Lot no. 9875

Entire letter with 3 pages of text, correctly franked with Lauré 80 c. (rate for a letter to Chili as of 1.1.1869), tied by star cancel with adjacent "PARIS (60) / 12 NOV.", to Valparaiso, Chile, showing on front red "LONDON PAID 26 NO 70" and faint greenish-blue tax stamp; a very fine and very rare letter to South America, certificate Brun (2017). The letter will be sold 'as is' Note: A 20 c. stamp (included) had been added to the cover bottom left at a later stage to make the cover "more attractive".  After consultation with Mr. Brun, we decided to remove this stamp, leaving behind slight traces of the tying cancellation mark. Besides being a fantastically rare destination of a 'Ballon Monté' cover, it nicely documents the sometimes obscure fantasy of forgers...