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Auction: SW1015 - The Philatelic Collector's Series
Lot: 151

1866-69, 1r. vermilion, very large margins, except touched at top right, paying Venezuelan postage, on 7 September 1868 cover from Paris to Caracas, franked on dispatch by 1867-80c. rose , pair and single, tied by dotted star with matching Paris cds at left, used to pay the triple rate, weighing from 20 to 30gr., to Venezuela, indicated by the faint ''3'' red crayon on front and the ''3/24'' notation on the reverse. Embarked from St. Nazaire on the ''Floride'', with ''Ligne-A/Paq. Fr. N°3'' cds on reverse, heading to Colon, including Pointe à Pitre stopover, where it was transferred to the Ligne G, and registered by the ''Ligne-G/25 Sept. 68/Paq. Fr. N°1'' cds on back,  then carried to Fort-de-France and subsequently, probably with involvement of the Ligne L, to La Guaira, where the Venezuelan adhesive was applied and tied by ''Correos/La Guaira'' double circle. Some slight tone spots and horizontal crease affecting the 1r. denomination. According to Dr. Knut Heister, although this cover is undoubtedly genuine, there is not conclusive explanation for the use of the Venezuelan franking. As per the usual practice, the recipient had to pay the maritime mail fee of 1 Real (regardless of weight), and additionally the postage for the conveyance by land from La Guaira to Caracas, the latter also being 1 Real for a cover weighing from 1/2 to 3/4 ounce. The stamp would have only covered the maritime 1 Real fee, paid by the forwarding agent in La Guaira, with the letter then probably carried by private means to Caracas, which would explain the absence of the usual Venezuelan rate marking. Another more likely theory, which was also then in practice, was that the recipient's agent in La Guaira paid the maritime fee in cash and then consigned the cover to the post, applying a 1 Real stamp as payment for the up to 3/4 ounce rate, which is equivalent to 21,26 gr., thus corresponding to the letter weight rate paid by the French franking (20-30gr.). A fascinating usage on cover which also exhibits a unique combination franking. Cert. Moorhouse, signed Roura (inside) and Calves. Scott 20. Ex Heister.

Sold for
€1,900