Lot 20228 – 1864 Oaxaca ½ Real Lilac #40-1865 Eagle 4th Period on Soldier’s concession rate cover to Poland

Oaxaca ½r lilac 4th period, consignment #40-1865, cut into at bottom, on Soldier’s concession rate cover to Poland, dated June 27, 1865, from Oaxaca to Krakow, carried at soldier’s concession rate to Belgian and Austrian volunteer soldiers. French octagonal ds and « 80 » decimes charge, readdressed locally. Reverse with Paris transit and Krakau arrival, missing backflap. A very rare usage. Ex Leo V. Corbett.

Note: The Austrian Legion, composed of 6,000 men, was created by the Emperor Franz-Joseph as a concession to Maximilian I after having irrevocably waived his succession rights in Austria. The Legion acted as a protection corps unrelated with the French Army, and mainly included Austrians and Hungarians, but also large minorities of Italian and Polish enlisted troops.