POSTMAN DROWNED, SWANSEA, TASMANIA. 1887 cover from Swansea (18 JU) to Castra Road that has the stamp washed off and a manuscript ‘This envelope enclosed a letter which was amongst the mail when the courier got drowned’ on the back. Launceston JU 21 and Castra Road JU 22 87 transit and arrival cancels are on the back. The Launceston Examiner of 21 June 1887 carried a story of the incident at a flooded ford on the South Esk River, advising of recovery of the mails and the continuing search for the Swansea Mailman. A very rare and probably unique item.
