Lot 20214 – 1878 (28.5) Registered letter from Constantinople to Cairo, franked with a pair of 3rd Issue 1 piastre scarlet

1878 (28.5) Registered letter from Constantinople to Cairo, franked with a pair of 3rd Issue 1 piastre scarlet, tied V. R. POSTE EGIZIANE / CONSTANTINOPOLI circular datestamp and an additional strike alongside, also with boxed RACCOMANDATO, backstamped on arrival in Cairo June 4, cvr faults and wrinkles, an unusual and scarce registered usage

Note: RATE CHANGE On April 1st, 1878, the letter rate was reduced: from 1? piastres to the standard UPU rate of 1 piaster per 15 grams for letters to or from foreign offices. So for this cover: 1 piastre postage plus 1 piastre registration fee. The letter rate of 1 piaster prevailed for just one year of the use of the Third Issue, which was replaced on April 1st, 1879

Provenance: Peter Smith