1872 TOO-LATE from Durban to Redcliffe: Delightful small format blue envelope franked QV 1d POSTAGE ovpt (SG 60) tied by great strike of numeral canceller 2 with Durban cds SEP 21 1872 alongside. Boxed TOO-LATE handstamp which includes the HYPHEN not shown in current literature. As per Hart the TOO-LATE handstamp is not usually seen on inland mail. Some minor imperfections, essentially F-VF, rare. Hart does not include the hyphenated TOO-LATE in his definitive book. This example is also a year earlier than described and used on INLAND MAIL. After recording that the handstamp "...found on covers addressed overseas...the handstamp was applied to a cover which was received too late to catch a specific ship." Hart ends "...ONE cover has been noted with this handstamp sent from Pinetown to Durban but it is possible that the handstamp was applied in error." Interesting!
