Page 17 - Atmore_PH_QV

JAMAICA
Land of Wood and \Vater

Upon joining the Postal Union in April 1877, the Packet rate to the British Isles was reduced from 1/-
to 6d per %oz, and again to 4d per Y20z in 1879. These reductions, coupled with the excellent
reliability and regularity of the official mail services, effectively brought an end to the "Ship Letter".

!"':"':':•.: .• .-. ..•• - -
The cover presented below is thought to be a unique franking of the 3d Ship Letter rate of 1863, ~
combining a single one penny with four halfpenny stamps. k
.I
~~~~~~~~~~~zu~~~~~r~•--~·o'~~~l'~~~~~~~ma~~

J£~ 10-r /Jwn.~

'"~~it.-~-=>,;" ' 1 ~ f>«u. Jo,,~ ~

~d~

0. ~.t

It shows the new "Ship Mail" hand-stamp, which replaced the two line "JAMAICA/SHIP LETfER"
hand-stamp in early 1872. The "1 W' hand-stamp denotes the proportion of the postage to be credited to
the British Post Office.