Lot 284 Nigeria #105, 109, 143 3d, 6d, 1/3d, 1963 Peaceful Uses of Space, Full Sheet of 12 Used on Registered Airmail Cover to Pakistan, Scarce Destination And Franking, Net. Est. $20

Large registered airmail cover sent from Lokoja on January 21, 196(4?) to Karachi, Pakistan. Franked with a complete miniature sheet of the 1963 6d Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Issue, plus three 1/3d orange Camel Train Definitives, and three 3d Oyo Carver definitives, paying a total of 10/6d postage, being five times the single airmail rate to Pakistan, plus 6d registration (?). Given that the miniature sheet appeared on June 21, 1963, it would appear that this cover was probably sent in 1964. The sheet is creased and worn, but it is the only example of this sheet used on cover that I have ever seen. The stamps and the sheet are tied by clear to indistinct strikes of Proud type R4 Lokoja registered cancel (3 GBP on cover in Proud).
The cancellations list in Proud for 3 GBP and the cover value to a common destination is approximately $10 applying Gibbons’ prescribed multiplier of 2 to the Scott value of $4.80 for the stamps off cover. Pakistan is a very uncommon destination and the unique nature of the franking adds value to the common cover price. There is considerable selvedge wrinkling on the sheet, but the way it has been used supports the notion that this was genuine commercial usage and not philatelic. So, the value of this cover, taking the destination, rate, franking and cancellations into account is $20.