Day 1- Europe & Overseas, South & Central America - the Brian Moorhouse Estate (Part Ii)

1871 (March 1): 5 c. brown and 20 c. rose, used on the spectacular 1872 cover from Salama to Rotherham, England tied by bold "24" numeral obliterator in black, with transit datestamp of the British Post office in COLON adjacent (Jan 25, 1872) in black. Reverse with 'Correos / Guatemala' circular datestamp of transit (Jan ) and Rotherham arrival cds (Feb 26). Un-taxed (Guatemala had yet to join the UPU) and docketed alongside the adhesives with manuscript "Rec'd R.O. (Robert Owen, the addressee) Feb 26, last post" which was possibly the reason the letter escaped Postage Due. This cover was carried on the same day as a quadruple rate cover bearing five 1871 20 c. rose (ex Hubbard, lot 124, illustration with the lot) to the addressee's brother in Sheffield, arriving on the same day and charged 3 shillings Postage Due. File fold crosses the adhesives, however this is the sole recorded cover with a 25 centavos rate to Europe - this being applicable only in the 'decimal' period: March 1, 1871 until January 26, 1872, after which the rate was reduced to 20 centavos. Illustrated in the Goodman handbook on page 46. A magnificent and extremely rare cover, the sole recorded franking. Cert. Moorhouse (2009).rnrnProvenance: Collection Mark Spycher, Nov 2008; Investphila, sale 15, Lugano, 17-18 April 2010, lot 554.rn 
Catalogue 245: South & Central America