Lot 72218 – EARLIEST KNOWN USE OF FIRST ISSUE GOING ABROAD

EARLIEST KNOWN USE OF FIRST ISSUE GOING ABROAD 1d Blue, four margins incl. huge at left, tied by Lima dotted & oval cancel (L+R fig. 37) to folded outer cover to Genoa (Genova), ITALY, with full docketing of receipt showing the contents had been written on March 11 and thus the cover had to be carried on March 12, the first day of departure of the northbound mail steamer which carried (inter alia) the mail for Europe. Boxed FRANCA hs struck out, and letter was charged (unusually) “05” by tampon for local postage in Genova. Reverse shows superb boxed bs dated 22 / APR / 1858. Trivial ink erosion in small part of address plus central folds (far from stamp), stamp possibly lifted for examination and replaced, a very fine postal history showpiece, just one other cover for this date and usage recorded Estimate: € 5’000 – € 7’500