Page 4 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1870: Diamond deposits were discovered at Kimberley, South Africa, Siege of Paris ends,

Rockefeller establishes Standard Oil.

At the PSL: The principle of in-depth meetings was established early. The season started

with British North America on 8th January by the Hon. Secretary W. Dudley Atlee.

PSL President was Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart., F.R.G.S.

Membership stood at more than 35 and was rising.

FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR MAIL FROM

HONG KONG TO GREAT BRITAIN

From the collection of Dr. Andrew Cheung FRPSL.

Member since 1997. Lives in Hong Kong.

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On 21 October 1870 GPO Notice 58/70 notified the Colonial Postmasters that owing to the

Franco-Prussian War in Europe, the mails would be sent via Belgium, Prussia and the

Brenner Pass to Brindisi, for transmission to Alexandria by Italian Packets. Letters carried via

this route needed extra 3d per Yi ounce Italian transit fee. Hong Kong would not have

received such a notice before December 1870, thus letters were still being sent via

Marseilles at 32C per half ounce rate. This letter was date stamped 17 October 1870 by Hong

Kong on reverse and arrived in London 26 November, a 3d surcharge was levied upon arrival.