Lot 42187 – 1881 (Dec 15) Cover to Boston franked by 1881 UPU 5c blue, tied by « Barbacoas » in manuscript, the city where it was initially posted in Tumaco, Colombia, additionally tied for onward transmission in Panama with « PANAMA/C

1881-82 (?) (Dec) Single rate cover to Boston franked by 1881 UPU 5c blue, tied by « Barbacoas » in manuscript, the city where it was initially posted in Tumaco, Colombia, additionally tied for onward transmission in Panama with elusive « PANAMA/DES/COLOMBIA » cds, Boston cds at left and New York transit on back, an extremely rare combination

Note: The year in the date of this cover is not visible in the Panama cds, and it does not appear in the American datestamps. Colombia entered the UPU on 1.7.81, and then the foreign rate was 5c until 31.10, changing to 7c from 1.11 to 31.12, from 1.1.82 being 10c. After a close examination, we have no doubts about the genuineness of this cover, and we deduce that it was sent under franked by 5c in December 1882, avoiding taxation