Auction Series 257-264 in Zurich Day 4

Danube Steam Navigation Co 1867: 10 kr. green, Type I, a used example, slightest of staining at right, on 1870 entire letter from Galatz to Braila tied by Trip Number 1 boxed handstamp "4-VIII 1 - 8 Reise" struck in blue (Tchilinghirian fig. 321). One of the scarcest of all cancellations on this issue (Tchilinghirian recorded just two covers) with this cover being of particularly fine quality. Cert. Holcombe (1992).rnProvenance: Collection 'Antoine', Corinphila sale 85, Oct 1992, lot 3517; Collection Emil Capellaro, Corinphila sale 166, Dec 2010, lot 5490.rnrnNote: The 'Reise' Trip Number datestamps may have been used on the boats 'Giurgevo' and 'Sulina'. This was a shuttle service from Romanian grain loading ports on the lower Danube. Whilst the handstamps are found on D.D.S.G. covers, largely during 1870, they were in use on the Parcel stamps for a few more years, probably until 1875. It is speculated that they were designed to handle packages through Customs / Border Control, as five towns named on the Parcel stamps are on national borders.
Catalogue 261: Stamp Issuing Steamship Companies