Lot 81277 – “Clandestine” DDSG Ship Mail: 2 x 10 bani indigo s

“Clandestine” DDSG Ship Mail: 2 x 10 bani indigo stamps on cover to Vienna, uncancelled and creased by a file fold at the top, otherwise in fine condition, with arrival dated 10/6 (1871). Despite the 1869 treaty with Austria prohibiting DDSG ships on the Danube from receiving mail, this cover was franked with Romanian stamps and likely placed on a ship from Galati (sender’s seal on the reverse) to Vienna. The ship’s clerk, who was not authorized to cancel Romanian stamps, wrote the origin at the top right as usual. Typically, such covers would receive the “PER DAMPFSCHIFF” handstamp upon arrival in Vienna, but this one did not. Evidence that the stamps belong to the cover includes the postage due markings: the rate to Austria was 25 bani, so the cover was underfranked by 5 bani. In cases of insufficiency, the letter was treated as unfranked, and the value of the stamps was deducted from the penalty. The “8x” in blue represents the value of the 20 bani stamps (1 kr = 2.5 bani), and the “12” indicates the 12 kreuzer postage due penalty for the recipient (20 – 8 = 12). The crossed “2” at the top might represent the missing amount (2 kreuzer = 5 bani). The cover has some imperfections: the recipient’s name has been cut away, and there are small abrasions on the front, but it is otherwise in fine condition. This item is a postal history rarity, with only one similar cover known from the Franz See & F. Heimbüchler collections. That cover was however correctly franked, whereas underfranked classic Romanian covers are scarce. This postage due combination with steamship mail is unique. A great postal history item. Cert. Cherata AIEP (2024).