Maritime Mail of Spanish Colonies in America

Chile Outgoing Mail 1779 circa. Folded cover from Santiago de Chile to Vitoria (Spain), struck on dispatch by "Chyle" straight-line (P.E. 1), additionally handstamped by boxed "4Rs." rate marking during its transit in Buenos Aires, this rate being amended to "6R" on arrival in manuscript, according to the change of tariff of 1779. The 4 reales postmark of Buenos Aires, produced in May 1768, was obsolete at that time and did not correspond to the 7 reales (1779 tariff for mail from Chile) with which this letter should have been charged on arrival, as a result of being considered, in Cádiz, the origin of the mail to be Buenos Aires. The new rates introduced on 1.9.1779 contemplated, for the first time, the origin of the correspondence, thus resulting in different fees depending on the American region of origin. An exceptional and unique item demonstrating the change of tariffs, being marked with two different rates. Ex Menéndez.