ILE DES PINS (CONVICT MAIL?) - RARE UNPAID COVER TO U.S.A. W...

Hammer

£220

ILE DES PINS (CONVICT MAIL?) - RARE UNPAID COVER TO U.S.A. WITH BLUE "Due 15" & BLACK "15/CENTS"; 13 Apr. 1878 env. (light toning and slight wear; part top flap lost) from Ile des Pins (PO only opened in June 1876) via Noumea (v. fine 15 Apr. backstamp) to New York with a large part very fine rare 1st-Type dotted 2-ring "N.C. POSTES/ILE DES PINS" cds (very early usage; date inverted) on the front along with v. fine "T" in triangle , a superb blue "Due 15" mark (SF?), and a v. fine black (NY?) "15/CENTS" (NY cds of 27 June on reverse). Attractive and remarkable village cover to America at this early date. Exhibition Item. [Ex Eastgate.]Cross Reference: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS