Auction 265th - 273rd - Day 1

Royal Mail Company Contract. On July 5, 1850 an agreement was reached between the Admiralty and the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., to take effect on Jan 1, 1851. Rates were reduced to a uniform 1 shilling to or from South America, the Steamships of the RMSP shortened the Atlantic crossing from circa 40 to 30 days.rnrnRMSP 1851 (Feb 10): Entire letter from Rio de Janeiro to Porto, endorsed "p. R.M. Str. Ship Teviot" on the Steamer's maiden voyage from Brazil, prepaid at double rate with manuscript "2/-" in red and superb "♚ / PAID / AT / RIO DE JANEIRO" in black. Reverse with double arc "Rio-Janeiro" datestamp (Feb 10) in black. Struck on arrival in Lisbon with framed "P.BRIT" and rate mark '540' (reis) in blue alongiside oval "LEY DE 20/4 50 / 25 RS." handstamp in brown and charged a further '80' reis in manuscript for the journey to Porto (March 13). Illustrated in Edition D'Or 59 on page 54. An exceptional and very rare entire in the foremost condition (Gi CC3 = £ 850).rnProvenance:  'Prefilatelia de Brasil', Soler y Llach, Barcelona, 14 Feb 1995, lot 479A; Collection Paulo Comelli RDP, Investphila, Lugano, 16 March 2012, lot 1274. rnrn