1865 CONSIGNEES MAIL on the DIAMOND LINE: Entire written on embossed letter paper of "Maynard, Buchanan & Co, Port Elizabeth" with letter headed inside "pp S? Kaffraria" to JohnJeffrey & Co, Brewers of ale, in Scotland. Written 25th August, the order for liquor was handed to the merchants Correspondent in London on 6th October who, as required applied a GB 1d franking (London duplex 73 OC 6 superbly struck) for onward posting to the final destination. Consignees (those lodging cargoes aboard ships) were entitled (effective from 1854) to free transmission of their letters up to 6oz if delivered at the port. A superior example of this exceedingly rare mail. Ex Trotter. Illustrated pg214 "Southern African Mails". Maynard, Buchanan & Co traded as merchants in Port Elizabeth from 1861 to 1872, obtaining a liquor licence in 1863. This is the only letter we have seen from them. These arrangements were available because the Diamond Line inaugurated shipping from Algoa Bay, the first service by the ss Eastern Province which arrived in Port Elizabeth May 25th 1864. The Diamond Line ceased operations in 1867, a short existence of only 2½ years and mail carried on this private shipping line is commensurately frustratingly rare.
