Letter to Sir Adrian Dingli in Downing Street, London

Abstract

On the 22nd May, 1989, the above Sir Adrian Dingli cover, which originally belonged to the "Danson" collection, bearing a GB 1862, 9d. Bistre Pair, placed sideways at the lower left corner of the cover, and cancelled by the 11th July, 1862 Malta A25 duplex, addressed to Sir Adrian Dingli CB, KCMG, Crown Advocate of Malta, Colonial Office, Downing Street, London, England, featured in the "Francisco" collection sale by Christies Robson Lowe, as item No: 2310, estimated at £2,000 and realising the price of£2,800. On the 1st December, 1860 the 1/2d yellow Queen Victoria Malta stamp was issued for local internal mail, but as the Malta Post Office was still under Colonial administration, Great Britain Victoria stamps were used for external mail and cancelled with the duplex A25. It was in January, 1885 that the Malta Post Office passed under local control and so the definitive Queen Victoria 1/2d green and 1/- violet set was issued for local and overseas mail, which replaced the GB stamps. [excerpt]