Corinphila Auction 284-290 Day 5

1853: Cover from Marseille to Genova, Italy bearing Napoléon imperf. 10 c. bistre, a fine strip of four with good to large margins, some wrinkles at top and left just mentioned to be exact, tied by superb Gros Chiffres '2240' lozenge, matching MARSEILLE despatch cds (Jan 12, 1863) and framed PD alongside. Marseille-Lyon ambulant and LYON transit cds's as well as GENOVA arrival (Jan 15) cds. An unusual usage to pay correctly the 40 c. rate to Italy, an early usage of the Gros Chiffrs obliterator introduced at the beginning of January 1863. Signed Sottoriva.