Auction 186-190

1859 (September 1): Entire letter, clearly dated inside, mailed from Santa Marta to Bogotá, franked by 1859 20 centavos blue, in a splendid deep shade with ample to large margins all round and insignificantly touched at left, cancelled by 'O' handstamp in blue. A wonderful and extremely rare entire, the adhesive being used on the First Day of Issue. Just one other cover is known mailed on the first day (ex 'Islander') however this bears a 5 c. and 10 c., thus this cover is a unique first day of use franking. Cert. Colomphil (2012) and Moorhouse (2013).

Note 1: 20 centavos paid the single rate for a distance between 450 to 1'350 kilometres.
Note 2: When the other cover was sold ('Islander' lot 181, June 2008), it was erroneously described as being the sole 'First Day Cover of any American First Issue'. However, there is an 1856 Mexico cover used on first day (1 August 1856), and now two recorded Colombia usages on First Day. Neverhteless, this is a marvellous opportunity to own one of the great rarities of Classic and South American philately.