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.