Cape of Good Hope 1899 Closed Against Inspection, Taxed 3d

1899 Envelope from Worcester (AU 16) to Calcutta marked by sender "Printed Matter" endeavouring to avail of the reduced postal rate for unsealed letters paid by a single 1d Hope Standing. The subject letter was found to be sealed, was opened and taxed 3d as per manuscript "T3d" and octagonalT/15c handstamp. Further marked with boxed "CLOSED AGAINST / INSPECTION" (Goldblatt SP 25a) which processing appears to have been done in the Cape Town Returned Letter Office (backstamp AU 19). F-VF, an exceedingly rare surviving instructional mark, possibly one of only two recorded as this handstamp only appears in the supplement to Goldblatt's "Postmarks of the Cape of Good Hope" With a single newly discovered cover mentioned. Ex Trotter. See additional image.