Lot 6060
New Zealand, 1858, Queen Victoria "Chalon Head", 1d dull orange, imperf, unwatermarked, large margins, used with 2d pale blue (9), bottom sheet margin single, and 6d brown (13) top sheet margin single, rich colors, each tied by numeral "18" barred oval, matching "Dunedin, Otago, JQ 21 1862" backstamp on folded letter datelined "Waitangi" to Chertsey, England, endorsed "Via Marseilles", reverse with Chertsey (5.4) and Weybridge (4.15) arrival cds; the 1d with tear and horizontal crease, a Very Fine use, Yeroc, J.M.A. Gregson, January 2000, lot 124John Woolfe, Spink, October 2006, lot 253. Scott No. 7. Campbell Paterson No. A1d.
SG No. 8 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN ATTRACTIVE THREE-COLOR FRANKING PREPAYING THE 9D RATE TO THE UNITED KINGDOM VIA SUEZ AND MARSEILLES.
This cover contradicts the suggestion by Kirk and other authors that the Marseilles mail arrived in that port on April 16th by the P&O "Sultan". As this ship was late arriving at Alexandria, contemporary newspapers show all mail was put on board the "Mooltan" to be trans-shipped at Malta to the Royal Navy vessel HMS "Icarus". This cover is correctly prepaid 9d for a ¼ oz. letter to the United Kingdom via Marseilles, which is a premium of 3d per ¼ ounce over the standard rate via Suez and Southampton.
Realized: $1,900