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1892 Envelope to Chaman, Afghanistan, franked with Great Britain 1887 Jubilee 4d tied by Welshpool duplex, alongside London transit and rare “NOT TRANSMISSIBLE / Requires Stamps of P.O. CABUL / for postage beyond Indian frontier” boxed handstamp, CANN. OFFICE A backstamp, horizontal crease and repaired 4mm punch slightly affecting handstamp, fine.
Afghanistan did not join the UPU until 1928, and until 1894 the UPU insisted on prepayment with Afghan stamps. As these were generally unavailable abroad, this essentially halted inward correspondence, and the rule was changed to allow the internal Afghan postage to be collected from the addressee. Very few examples of this spectacular handstamp have been recorded.
History: Charles Leski July 2007 A$1500+premium; Christoph Gaertner June 2014 lot 21 est €2500 (unsold); Christoph Gaertner Oct 2014 lot 1028 est €2000 (unsold); For sale by George Alevesios for $3250
The 1887 Jubilee Issue 