Heinrich Köhler Auction 377 - Day 4

TURKISH EMPIRE-GREAT BRITAIN, 1868, Unpaid entire letter with black single circle "SMYRNE 11/4" via Trieste to London. In Trieste taxed with rare blue handstamp "5" (silbergroschen) consisting of  2 silbergroschen sea postage and the former postal union postage of 3 silbergroschen which was still effected for a short time during North German Federation period for some transit mail. In Aachen black "5½" (silbergroschen) applied, in London a total of 11 pence charged to the recipient. An attractive and rare letter; supposed to be one of only 2 entires recorded with the "5" of Triest.