Parcel Post 1884: De La Rue High-Values 2 shilling 6 pence lilac and 5 shilling rose strip of three, in combination with Jubilee 1887, 1 shilling dull green and 1891, £1 green, all of fresh colour and perforations mainly fine, tied by oval “REGISTERED LONDON CHIEF OFFICE 13 JUN 00” to the reverse of a registered “On Her Britannic Majesty's Service” parcel tag, sent to Santiago, Chile, by the British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury (signed at top), addressed to Sir T. B. Cusack Smith and c/o British Consulate General, Valparaiso, with handstruck oval “R” in black and an additional “REGISTERED LONDON CHIEF OFFICE 13 JUN 00”. First 5 shilling has a prefix wrinkle south-east corner which doesn't detract. Remarkably well-preserved. Very rare franking, the Queen Victoria £1 green is exceedingly rare, much more so than the KEVII £1 green which is also a rarity. Sent at a Letter Postage rate plus 2d registration of £1.18.06, via the Diplomatic Pouch.
Note: Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (1830 to 1903), known as Lord Salisbury, served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom three times for a total of over thirteen years. In office; 23 June 1885 – 28 January 1886, 25 July 1886 – 11 August 1892 and 25 June 1895 – 11 July 1902.
Reference: Illustrated in “Collectors Club Philatelist”, New York, Jan./Febr. 2011
