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Auction: SW1002 - Latin America, including the Tito Collection - Part I
Lot: 1272

1840, Jan 9. Two entire letters from Rio de Janeiro to London, one redirected to Brighton, carried by the British "Skylark", directly consigned to the British P.O. with double arc datestamp. One cover bearing London datestamps and Dublin red diamond on reverse, the other with superb red Dublin inspector"s crown to amend a rate to 2s 9d on front with matching datestamp on back. The "Skylark" suffered wind damage and was obliged to call at the port of Valentia (Ireland) for repairs on 2.3.1840. The packet left Valentia on 6.3, arriving at Falmouth on 13.3. The mail bag was disembarked at Valentia and carried via overland mail to London via Dublin. Overland postage from Ireland to London was not charged due to the unexpected disembarkation of the mail at Valentia, as confirmed by the red framed "Postage Not Paid/To London"(in one item)  and  the absence of fees applied for that portion of the journey. Both covers were charged at single rate. Accompanied by an article entitled "Skylarking" dedicated to one of these items by Alan W. Robertson. Two of just four covers recorded from the ´´Skylark´´ mail bag which disembarked at Valentia. Ex Robertson and Koester (for one item). Starting Price US$ 600

Sold for
$950