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.