1871 Gibraltar to Portsmouth ‘Fleet Mail’ or ‘Ship’s Bag’
Edwin & William Seagrove & Co, Portsea (Portsmouth) were Navy & Military Outfitters. At this time Naval Officers could write to them and place orders. They usually wrote the name of the Officer on the front of each envelope.
By researching the date you can find the names of the ships in Gibraltar at that time. By cross referencing to the Navy List you can ascertain the actual ship on which the officer was serving. In this case Lt. John Ferris on board HMS Inconstant which was in Gibraltar in July 1871. The cover was placed in a sealed bag and sent via the fleet mail Office by whichever means was quickest at that time (Royal Navy ships or merchant ships). Upon arrival the stamp would cancelled by The GPO in this case 42 signifying Foreign Branch.
The arrival manuscript mark by Seagrove implied that it was carried on the P & O ship Poonah, which left Gibraltar on July 10th and arrived in Southampton on July 15th.
1873 Gibraltar to Portsmouth ‘Fleet Mail’
Edwin & William Seagrove & Co, Portsea (Portsmouth) were Navy & Military Outfitters. At this time Naval Officers could write to them and place orders. They usually wrote the name of the Officer on the front of each envelope.
By researching the date you can find the names of the ships in Gibraltar at that time. By cross referencing to the Navy List you can ascertain the actual ship on which the officer was serving. In this case Midshipman John Francis Stuart on board HMS Narcissus, which was in Gibraltar in December 1873. Then cover was placed in a sealed bag and sent via the fleet mail Office by whichever means was quickest at that time (Royal Navy ships or merchant ships). Upon arrival the stamp would cancelled by the GPO, in this case with a killer stamp 8 signifying Foreign Branch.
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