THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE KNOWN OF ANY OF THE EXTENSIVELY USED “YNDIAS” HANDSTAMPS

1767 (March 21). Entire letter from Buenos Aires to Cádiz, carried via Portugal as denoted by the black “Portvgal” entry postmark applied at Badajoz in Spain, following application of “Yndias” straight-line and “4.Rs” due marking, both struck in red on arrival. From Cádiz, the letter, after being turned, was re-addressed inland to Eibar in Northern Spain, charged in manuscript at 5 cuartos and bearing “Andalucia/Alta” two-line handstamp in red. The earliest known cover displaying any of the extensively used “Yndias” markings; its attractiveness is further augmented by the fact of being one of just three Spanish colonial letters recorded carried via Portugal.

Provenance: Sitjà.