Lot 60077 – 1856 Provisional 4 cents black on magenta, initial

1856 Provisional 4 cents black on magenta, initials of postal clerk Wight « EDW », cut octagonally, very fresh and used on cover from Plantation Caledonia to London (full letter inside regarding cost of coolies), prepaying the inland letter rate « Paid 4 Cts », posted at Wakenaam with BG W cds for FE 7 1856, stamp then cancelled in transit by Demerara datestamp FE 8 1856 (trace of tie at top of stamp), letter subsequently charged « 6 » for sixpence Uniform Packet rate in London (arrival 20 MR 1856 on flap), The earliest known cover of any stamp from this issue, most unusual going abroad and one of the great highlights of this collection, exhibition showpiece Provenance: Townsend Expertise: Cert. BPA (2014)