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).