<< Back to The Royal Niger Company
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
No image
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
History: Ex R.B. Sanderson, 1980; Ex John Sacher Nov 2009 lot 348 sold £150
Pieces
History: Spink Jul 2016 lot 1094 realised £500 plus commission
History: Spink Jul 2016 lot 1096 realised £550 plus commission
History: Spink Jul 2016 lot 1097 realised £750 plus commission
History: Spink Jul 2016 lot 1093 realised £350 plus commission
History: Spink Jul 2016 lot 1095 realised £240 plus commission
