Lot 10079 – THE EARLIEST “BULL’S EYE” COVER RECORDED SENT ABROAD

THE EARLIEST “BULL’S EYE” COVER RECORDED SENT ABROAD

1843, 30r black and 90r black, early impression, both originating from the Second Composite Plate, State B position 8 (30r) and State C position 1 (90r), graced by large margins all around and detailed impressions of great freshness, showing two strikes of “Sto. AMARO.” straight-line hs in brown, applied on entire letter from Santo Amaro to Porto (Portugal), both paying the single maritime rate for the portion of the journey to Rio Grande in Brazil. Letter datelined and docket of receipt indicating 10 November 1843. The 90r has a horizontal crease caused before the application to this letter, and the 30r was previously described having a closed tear, of which we have not found any trace and is not mentioned in three accompanying certificates. The earliest of only seven “Bull’s Eyes” covers recorded sent abroad, of which only four were sent to a transatlantic destination (three known to Argentina, three to Portugal and one to France); in addition, this shwopiece exhibits a unique usage on this issue (the RHM catalogue does not list this cancellation on “Bull’s Eyes”). Its delightful beauty makes even more desirable this, one of the most significant first-issue covers. Certs. Scheller (2014, “the franking is still in its original state and has never been moved”), Moorhouse (2015), R.P.S.L. (2015) and P.F. (2019).

Note: The letter is addressed to Joaquim Pinto Leite in Porto and it seems likely, due to the lack of arrival markings, that it was delivered to him directly by the Captain of the vessel that originally picked up the letter for the transatlantic transmission. On a different subject, this cover is illustrated in the “Bull’s Eyes on Covers” handbook by Bernd Juchert as an item requiring further research, which has been completed with four examinations and four certificates stating its genuineness, also including the opinion of the renowned expert for Latin America Brian Moorhouse, thus clearing any doubt.

Provenance: Maurino de Araújo Ferreira and Hugo Goeggel.