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1858, Medio Peso Rose Red Error (5). Type E, large margins to ample at bottom left, used with horizontal pair of 1858 1d Blue (3), Types 6-7, large margins, all tied by "YCA" dotted oval cancel on blue folded cover to S. S. Tomas LaChambre y Ca. in Lima, docketed with September 5, 1858 origin date, lightly cleaned and pressed

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS SPECTACULAR COVER BEARS THE ONLY RECORDED TWO-COLOR FRANKING WITH THE MEDIO PESO ERROR. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COVER OF PERUVIAN PHILATELY AND ONE OF THE ARISTOCRATS OF SOUTH AMERICAN PHILATELY.

According to the Percy Bargholtz booklet on the Medio Peso Error, the first report of the error occurred in June 1858, about three months after the March 10, 1858, issue date of the first official government postage stamps. Bargholtz cites the generally-accepted statement that postmasters were instructed to treat the Medio Peso error as a One-peseta stamp, but he also notes that a few covers appear to have required the half-peso denomination and were accepted as such.

The cover offered here was posted in September 1858, months after the errors were discovered. It is probably franked for the double rate of two pesetas with the Medio Peso Error counted as a One-peseta stamp. The Bargholtz census of Medio Peso Error covers lists all of the covers which were known to him in 2001. Only this cover bears the Medio Peso Error in combination with a stamp other than the One-peseta Rose Red.

Bargholtz Census Da1. Ex Magonette and Schatzkes.

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