1887 CAPE TELEGRAPH FORM & PORTERAGE ENVELOPE: Cape of Good Hope Telegraphs form (numbered 4970) reflecting a message from LADYSMITH RAIL NATAL to a passenger aboard Donald Currie Line HAWARDEN CASTLE, postmarked cds HEAD TELEGRAPH OFFICE CAPE TOWN OC 10. The telegram is accompanied by the delivery envelope showing the same postmark and charge 6d "FOR PORTERAGE". On reverse of the envelope manuscript "Steamer not in". Wonderful pair, the envelope showing the identical number to the telegram. Putzel (1987 records the opening of Laysmith Rail in 1886 as a Telegraph Office. The telegram's addressee "Harper Collins" was a mining engineer. The message reads: "Letter left for you Royal Hotel Durban wire me from Cape." See additional image below.
