Heinrich Köhler Auction 377 - Day 4

BELGIUM-PHILIPPINES, 1871, Entire letter from Anvers via Trieste to Manila, prepaid till Hongkong with 1865/67, 1 franc violet and 1869, 10 centimes green, tied by numeral "12" with adjacent "ANVERS 16 MAI 71"; on reverse transit marks of Trieste and Hongkong and arrival mark (July 4). The 110 centimes rate was effective since September 1st, 1868 and consisted of 20 centimes Belgian and GPU postage and 90 centimes (= 7 groschen) postage beyond Trieste (2 groschen sea postage till Alexandria and 5 groschen British share from Alexandria to Hongkong). The postage beyond Hongkong was charged to the recipient, marked by handstamp "2" reales. The 10 centimes with small corner fault at lower left, otherwise fine and fresh. A very rare letter to the Far East; only one further letter from Belgium via Trieste to the Philippines has been recorded.