The Royal Niger Company Covers from Abutshi

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Most of the recorded covers come from the same correspondence from Alex J. Braham, who was originally from Birmingham and worked as a district agent of the Royal Niger Company in Anambra. He claimed to be the first white man to travel from Idah on the River Niger to Ogrugu overland.

1) 1899 (Nov 20) Envelope (missing backflap) with 1881 1d lilac tied by oval Abutshi ds with boxed Burutu serif hs adjacent

History: Ex Wilkin, Spink Dec 2010 lot 190, sold for £3’800 plus commission; For sale by Gary Durbo for $5’750 since

2) 1899 (Nov 20) Envelope with 1881 1d lilac tied by oval Abutshi ds with boxed Burutu serif hs adjacent

History: Ex H. G. Porter (Feb 1956); Ex Wilkin, Spink Dec 2010 lot 191, sold for £1’300 plus commission

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3) 1899 (Dec 5) small envelope to France, bearing G.B. 1897 21/2d. tied by “the niger territories/abutshi/post/office” dated oval and with a fine strike of Burutu boxed datestamp on reverse (soiled)

History: Spink July 2006 lot 1167, sold £850 plus commission

4) 1899 (Dec 19) Envelope (missing backflap) with 1881 1d lilac pair tied by oval Abutshi ds

History: Ex John Sacher Nov 2009 lot 349 sold £2’400 plus commission

5) 1899 (Dec 29) Envelope with 1881 1d lilac tied by oval Abutshi ds

History: Grosvenor Sep 2019 lot 1245 sold £1’250 plus commission

1890 (Apr 1) Envelope to England marked, on reverse, “Mail No 6 posted Abutshi. R. Niger. 1.4.90” alongside Hastings Station Office arrival c.d.s. (10.6), the face panel (stamps removed) showing generally fine Akassa Type 1 oval d.s. (the earliest recorded date of this mark with stamps) and Paid Liverpool Br. Packet c.d.s. (9.6). Note: Early posts in 1890 from Abutshi and Lokoja were numbered and dated on the covers