1841 Qv 2-D Black On Cover

I recently purchased this very rare 2d Black, Sotheby's NY looks at it and gave me an estimate. I would like to have Bill Barrell check it out, but I haven't had any luck contacting him. I'm also waiting for Stanely Gibbons to get back to me. I am not looking to sell it at this time, more interested in learning more about it.
Ron

The is addressed to a location in France and contains a bank statement.

I have a vague recall that I read about the black two pence in the specialised Vol I, part 1. You might want to check it for more information.

Bill Barrell's website appears to have been updated recently.

I hope SG replies. I found they do not reply at all since they became SGB.

I have SG Vol 1 and there is only a brief mention about this type.

The 2020 (or was it 2021) Vol 1, part 1 edition? A quick scan does mention a One Penny in blue, but only two pence in black without corner letters.

I doubt SG will be very helpful. They do not provide an expertising service and, consequently, will not tell you whether or not it is genuine. I wonder whether they will value it without seeing the item in person.

If you want to confirm it is genuine, the two usual expertising committees in the UK will look at it.

I suppose an expertiser will, immediately, look at the very red MC that, likely, should match such a colour used at the point of origin, and the placement of the stamp that is not a very common one. Another question would be the rate paid: a registered letter to France at 2d. And, finally, the very late use. This is almost six months after the introduction of the new design with added lines.

If genuine, it would be a very interesting item.

I hoping to hear from Bill Barrell.

The paper of that stamp is far too white. I doubt it is real. The other concern is the water stain surrounding only the stamps position indicating to me something was soaked off of this item. I also agree with the Maltese cross color comment and rate.

Another oddity is that it appears to have been sent from Dijon to Seurre.

There appears to be a dated sender's address in Dijon and a date of sep(?) 14 ? 1841. The Dijon mark is for 4 SEPT 1841. I have no idea wat that writing between 14 and 1841 is.

Why is a letter from Dijon to Seurre franked with a british stamp, cancelled with a Maltese Cross, and has a British "registered"mark been applied? Is there any other British mark that suggests international mail?

Questions, questions, questions!

I overlooked the water stain which I agree is suspect, however the color of the MC and registered stamp is the same. Granted they could of been added later, also the paper appears to be of the period and is embossed at the lower left corner. It would be nice if genuine, but until it is examined by an expert, I would also agree it's very iffy.

That was not the issue.

First of all. I have no clue whether this is a forgery or not. Nor do I have a clue about the full item. It needs close-up inspection to determine that.

The point about the MC is, that it is a very distinctive red colour. That would help any expertiser, as such a distinctive colour, likely, has been identified. It could confirm the origin if there was an office nearby that used the colour. However, if it is known that the nearby office used yellow ink, this bright red colour would have to be explained.

A non-distinct red ink would not provide such supporting evidence.

My impression, would the item be genuine, is, that a letter used in France was, later, franked and posted in the UK. The dates, however, suggest the opposite.

I cannot identify the circular town mark near the stamp. It could be Folkestone. A port in Kent. But again: 2d on a registered foreign letter to France that shows no international markings as far as I can see. And indications are it was sent from Dijon to Seurre, not from Folkestone to Seurre via Dijon. And those dates.

I now understand what you are saying about the ink color, I have also attempted to read the post mark by the stamp using my microscope, it's only clear enough to make out a few letters.

It really looks as if a stamp has been placed on a characteristic French stampless cover and blurred GB markings added. I presume that the text on the obverse gives no indication of this having been written in England. Did the vendor offer any thoughts on the cover?

Folkingham.

Folkingham

Can you post a scan of the back side (inside) of the letter? It is a bank statement from Banque Paul Echalié-Jomain in Dijon, correct? Is there any indication of why it might have needed to be mailed from England, and why Registered? Anything like "closing your account, cash is enclosed"??
Hopefully you didn't pay a lot for this oddity without some sort of authentication prior.