Lot 10188 – 1843, 60r black, early impression, semi-xiphopagus on letter from S. João del Rei

1843, 60r black, early impression, cut slightly into at left without touching the ‘eye of the bull’, clear to mostly enormous margins on other sides, with outer frame line at top and part of the interpanneau separation line, part of line from neighbouring stamp at right, tied by “S.JOAO DELREI” straight-line hs (Ayres 1170) in brown on reverse of 25 September 1844 entire letter from S. João del Rei to Rio de Janeiro. Several faults including ink corrosions in addressee’s panel, two creases affecting the stamp and torn area where the stamp was affixed and rejoined; the stamp was detached as a result of humidity, and was hinged back into place. A very rare usage of a semi-xiphopagus on letter, unique among the 25 covers noted for São João del Rei; not recorded in the Bernd Juchert census.