IMAGES: Hover mouse pointer over image
to determine if ACTUAL image of item OR a REPRESENTATIVE sample image of item.
Click for more information
US$
401045
Scott #55, 56, 57 [1904 4/8 Overprint and 15/24 Overprint, and 1905 1 øre Wavy-Lines Numeral with Crown Watermark] (VF, VF, F-VF) on 17 May 1911 "Adressebrev" (parcel envelope form) for one 2 kilo package, sent within København. The envelope has an inconsequential small piece missing on the right side. By looking at the 4/8 Overprinted stamp, using very bright from/through the back of the envelope paper, I am 90% sure that it has an INVERTED WATERMARK. That stamp with an inverted watermark is not "scarce" according to the AFA Catalog, but I cannot recall ever having (and I cannot find a database record of ever having), in 52 years, so much as a Used single of this stamp with an inverted watermark! The 20 øre postal rate made up of a remarkably unusual combination of stamps but the amount is correct for a package up to 2.5 kg (1 Jul 1908 thru 30 Oct 1917). The backside has no postal markings; it only has a return address of "Thorvald Cohn, Kjöbenhavn V.". Excellent strikes of a somewhat unusual "KØBENHAVN / * IV * " cancellation. From the start of parcel mail in the Scandinavian / Nordic countries, and in Europe in general, parcels (what Americans call parcel post) were mailed with an accompanying parcel card or parcel envelope. The package and the card or envelope both bore matching numbered parcel labels. One card or envelope could control a multiple-package shipment, with multiple, sequentially numbered labels. The stamps were always placed on the card or envelope, along with postal details (such as number of packages in the shipment, weight, insurance amount, COD amount, etc. While this type of postal history may be unfamiliar in other parts of the world, this is an important area of Danish cover / postal history collecting. It seems like a tremendous coincidence (?) that the three stamps have sequential catalog numbers in BOTH the Scott Catalogue (55, 56, 57) and in the Danish AFA Catalog (40, 41, 42)! Google AI reports that the addressee, Oluf Andreasen, was indeed a stamp collector and in fact advertised to other collectors that he wanted to trade stamps. Thus it is likely that this parcel envelope was for a box of stamps! A very unusual and very exotic looking cover -- these stamps are very seldom seen on covers! Even if the recipient (and probably the sender) was a stamp collector, it is legitimate and unusual use of these stamps on cover.
ACTUAL item.
Top  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}