Italy Short Paid Aerogramme

Aerogramme from Italy (Greiner #11) sent to Denmark on August 2, 1983.

At that time the aerogramme rate was 500 LIT. Consequently, the aerogramme was taxed as short paid. The endorsement next to the “T” taxation handstamp reads “280 / 500” where the numerator stands for the single deficiency and the denominator should indicate the first weight step international surface mail letter rate. However, the postal clerk made an error here, because the first weight step letter rate was only 400 LIT.

In Denmark, the postal authorities relied on the endorsement and calculated the postage due as follows:

• With a first weight step international surface mail letter rate of 4.00 Kr in Denmark the deficient postage was charged at 280 / 500 x 400 = 2.24 Kr. 
• The handling charge was a fixed 1.00 Kr. Adding and rounding up led to a postage due of 3.30 Kr.

This amount was endorsed in blue next to the "Porto / At Betale" ("Postage to pay") handstamp.


Reference:
Greiner/Greiner, Aerogramme von Europa, 3e, 1993