(Postage Due) 1936 (14 NO) incoming airmail cover from Kilindini, Kenya, underfranked with ‘T’ handstamp and m/s “2/50” on despatch, indicating a double deficiency of 50 (gold centimes) = 40 Zanzibar cents, 1936 40c. ultramarine postage due applied and tied Reg. Zanzibar cds of 16 NO. Some slight imperfections still a very fine and rare cover, being the earliest recorded commercial usage of the 1936 Due issue, and the first involving an airmail rate. Ex Griffith-Jones.
(Postage Due) 1942 (1 AU) incoming censored stampless cover written in arabic and translated on arrival, maybe carried by private ship, charged “60” in pencil which would equate double deficiency of 3a6p (x2) the rate from the Gulf, and paid by 1936 Due 30c. brown vertical pair tied cds. Censorship on arrival with Opened by Examiner/ U tape. Ex Griffith-Jones.
(Postal Stationery) 1902 (AP 23) 18c on 30c registered stationery envelope to Paris uprated on reverse four 2c. and four 4c., paying the double foreign letter rate to Paris plus 12c registration, reverse with Mombasa transit of 29 AP, endorsed at top “via Zanzibar” in apparent different script, at bottom left Deutsche Seepost Ost Afrikanische Hauptlinie with uncertain code letter; some staining on front not detracting from good German maritime commercial cover.
(Somalia) 1909 incoming unfranked cover from Zanzibar bearing circular framed ‘T ‘ on front, reverse with C.50 on 5a ‘Lion’ tied Mogadiscio cds, a fine postage due.
1895 (Nov 18) Appendix sheet from De La Rue archives bearing two 2a Registered envelopes, sizes F and B, inscribed ‘State of N Africa’ being used as colour trials for British East Africa, British Central Africa and for Zanzibar. Size B envelope endorsed in pencil “The pattern sent to take the place of the British Coat Of Arms to take the place of this stamp” and on size F “to be replaced by pattern sent for postcards”. Some insignificant faults, very rare.
1896 (25 Mar) registered ‘On Postal Service’ from ‘Postmaster General’ envelope to Roxbury, Mass, USA franked 1895-96 India overprinted 1a.6p. and 6a. tied neat cds, London transits below, reverse with Boston transit and arrival date stamps. Repaired tear at left. The 6a showing a very heavy overprint.
1896 2 ½a stationery envelope registered to Poshciavo, Switzerland and additionally franked 1r. blue, 2r. green and 3r. dull purple each cancelled by thimble cds, reverse with Aden transit and arrival cds. The front also shows blue manuscript registration of Indian Sea Post Office; fine and attractive.
1896 registered blue envelope to London franked India overprinted 1895-96 3a brown-orange and 4a. olive-green each tied by neat cds, large framed thick ‘R’ also tying 4a., London cancels to right, reverse with two wax seals of Mith Mackenzie & Co; vertical filing fold. The 3a. with small second ‘z’ and 4a. with raised small second ‘z’.
1897 (2 Jan) AVIS DE RECEPTION form from New York with Zanzibar arrival cds and put into a stampless Post Office registered envelope and returned, the AR form with thimble Zanzibar Reg cds of 8 FE, the envelope with similar cds of 16th, London transits on front and arrival backstamp; a fine and scarce survivor with both form and envelope together.
1898 internal stampless ‘ The Eastern Telegraph Company Limited’ TELEGRAM envelope used internally to Poste restante with, atright circular framed ‘T’ and at left with framed Indian handstamp FOREIGN POSTAGE DUE/ 2 ANNAS –PIES, presumably paying the local letter and poste restante rate of 1a with double deficiency then of 2a. On Griffith-Jones album page.
1902 (6 AU) registered parcel tag to Zurich, Switzerland bearing single franking 3a tied square circle Zanzibar date stamp, circular framed ‘R’ at base with blue manuscript number at top, endorsed at top “Samples/ Registered”; fine and unusual.
1904 (25 FE) incoming ½a. British East Africa postal stationery card cancelled Mombasa, ‘T’ handstamp bottom left overstruck with framed FOREIGN POSTAGE DUE/ 1 ANNAS – Pies handstamp, arrival cds top left of 4 MR; fine condition without any message.
1904 long registered cover from the Postmaster to Paris franked 1904 7 1/2a purple paying double rate postage and registration, arrival backstamp, envelope (290 x 127mm) with vertical fold. A good commercial usage of this stamp as a single franking.
1910 cover to Mogadiscio, Somalia franked on reverse with 1908-09 15c ultramarine tied by faint square circle date stamp, overstruck with Italian Somaliland arrival cds.
1929 unpaid local cover to Chake (Pemba Island) with square circle date stamp on reverse, circular framed ‘T’ and framed Postage Due with red m/s “1” which represents the double deficiency. There is no recorded evidence of use of the handstamps after 1917, except for two 1929 examples three years after the introduction of the local typeset issues, this being the latest recorded example.
1930 (9 Oct) De La Rue composite artist’s essay for a permanent set, based on the 1923 Hong Kong design (at the suggestion of the Zanzibar authorities) with ‘postal scales’ printed by a semi-photographic process in deep green with hand-painted details in a lighter green, blank at right for an Arabic inscription. A superb essay, ex Griffith-Jones, one of two known, illustrated on p. 204 of his book.
1930 (JY 1) incoming underpaid cover from Kampala, Uganda to Poste Restante underfranked with 1c. and 10c., ‘ ‘T’ tax mark at upper left, deficiency of 1 Uganda cents (= 6 Zanzibar cents) paid by 1930-33 6c. black/yellow postage due tied cds, subsequently marked with red m/s “Charges paid” above and signed. Philatelic (with the co-operation of the Zanzibar postmaster), still scarce and very fine. Ex Griffith-Jones
1934 stampless incoming envelope cancelled on reverse PAQUEBOT ZANZIBAR (27 OC), circular framed ‘T’ handstamp overstruck with Postage Dues 1926-30 18c. black/orange and 1930-33 rouletted 5 2c. black/salmon vertical pair and a 3c. black/rose tied by three REG ZANZIBAR datestamps of 8 NO; some glue staining, fine mixed issue franking
1939 (6 JA) registered cover bearing corner marginal 10 shillings green and brown ‘Dhow’ tied REG. ZANZIBAR cds. Fine philatelic cover.
1939 (6 JA) registered cover bearing numbered corner marginal 7s.50 light blue ‘Dhow’ tied REG. ZANZIBAR cds. Fine philatelic cover.