Lot no. 6056

SWEDEN – CHINA: 1863, opened out cover from Engelholm via Hamburg, Triest, Alexandria and Hongkong to Shanghai, franked with 1858, 5 oere green, 9 oere violet, 30 oere brown and 3 copies 50 oere lilac. 2 values with creases where applied around the edge of the cover and one 50 oere with some flat perfs, some minor toning. Still a fine and very attractive entire of great rarity. This is the  only recorded fully franked letter from Sweden via Trieste to Asia prior UPU. Certificate Dr. Helena Obermüller-Wilen (2004)

Reference: illustrated in 'Swedish letter rates to foreign destinations 1855-1895'