Canada 43

1879 (April) Clean orange cover mailed to Kandy, Ceylon (British East Indies), likely dispatched from South Zorra as known from this correspondence, franked with manuscript cancelled 5c deep olive pair, Montreal printing, perf 11½x12, London Paid MY 12 79 transit in red; on reverse clear Woodstock AP 30, Hamilton AP 30, Colombo Paid JU 12 17 transits along with Kandy Paid JU 13 receiver. Pays the rare, very early 10 cent UPU British Empire rate to a remarkable exotic destination, Very Fine (Unitrade 38a)

Cover was endorsed "Via Southampton" but from August 1878 covers to Ceylon were sent via the Brindisi route at the reduced to 10c per half ounce, corresponding to 5 cent UPU letter rate plus 5c authorized UPU Surtax for a lengthy sea voyage.