EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF A LECOQ ISSUE Pair of 1d Red showing paper join on right stamp, tied by Lima grid to cover docketed as originating at Islas de Chincha on Dec. 26, 1862, with Lima bs of Dec. 27, superb strike of ISLAS dotted oval (L+R fig. 24), on face of cover, a very fine and UNIQUE showpiece (Image)

Proofs in black on white paper for the 1d and 1p values, also extra 1p proof on light bluish paper, last with slight thin else scarce and very fine (Image)

Exhibit page introducing the Lecoq issues with mint (og) examples of the six diff. stamps, very fine overall (Scott $478.50) (Image)

1862 1d Red, the first Lecoq machine issue, 3 exhibit pages showing black proof, unused strip of four (demonstrating paper advance “pin holes”), paper varieties (thick, thin and pelure as well as diff. widths), colour variations, paper joins incl. one in strip of 4, and used strips of 5 & 6, also 2 examples of the “Arms Sideways” error, an excellent start for this value, examine, fine to very fine (Image)

1d Light Red, strip of 8 on thin paper with light Cuzco 9 FEB 66 cds, minor creasing in two creases between stamps, nice embossing and colour, very fine overall (Image)

1d Red, strip of 7 with Chachapoyas 13 ENE 66 cds and two strikes of oval-end framed CERTIFICACION hs, plus 5-leaf star at each end (rather scarce on stamps), on small fragment, two creases between stamps, nice embossing and colour, very fine overall (Image)

1d Wine Red, strip of 6 with Cuzco 9 AGO 67 cds, couple folds between stamps, a magnificent strip with deep embossing and superb colour, very fine (Image)

1d Light Red, strip of 6 with Lima 29 MAR 64 cds, minor creases and wrinkles, a nice strip, appears very fine (Image)

1d Red strip of 6 with Huancavelica dotted cancels (L+R fig. 24) in BLUE, tied to registered cover to Lima (cds and docketing of receipt on back (April 26, 1867) by blue cds and showing fancy blue stars in corners and at top & bottom centre, CERTIFICACION also in blue (L+R fig. 76 and 89, the latter rarity 80!), couple stamp faults, overall very fine and rare showpiece showing rate of 1d postage + 5d registration (Image)

1d Pale Red with LIMA/M cds (13 SET 64) used on folded letter to Genova, ITALY, endorsed “Via de Inglaterra” and showing British P.O. A/CALLAO CDS (same day), Hexagonal GB / 2F 87 5/10c hs and ANGL / AMB CALAIS exchange office cds (14 OCT 64), REVERSE HAS RED London bs and red Genova bs, rated “2” (double weight) and “28” (diecimi) = 2.80L due from addressee, a wonderful showpiece showing handling by four different postal entities, very fine (Image)

1d Pale Red tied by Lima cds to 28 July 1863 folded letter to NEW YORK, oval double-lined boxed “FRANCO” indicating payment for British carriage via Panama had been made in cash (the equivalent of 6d) at the Lima P.O., with “STEAMSHIP / 10” hs showing USA postage due for internal postage, an important showpiece demonstrating this expedient prior to the permitted use of GB stamps from Peru, very fine (Image)

Early Use of January 1863 Tariff, 1d Red single tied by Lima cds to cover to Huaraz with the cds showing 18 ENE 63 date. Only a few days earlier, the same cover would have been franked by a pair. Very fine and important postal history showpiece (Image)

Pair of 1d Dark Red tied by Lima/M cds (5 ENE 66) to cplt. folded letter to Cobija, BOLIVIA, during the short period from Oct. 1865 to the end of February 1866 when the rate for a single weight letter was 20 centavos (2 dineros). Cover shows Lima diamond grid hs as well. Important postal history item, very fine (Image)

1d Red pair tied by 26 June 1867 Lima cds (L+R fig. 120) paying the postal convention rate to Valparaiso, CHILE, endorsed “por vapor” so no further charges levied, pair with large margins, very fine Note: this cover is from the end of the normal usage period of the 1d Red first Lecoq issue; the final delivery was in May 1867, and it was replaced by the ABNC issues which arrived in July 1867 (Image)

1d Red with blue Tacna cds of 3 MAR (month inverted) 1867 to folded letter to Cochabamba, BOLIVIA, with oval comm’l cachet, very fine Note: by this date, a Bolivia-Peru convention made it possible to use a franking at the basic inland rate to pay for letters to their final destination in the corresponding country – a convention adopted in principle for other countries in the region as well (Image)

1d Deep Red, two strips of 3 tied by Pasco cds (21 DIC 64) to fragment of registered cover, full docketing of receipt (at Lima) dated Dec. 24, very fine and attractive (Image)

So-called “Arms sideways” error of the 1d Red, actually caused by the frame die being sideways in the Lecoq machine, used strip of four with ms cancels (fiscal usage?) proving this, fresh and fine, each stamp signed J. Caceres P. (Scott $600++) Note: matching ms cancels are known on strips from the Eitner and Jaretzky collections (Image)

So-called “Arms sideways” error of the 1d Red, attractive single with Iquique dotted oval cancel (L+R fig. 24), plus another with Arica cds (Jan. 1865), fine (Scott $300) (Image)

So-called “Arms sideways” error of the 1d Red, single tied by light Tacna cds to folded letter datelined Dec. 14, 1865, sent to Arequipa, the error rather scarce on cover, fine (Image)

FIRST DAY OF 5c REDUCED RATE FOR MAIL BY TRAIN 1d Red bisect tied to cover by January 1, 1866 Callao cds, sent to Lima with superb strike Lima 3rd Distribution boxed hs, bs same day, attractive “carte de visite” size envelope (tears), bit soiled or toned else very fine (Scott $350++) Note: the bisect was necessary and accepted for mail which was carried by train between Lima, Callao and Chorrillos at the reduced 5c rate (1d = 10c) beginning Jan. 1, 1866 until the 5c American Banknote issue became available in June 1866 (Image)

1d Red bisect, large margins, tied to cover by May 31, 1866 Lima cds (month inverted), sent to Callao with two partial strikes of Callao 4th Distribution ovals, attractive, very fine, signed Sigrest (Scott $350) Note: the bisect was necessary and accepted for mail which was carried by train between Lima, Callao and Chorrillos at the reduced 5c rate (1d = 10c) beginning Jan. 1, 1866 until the 5c American Banknote issue became available in June 1866 (Image)

1d Red bisect, large margins, tied to cover by March 18, 1866 Callao cds, sent to Lima with boxed 7th Distribution hs and with same-day Lima bs, cover slightly refolded and stamp has pre-printing paper wrinkle, attractive, fine (Scott $350) (Image)

1p Brown on characteristic thin paper, no gum, couple inclusions else very fine, a greatly undervalued stamp especially unused (Scott $120) (Image)

1p Brown strip of three showing twisted frame cliché, Lima cds, plus singles in Dark Brown and in Yellow Brown (thin spot), a nice lot for exhibition, very fine overall (Image)

1p Brown tied by Lima cds (13 FEB 65) to double-weight cover to Genova, ITALY, via British and French P.O.s, with A/CALLAO bs, red London transit bs and red Genova boxed bs (19 MAR 65), hexagonal GB / 2F 87 5/10 exchange hs and AMB. CALLAIS French receiver on address side as well as Italian ms “42” (diecimi) for Italian triple-weight postage (marked “3” as well), trivial cover erosion due to ink else an important showpiece, very fine (Image)