Lot
214 
1856 (Feb. 16) New York, N.Y. to Bordeaux, France, folded letter with red "New-York Am Pkt Feb 16" exchange cds and pencil "21" prepaid rating for British open mail rate by American packet, carried by Collins Line Quaker City from New York Feb. 16 to Liverpool arriving Mar. 1, London (3.3) backstamp, Calais (3.3) entry cds with "8" decimes due h.s., Bordeaux (3.5) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, Collins Line chartered "Quaker City" for one round voyage after the loss of the "Pacific". Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $290
Lot
215
1857 (Aug. 11) Boston, Mass. to Reims, France, blue folded letter with "Boston Br. Pkt. Aug 12" backstamp and large black "3" cent debit h.s., carried by Cunard Line Europa from Boston Aug. 12 to Liverpool arriving Aug. 23, French (8.24) entry cds with "8" decimes due h.s., some docketing at upper right, F.-V.F. Estimate $150 - 200.
Although the Boston exchange office had a circular datestamp that showed "Boston / 3/ (date)" to indicate a 3¢ debit to France on an unpaid single rate letter in the French mail, it was not used on this letter. Instead, the clerk used this 3¢ credit handstamp in black ink to show the French debit, a very unusual use.
Realized: $450
Lot
216
1857 (Nov. 21) New York, N.Y. to Cognac, France, folded letter with "New York '18' Nov 21" exchange debit cds, carried by Collins Line Adriatic from New York Nov. 23 to Liverpool arriving Dec. 4, red French (12.5) entry cds with "16" decimes due h.s., aging along fold, Fine, This was carried on the maiden and only voyage of the "Adriatic" for the Collins Line, which terminated operation in February 1858. Estimate $300 - 400.
"Adriatic" sailed from New York two days late which is why New York circular datestamp did not show departure date. U.S. debited France 2x9¢=18¢. Postage due of 2x8=16 decimes marked on ambulant from Calais to Paris.
Realized: $600
Lot
217
1860 (Jun. 1) New York, N.Y. to Havre, France, folded cover with "New York '12' Jun 2" exchange debit cds, carried by North Atlantic S.S. Co. Adriatic from New York Jun. 2 to Havre arriving Jun. 12, Havre (6.12) entry cds with "8" due h.s., Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Letter carried on 2nd of only five round voyages of Adriatic (formerly of the Collins Line) for the short-lived North Atlantic Steamship Company, which carried contract mails on only six round voyages from New York to Havre via Southampton in 1860.
Realized: $400
Lot
218
1861 (Mar. 13) New York, N.Y. to Mauze, France, blue folded letter with "New York '3' Mar 13" exchange debit cds, carried as endorsed by Adriatic under charter for Cunard leaving New York Mar. 13 to Queenstown arriving Mar. 23, Havre (3.26) entry octagon (different type), manuscript "8" decimes due rating, Mauze (3.28) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, This was the only voyage that the "Adriatic" made under charter for the Cunard Line. Estimate $300 - 400.
The "Adriatic" was newly purchased for the Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company (Galway Line) and was chartered by the Cunard Line to carry mails to England on this voyage only as she proceeded to England to join her new company. This was due to the Australasian breaking down on her Feb. 16 eastbound voyage.
Realized: $450
Lot
219
1861 (Mar. 19) New Orleans, La. to Paris, France, blue folded letter from Confederate New Orleans with "New Orleans La. 19 Mar" cds and unpaid "15" rating h.s., "New York '3' Mar 27" debit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Arabia from New York Mar. 27 to Queenstown arriving Apr. 7, French (4.9) entry cds and "8" decimes due h.s., Paris (4.9) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, a scarce Confederate letter going overseas. Estimate $200 - 300.
Louisiana passed an ordinance to secede from the United States on January 26, 1861 and was admitted to the Confederacy on February 4, 1861. Since the Confederate States were still using the United States mail system, this letter looks like any unpaid letter posted at the time in the United States. By June 1, 1861, the Confederate States no longer could use the U.S. postal system.
Realized: $700
Lot
220
1864 (Jun. 8) New York, N.Y. to Cambridge, Mass, reposted to Salins, France, letter prepaid domestic 3¢ rate with 1861 3¢ pink entire on buff, letter re-entered mail system with "Nahant Mass. Jul 2" cds with manuscript "unpaid 15" rating, "Boston '3' Jul 5" debit exchange cds, carried by French Line H Washington that departed New York July 6 to Havre arriving July 18, red Havre (6.18) entry cds with "8" decimes due h.s., Salins (7.19) arrival backstamp; flap cut, Very Fine. Scott No. U35 Estimate $200 - 300.
This was carried on the return maiden voyage of French Line H steamer Washington. Covers from the early voyages of this steamship company are quite difficult to find.
Realized: $450
Lot
221
1864 (Nov. 23) Detroit, Mich. to Belfort, France, buff cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose and 12¢ black, tied by blue four-ring cancels duplexed with "Detroit Mich. Nov 23" double circle postmark, red "New York 'Paid 12' Nov 26" exchange credit cds, carried by Hapag Line Borussia from New York Nov. 26 to Hamburg arriving Dec. 10, Hamburg (12.10) backstamp with "Fr. Grenze" straightline, Erquelines (12.12) entry cds with "PD" framed h.s., Belfort (12.13) arrival backstamp; light folds, Very Fine and unusual routing. Scott No. 65, 69 Estimate $200 - 300.
The fact that New York used a credit marking normal to French mails indicates they understood the letter was to go in the French mails. By mistake, the letter was placed in a mail bag to Hamburg. Hamburg marked the "Fr(anco): Grenze." marking to show letter paid only to the German-French border (rate to France via Germany was 21¢). Hamburg sent letter to Paris via the Thurn & Taxis Post and entry into France at Erquelines. Paris did not mark the letter for postage due, probably because the error had been made by the post office in New York.
Realized: $950
Lot
222
1865 (May 22) Canandaigua, N.Y. to Paris, France, cover with "Canadaigua, N.Y. May 22" cds with oval "30" unpaid rate h.s. for double letter rate, "New York '6' May 27" debit exchange cds, cover carried by French Line H Europe from New York to Havre arriving June 6, red Brest (6.6) entry cds with "16" decimes due rating, Paris (6.6) arrival backstamp, cover faulty at right, Fine, letter was carried on return maiden voyage of French Line H steamship Europe. Estimate $200 - 300.
Marking unpaid letter rates was not required but was done by many post offices using marking devices, such as this one, procured privately by the postmaster. A new rail line between Brest and Paris had just been completed for future arrivals at that port by the French Line H steamers. This voyage, however, was the last of the early voyages which terminated in Havre. Paris marking French entry handstamp, an uncommon French marking.
To note, this was the first stampless transatlantic cover in Dick Winter's collection, and the intrigue with the transit markings on this cover launched a lifetime of study of transatlantic mails.
Realized: $300
Lot
223
1867 (May 30) Buffalo, N.Y. to Paris, France, clean cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose and 12¢ black, tied by cork cancels duplexed with "Buffalo N.Y. May 30" cds, red "New York 'Paid 12' Jun 1" exchange credit cds, "Paq. Fr. H. No. 3" (6.1) octagon d.s. with red "PD" framed h.s., carried by French Line 'H' Europe from New York Jun. 1 to Havre arriving Jun. 13, Very Fine, an attractive French mail use. Scott No. 65, 69 Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $350