Great Britain stamps used in Malta : part 2

Abstract

Since my publication on this subject in Vol. 12 No. 2, of the P.S.M. Magazine, (Item 1) has come to light. It is a cover sent to Sicily, franked with the 2Yzd blue (Plate 23) most UNUSUALLY cancelled with the sans serif Malta 25.5mm diameter (Said No. 23) double ring handstamp, confirming that a few G .B. stamps were eventually cancelled by the MALTA double-ring cancellers. The G.P.O. Date Impression Book record the date of issue of this handstamp as 30. Aug. 1856. However Dr. Bonnici has drawn my attention to an entire (Item 2) written in London on the 2nd June 1856 addressed to Malta where it arrived on the 15 Ju 1856. Two and a half months earlier than what is written in the G.P .0. Date Impression Books. This indeed is the earliest recorded date, Five months earlier than what appears in the "Hand-Book". [excerpt]