Heinrich Köhler 383rd Auction – Day 3 Single Lots: German Empire 1872 – 1945 German Reichspost – Shield Issues – The Michael Rehme Collection (part II)

Unique - Franco-Defect to a parcel accompanying letter to Portugal: 1872, postal matter form "Franco-Defect" with cipher "METZ BAHNHOF 29.12.72" addressed to Frankfurt am Main, to a parcel accompanying letter from Frankfurt am Main via Metz and Paris to Lisbon, Portugal, with various postman's markings due to the sender's search. The form with a few paper faults, the folds supported on the inside with tape, so far the only registered cover for a travelling mail item with the destination Portugal. The French transport charges from Metz railway station to Paris amounted to 17 1⁄2 groschen, had not been paid, were established in Metz and claimed from the sender in Frankfurt with the note "Theilweise Frankirung bis zur Grenze ist nicht zulässig" and blue tax note "17 1⁄2 (Groschen) Zutaxe" resp. converted "62 x" (Kreuzer). The sender could be identified and the missing postage was collected from the "Jos(eph) Bär" bookshop. In accordance with General Decree No 101 of 30 April 1872, postage had to be paid on items sent to Portugal up to the French-Spanish border, i.e. the German postage had to be paid up to the French border and the postage of the French Eastern Railway Company up to Paris, and a franco label had to be enclosed for the Paris - Hendaye route.