Lot 4094 Entiers postaux

1855/63: 4 d. blue on white paper, a used example (Pos. I 4 B) with good even margins all round, applied over Great Britain 1 d. pink postal stationery envelope and mailed to Ashford, Kent tied by CGH obliterator in black. Manuscript on reverse "Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, Sept 30th, reached this yesterday" and corresponding CAPE TOWN / CAPE OF GOOD HOPE despatch cds in red (Sept 30, 1856). Carried on the "Bahiana" from the Cape with framed "LIVERPOOL / SHIP" datestamp in black (Nov 5) and Ashford arrival (Nov 6) in blue. Readdressed on arrival to Rome with manuscript "Redirected at Ashford", and struck with scarce instructional "FIRST POSTAGE / NOT PAID" in black. Straight line VIA DI MARE in red and Rome arrival cds (Nov 15) in red, where charged 52 bajocchi due to pay in manuscript. Small part of flap missing on reverse but an extremely rare and most unusual cover: the sole recorded Cape Triangular cover to the Papal States. Note: The addressee, Lady Knatchbull, (1793-1882), known as Fanny Knight, was the author Jane Austen's neice and the wife of Sir Edward Knatchbull MP, serving in the Sir Robert Peel Ministry from 1841-1845. Provenance: Collection "Besançon", Corinphila sale 231, Zurich, 30 Nov 2018, lot 6052.