The World’s greatest first issue single franking. Sold privately for an unpublished price in excess of US$ 3’000’000.
Franked with the « Post Office » One Penny Red-Orange, a brilliant example with completely clear four margins. The stamp shows the acknowledged characteristics of this first primitive printing, the ink being applied in thick units thus leaving some parts of the design under-inked.
The stamps tied by black framed PAID handstamp to the small Ball Invitation envelope addressed « H. Adam Esq. Junr. » The name was partly erased on the instruction of Mr. Adam when the first sold it. At the top left of the envelope there is a good strike of the black framed PENNY POST local handstamp. The revers bears a black circular datestemp reading MAURITIUS POST OFFICE / SE 27 1847.