Auction 265th - 273rd - Day 1

Hambourg American Linie / Tencuag 1866 (April 15): Entire letter from Le Havre to Carupano, Venezuela, originally endorsed "Par Steamer anglais via Southampton" for an RMSP ship, franked by faulty 1862/63 80 c. carmine tied by '1769' gros chiffres with 'Le Havre' cds adjacent (April 16) and framed 'P.P.' in red. Sorting altered due to the next RMSP sailing on May 2, and sent on the "Tencuag" with three line handstamp "Hambourg American / Linie TENCUAG / CPd. Poor 18 April 66" in black (CPd. = Carriage Paid?). Reverse with British P.O. "St. Thomas" double arc cds (May 2) in black. Illustrated in Edition D'Or 59 on page 159. The cachet and cover believed unique by this German Line, carried five years before HAPAG operated.rnProvenance: Collection Von Strokirch.