Lot 10374 – 1869-73, A UNIQUE COMBINATION FRANKING WITH SAME DENOMINATIONS OF DIFFERENT STAMPS – A VERY RARE POSTAL FRAUD

A UNIQUE COMBINATION FRANKING WITH TWO SAME DENOMINATIONS FROM DIFFERENT FIRST-ISSUE STAMPS

A VERY RARE POSTAL FRAUD

1869-73, 1r yellow-buff, full to large margins, in combination with two well margined examples of 1r green, both being previously used and applied on judicial wrapper (reduced at right) from Quito to Guaranda, with “6” ounces weight indicated at right correctly paid with 3 reales according to the special reduced rate applied to judicial correspondence, each stamp tied by “3154” dotted lozenges of Quito. The two 1r green stamps were fraudulently used as they were previously cancelled with a dotted lozenge struck in a colour-contrasting greyish ink which does not touch the wrapper, and were affixed with a particular gum which left traces of grease; in addition, the 1r yellow was also previously used as it shows an ink stroke which is not apparent on the other two values. This is one of just five genuine items which are believed to exist exhibiting two of the same denominations from different first-issue stamps -only possible with the 1r yellow and 1r green-, and this particular combination franking is unique, being even more desirable in comparison to the other four because of the postal fraud. Signed Saá.

Provenance: J. Lorenzo Saá and Hernán Olgieser.