Auction Series 257-264 in Zurich Day 4

Suez Canal Company 1868 (July): 20 c. blue, a used example with large margins on three sides and imperceptibly touched at base, of rich resonant colour, used on 18 July 1868 entire letter from Léon Labbé in Port Said to Kantara tied by dotted "5129" gros chiffres in black. One of just eight recorded examples of this usage cancelled by the 5129 gros chiffres. Illustrated in Ringström & Tester 'The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World' on page 81. An outstanding example of this stamp on letter - the second earliest usage recorded. Signed N. Gennaropoulo on reverse, M.G. (Maurice Guiwelb) and R. Calves. Cert. Todd AIEP (2019).rnProvenance: Collection Charles Cotta, RL, London, 27 Jan 1965, lot 391; Collection Jean Boulad d'Humieres, Cairo, Egypt; Collection G. Naudet, Paris.
Catalogue 261: Stamp Issuing Steamship Companies