138751 1878 INCOMING MAIL TO THE UK FROM MADAGASCAR TO SOUTHSEA WITH 8D ORANGE (SG156).

1878 INCOMING MAIL TO THE UK FROM MADAGASCAR TO SOUTHSEA WITH 8D ORANGE (SG156). Envelope, small fault at top, apparently from a Lt. Douglas aboard HMS Vestal which at this time was at Madagascar, addressed to 'Miss Box, 5 Portland Terrace, Southsea, England', endorsed 'Via Brindisi' and with fine 8d orange (SG156) lettered KH cancelled upon arrival in London with London '28' Foreign Branch numeral. On reverse 'PORTSMOUTH' date stamp MR 2 78. Apparently this envelope was handed over from HMS Vestal to the British-India merchant and supply ship 'Pachumba' when docked in Majunga in Madagascar. This ship then sailed to Zanzibar and Aiden where the letter was transferred for transmission to the UK via Brindisi. A rare usage with RPS cert 232838 which states 'carried by ship to London is genuine'. (Ref 138751).