364 / März 2017

"1 Rdr. 10sk." Postage due charge mark. Attractive strike on unpaid double rate letter without contents sent from Sassari (Sardinia) January 31st 1858 via Ajaccio (Corsika) "SARDAIGNE 2 FEVR.58", Marseille, Paris, Hamburg, Helsingborg to Carlskrona, Sweden. Transit cancels (selection) on reverse: "PARIS 5 FEVR. 58 60 3",  "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 5 FEVR. 58 A 4" and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 7 2 1858". Only five letters are known to exist with the 1 Rds. 10sk. charge mark.

"1 Rdr. 20 sk." Postage due charge mark on partly unpaid double rate letter with contents from "Consulate of Sweden and Norway for the Philippine Islands" with nice letterhead dated Manila April 15th 1856 and sent via Hong Kong, Marseille, Paris and Ystad to Stockholm. Sent with private ship to Hong Kong and cancelled red crowned "PAID AT HONG KONG". Transit on reverse: "MARSEILLE A PARIS 28 JUIL 56", PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 29 JUIL 56 A (and separate cancel B, dated 30 JUIL). "PARIS 30 JUIL 56" with YSTAD 4.8.1856 square-cancel on front.

"1 Rdr. 20 sk." Distinct Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate cover without contents (opened out for display). Sent from Malta November 30 1856, via Paris, Hamburg and Helsingborg to Carlskrona. Endorsed with red crayon "1 Rd 20 S" all over the front. Transit on reverse: "MALTA NO 30 1856", PARIS 8 DEC. 56 (60) and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 10 12 1856".

"1 Rdr." + "24 Sk." Postage due charge marks on unpaid triple rate folded letter with contents from Boulogne-Sur-Mer (France) August 5th 1857 sent via Calais, Paris, Hamburg and Stockholm to Neder-Kalix. Transit cancels on reverse: "CALAIS A PARIS 6 AOUT. 57", PARIS 6 AOUT. 57", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 6 AOUT. 57", "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 9 8 1857" and "STOCKHOLM 14 AUG 57". Handstamps existed only for single and double rates therefore the postmaster had to improvise and made a combination of the cancels for 1 Rdr. and for 24 Sk. Only three letters are known with this combination of charge marks.

"3 Rdr. 26 Sk." Postage due charge mark on unpaid fivefold rate cover without contents sent from Constantinopel (Turkey) September 29th 1858 via Marseille, Paris, Hamburg and Helsingborg to Wenersborg. The Postmaster wrongly calculated the postage as 2 Rdr 24 Sk and as no handstamp was available for such a high amount he used the handstamp for 1 Rdr. 24 Sk and filled in a "2" in manuscript in front of the cancel, but he noticed his mistake and crossed it over. The correct due was 3 Rdr. 26 Sk. No handstamp was available for this amount either, so he improvised once more and partly used a handstamp and partly handwrote the correct postage due. Transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLE XY OCT. 58", "MARSEILLE A LYON 6 OCT. 58 D", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 7 OCT. 58" and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 9 10 1858".  Very high postage due charge mark for a letter from abroad.

"36 S Bco" Postage due charge mark on unpaid cover without contents sent from Dehree (India) August 16th 1858 to Carlskrona. The postmaster first stamped the cover "24 Sk" then changed it to the correct "36 S Bco" which was struck twice. The Postmaster in Carlskrona converted the 36 sk to 1 Rd 8 öre and marked this in red crayon on the letter. Also boxed "UNPAID INDIA" on front. Transit cancels on reverse: "GPO 19 AU 1858 XYZ", "MARSEILLE A PARIS 1 OCT. 58 B", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 2 OCT. 58 D" and "YSTAD 8 10 1858". Sent from a seamen in the Indian Navy, his commanding officer signed the envelope in an unsuccesful attempt to reduce the postage for private letters. The cover is slightly affected by humidity (as one would expect) on the right side. Only three covers are known with this Postage due charge mark.

"1 Rdr. 24 s Bco" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate folded letter with printed contents from Adelaide (South Australia) January 11th 1858 (Blue cancel on front) and sent via Suez, Marseille, Paris, Hamburg to Gothenburg. Transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLE A PARIS 7 MARS 58", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 8 MARS 58", "PARIS 8 MARS 58 (60)", and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 11 3 1858". Also red "AUSTRALIE V.SUEZ 7 MARS 58" on front. Originally affixed with postage stamps, but the stamps have fallen off. This prepayment has not been taken into account when charging the postage due as prepayment was not accepted. Only two letters are known with this postage due marking.

"29 Sk." Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter without contents from Genova (Sardinian Kingdom) March 11th 1857 to Stockholm. Sent from the Swedish and Norwegian Consulate as shown by cancel on reverse, also transit marks on reverse: "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 18 3 1857". The letter is cut open on both sides.

"34 Sk" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents from Malta December 1st 1858 to Stockholm and then readdressed to Nyköping. Transit cancels on reverse: "MALTA DEC XY 58", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 10 DEC 58 A", "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 12 12 1858" as well as manuscript notation "Forwarded by ..." on backflap. The monetary change from Skillings to öre was introduced on july 1st 1858, new handstamps took some time to be delivered and Postmasters therefore continued to use the old ones. This postage due charge mark, struck on december 10th, is the latest one recorded.

"72" Postage due charge mark on insufficiently prepaid folded letter with contents from Angers (France) December 8th 1866 and sent to Stockholm. Stamped with 20 centimes and marked with red boxed "Affranchissement Insuffisant". Transit cancels on reverse: "ANGERS A PARIS 8 DEC. 66", "PARIS 9 DEC. 66 (60)" and "SÖDRA ST. BANAN 12 12 1866".

"87" Postage due charge mark, used by mistake on a partly prepaid single rate folded letter with contents sent from Barcelona May 6th via Paris to Stockholm. The postmaster noticed his mistake crossed out the 87 mark and added the correct "72". Transit cancels on reverse: "ESPANA LA JUNQUERA 7 MAY 62", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN XY MAI 62" and "HAMBURG K.S.P.A (D.) 12/5. 1862". Slight archival fold across the charge marks.

"87" Postage due charge mark on partly prepaid folded letter with contents postmarked Rome (Papal States) May 24th 1862 and sent to Stockholm. Transit cancel red Marseilles on front. Letters entering Italy from the Papal states were treated as unpaid letters. The postage from the Papal states via France was 102 öre. This letter had originally an adhesive that has later disappeared from the bottom right-hand corner, this missing stamp corresponded to 15 öre, the remaining postage was 87 öre. Four letters are known to exist with this type of "87" charge mark.

"87" Postage due charge mark in different type on insufficiently prepaid folded letter without contents, Postmarked Lisboa March 26th 1867 and sent to Söderhamn. Transit cancel on reverse: "SÖDRA ST. BANAN 2 4 1867". The "8" in "87" in this charge mark (struck in Paris) is different from the usual mark, and is known to exist on three letters only, all originating from Portugal.

"102" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents from Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) March 25th 1861 and sent to Stockholm. Sent with French packet ship "Navarre" as marked on letter, also red "BRESIL 2 BORDEAUX 20 AVRIL 61" on front and transit cancel on reverse: "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 20 AVRIL 61".

"102" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter without contents postmarked Palermo (Kingdom of the two Sicilies) May 21st 1859 and sent to Stockholm. Attractive with blue octagonal cancel "D. SICILIES S.E. (Service Etranger) Marseille May 27th 1859" on front and transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLES A PARIS 27 MAI 59" and "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 29 MAI 1859" as well as black cachet cancel from the Swedish and Norwegian Consulate in Palermo.

"108" Postage due charge mark on insufficiently prepaid Mourning cover on flimsy paper postmarked "CALCUTTA INDIA UNPAID April 20th 1864" and sent via Suez, Marseille, Paris and Jönköping to Hernösand. Attractive appearance with three-colour franking and boxed red "INDIA PAID" crossed out, also GB accountancy mark "1 F 62 4/10 C" struck in Calcutta. Several transit cancels on reverse: "PARIS 22 MAI 64", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 22 MAI 64" and Boxed "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 4/5. 1864" + several others illegible.

"108" Postage due charge mark on folded letter with contents postmarked "ROME 24 FEB 60" (Papal States), prepaid only to the Italian border and sent via Berlin and Hamburg to Stockholm. Transit cancels on reverse: "BERLIN.." illegible text, "HAMBURG 2/3 7-8 M", HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 2/3 1860". The Italian  postage was 2 sgr., which, together with the Swiss and German-Austrian Postal Union fee, added up to 7 Sgr = 63 öre + 45 öre from Hamburg to Stockholm to be paid by the addressee.

"144" Postage due charge mark on partly prepaid double rate folded letter without contents, Postmarked "LISBOA 7 - 7 1860" and sent via Paris and Hamburg to Stockholm. Transit cancels on reverse: "LISBOA 8.7", "BADAJOZ 10. XY", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 1o JUIL. 60" and "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 19/7. 1860". Prepaid with 2x 25 Reis to the Spanish/French border where it could be sent unpaid to Sweden. By mistake the Postmaster first struck "72" corresponding to the single rate, cancelled it and struck the correct mark "144".

"174" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate cover without contents sent from Nizza (Sardinian Kingdom) January 21st 1859 via "HELSINGBORG 28.1.1859" to Ystad. Transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLE A PARIS 22 JAN. 59", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 23 JAN. 59" and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 25 1 1859". Attractive strike on small cover.

"204" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate cover (opened up for display, backflap missing and repaired on right-hand side), Postmarked "TUNIS-PAR-BONE ALGERIE 8 JANV 60" and sent via Hamburg and Helsingborg to Gefle. Transit cancels on reverse: two illegible and "K.S.P.A. (D.) 16/1. 1860" (without Hamburg) The correct rate was 216 öre, a few covers inexplicably stamped "204" are known. Attractive yellow cover despite repairs.

"204" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate folded letter with contents postmarked Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) December 24 1863 and sent via France to Stockholm. The letter was sent with ship "Estramadure" as noted on front, which left Rio on December 24th 1863 and arrived in Bordeaux January 17th 1864. Transit cancels on reverse: "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN B 18 JAN. 64", Boxed "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 20/1.1864" and "STOCKHOLM 6.TUR 20/4. For some reason the Postmaster struck the charge mark "204" instead of the correct "232", a few letters thus handled are known.

"216" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate folded letter with contents postmarked Samarang (Netherlands Indies) May 10th 1867 and sent via Suez and Paris to Örebro. Legible transit cancels on reverse: "PARIS 2X JUIN 67" and "SÖDRA ST. STAMBANAN 30 6 1867".

"216" Postage due charge mark on Insufficiently prepaid triple rate folded letter without contents postmarked Paris January 20th 1868 and sent to Nora with transit cancel "SÖDRA ST. BANAN 23/1 1868" on reverse. The letter has the endorsement "15 gram vers" in red crayon and was franked accordingly as a double rate letter i.e 200 ctms (10x 20 centimes blue Napoleon perforated, some faults) for maximum 15 grams. However, when checked, the weight was apparently more than 15 grams and the postmaster stamped "3" indicating triple rate, and "AFFR. INSUFF. P.14" in red.

"232" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate folded letter with contents postmarked Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) April 22nd 1865 and sent via Bordeaux and Paris to Gamleby. The letter was sent via ship "Estramadure" (Ligne du Brésil) per notation on front, which left Rio April 4th and arrived Bordeaux May 19th 1865. Transit cancel "SÖDRA ST. BANAN 23 5 1865" on reverse.

"232" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate folded letter with contents from Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) April 22nd 1865 via Bordeaux and Paris to Gothenburg. Transit cancel "SÖDRA ST. BANAN 23 5 1865" on reverse. The postmaster first by mistake struck "116", corresponding to the single rate, but noticed the mistake and corrected it by striking "232" twice (once on top of "116"). Light archival fold.

"25" Postage due charge mark (struck in Helsingborg) on unpaid folded letter with contents from Copenhagen November 1st 1865 via Helsingborg to Falkenberg. The marking is 12 mm high of a different design then the cancel used in Stockholm. Only three letters are known with the Helsingborg "25" charge mark.

"25" Postage due charge mark (struck in Stockholm) on unpaid folded letter with contents sent from Copenhagen June 5th 1866 to Stockholm. According to the Danish/Swedish convention valid from October 1st 1865, the prepaid single rate was 17 öre but it was 25 öre when charged to the addressee. Also straight line cancel "OBETALDT." (Unpaid) on front. Transit cancels on reverse: "KJÖBENHAVN 5.6.1866" and "STOCKHOLM 1 TUR 8/6".

"20." Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter without contents postmarked Bergen (Norway) February 22nd 1866 and sent to Stockholm. According to the Postal agreement between Sweden and Norway valid from October 1 st 1865, the prepaid single rate was 20 öre and it was the same when charged to the addressee. Only two letters are known with this postage due mark.

"35" Postage due charge mark on unpaid small cover without contents sent from Finland July 31st 1868 to Stockholm and later readdressed to Tromsö (Norway). According to the Russian/Swedish convention in force from July 1st 1868 the prepaid single rate in Sweden was 28 öre, but it was 35 öre when charged to the addressee. This is one of a very few postage due covers known to have been readdressed to another country.

"36" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents sent from Copenhagen November 14th 1864 to Stockholm. Transit cancels on reverse: "KJÖBENHAVN 14.11" and "STOCKHOLM 1 1 17 11 1.TUR". This letter was sent according to the conditions in the Danish/Swedish convention in force from July 1st 1852. It stipulated a rate of 5 Schilling Courant, prepaid as well as unpaid. This was equal to 36 öre in Sweden.

"112" Postage due charge mark on small unpaid double rate cover without contents postmarked Paris May 7th 1870 and sent to Trollhättan. Transit railway cancel "PKXP. No 2. 10 5 1870" on reverse.

"56" Postage due charge mark on small unpaid folded letter with contents postmarked Paris July 2nd 1874 and sent to Stockholm. The charge mark was struck at a date when the postage due adhesives were already in use. The Stockholm Post office affixed 6 + 50 öre, totalling 56 öre, when the letter arrived at this post office. They were then cancelled July 5th 1874 when the letter was picked up. The combination of a handstruck charge mark and postage due adhesives is very rare.

"99" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter without contents sent from Newcastle on Tyne (UK) August 9th 1865 via Quayside/London and Aachen to Stockholm. Transit cancels on reverse: "BI LONDON AU 10 6X 2" and "Aus ENGLAND Per AACHEN 11 8". Calculation of postage rates enclosed.

"17 öre" Postage due charge mark (type 1, struck in Helsingborg) on unpaid folded letter with contents dated Copenhagen December 13th 1865 and sent to Helsingborg. Transit cancels on reverse are illegible. This is the earliest known "17 öre" postage due mark, it is unique in shape and the only example of type 1, known to exist.

"17 öre" Postage due charge mark (type 2, struck in Helsingborg) on unpaid folded letter (missing half of the reverse side and cut open on the sides) posted in Copenhagen December 12th (unknown year 1865/66/67) and sent from there on December 13th to Helsingborg. Transit cancels on reverse: "229 with three rings", "N.S.J. J.B. P.B. 13.12 1 TOG".

"25 öre" + "17 öre" Postage due charge marks on unpaid folded letter with contents dated Copenhagen December 31st 1866 and sent to Halmstad. The "17 öre" charge mark (Nearby rate) was struck by mistake, when noticed the correct "25 öre" was struck. This letter is the only known with this combination of postage due charge marks.