HISTORY OF MAIL TRANSPORT TO/FROM ASCENSION

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aukepalmhof
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HISTORY OF MAIL TRANSPORT TO/FROM ASCENSION

Post by aukepalmhof » Thu Sep 17, 2015 8:25 pm

This four stamps and M/S were issued by Ascension Island in 1980 for the “history of mail transport to and from the island. The Ascension post gives by the issue.

8 p) The bottle post: The Ascension “bottle post” became an established practice in the 17th century. The procedure was recorded in 1673 by a visiting missionary Friar Domingo Navarrete and was still in use when Louis de Bougainville captain of La BOUDEUSE called in 1769.

12p) Chance calling ships: Until 1857 communication with Ascension was through chance calling ships such as the 19th century English 36-gun frigate shown. The scene is at Clarence Bay then called Sandy Beach with Fort Cockburn in the background.

15p) Regular mail service: A regular mail service started in 1857 when the Union Steam Ship Co. Ltd. contracted to collect UK destined mail. In 1900 the Company amalgamated with the Castle Mail Packets Co. Ltd to form the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co. Ltd whose ship GARTH CASTLE is shown beyond the old Canteen store where the mail bell until recently hung.
GARTH CASTLE career and details: http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... tle#p15824

50p) Mail service today: Surface mail is now carried by the RMS ST HELENA, shown here against the coastline of Ascension. Airmail is carried in this scene by a Lockheed C141 aircraft of the Military Airlift Command of the USAF, completing the picture of the current Ascension mail service.
ST HELEN career and details: http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=9940

Ascension 1980 sg264/67, scott?, sgMS?, scott?
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