Page 297 - Sierra Leone to 1961 - The Collection

The African Steam Ship Company
Third Contract 1866-1872

1868 Twice-Monthly Service from Liverpool

9 March 1868 - London to Freetown, Sierra Leone. Arrival backstamp of 26 March 1868 in Freetown.
Carried by SS Macgregor Laird departing Liverpool on 10 March 1868.

The contract commenced 24 September 1868 with a specification Newspaper report from the Liverpool-based
of one sailing per month; however from March 1867 two sailings The Daily Post announcing the departure of
were made from Liverpool to the West Coast of Africa. The ships SS Macgregor Laird from Liverpool to West
sailed the 10th and 24th of each month. The mails were made up
either in London on the 9th / 23rd, or on the morning of sailing Africa on 10 March 1868
in Liverpool.

This letter is postmarked in London on 9 March 1874 as would be
expected for the sailing the following day. The Sierra Leone arrival
backstamp indicates a transit time of 15 days.

The letter was unclaimed in Freetown, but there is no evidence
that it was returned.

From 1 June 1855 until 31 March 1879, the packet rate was 6d
per half ounce.