1881 Tacna Peru - War of Pacific Occupation Mail (Sc. 23, 25; Mi.16, 18)

Chilean Occupation of Peru: 1881, entire letter from Peru to Italia via Panama, bearing Chile 1877 10 c. blue in combination with 1878 1 c. green, neatly tied by cds "TACNA PRINCIPAL 6 SET 81" with adjacent French maritime "PANAMA-UNION PAQ.F.A. N°1 1 OCT. 81" in red (Salles-Nr. 1415), mail carried on the Washington vessel. Reverse arrival "BIELLA 23 10 1881". A fresh and very fine entire, correctly paid at the first Chilean UPU 11 centavos rate via Panama (the other routes being 10 centavos). Rare.

Comment: Tacna, Peru, was occupied by Chilean troops on 26 May 1880. When Chile became UPU member on 1st April 1881, the previous foreign single rate of 10 centavos was raised to 11 centavos (15 grams, via Panama).