Description
Long stampless cover to Toronto, posted by a soldier in the First Canadian Contingent whilst en route to Cape Town on the S.S. “Laurentian”, both sides with superb violet oval “CANADIAN CONTINGENT / EN ROUTE / JAN 30 1900 / SOUTH AFRICA”, handstamped “T” with manuscript “12c” and a Toronto backstamp. This “En Route” cachet only used on this one date, the day before the ship reached St. Vincent in the Cape Verde Islands. Folded and slightly shortened at left edge upon opening, otherwise fine and one of the finest of the few recorded “En Route” covers.