364 / März 2017

"25 öre" Postage due charge mark on unpaid cover without contents (opened up for display) sent from Lemvig (Denmark) July 7th 1869 via Copenhagen to Lund. Transit cancels on reverse: "JYDSKE TVERB. P.B. 7.7", "KJÖBENHAVN 7.7" and "PKXP. No 2. 8 7 1869". The Postage due mark was struck at the travelling post office PKXP No 2 and is type 1. Five covers are known with this "25 öre" Postage due charge mark.

"25 öre" Postage due charge mark (PKXP. NR7. NED type 1) on unpaid folded letter with contents from Tönsberg (Norway) November 20th 1872 to Gothenburg. Transit cancels on reverse: "CHRISTIANIA OMK. 21.11.1872", "PKXP. NR7. NED. 21 11 1872" and "GÖTEBORG 22.11.1872, 5. TUR".

"30 öre" Postage due charge mark on partly prepaid single rate folded letter with contents sent from Helsinki (Finland) April 27th 1863 to Stockholm. According to Postal convention of 1846 between Russia and Sweden it was possible to pay postage to the border only, the rate was 10 Sk banco (=30 öre) or 10 kopek silver (The cover is franked with 10 kopek Coat of arms m/60). Such letters had to be marked FRANCO or "FRANKO GRÄNSEN" as manuscript notation on front of letter, to distinguish them from unpaid letters. This letter is prepaid to the Swedish border. Four letters are known with this charge mark.

"36 öre" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents dated Copenhagen (Denmark) October 2nd 1858 (Danish Compass cancel) and sent to Carlskrona. Attractive red strike of "36 öre" struck in Helsingborg 4.10.1858 as attested by cancel on front. This letter is probably the earliest known with this charge mark.

"42 öre" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents sent from Hamburg December 17th via Helsingborg to Uddevalla. Attractive RED strike of "42 öre" charge mark struck in Helsingborg. This letter is probably the earliest known with this charge mark.

"45 öre" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents sent from Hamburg April 5th 1868 via Helsingborg to Falkenberg. Only three letters are known with Helsingborgs charge mark of 45 öre.

"90 öre" Postage due charge mark on insufficiently prepaid folded letter without contents sent from Brussels (Belgium) January 12th 1861 via Hamburg to Stockholm. Transit cancels on reverse: "AUS BELGIEN PER AACHEN 12 1 B", "HAMBURG 14/1 9-10" and boxed "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 14 1 1861". From Brussels to Hamburg this letter was conveyed under the conditions stipulated in the convention of 1852 between Belgium and Prussia. For a single letter the rate was 20 centimes = 2 Sgr to Belgium and 3 Sgr to Prussia, in total 5 Sgr. The rate from Hamburg to Sweden was 5 Sgr and the total 10 Sgr = 90 öre. However, as the letter is stamped with boxed "Timbre Insuffisant" (twice) the prepaid 110 centimes (5x 20 cent. + 10 centimes Leopold, Michel 5x 8, 7) for unknown reason only constituted part of the total postage and the addressee had to pay 90 öre to receive his letter. Very attractive and interesting letter.

1874, Insufficiently prepaid letter sent May 20th from Copenhagen to Lindesberg with Danish boxed "Insufficient postage" transit "PKXP.NR 2.UPP. 21.5.1874". The letter was prepaid 4 Danish shilling = 8 öre in Sweden and marked "8" to the left of the stamp. The Danish/Swedish convention of 1873 specified an unpaid rate of 25 öre from which any prepayment was to be deducted. Thus, the postage became 25 - 8 = 17 öre as is also marked on the letter. 5 öre + 12 öre postage due adhesives on reverse cancelled Lindesberg 23.5.1874.

1874, Unpaid letter postmarked Coethen (Germany) June 2nd sent to Hudiksvall. The prepaid single rate from Sweden, in closed mail via Danmark, to Germany was 24 öre but the unpaid rate was 45 öre. Thus franked on reverse with 3x 5 öre + 30 öre adhesives cancelled "HUDIKSVALL 7.6.1874"

1874, Unpaid small cover postmarked Versailles (France) December 29th 1873 and sent to Stockholm. Struck with Postage due charge mark "56" at the travelling post office between Paris and Quievrain. Franked with 6+50 öre postage due adhesives corresponding to 56 öre, cancelled January 2nd 1874 when the addressee received the letter. Certificate HOW (1989) This is the earliest recorded letter with postage due stamps.

1874, Insufficiently prepaid letter sent from Meadow Valley, California (USA) January 13th 1874 via Germany to Bollnäs. Transit cancels on reverse: "NEW YORK GERMAN TRANSIT JAN 29" and "PKXP. NR 2. NED. 12 2 1874". This letter was considered to be prepaid 6 cent only, the 2 cent revenue stamp was apparently rejected. The postage for a direct route letter was 6 cent, but then the letter had to be marked "Direct Service" or "Direct", this letter was not. Instead it was marked on front "Via North German Union Mail" but with unsufficient postage for that route, it should have been 14 cents for an unpaid letter. The convention specified that insufficiently prepaid letters should be dealt with as unpaid but paid postage to be deducted. Thus the letter was 14-6 = 8 cents = 32 öre underpaid. Franked with 12 + 20 öre Postage due adhesives corresponding to 32 öre. A few tears and nicks around the edge of the letter, still attractive.

1875, Insufficiently prepaid triple rate letter sent from Dieppe (France) July 29th 1875 via Paris to Skutskär. The letter is prepaid with 3x 40 centimes Ceres (Michel 3x 35), corresponding to double rate. The total postage due became 168 - 84 = 84 öre. As France did not become a member of the GPU until January 1st 1876 the single rate was 42 öre and not the GPU rate of 20 öre. Franked with 1 + 3 + 4x 20 öre Postage due adhesives corresponding to 84 öre, cancelled August 2nd 1875. Parts of the backflap of the envelope is missing due to rough opening, no damage to stamps. Certificate HOW (1990)

1875, Unpaid small letter dated Horten (Norway) August 23rd 1875 and sent to Stockholm. Struck with postage due charge mark "25 öre" (type 2, PKXP 7 NED). Transit cancels: "BUREAU P....EGIANT CHRISTIANIA 24 8 1875" and "PKXP. No 19. 24 8 1875". Franked with 5+20 öre postage due adhesives corresponding to 25 öre, cancelled August 25th 1875. Norway and Sweden were both members of the GPU from its formation. However, the GPU treaty made it possible to continue with earlier bilateral agreements. Thus the Postal Agreement of November 29th 1873 between Norway and Sweden, which specified an unpaid rate of 25 öre, was still applicable. The combination of a handstruck charge mark and postage due adhesives is very rare.

1876, Unpaid addresscard for three parcels sent from Berlin (Germany) March 14th to Göteborg. The postage due for three parcels was 19,60 kronor paid for by 38x 50 öre and 3x 20 öre adhesive stamps on reverse of card. Transit KOBENHAVN 16/3 and MALMÖ 18/3 before postage due was applied and cancelled "GÖTEBORG PAKET 20.3.1876" (Cancel Postal 2.000 SEK). Attractive addresscard with reverse side full with sometimes overlapping stamps, some slightly damaged at the edges of the card.

1877, Unpaid letter sent from Weymouth (Great Britain) November 14th to Hasslerör. As the Swedish GPU rate to the UK was 20 öre, the postage due in this case became 40 öre. Franked with 2x 20 öre vertical pair on reverse, cancelled "HASSLERÖR 19.11.1877". Transit "C...TLETOWN, DORSET NO 14. 77" and Swedish train cancel "PKXP No 2.UPP. 17.11.1877". The letter is opened up for display. 

1878, Insufficiently prepaid double rate letter postmarked Buenos Aires (Argentina) August 10th 1878 and sent to Stockholm. (Opened up for display) Transit cancels: Red "BORDEAUX REPUB. ARG.. SEPT 78" and Blue "PARIS ETRANGERS *14 SEPT 78". Franked with 1 + 6 + 50 öre Postage due adhesives corresponding to 57 öre, cancelled September 17th 1878 when the addressee received the letter. Argentina became a member of the GPU on April 1st 1878. The 8 centavos adhesive on this letter was marked to correspond to 32 centimes = 23 öre, as the prepaid single GPU rate in Sweden was 40 öre, the postage due became 2x 40 (double prepaid rate) - 23 = 57 öre. Opened rough around the edges and strengthened with an added piece of paper on the inside fold.

1878, Insufficiently prepaid double rate letter sent July 13th from Galva (USA) to Bollnäs. Transit New York July 18th. At this time the GPU rules applies meaning double the missing postage in the receiving country minus any prepayment was to be paid on arrival. 25 centimes was converted to 18 öre in Sweden. As the prepaid single GPU rate in Sweden was 20 öre, the postage due for this double rate letter became 2 x 2 x 20 - 18 = 62 öre, as marked in blue crayon and with 12 öre perf.14 + 50 öre perf. 13 adhesives on reverse cancelled "BOLLNÄS 14.8.1878". 50 öre with small tear and missing perforation at upper right corner. The letter is folded up for display.

1879, Frankozettel (Frankosedel) form no 64 with postage due adhesives on reverse corresponding to 207 öre (2x 1 öre + 5 öre + 2x 1 kr) for a French Tariff parcel sent from Odensviholm January 20th. This form was used when the sender wanted to pay the postage but the postoffice was unable to calculate the correct fee. The fee was calculated afterwards and devided up between Sweden 50 öre, Denmark/Germany 72 öre and Belgium/France 85 öre, this was noted on the form in blue crayon and paid when the form returned to Odensviholm 4.2.1879. According to official postal statistics only three parcels to foreign destinations was mailed from Gamleby/Odensviholm during the whole year of 1879.

1879, Unpaid single rate letter sent July 7th from Sydney (New South Wales) to Lamhult. The letter was conveyed from Sydney by the P & O Steamer  "Avoca" and arrived at Suez on August 14th. Then overland to Alexandria from where it on August 20th was taken by the "Pera" to Brindisi arriving there on August 24th. At Brindisi the letter was handed over to the French postal system at a bulk rate of 1 Franc and 66 centimes per 30 grams and was sent in closed mail to Sweden arriving August 27th when it was moving inland via train PKXP nr 2, 27.8.1879 before arriving at Lamhult. 2x 20 öre Postage due stamps on reverse cancelled Lamhult 29.8.1879. New South Wales did not become a member of the UPU until October 1st 1891. As the letter, after passing France, was delivered to Sweden from that country, which was a UPU member, the postage due for this letter became 40 öre. The letter rate for a single unpaid letter between member countries. The letter is opened up for display. This is the only known letter with postage due stamps from New South Wales.

1880, Partly prepaid quadruple rate letter sent March 2nd from Auckland (New Zealand) to Lamhult. New Zealand did not become a member of the UPU until October 1st 1891. As there are no other marks on this letter than those from New Zealand and Sweden it is not possible to understand by which route is was conveyed. Only the charged postage due on reverse, 160 öre (2x 5 öre perf.14 + 3x 50 öre perf.13), indicates that the letter was treated as a quadruple letter that arrived into Sweden from a country being a member of UPU. Such letters were charged as if the letter originated from the incoming country and accordingly the postage due for this letter became 4 x 40 öre = 160 öre. The letter is roughly handled on the right side and opened up for display.

1881, Prepaid letter with contents, written July 22nd on board a sailing ship and intended to be posted in a Swedish port. However for one reason or another, the letter was posted in Helsingör (Denmark). The value of the 12 öre Swedish stamp was considered null and void and marked with red crayon. Binational agreements not having an effect on a third nation were accepted by the UPU and therefore the Danish/Swedish convention of 1879 was applicable. It stipulated a prepaid rate of 12 öre and an unpaid rate of 25 öre. Franked on reverse with 1 öre + 24 öre adhesives cancelled "STOCKHOLM ANK:A 25.7.1881".

1882, Insufficiently prepaid double rate letter sent October 10th from Chicago (USA) to Norrköping. 5 cents postage with missing postage equivalent to 25 centimes, this not marked in New York but instead they struck a "T" to indicate double rate letter. Postage due calculated according to old GPU rates = 36 öre as franked on reverse side. 2x 3 öre + 30 öre adhesives cancelled "NORRKÖPING 27.10.1882". Attractive item.

1883, Unpaid letter sent Poste Restante to Heidelberg (Germany) where the addressee did not receive it, it was returned to the sender in Stockholm, who in turn refused to pay the due 2x 20 öre (both stamps with faults). The letter was forwarded to the dead letter office and cancelled "K. GENERALPOSTSTYR. REKLAM-KONT. STOCKHOLM 20 OCT 83". Certificate HOW (2008). Unusual usage with dead letter cancel.

1885, Insufficiently prepaid double rate letter sent September 30th from Pueblo (USA) to Åmot. Postage due was double the missing postage = 25 centimes as stamped on the letter. Instead of the actual UPU conversion rate the exchange post office used the old GPU conversion tables based on the commercial rate 1 centimes = 0,72 öre and the postage due became 50 x 0,72 = 36 öre. Thus franked on reverse, 1 + 3 + 12 + 20 öre adhesives cancelled "ÅMOT 22.10.1885". Slightly soiled letter opened up for display.

1885, Unpaid double rate letter woth contents dated Leopoldville December 27th, postmarked Vivi January 21st 1886, sent to Karlstad (arrival cancel 22/3), readdressed to Stockholm arriving the next day. Transit Liverpool british packet march 14th and PKXP No 2 C.UTR.U. Congo became a member of UPU on January 1 st 1886. The single rate from Sweden was 40 öre and the unpaid rate was 60 öre. The postage due in Stockholm was 2x 60 öre=120 öre franked with 1 krona + 20 öre Postage due on reverse. The 1 kr stamps is missing the lower left corner perforation. This letter is the only known letter from Congo with postage due stamps.

1887, Insufficiently prepaid double rate letter dated Saint Louis (USA) September 10th and sent to Rödeby. Prepaid with 3x 2 cents = 6 cents. The single UPU rate was 5 cents, double 10 cents, thus the missing postage was 4 cents=20 centimes as cancelled on letter. The postage due was 40 centimes. Instead of using the actual UPU rate (1 centime=0,8 öre) the Swedish exchange post offices continued to use the old GPU conversion tables (1 centime=0,72 öre) and the postage due became 29 öre as marked with blue crayon.2x 1 öre, 2x 3 öre, 3x 5 öre and 6 öre adhesives on reverse, all cancelled Rödeby 4.10.1887. Attractive advertising cover opened up for display.

1889, Partly prepaid double rate letter sent March 18th from Lynn (USA) via Boston to Stockholm. The letter is prepaid 5 cents, the double UPU rate was 10 cents, the postage due was double the missing postage 2x 25 = 50 centimes. As the exchange offices now used the more current monetary equivalent 1 centime = 0,8 öre, when converting centimes to öre, the postage due became 50 x 0,8 = 40 öre. Postage due adhesives 1 + 3 + 12 + 24 öre on reverse cancelled "STOCKHOLM ANK. A. CK 1.4.1889". The letter is opened up for display.

1889, Partly prepaid lettercard postmarked Paso de Carmen and Buenos Aires (Argentina) December 30th and sent to Lund. The lettercard is prepaid 6 centavos corresponding to 15 centimes, as marked on left side of the stamps. The postage due was double the missing postage = 30 centimes. The monetary equivalent was 1 ctm = 0,8 öre and the postage due became 30 x 0,8 = 24 öre. On reverse side is a vertical pair 2x 12 öre cancelled Lund 5.2.1890.

1889, Insufficiently prepaid mourning letter sent June 25th from Melbourne (Victoria) to Söderköping. Victoria was not yet a member of the UPU when this letter was sent but joined on October 1st 1891. From January 1st 1887 the prepaid, single rate from Sweden to non-member countries was 60 öre and the unpaid rate was 80 öre. For partly prepaid letters the postage due was to be calculated as twice the missing postage. This letter was not marked with the missing postage in centimes, It was therefore charged 80 öre as being an unpaid single letter. With 30 + 50 öre adhesives on reverse neatly cancelled Söderköping 8.8.1889. The backflap has two large tears but are still complete. The only known letter from Victoria with postage due stamps.

1890, Insufficiently prepaid postcard sent October 1st from Hannover (Germany) to Gothenburg. Prepaid only with 5 Pfennig corresponding to 6 1/4 centimes which was incorrectly charged (double the missing postage 2x 6 1/4 = 13 centimes). The Postmaster in Gothenburg corrected the mistake and charged the correct due of 10 öre with a vertical pair 2x 5 öre adhesives.

1890, prepaid postcard sent june 10th from Heligoland (Great Britain) via Hamburg to Carlskrona. Although belonging to Great Britain, Heligoland had joined the NGC already in 1866 and was included in the GPU treaty of 1874. Heligoland became German territory on july 1st, only a few days later than the date of the postcard. As the postcard was posted in Hamburg and not in Heligoland the prepayment (10 Pfennig) was not accepted. Instead the postcard was regarded as an unpaid letter with double the missing postage, 2x 20 öre, to be paid on arrival and cancelled 12.6.1890. Also transit PKXP No 2B INR U. 11.6.1890. Fold in upper left corner of card.

1891, partly prepaid double rate postal stationery postmarked Cleveland, Ohio July 3rd and initially sent to unknown address (possibly in Austria) then forwarded to Trondhjem (Norway), then remailed to Stockholm and from there to St. Petersburg (Russia). Prepaid 2 cent and as the US single rate was 5 cent it means that the double rate, 10-2=8 cents =40 centimes was missing. The postage due was double the missing postage = 80 centimes. In Norway as well as in Sweden the equivalent was 1 centimes = 0,8 öre, the missing postage was 32 öre and the postage due in Norway became 64 ore as shown by adhesives on reverse: 1 ore strip of 4 + 10 + 50 ore also Swedish equivalent of 64 öre (this time for missing postage for forwarded mail from Norway) 1 + 3 + 3x 20 öre, also postage due notations from Russia. Certificate HOW (Swedish stamps only) 3 öre with short corner perforation. Very unusual item with postage due notations from three different countries.

1891, Insufficiently prepaid letter sent from Birmingham (Great Britain) May 22nd to Stockholm. Postal stationery wrapper (intended for printed matter) franked with 1 1/2 d = 15 centimes, but in the U.K. it has been treated as a single rate letter with the UPU rate 25 centimes. It is marked with the missing postage 10 centimes, double the missing postage then became 16 öre, thus franked with adhesives on reverse side 2x 5 öre + 6 öre, cancelled STOCKHOLM 1.6.1891. Attractive item.

1891, Insufficiently prepaid letter sent September 15th from the Falkland Islands to Stockholm. The Falkland Islands became a member of the UPU on January 1st 1879. The paid rate was 4 d on the islands and as the letter was franked with 2 1/2d, the missing postage was 1 1/2 d which corresponded to 15 centimes and should have been marked as "15" to the left of the stamp according to UPU rules. However as the postmaster missed to do this, the postmaster in Stockholm regarded the letter as originating from Great Britain and debited the addressee 40 öre (2x 20 öre postage due stamped pair on reverse on envelope cancelled Stockholm KK 20.10.1891) which was the UPU rate from Great Britain. This letter is the only one known from the Falkland Islands with postage due stamps. Certificate HOW (2009) The left stamp is repaired on the left side.

Unpaid letter dated Halmstad June 19th 1838 and sent to Falkenberg with postage due notation "Lösen 3 S.Bco" and rare notation "Obetalt från Halmstad" unpaid from Halmstad. Postmarked at arrival with "FALKENBERG 20.6.1838" Arc cancellation type 2.

Unpaid letterfront from Norrköping probably November 17th 1854 and sent to Stockholm. Prepaid the single rate would have been 5 skilling banco. On arrival the shipletter was marked with blue cursiv straight line cancel "Norrkpg" (Postal 15.000 SEK) to show the place of origin and to indicate that it was subject to postage due. the letter is also stamped on arrival with blue square-cancel "STOCKHOLM 18 NOV 54". Most unusual "Norrkpg" cancel of which very few are known. Please note this is a cover front only.