Corinphila Auction 284-290 Day 2

Niger Company Territories / Abutshi 1899: Great Britain 1881 1 d. lilac in a horizontal pair, used on 1899 cover from Abutshi to Birmingham tied by bold strike of oval "THE ROYAL NIGER CO. C&L / CUSTOMS OFFICE / ABUTSHI" datestamp (Dec 19) in violet (known in use from Oct 4 until 31 December, 1899 only, Sacher Type 14). Reverse with "Forcados River" transit cds (Jan 2, 1900) and obverse with 'Paid / Liverpool / Br. Packet' cds (Jan 25) in red. Top flap missing but a truly exceptional strike and a very rare cover.rnProvenance: Collection John Sacher, Spink, London, 12 Nov 2009, lot 349.