Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: SW1015 - The Philatelic Collector's Series
Lot: 152

1873, Jan. 7. Envelope (upper back flap missing) from La Guayra to Bordeaux, bearing Venezuela 1866-69 1r. vermilion, left margin-sheet copy, just touching in part of upper margin, otherwise excellent margins, in mixed franking with France 1867 30 c. brown pair, 1870 40c. orange, paying the single rate up to 15gr. and tied by anchor lozenges with matching ''La Guayra'' octagonal datestamp (Salles fig. 1374), also tying the Venezuelan adhesive. Carried by the ''Martinique'' from Fort-de-France. Small portion of paper loss at bottom left on front, neither affecting the franking nor the markings. As originating at La Guayra, this cover should not have been franked with a Venezuelan adhesive to reach the French consular agency at that city. Nevertheless, this cover is absolutely genuine. The explanation for the application of the Venezuelan franking was that the sender, not being familiar with the usual practice of mail being carried through a French consular agency located at the place of dispatch, posted the letter franked with a Venezuelan stamp believing that internal postage was needed, in a mailbox; the Venezuelan postal authorities considered this stamp as not being necessary as per postal regulations and intentionally omitted to cancel the adhesive. The letter was then consigned to the French consular agency who decided to tie the stamp. A unique franking, of great rarity as exhibiting a Venezuelan-French combination franking on mail originating from La Guayra. Cert. Roumet, signed Calves. Scott 20. Ex Heister.

Sold for
€3,000