Lot 193 Nigeria SG#189/211 4d & 2/6d Multicoloured Ibibio Face Mask, Benin Bronze and Ife Bronze, 1971 Antiquities of Nigeria Issue, Two VF 1970 3/6d and 2/2d Airmail Covers to USA With 3 and 4 Stamp Frankings

Two VF 1970 3/6d and 2/2d airmail covers to USA of the 4d & 2/6d multicoloured Ibibio Face Mask, Benin Bronze and Ife Bronze from the 1971 Antiquities of Nigeria Issue, with 3 and 4 stamp frankings These covers are both franked with the high value Red Cross semi-postal stamps, which are very difficult to find used on cover. The first cover, rated at 3/6d was sent from Lagos sub post office 3 on July 8, 1970. It is franked with stamps from no fewer than four commemorative issues: 1966 Red Cross issue 2/6d + 3d, 1967 World Meteorological Day 4d, 1968 Smallpox 4d and 1968 5th Anniversary of Republic 4d. The second cover, rated at 2/2d was sent from Lagos GPO on May 23, 1970. It is franked with stamps from 3 issues, being: 1966 3rd Anniversary of Republic 4d, 1967 Hydrological Decade 4d and 1966 Red Cross 1/6d + 3d. Both are very nice multi-stamp frankings and scarce on-cover usages of the semi-postal issue.

Gibbons does not list values for stamps on cover after 1945 Our estimate of the value, based on the scarcity of the franking, destination and condition is $25. The cover offered here grades VF.

"Gibbons does not price stamps on cover after 1945, but there are a few points to note when evaluating our estimates for Nigerian covers:"&CHAR(10)&CHAR(10)&"1. The majority of mail from Nigeria went to either the UK, or the US, and so these are the common destinations."&" "&"For these covers, the general value is $5 or so, plus the value attributed to the franking or the cancel."&CHAR(10)&CHAR(10)&"2. The standard airmail rates were between 1/3d and 1/9d until 1972, while the standard registered airmail rates were between 2/- and 3/- for the same period."&" "&"Overweight and express rates over and above these amounts are scarcer and worth a premium."&CHAR(10)&CHAR(10)&"3. The most common covers will typically have the postage paid with one or two definitive stamps of the period. Covers with frankings of more than 3 stamps used to pay the postage are scarcer and more desirable."&CHAR(10)&CHAR(10)&"4. Finally, the most common covers will originate from Lagos. Covers coming from smaller villages throughour Nigeria that bear postmarks of these villages will be scarcer and more desirable."