Lot no. 6774

"216" Postage due charge mark on insufficiently prepaid double rate letter dated Colombo (Ceylon) June 26th 1860 and sent via Suez and Paris to Gothenburg. The French single rate to the Far East destinations was 80 ctms - 30 ctms for the French domestic unpaid rate, the rest was added to the French/Swedish rate of 100 ctms and became 150 ctms. The double rate was 300 ctms = 216 öre. The letter is opened up for display and has a damaged backflap. By mistake the postmaster first struck "108" (single rate) cancelled it and struck the correct "216".