Italy 1862 (July 30th) letter registered from Milan, Italy to London, endorsed '6/G 22½' and '14868' registration number.
3 lire postage and registration paid by Sardinia 1855-63 imperforate 40c carmine, strip of five and two singles together with Italy 1862 20c indigo (perforated 11½ x 12).
All cancelled with red double circle "MILANO/30/LUG/62"; postage paid to destination "PD", "ASSICURATA" and London Foreign Branch "PRUSSIA/[CROWN]/REGISTERED" handstamps all struck in red and "REGISTERED/1 AU 62/LONDON" oval datestamp also in red, the latter struck on the first day of the new U.K. 4d registration rate.
In the 1850s and into the 1860s, the Foreign Branch used handstamps of three different designs on incoming registered mail from other countries with whom Britain had negotiated Postal treaties. All contained the name of the country of origin.
A stunning and highly important piece of postal history.
Accompanied with three independent certificates of authenticity - Royal Philatelic Society, London (2016), Silvano Sorani, Milan (1994) and Enzo Diena, Rome (1994).
