SOUTH AFRICA STAMPS KENILWORTH CASTLE SHIP WRECK MAIL TYPE 1 SEAL COVER 1918

SOUTH AFRICA Scott #5 (x Block of 4) stamps tied by April 29, 1918 Pretoria registered handstamp on Rooth & Wessels Solicitors Pretoria oversized cover (measures approximately 15.0" x 6.0" the scans show the cover unfolded and folded which is how it would be shipped) The cover traveled on the SS Kenilworth Castle from Table Bay (Cape Town) via Sierra Leone to England escorted by the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Rival. In the English Channel, the Kenilworth Castle collided with the escort setting off two depth charges. The Kenilworth Castle was breached, the waterlogged mail dried and forwarded with two type 1 multipurpose delayed/damaged repair seals. The seals would have been affixed with the second registy handstamp on June 6, 1918. Very scarce cover!

As early as 1918 the Royal Mail had a class of seals that combined the repair function and provided information to the postal customer regarding the damaged or delayed item. These seals were infrequently used for their repair function as other seals and later tapes were more convenient and even the smallest post offices had a variety of handstamps to explain why a particular mail item was damaged or delayed. Twenty different types have been reported with a number of minor types also identified. These labels are still un use yet infrequently seen.

Sent 1918, beautiful as is condition. (Seals / Tapes by definition were used to repair damaged mail caused by a wide variety of conditions and found in a wide range of condition.)

This cover appeared in the exhibit of the late Jim Kotanchik's Gold Medal award winning exhibit, "Official Seals of Great Britain" The exhibit was probably last shown at Westpex in 2009. It is possible that some of the information contained therein is no longer current. Jim Kotanchik was a highly regarded expert in worldwide seals.