19 August 1859, entire from Chile to Hong Kong "via Southampton
paid" bearing Chile 1856-62 Chilean Colón 10-cents sky-blue 2x,
cancelled
19 August 1859, entire from Chile to Hong Kong "via Southampton
paid" bearing Chile 1856-62 Chilean Colón 10-cents sky-blue 2x,
cancelled by barred circle obliterator with London transit "PAID 19
OC 1858", and a "6" pink crayon manuscript rate on the front side;
the reverse bearing a "Frederick Huth & Co., London" forwarding
agent mark, together with a 1988 Royal Philatelic Society
certificate. The entire is accompanied by a 1988 Royal Philatelic
Society London certificate confirming authenticity. Mail from South
America to Hong Kong in the 1850s is particularly scarce, and this
example is especially desirable for: The forwarding agent marking,
seldom seen on South American mails. Early usage of Chilean Colón
adhesives on intercontinental mail. A well-preserved and scarce
example of early pre-UPU transcontinental mail, illustrating
forwarding practices and global postal connectivity of the period.
Provenance: Ritchie Bodily.
1859年智利瓦爾帕萊索寄香港,經倫敦轉遞商標記。本件信函寄自智利瓦爾帕萊索(Valparaiso),日期為1859年8月19日,信封正面註明“via
Southampton paid”(經南安普敦郵資已付),貼用1856-62年智利
「哥倫」系列10分淡藍色郵票兩枚料,以橢圓形格線銷印蓋銷。封面有一枚清晰的紅色圓形倫敦過境戰林“PAID/19 OC
1859/Ε.Ε.",確認此信經英國郵輪從南安普敦出口,郵資已全數預付。另以粉紅蠟筆書寫“6”字,表示自倫敦到香港之英國會計補貼費用(accountancy
rate) **.封背蓋有“Frederick Huth & Co.,
London”橢圓轉遞商印記,該公司為19世紀中期極具規模的英德貿易銀行與轉遞商,曾活躍於全球商業郵件網絡。此件附有1988年英國皇家郵學會(RPSL)證書。智利早期經英國中轉寄往中國香港之信函極為罕見,本件尤具以下收藏價值:
蓋有罕見之倫敦轉遞商印記,對研究南美至遠東郵路尤具意義; 使用智利早期「哥倫」郵票貼寄亞洲信函,實例稀少;
本件為一封保存良好的前萬國郵聯時期洲際郵件實例,體現轉遞商制度與19世紀環球郵政聯繫之發展。Ritchie Bodily舊藏。
