1866, Envelope bearing a BLOCK OF FOUR (!) of Victoria 10 d. lilac-brown on rose paper (stamps upper side transport faults, letter with some crinkles) tied by duplex "MELBOURNE SE 10 70" adressed to London, GB (arrival 31.12.70) with alongside m/s "via Marseille", in reason of demolition the railway-bridge of Oise at 15.9.70 by the German army during the 1870/71 German-France-War, the route was changed via Brindisi with a higher postal rate of 3 d. per ½ oz, so the General Post Office in London confect a boxed handstamp "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID FOR BRINDISI ROUTE DEFICIENT POSTAGE" (without tax-denomination, here m/s "1/"= 1 Shilling) for all letters to England, totally ca. 20 letters by the montly ship-departure between 11. September and 11. November with this cancel known, but ONLY TWO LETTERS KNOWN WITH A BLOCK OF FOUR !!, cert. Van der Linden AIEP (2010) (Image)

1866, Envelope bearing a Victoria 10 d. lilac-brown on rose paper tied by duplex "SALE NO 4 70 =72=" adressed to Manchester, GB (arrival 26.12.70) with alongside m/s "via Marseille", in reason of demolition the railway-bridge of Oise at 15.9.70 by the German army during the 1870/71 German-France-War, the route was changed via Brindisi with a higher postal rate of 3 d. per ½ oz, so the General Post Office in London confect a boxed handstamp "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID FOR BRINDISI ROUTE DEFICIENT POSTAGE d" 3" for all letters to England, stamp in superb condition, cover with minimal corner faults, totally ca. 20 letters by the montly ship-departure between 11. September and 11. November with this cancel known, a very scarce and rare exhibition-item! (Image)

Design 1906 International Reply Coupon as block of four 3 d Victoria. This block of International Reply Coupons belong to the scarcest postal stationery and is a key item of any exhibition collection. The importance and real value is still very much underestimated - highlight of every postal stationery or country collection. This offer comes from the collection king fuad - this block of four is probably unique in private hands (T) (Image)