RARE BLUE PORT LOUIS "1/4d/TO PAY" MARK ON INGOING UNDERPAID...

Hammer

£650

RARE BLUE PORT LOUIS "1/4d/TO PAY" MARK ON INGOING UNDERPAID COVER EX LONDON; 19 Jan. 1870 env. (some bleaching of blued paper mainly round edges) from London to Mauritius but endorsed "over ½oz" and so liable to the 1s-8d double rate - with scarce 10d Brown (pl.1) tied by a v. fine London SW duplex; there is also a red London ms "2" Accountancy Mark (1d due to Mauritius for each ½oz rate). And so charged "1/1" postage due with a partly fine London "DEFICIENT-POSTAGE [10]/HALF-FINE [3]" on the front (10d deficiency + half the 6d fine); this was converted into a 1s-4d charge in Mauritius (1s-1d + the other half of the 6d fine) and there is a very fine rare blue Port Louis "1/4d/TO PAY" mark also on the front. Spectacular and rare 10d-franked cover. [Illustrated in Ruffle, p.14.] Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY