364 / März 2017

"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.

"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".