DSP German Southwest Africa CAPSTADT 16.1.07 "II", steamer "Aline Woermann", full strike on 10 Pfg imperial yacht on well preserved commercial letter with reverse sender impression "A. Schmerenbeck Swakopmund", to Berlin with reverse arrival 11.2.07, superb, signed Bothe BPP - by our knowledge the earliest known use date this extraordinarily rarely sea-mail cancel - August Schmerenbeck (1853-1930) acquired in the January 1893 from Regierungsbesitz a private plot in Windhoek at the Kaiserstraße (today Independence avenue). Besides his bargain and apartment house built he a particular building, the he the postal administration at disposal placed. Besides his others business establishment he also livestock and horse transports and received on the basis of of a contract with the imperial post middle the nineties years the operation the so-called "cart post" for the postal transport. The journey time from Windhoek to Swakopmund was about 10 days.