Lot# 4138 - 177-180 Auction

1844 (March 29): Entire letter written from Hamburg to Rio Grande, carried privately to London, there prepaid "2/9 d." in manuscript at upper left and struck with London Tombstone datestamp in red (April 1) on obverse. Reverse with "London / F.B.O." (Foreign Branch Office) datestamp of April 3 in black, and mailed on to Rio de Janeiro per ship "Express" with British Post Office arrival datestamp (May 16) in black also on front. Forwarded from Rio de Janeiro with manuscript "Forwarded by C. Coleman & Co." who applied the adhesives - a horizontal pair of 1843 Early Worn Impression 60 reis grey, close to ample magins all round neatly tied by "Correio Geral Da Corte" datestamp (May 30) in black. Docketing of receipt inside (August 6). A magnificent Bulls Eye usage on incoming letter that opens well for Exhibit display. Unique. For accuracy only: horizontal filing fold  in lettersheet showing some reinforcment with hinges. Cert. Holcombe (1988), Moorhouse (2013).Provenance: Collection Koester (July 1988), lot 228.