Lot no. 8189

1865 (March 27): prepaid entire letter to Manila with 'Lombard Street / Paid' despatch and charged on arrival with rare '7' (reales) due marking in black; on reverse rare blue "HONG KONG PAID MY 27 65". The addressee, Antonio de Ayala, was the co-founder of Casa Roxas, later Ayala y Compania or popularly  known as Ayala y Cia. Antonio Ayala arrived in Manila to join his uncle Archbishop Jose Segui of Manila. In 1834 co-founded Casa Roxas to engage in the trading of sugar, coffee, cotton, and indigo as well as manufacturing of liquors, castings, gun powder and mining.