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

Small shield 1 gr. carmine, two single values in mixed franking of the same value with large shield 1 gr. carmine in horizontal strip of four, all fresh colours and perfect (the strip slightly separated), with blue pen cancellation on envelope with reverse official seal of the German Consulate in Caracas to Hamburg with "AUS WESTINDIEN ÜBER KÖLN P. BREMER DAMPFER 17/5" neatly applied on reverse and arrival datestamp of the next day. Advance franking of sea postage to Germany with Venezuelan postal matter was not permitted; in order to save addressees in Germany a surcharge fee, German postage stamps were kept in stock at the German consulate for such purposes. The letter was carried from St Thomas on the North German Lloyd steamer 'Kronprinz Wilhelm' and is correctly franked in accordance with the 1871 rate. Letters franked with German stamps (postage stamp) from overseas are extremely scarce, and no other piece with the franking combination shown here is known. A unique piece of breast plate philately that is also remarkable in terms of postal history. Detailed certificate Krug BPP (2000)
Provenance: Georg Mehrtens