Lot
178 
Ecuador, 1865, 1r buff yellow, left margin vertical pair, showing portion of marginal rule line at left, margins ample to clear, tied by bold sharp "Franca" in dotted lozenge handstamp of Guayaquil on 1873 folded letter to New York City paying the 2r rate up to ¼ oz., with red "New York, Paid All, Oct 19" entry cds on reverse, with letter datelined "Guayaquil, Set 23, 1873", Very Fine, one of the latest, if not the latest usage of the first issue, as the second issue had already been introduced in late August of 1873.Scott No. 4 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF FEWER THAN FIVE FIRST ISSUE COVERS KNOWN TO NORTH AMERICA.
Realized: $4,250