Lot 20121 – The Unique Four-colour franking with the 5 piastre value

The Unique Four-Colour Franking with the 5 Piastre Value5pi. yellow-green, 20pa. grey, 1pi. red, 2½pi. violet, all tied on 1875 (15.3) registered cover from Cairo to Bologna, Italy, by POSTE EGIZIANE / CAIRO cds, with similar cds, boxed RACCOMANDATA and PD handstamps alongside, backstamped in transit in Alexandria and Italian Consulate Post Office in Alexandria: ALESSANDRIA D’EGITTO / POSTE ITALE / CONSEGNEE March 16, transit in Brindisi March 20, arrival in Bologna March 20 and 21, cover weighing 30 ½ grams and paying the triple rate being 7 ½ pi. and registration 1 pi. 20 pa., The only recorded franking, cosmetic cover repair at top right, an exhibition showpiece, cert. Raybaudi (1977).Provenance: Anatolle Ott