386th Auction

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

1871, General issue 30c brown in horizontal pair (2 smal marginal tears), tied by dotted lozenge, with adjacent Guadeloupe / Pointe a Pitre c.d.s. (10 Jul) to folded letter to Portland, Maine,, passed to the British Post Office with scarce “GUADELOUOPE PAID JY 11 73”, and backstamped with “Guadeloupe / A” c.d.s. (11 Jul), manuscript “4” (pence) in red crayon for the journey to St. Thomas, endorsed “Per U.S. & Brazil Mail Str via St. Thomas”, the United States portion unpaid and thus struck with crisp “N.Y. STEAMSHIP / 10” entry mark (21 Jul). An unusual and important entire conveyed from the French P.O. in Guadeloupe by the British Agency through the USBMSC via St. Thomas. Signed Scheller

1865/1900, 9 entires from or via St Thomas, interesting lot