Lot 40461 – 1855 large part entire with two cut-to-shape 6d Embossed, both tied by mainly very fine blue “O*O” barred ovals

1855 (Jun 11) large part entire (side-flaps removed and short flap reduced) to Leeds endorsed “Army Letter” and “Via Marseilles” most unusually franked for the quadruple rate by two cut-to-shape 6d Embossed, both tied by mainly very fine blue “O*O” barred ovals matching the very fine blue “POST OFFICE/A/BRITISH ARMY JU 11 1855” double-arc c.d.s. on the reverse. The O*O cancel is rare in blue and Embossed Issue covers are very unusual from the Crimea. The part contents includes a graphic description of soldiers who had died of cholera while at sea (en route “from Balaklava to Stamboul”) being thrown overboard, etc. Exceptional item of the Guerre de Crimée. A single 6d (SG Z 22) with this cancel off cover is priced in Stanley Gibbons at 1800 GBP = 3600 GBP for the two stamps (our estimate of the c.v on cover £7’200); cert. BPA (2013).