Auction 265th - 273rd - Day 1

Messageries Impériales 1877: Cover from La Guaira to to Vera Cruz, Mexico at triple rate, bearing Venezuela 1865/70 ½ r. pale claret in a vertical pair with 1873 2 r. yellow, two stained single examples with overprint inverted (Scott 19+44a) - the sole mixed issue combination usage recorded - tied by circular "CORREOS / LA GUAIRA" handstamps in black. Additionally franked by France 1870 Siège 40 c. orange, a single and horizontal strip of four, all tied by octagonal "LA GUAYRA" Consular datestamps (July 19) in black (Salles fig. 1374). Carried on the Ligne E "Cacique" to Fort de France and Ligne B "Ville de Brest" to Vera Cruz where charged at triple inland rate "75 c." due in black. Despite the fact that the 2 r. pair is stained and some creasing, a remarkable and rare cover. Illustrated in Edition D'Or 59 on page 154. Cert. P. Holcombe (1993).rnProvenance: Collection E.M. de Bustamente, DF, Zurich, 4 Nov 1993, lot 30975A.