Lot 60663 – 1856 10c grey-black, twelve examples on very rare registered mail

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REGISTERED COVER BEARING THE “NUMBER ONE”

1856 10c grey-black, pair and two vertical strips of five, good margins for the great majority, tied by nine-bar cancellations on registered cover to Schaerbeck (Belgium) carried at double rate, with Luxembourg dispatch cds (22 March) and “Chargé” straight-line, both struck in blue and each tying one of the strips, few imperfections including file folds affecting two stamps and three stamps in the lower strip with tiny tear at left, not detracting from this unique item; one of the most-spectacular first-issue covers recorded, where only about five registered items with this issue are known; additionally the most important franking on mail to Belgium (a destination with abundant correspondence) and the most significant registered cover bearing the first stamp of Luxembourg; certs. Demuth (1985) and Goebel (2014); (Soluphil 1f).

Provenance: Del Puente, Houser.