Lot# 4144 - Auction 222-226
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Lot# : 4144 Romania
Berlad Postal Fraud 1859: 40 pa. blue on yellowish paper, a remarkable re-used example with large margins all round, applied to cover to Galatz by glueing the obverse of the stamp to the cover, then the Postmaster (who was later indicted and sacked in November 1859) applied the BERLAD / MOLDOVA datestamp (8/9) in blue (Kiriac fig. 272) largely obscuring the trace of the original usage. Further information strike of the despatch datestamp at right and reverse with 'Galatz / Moldova' cds of receipt (10/9) in blue. Closed spike hole on front panel but an extraordinary and very rare cover, of the five 'Postal Fraud' usages recorded from Berlad, this is the sole example with a single stamp and the only recorded example placed 'face-down' on to the letter-sheet. Illustrated in Handbook I on page 176. Signed Heimbüchler.Starting bid : 5,000 CHFHammer price : 10,500 CHF