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INTER ISLAND MAIL

A heavy letter from Jamaica addressed to Barbados. It was struck with a Jamaica Ship Letter
(SL 5) but it is most unlikely that it was sent by this means. The ship letter rate was 3d with normally
a 1 'Ad accounting mark indicating the amount due the U.K. Post Office. This is not present and 3d
does not multiply up to either of the rates shown, whereas both l/4d the original rate which was
cancelled, and l/8d are multiples of 4d, the packet rate. The cover was back stamped in Kingston on
27lh November 1856, the day the “Derwent” sailed but it would appear to have missed the sailing as
it was carried by her the next time she called on 11lh December, arriving in St Thomas on the 17th.
“Conway” collected the letter on the 21st and delivered it in Barbados on the 24th where a rather
unclear back stamp was applied on the 26lh. Possibly the idea of sending the letter by a merchant ship
was entertained after the cover missed the first sailing and then was rejected. Ex Deakin.