable heads only at Lagos, Brass and Bonny, the quickest way of getting a cable to a mail steamer was to post the cable message in a cover to “The African Direct Telegraph Office” at the next cable head, at “Brass or Lagos”, one or the other being deleted in the address before despatch according to whether the vessel was on its outward or return voyage.