Lot 30099 – 1863 (July 13) Entire letter from St. Thomas to Paris, with earliest usage of St. Thomas Paid cds

1863 (July 13) Entire letter from St. Thomas to Paris, bearing “St-Thomas/A Jy 13 63/Paid” cds in red, with oval “PD” and London Paid cds alongside, entering France with Calais transit cds and “8” in purple ink due on receipt. According to Parmenter handbook (2016), the earliest recorded strike of this cds (by one day). A very scarce usage during the pre-philatelic period, when the St. Thomas crowned circles were still in use. Extremely fine.