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Lot# 5064 - Auction 265-273

  • Lot# : 5064 Brasil

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    1865 (Feb 14): Entire letter from São Paulo to Ballyneen, Co. Cork, Ireland endorsed "Pelo paquete France de Bordeuax / Post Paid throughout" franked by 1850 300 r. grey-black tied by dotted lozenge in black with 'S. Paulo' despatch cds at left (Feb 16) and reverse with Rio de Janeiro transit cds (Feb 23). Octagonal French Paquebot datestamp "BRESIL / BEARN" in black (Salles fig. 1009) of February 26. The "Bearn" was wrecked by a storm on the night of February 27 when sailing some 47 miles South of Bahia - in a feat of brilliant seamanship the Captain saved the entire crew and contents of the vessel, journeying south for 1'000 miles of coastline. The rescued mailbags were transferred to the RMSP "Parana" which left Bahia on March 7. Two 'London / Paid' transits in red (April 5), with Cork cds and Ballyneen arrival (April 7) displaying well on reverse. Illustrated in Edition D'Or 59 on page 67. The adhesive creased but a very rare entire: one of just two covers recorded rescued from the Bearn sinking (the other was in the Berkinhaw-Smith collection). A cover of great importance to Maritime Postal History.
    Starting bid : 1,500.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,800.00 CHF