This remarkable 13th Feb. 1879 cover was sent from Guernsey to "Larut via Penang, Straits Settlements" [Larut is now called Taiping - in Perak] and routed "Via Brindisi"; so it was prepaid for the U.P.U. 8d rate (the Straits Settlements were 'British Dependencies' members of the U.P.U. from 1st Apr. 1877) with eight 1d Reds (pl.174 Block of 4 and Pair, plus pl. 181 Pair) all tied by mainly very fine "GUERNSEY/324" Duplexes. This is one of only a handful of recorded pre-1880 covers addressed to Perak; there is a partial red "PENANG/PAID" transit c.d.s. (14th Mar.) on the front and a faint but extremely early blue-black "M/LAROOT" c.d.s. backstamp (17th Mar.). In November 1875, the addressee "Sir W. E. Maxwell" was a member of the punitive 'Larut Field Force' expedition (being mentioned in despatches and receiving the Campaign medal as a result). He then became Assistant Resident of Perak in Feb. 1878 and much later he was the acting Governor of Straits Settlements (1893-95) and finally the Governor of the Gold Coast (1895-97). This is one of the most unusual destinations for any QV Channel Isles cover, and a rare example of a cover addressed to Larut.