50th Auction Anniversary Auction - Day 8

Japan: 1878 Destination JAPAN: Cover from Upsala to YOKOHAMA via Hamburg-Frankfurt-München-Verona-Bo
1878 Destination JAPAN: Cover from Upsala to YOKOHAMA via Hamburg-Frankfurt-München-Verona-Bologna-Rom-Bari-Brindisi-Alexandria-Suez-Aden-Galle-Penang-Singapore and Hongkong, addressed to a 'Sailor onboard Barque Flying Spur, Capt. Crobt, Yokohama, English Consulate', franked by two singles of 1877 20øre vermilion (UPU rate) tied by "UPSALA 6/5 1878" c.d.s., and on the reverse with Swedish and Italian railway datestamps, Brindisi and Singapore-Hong-Kong Marine-Sorter transit datestamps as well as Hongkong Treaty-Port Yokohama '22. June (1878)' arrival c.d.s. The Swedish adhesives with light brownish stains otherwise fine. This extraordinary cover was carried from Upsala to Brindisi by train, to Alexandria onboard the "Travancore", from Suez to Galle by the "Peshawar", to Hongkong by the "Teheran" and to Yokohama by the "Orissa" (Upsala-Yokohama in 48 days.) ONE OF THE EARLIEST COVERS FROM SWEDEN TO JAPAN. L. Nielsen (987) and P. Holcombe (1988) certificates.