Lot 10390 – 1775, July 30. Entire letter from Buenos Aires to Seville, showing “Bs.AIR.s.” a

THE EARLIEST COVER KNOWN WITH A RATE MARKING STRUCK IN THE AMERICAS

1775 (July 30). Entire letter from Buenos Aires to Seville, displaying “Bs.AIR.s.” and framed rate “4Rs.” handstamps, both applied in bluish green, charged on arrival with brown “4R.” postmark. The “4Rs.” marking denoted the fee to be paid by the recipient, which corresponded to the single postage. The earliest cover recorded exposing a rate handstamp struck in the Americas.

Provenance: Sitjà.