Gibraltar to H.M.S. Peacock, redirected to Singapore - Taxed Naval
Mail with Multiple Hong Kong Index Codes 14 December 1893, a
Gibraltar to H.M.S. Peacock, redirected to Singapore - Taxed Naval
Mail with Multiple Hong Kong Index Codes 14 December 1893, a cover
addressed to Surgeon D'Arcy Hawley, H.M.S. Peacock, "China",
bearing Gibraltar 25c blue adhesive (Spanish currency issue),
cancelled by Gibraltar c.d.s. "GIBRALTAR/A/DE 14/93" and barred
numeral "2". Front shows boxed "T" handstamp indicating
underpayment under UPU rules, with manuscript "1/-" (1 shilling
due) and "6" (pence) in blue crayon - the latter representing the
amount chargeable to the addressee. The short payment likely
stemmed from use of the Spanish currency stamp rather than
British-value postage. The destination "China" was later redirected
to Singapore, likely following the fleet's movement. Reverse bears
three Hong Kong c.d.s. (JA 25/94) with index letters B, C, and D,
reflecting multiple internal processing stages at the Hong Kong
General Post Office-possibly due to redirection handling at various
time slot and postal officers on the date of 25 JAN 1894 to look
for appropriate steamer to ship the mail to Singapore at the
soonest. A scarce taxed naval cover with postal and maritime
interest, combining currency discrepancy, UPU taxation, and rare
multiple index strikes.
