Folded latter dated Colombo, 26 Mar, 1800 to Cochin, India. Struck with diamond shaped “6 St / VOC” indicating 6 Stuivers postage. The Dutch East India Co. (VOC) ceded Ceylon to the British East India Co. in 1795 but maintained some administrative privileges till about 1803. Cochin was the headquarters of the VOC settlements along the Malabar coast in India.

Entire dated Trincomalee, 8th Sep 1821 with BATTICALOA (PS1, red) and POST PAID (PD1) dispatch to London. Endorsed “via madras”. Oval “MADRAS/ SHIP LETTER- GPO/ 18 SE 18/ 1821” struck on arrival in Madras. Handstamped “INDIA LETTER/ DEAL” at the port of arrival and G/21 MR 21/ 1822 London arr b/s. Rated 1s which comprised the 4d East India Co. Concession rate plus the 8d inland postage (Deal to London-80 miles)

Outer folded letter to London endorsed “Pr overland mail” with COLOMBO/ POST PAID- 21 AP 21/1843 (PD6, red) dispatch. 5s (m/s) prepayment marking for the rate to Bombay via steamer Seaforth for a letter between ½ and 1 oz. Rated 4s/6d (new rate effective from June 1, 1843) for a 1 oz. letter and b/s 5 JU 5/1843 on arrival in London. 45 days in transit)

Folded missionary’s letter datelined Oodooville, Nov. 29th, 1837 to Dover, New Hampshire. JAFFNA (PS1) and POST PAID (PD1) h/s and endorsed “Care of M. Winslow Madras”. Boxed MADRAS/ Bearing b/s. SHIP h/s and BOSTON/ MS- AUG 20 arr d/s. Charged 22c (m/s) which coreesponded to the incoming US ship letter charge of 2c+20c (Double inland rate between 31 and 80 miles). 265 days in transit. The letter was written by Mary Spaulding to her Brother D.M. Christie. Rev. and Mrs Levi Spaulding were among the second batch of five missionaries to arrive in Ceylon in 1819. Rev. Spaulding served in Ceylon for 54 years working on many tracts, hymns and school books in Tamil during this period.

Entire folded letter datelined Colombo, 14 April 1850 to Boston via London with COLOMBO STEAMER LETTER- AP 15/ 1851 (SL 7) dispatch. On arrival in London the entire was b/s ZI/ 20 MY 20/ 1850 and was charged 4s/1d (3/4 oz rate upto GB) indicated by a manuscript marking. This charge was paid by Baring Bros in London and the cover was forwarded to Boston from the Lombard Street post office with a LS/ 24 MY24/ 1850 maltese cross cancel. The “48” manuscript marking indicates the amount to be collected on delivery which consisted of the 32c British Packet double rate, 6c British inland double rate and the 10c US inland double rate. An additional “38/CENTS” handstamp indicated the amount to be debited from the US account to GB for the Trans Atlantic and British inland charge. The crossed out 2/ m/s marking indicated the prepayment required in Ceylon for letters sent via GB to USA. The Trans Atlantic portion was on the Cunard line America leaving Liverpool on May 25th. The letter provides a listing of avialable quantities of rope, ebony, coffee etc.

Outer folded letter datelined Colombo 26th May 1838 to France. The Cover bears a boxed “Ship Letter” and an “INDIA LETTER/ PLYMOUTH” h/s indicating the carriage by an East India Co ship via the Cape. LONDON- 24/NOV- 1838, CALAIS- 26 IX/ 1838, PARIS- 26 NOV/38 tr and NANTES- 28 NOV/1838 arr d/s. Manuscript 1/charge(consisting of the India letter charge and the British inland rate from Plymouth to London) and 3d (charge from London to the British port of departure) crossed out replaced with 1/6 marking denoting the credit due to GB. 30 decime marking indicates the amount to be collected on delivery including the French internal rate.

Cover from Colombo to Kandy with COLOMBO/POST-NOT-PAID- FE 25/1847 dispatch d/s. m/s "3" indicated the postage to be collected for 1/4 oz letter. $90

Cover from Colombo to Kandy with COLOMBO/POST-PAID- SP 20/1850 dispatch d/s. $90

Entire from Colombo to Marseilles with COLOMBO/STEAMER LETTER- JA 15/1852 dispatch. Rated 1/10 on arrival corresponding to a 1/4 oz letter. $90

Cover from Galle to London with GALLE/STEAMER LETTER- MR 17/1852 dispatch. Rated 1/10 for 1 1/4 oz letter via Marseilles. $90

Cover with COLOMBO/POST PAID- 16 AP 16/1845 dispatch d/s with London 28 MY 28/1845 arr. b/s. Endorsed "via Southampton" and charged 1/- fr 1/2 oz letter. The letter was carried by P&O Hindoostan which was the first ship to operate on the Calcutta line between Calcutta, Galle and Suez. $90