377th Auction

INCOMING MAIL: "Circular" envelope from Great Britain to Curacao, franked with 1864/79, 1 d. lake-red, tied by Reading duplex "635", taxed on arrival "3", possibly because the envelope was closed. Opened on 3 sides, still fine, sign. Knopke BPP

1846, uncomplete lettersheet (large backflap remaining), endorsed "J.F. BÖCKER, ZENDELING op BORNEO" via "BATAVIA 15/1" to the "Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft" at Barmen, Prussia with frontside blue seal "POSTKANTOOR/HOOFD KANTOOR TE BATAVIA" and red "ZEEBRIEF DEN HELDER 1875"; on reverse manuscript arrival notation of 21.5.1846, distribution mark and red "50" in manuscript, taxed on front with "240" cents. Earliest recorded mail from Borneo Provenance: Collection Bultermann

DUTCH INDIES-FINLAND, 1854, Entire letter from Battavia to Helsingfors, endorsed "via Trieste + Königsberg", prepaid till Alexandria with blue "BATTAVIA FRANCO 28/5", manuscript taxes "3¼" for the conveyance from Alexandria to Triest and "3" for the distance from Triest to the German-Russian border. The recipient was charged with a total of "31" kopeks, noted on reverse next to Berlin transit mark. A fine entire with scarce destination

DUTCH INDIES-PRUSSIA, 1857 (ca.), Entire triple rate letter, written by missionary Georg Zimmer from his station in Palingkau with superb strike of negativ "BANJERMASSING FRANCO" to the inspector of the 'Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft', J.C. Wallmann at Barmen. The entire was prepaid with "480" duiten for a triple rate entire transported directly via Singapore instead of the normal route via Battavia, this notation crossed on the way and changed in "360". On reverse transit mark "EMMERICH/OBERHAUSEN 2 4" and distribution mark of the same day. The handstamp came in use 1856, the recipient, J.C. Wallmann, was in office until late 1857, so the letter can be dated within this period. Highly interesting and quite spectacular letter from an outpost of civilization in the jungle of Borneo. Certificate van der Vlist (2008) The letter is accompanied by rich information about the 'Rheinische Missionsgesellschaft' and its missionaries on the island of Borneo, most of which were murdered in the uprising of 1859.

DUTCH INDIES-SWEDEN, 1859, Entire letter with frontside "BATTAVIA FRANCO 24/12", endorsed "via Triest direct" to Stockholm, prepaid with "1/-" till Alexandria and charged with "6" silbergroschen for the conveyance from Alexandria to Hamburg. In Sweden charged with a total of "99" oere to be paid by the recipient. On reverse transit marks of Berlin and the Thurn & Taxis and Swedish post offices at Hamburg. A fine and scarce letter with unusual destination for the Dutch Indies.