Lot 61168 – Benin River: 1898 (Aug 2) Printed telegram envelope sent registered to the African Direct Telegraph Co. in Lagos

Benin River: 1898 (Aug 2) Printed telegram envelope sent registered to the African Direct Telegraph Co. in Lagos with five 1897-98 1/2d green and a 1d pair, paying the 2 1/2d rate to Lagos plus 2d registration fee, tied by Benin River code A cds with Lagos arrival backstamp, some peripheral cover imperfections, a very attractive cable letter.

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.