Lot 1244

THE UNIQUE LARGE HERMES HEADS SIX COLOUR FRANKING1861 Paris Printing 1L brown + 2L red-brown + 5L green + 10L red-orange + two 20L blue + 80L rose, all tied by dotted numeral « 9 » of Patras on folded entire lettersheet to Genova, PATRAS 1 MAY 62 despatch cds alongside, endorsed « Col Vapore francese » at top, reverse bears ATHENS 8 MAY 62 transit cds (Julian Calendar) and GENOVA 23 MAY 62 arrival cds (Gregorian Calendar)Rate: The accepted explanation for this franking is that it was initially franked with 112 lepta (made up with the first four stamps at left). This rate corresponded to the franking necessary for most Italian ports but not for Genova. Genova was only served by French ships at the time and the required rate was 140 lepta. Thus the addition of 28 lepta to make up for the 140 lepta rate by using the appropriate values, affixed in descending order from left to right. For aesthetic reasons, a 40 Lepta is currently replacing a missing 2 Lepta.Accepted as the most spectaculer cover of the first issue of Greece and the ONLY 6-COLOUR franking of all the LARGE HERMES HEAD issues.Expertise : Michael Tseriotis (2005) and Roger Calves (2004) Provenance : Luder-Edelman Auction 1927, David Feldman 2013 Auction (described as seven-colour franking and estimated €100’000 – 120’000)