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.