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Auction: 15USA - The William H. Gross Collection
Lot: 123

August 8, 1855 folded letter from Hong Kong to Marseilles, carried privately to Singapore, showing nearly complete red oval cachet ""Forwarded By/John Purvis & Son/Singapore"" on reverse, and impressively franked with India 1854 4a Blue and red, fourth printing (S.G. #23), four cut to shape pairs (all with margins tight to cutting), being the four times the 4a per 1/2 oz. rate and lightly cancelled and tied by diamond of dots, manuscript ""Via Suez"" endorsement on front, blue Alexandria transit c.d.s. on reverse across join, red Marseilles arrival c.d.s. and various rate markings on front as well, vertical file fold at left affects one stamp, overall fine.[cr][lf][cr][lf]A truly remarkable franking of the utmost importance and rarity.[cr][lf][cr][lf]One of the great postal history rarities of the Straits Settlements. ex-Koh-iNor (1986) and John Sussex ""Opening of China Estimate US$ 52,000-65,000

Sold for
$65,825