Sardinia, 1859 (September 2), Genova to Naples, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, folded letter, three-colour franking with imperforate 10c
Sardinia, 1859 (September 2), Genova to Naples, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, folded letter, three-colour franking with imperforate 10c purple-brown, 20c dark ultramarine, and 40c carmine-red Victor Emanuel II, all on medium white wove paper and with mixed margins, all tied by Genova c.d.s. (2 Sep), reverse with Naples arrival (5 Sep), double oval "A.G.D.P." arrival handstamp, manuscript "Col Postale" inscription, and rate mark "16" in manuscript, one horizontal filing crease towards the top not affecting the adhesives, fine to very fine, an attractive and properly franked French Paquebot letter at the 70c single-weight rate (Sc. 11i, 12c var, 13b; Sassone 14Ac, 15Ba, 16Bb); with 2009 Sismondo certificate. The 70c rate comprised 20c for the Sardinian post and 50c for French maritime transit to Naples; the Neapolitan post then charged the addressee 16 grana, as indicated in manuscript. Both rates were current from January 1858 until October 1860, with the replacement of the French service by the newly established direct Sardinian-Neapolitan route.