POSTAGE DUE FORERUNNER: 1830, Postage due label “ÉLÉMENT DE LA TAXE (Avril 1829)” in black on yellowish paper (108:82 mm), affixed to an entire letter with content sent from the Chelsea Hospital in London to a pensioner in Bern, red free frank crowned circle cds “FREE 8 NO 1830” applied on departure, from Bern re-addressed to France where the free frank privilege was not recognized, and the mail taxed accordingly at 1,70 francs (1,50 francs for Switzerland and 20 centimes for transportation from the border to Wyler near Thann). Some minor aging and tiny imperfections not detracting from this tremendous rarity, being the earliest use of those very elusive world´s first postage due labels (preceding from three years the one recorded in the literature). A remarkable specialist´s item
