Zanzibar 1930 (May) incoming unpaid Postage Due cover from Morondava, Madagascar, with "MAJUNGA" despatch backstamp of "23 (?) MAI 30" and type D9 "ZANZIBAR" arrival backstamp (MY 30), and triangular "T" tax mark on face (as well as a similar larger marking in pencil), SGD3,7,13.
The cover was sent from the Mortgage Bank of Madagascar (Credit Foncier) to its Zanzibar agent. Double deficiency apparently calculated as double the foreign letter rate (20c), with 1926-30 3c black/orange, 12c black/green and 25c black/magenta postage dues applied on face, and tied by three strikes of type PP3 "ZANZIBAR/PAR" circular date stamps, dated "MY 31 30", but the cover was "Refused" (red M/S endorsement at upper left) and subsequently returned to sender, with "MORONDAVA/MADAGASCAR" arrival circular date stamp (13 SEPT 30) on reverse.
Light cover fold, and the 3c (R4/1 from corrected setting) and 12c (R1/2, like the 25c) dues with small edge faults, but a unique and wonderful cover. The only recorded commercial cover of the 1926-30 issue with the rare 12c and 25c in combination, or indeed with a three-colour franking.
Provenance: Ex Griffith-Jones (illustrated as Fig. 11.17 on p.299 of his book with detailed discussion; census F.26).
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