Lot No. 2488

1944. Registered express letter to ZURICH (endorsed 21 Kg), a high franking of 27 Kuna required (5K letter rate, 3K for extra weight, 10K express fee and 9K for registration, the postman helpfully wrote his additions directly upon the envelope), composed of 1K deep green-blue (Michel 50u), 4K deep ultramarine (Michel 54u, vertical pair) and 6K brown-olive (Michel 56u, vertical strip of three), all of 1941 Pictorials, tied by four strikes of “ZAGREB 2/ 9 22.I.44”. On the 1st January 1944 the WAR TAX STAMPS (“RATNI DOPRINOS”) came into effect for DOMESTIC POST, but were not obligatory for foreign destinations. However the confusion whether or not the tax was obligatory is nicely illustrated by the postman who included an additional 2K into his additions, therefore 2K dull carmine (Michel Z4) was applied, at reverse “ZURICH 1/ VIII/ EILZUSTELUNG, 26.I.44” arrival pmk, also note the trilingual Swiss “Espresso” label, always applied upon arrival. A fantastic example of the 27 Kuna rate.