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Auction: 16USA - The Frederick R Mayer Collection of Costa Rica
Lot: 91

#2, 1863 2r Scarlet, nicely centered single with deep rich color, tied by boxed ""12 Agt 73"" handstamp to one of the most spectacular covers in Costa Rican philately, sent registered (single weight) by the Postmaster Henry Twight to Rome, Italy, endorsed ""Registered"" in his hand and with his large oval ""Admon. General/De Correos/De Costa Rica"" handstamp at left, sent British mail via Colon and London, with stunning additional franking of eight Great Britain 1858 1p Red, plate 123 & 129, tied upon arrival in London, along with single 1873 1/- Green, plate 7, by ""R/34"" barred numeral cancels, red ""Registered/13 Sp 73/London, EC"" oval handstamp, along with small red ""PD"" in oval, Italian railway transit c.d.s. and Rome arrival c.d.s. on reverse, rated ""78"" postage due upon arrival in blue crayon, small part of bottom back flap missing, overall very fine.[cr][lf][cr][lf]More than likely the Great Britain stamps were applied at origin and that Twight transmitted this cover, as well as the following two covers, in a sealed bag through Colon. The total Great Britain franking of one shilling, eight pence, corresponds to the one-quarter ounce rate to Italy of one shilling, four pence, plus a four pence incomplete registration fee that covered only the registration from London to Rome. This cover, along with the next two, are among the most visually stunning and rare first issue covers in the Mayer collection. Remarkably, all three were sent by Twight to the same addressee in Rome, but each represents a different weight rate: single, double and triple weight. This is also the earliest of the three.[cr][lf][cr][lf]A magnificent cover of this highest rarity and eye appeal. Accompanied by a 1989 Estimate US$ 12,500-15,000

Sold for
$35,000