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Lot# 1372 - Auction 234-243

  • Lot# : 1372 Italy

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    1867/68: Correspondence of 7 pages between De La Rue in London and the Officina Delle Carta Valori in Turin, Italy with letter dated October 7, 1867 headed ‘Italian Inks’, listing ‘25 lbs. Brown ink, same as for Italian Trenta Centesimi Postage / 10 lbs. Brown Ink same as for Due Centesimi / 25 lbs Green ink sam as for 4 Annas Indian Postage / 10 lbs. Maroon Specimen same as One Rupee / 6 gross screws’ with De La Rue 3d. Experimental ‘King of Portugal’ imperforate Essays used to demonstrate the four listed colours and as utilised for the ‘Torino Tiratura’, all despatched by De La Rue per Steamer ’Alexandra’ for Genova with an invoice. Attached to the letter is a De La Rue Die Proof on glazed white card for the 1 Lire 35 c. Stamp Duty ‘Marca Da Bollo’ to indicate the exact shade of maroon ink.rnSecond page with letter from Turin dated March 20, 1868 addressed to Colonel Thos. De La Rue ‘I thank you for the trouble you have taken to write to Russia for the price of the machine….I have sent to Florence the specimen of coloured paper…I enclose you a Specimen of  the engraving that are being made in the Officina for the Tobacco wrapper.’rnThird and fourth page with letter from Turin dated April 23, 1868 to Thos. De La Rue ‘I accept with thankfulness your kind offer to replace with fresh made ink, the supply of last year. In consequence I ordered the whole lot of 15 cans to be packed in one case which has been sent yesterday to Mr. Ratti agent in Turin of the Globe Parcel Express to be forwarded to you by Steamer via Genoa. Some two or three lbs. (pounds) of ink have been taken out of the cans by Mr. Camucci in order to try it. You will find in the same case a small tin box filled with ink from the first supply, which Mr. Camucci finds very good. As we have only one can left of it, it would / be a great service to the Officina if you could send some two or three cans of fresh ink…’ and signed G. Berrati.rnPage from Turin dated April 29, 1868 to Thos. De La Rue ‘The Contract draft is all correct but an article is missing … I have replaced as follows ’10 lbs. Printing ink brown for Affari Esteri’ at the base of the page is part of said stamp together with a further De La Rue 3d. Experimental ‘King of Portugal’ imperforate Essay for the shade to be sent.rnThere follows the complete invoice for the inks ‘60 lbs. Printing ink for the Centesimi Due Postage / 20 lbs. Printing ink for the Centesimi 10 Postage / 60 lbs. Printing ink for the Centesimi 20 Postage / 10 lbs. Printing ink for the Centesimi 60 Postage / 10 lbs. Printing ink Green (Four Annas India Postage) / 10 lbs. Maroon’ together with Drying varnish, 18 oval brushes for gumming, 2000 steel points for the perforating machine, 20 copper plates for the Electrotyping, 4 cast Steel Dies wrought to size, 10 lbs. Printing ink Brown for the Affari Esteri’ with De La Rue 3d. Experimental ‘King of Portugal’ imperforate Essays (6) at base in the colours of the Turin printing 2 c., 10 c., 1867 20 c., 60 c., 1 c. etc., all labelled in margin at base.rnLastly, a further piece of paper dated June 6, 1868 headed ‘Italian Government’ with a further order again with four 3d. Experimental ‘King of Portugal’ imperforate Essays to indicate the colours required by Italy.rnA wonderful group and fascinating insight into the change over from London to the Turin printing and a unique and splendid insight to both De La Rue and their use of the 3d. Experimental ‘King of Portugal’ imperforate Essays with no less than 15 examples within the correspondence.rn Provenance: RL, Basel, 23 Oct 1979, lot 231.rnrn 
    Starting bid : 10,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold