Cape of Good Hope Combination Cover to Holland: 1865 (9 Jan.)
Cover to Holland: 1865 (9 Jan.) single rate buff envelope from Grahamstown to Amsterdam bearing 1d deep carmine red with just clear to large margins in combination with 1864-77 1s green
both lightly cancelled by barred oval “3” handstamps, large magenta manuscript “1/-“ in center (credit to U.K.), 1d credit to the Cape with 2 Dutch cents (manuscript “2”) postage due from recipient, backstamped Grahamstown JA 9, 1865, Cape Town and London transits with Amsterdam receiver of 17 March 1865, envelope with part of back flap missing and trivial imperfections on front though an attractive and important combination issue franking. (SG 18, 26a) Ex “Franschhoek.” Est. Cash Val $5,000 – 7,500 Since no rectangular adhesives were delivered to the Eastern Province before January 1865, this represents the earliest known usage of the 1s in the Eastern Province.
Cost “Franschhoek” (2012) #327 ₤1,800 = $2,826 (@1.57) = $3,246 (2021)