£900
RARE BLUE PORT LOUIS "7d/TO PAY" MARK ON INGOING UNDERPAID COVER EX IRELAND; Spectacular 6 June 1866 env. (slight flap faults) from "PARSONSTOWN" (v. fine cds on reverse) to Mauritius "By French Mail Packet from Marseilles" (for which the rate was 10d) but only franked for the 8d rate - with 6d Lilac (pl.5) and 2 1d Reds (all tied by v. fine Parsonstown "371" Irish numerals) and so charged postage due. There is a very fine London "DEFICIENT-POSTAGE [12]/HALF-FINE [3=45]" on the front along with the red London "1d" Accountancy Mark (only 1d credit from GB to Mauritius) and so also having the rare blue Port Louis "7d/TO PAY" on the front. This 7d hs is thought to be one of the three rarest of the Port Louis TO PAY marks. [Ruffle/Pitray only recorded three hs 7d's compared to 156 6d's.] Exceptional and attractive ingoing GB cover; we can only recall having seen one similar underpaid GB cover with this 7d mark, from this same correspondence. [Viz. Cavendish June 2021, lot 1552; realised £1,100+BP.] Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, ACCOUNTANCY MARKS
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