1898 Imperial Penny Post First Day, Sent to India

25^th December 1898 Imperial Penny Post first day of service. Addressed to Stewart Wilson, Deputy Director General of The Post Office, India. 1d Rose-Red (SG43) with an Ellesmere cancel. The service allowed for a letter to be sent anywhere in the British Empire for one penny. Sea Post Office CDS backstamp dated January 8^th 1899 and Kohat arrival from the 18^th January. A very rare cover. Stanley Gibbons retail value £1,750 to £2,250.

The Imperial Penny Post came into service on the 25th December 1898 and allowed for a letter to be sent anywhere in the British Empire for the cost of one penny. The only exception was Australia and New Zealand, who were not included until 1905. In 1908 the rate was extended to America, and continued until the one penny rate was ended in Great Britain in 1918. Covers from the first day of this service are incredibly rare; a key item in both postal history or early first day collections.