1d Dark Slate Blue, blue Callao cancel with matching ENE 17, 1859 cds, thus making it possibly the EARLIEST KNOWN USE of this stamp on cover, carried by the 11 AM train to Lima, docketing confirms date, very fine Note: Moll (1999 edition) states this stamp exists used from late 1858 (a strip of 3 with Callao cds of Dec. 13, 1858). Our check of several auctions shows no other use this early on cover Estimate: € 2’000 – € 3’000 (Image)

1d Blue, rejoined block of 6 (from 2 strips of 3), PIURA s/l cancels (L+R fig. 1), one of the larger multiples extant for this stamp, which has not yet been completely plated, tiny faults as can be expected, fine and important showpiece (Image)

1d Blue, exhibit page showing four markedly diff. shades, plus 5 singles and three pairs (one vert.) with many showing transfer types, several blue and one red cancel, a great foundation for study or exhibit, very fine overall (12 items = 15 stamps) (Image)

1d Slate Blue, two vert. pairs, each with sheet margin at right, tied by blue Arequipa cancels (L+R fig. 24) to cover to Lima docketed March 20, 1859 and showing bold VAPOR hs front and back used at Arequipa (Colareta 7v), a splendid showpiece, very fine (Image)

1d Light Blue, two examples tied by scarcer ARICA VAPOR cds of 21 AGOST 59 to cover to Lima, large to huge margins incl. portion of another stamp, fresh and very fine, 1995 cert. PF (Image)

1d Slate Blue pair, nice margins, tied by scarce POMOBAMBA cancel (L+R fig. 24, rarity 30!)) to cover to Chorrillos via Lima (AB 26 / 60 cds), single letter rate for over 25 leguas en route to Lima, very fine (Image)

1d Blue, two covers, single franking with very worn impression used Lima to Chorrillos in March 1859, plus pair (possibly “bridging” two transfer blocks) used from Lima to Arequipa in August 1859, each showing “normal” single rate for the distances involved, fine, latter signed Julliard (2) (Image)

EARLIEST KNOWN DATE OF USE: October 28, 1858 1p Red, die type II, tied by Lima 1-2-3 dots and ovals cancel to cover with docketing showing it was written (and mailed) on 28 October 1858 and carried to Arequipa on the southbound steamer from Callao of that date. An important “earliest known” usage, though a few others of the same date are also recorded. Faint toning, very fine Estimate: € 2’000 – € 3’000 (Image)

1p Vermilion to Rose shades, exhibit page with 8 stamps demonstrating a range of shades and presenting the two distinct DIE VARIETIES used to create at least two printing stones, cancels incl. red and blue, s/l LIM(A), LAMBAYEQUE, etc. (mostly L+R fig. 24), plus two attractive single franking covers (from Callao to Lima and Lima to Arequipa), great foundation for further study of this issue, examine, mostly very fine (Est. € 320/460) (Image)

1p Red, die I, reconstructed transfer block of 10, some better cancels, difficult to accomplish, nearly all very fine (Scott $650+) (Image)

1p Red, die I, vert. strip of 4, transfer types 6/1/6/1 showing different spacing between rows, Lima dotted + oval cancels (L+R fig. 37), very fine (couple trivial flaws as usual) (Image)

1d Rose, worn impression pair, die I, with CERTIFICACION hs in dotted oval (L+R fig. 85), very fine showpiece (Image)

TO SPAIN VIA BRITISH P.O., 1p Vermilion, die II, tied by Lima 1-2 cancel to cplt. folded letter datelined September 12, 1859, as shown in small Lima cds, sent via British P.O. at Callao (bs SP 12 1859), with London transit (Oct. 18, 1859) and bs at Bilbao 24 OCT 59, postage paid to destination at the British P.O. (2s 6d) indicated in red ms, with 2d credited to Spain, plus circular “PD” hs, attractive showpiece, very fine (Image)

Two 1p Vermilion, each die II, on official Superior Court cover with ms note on reverse stating postage had to be paid by a named party and dated 22 Nov. 1859, sent from Chachapoyas (L+R fig. 24 cancels) to Trujillo, scarce double rate letter over a distance greater than 25 leguas, fine and scarce showpiece (Image)

MAIL TO BOLIVIA, 1p Vermilion, worn impression, tied by Tacna cds to folded letter datelined March 17, 1859 and sent to Cochabamba. The stamp paid the postage to the border, and the further Bolivian charge is shown as “1 1/2” (reales) in ms, very attractive, fine (Image)

1p Vermilion and 1p Dark Rose, one each Die I or II, each used as single franking on cover from Arequipa (Dec.6, 1858) or Iquique (Nov. 4, 1859) to Lima, very fine, ex La Chambre correspondence (Image)