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Sale 63: The Donald Richardson Collection of U.S. Postal Rates 1851-1863

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China

Lots 1178-1187 Lots 1188-1194

Lot 1178    

1853 (Jul. 6) Boston Mass. to Shanghai, China, tissue paper cover with original thick contents, "Boston Br. Pkt. Jul 6" exchange cds with red "Paid" straightline and pencil "140" prepaid rating, red crayon "1.30" credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Jul. 6th to Liverpool arriving Jul. 17th, red London Paid (7.18) transit cds, Hong Kong (9.8) transit backstamp, docketed as received Sep. 18th; cover edge wear from think contents, Very Fine, A rare double-weight use at the $1.40 British Mail rate via Marseilles for up to ¾ oz.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $800

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Lot 1179    

1854 (Apr. 18) Boston Mass. to Canton, China, blue folded letter from the Heard correspondence, black "Boston Br. Pkt. Apr 18" exchange backstamp, red "Paid" straightline and pencil "65" cent prepaid rating, red "30" cent credit rating handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Apr. 19th to Liverpool arriving May 1st, red London Paid (5.1) transit cds, partial Hong Kong transit backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

This cover was prepaid 65¢ for the British mail rate via Marseilles not exceeding 7½ grams.

Realized: $475

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Lot 1180    

1854, 1862 Hong Kong, China to New York N.Y., two sent by British Mails via Marseilles, 1854 cover front carried by Cunard Line Asia with "New-York Br. Pkt. Jul 13" exchange cds with London "130" debit updated to "140" due rating ($1.40) for a letter weighing ¾ to 1 oz., and 1862 blue folded cover with Hong Kong Paid (5.26) cds and prepaid rating, red London (7.14) transit cds with "16/Cents" credit handstamp, carried by Inman Line Etna, "New York Am. Pkt. 5' Jul 28" exchange due cds for the 51¢ rate up to 7½ grams, Very Fine pair.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $280

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Lot 1181    

1856 (Nov. 18) Providence R.I. to Hong Kong, China, folded cover to William Comstock bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) with red crayon precancel, 5¢ red brown (12) and 10¢ green, type II (14) strip of three, bright colors with large margins to in except 5¢ four margins, all tied by red circular grid cancels, matching "Providence R.I. Nov 18" cds and "Paid" straightline, black "Boston Br. Pkt. 19 Nov" exchange backstamp with red crayon "15" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Nov. 19th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 1st, red Aachen Franco (12.2) framed transit with blue manuscript "f 3½" silbergroschen rating, blue Alexandria (12.17) transit backstamp with bold black "1/-" debit handstamp, Hong Kong (2.1) arrival backstamp; stamps creased by file folds, fresh and Very Fine appearance.
Estimate    $15,000 - 20,000.

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE THREE-COLOR IMPERFORATE 1851-56 ISSUE FRANKING TO HONG KONG, CHINA PREPAID AT THE 38¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 5¢ 1856 ACTUALLY SENT AT THIS RARE RATE AND ROUTING.

This exceptional franking pays the 38¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate via Trieste effective October 1, 1852 to April 30, 1863. The 15¢ credit to Prussia comprised 2¢ British transit, 2¢ Belgian transit, 5¢ GAPU transit and 8¢ foreign postage. The addressee worked as an agent for and later as a partner of the famous firm Augustine, Heard & Co. and it appears from the docketing that the he received the letter in Foochow on February 2, 1857, one day after its delivery in Hong Kong.

Another cover from the same correspondence dated Oct. 24th 1856 was prepaid with 1¢, 3¢, 10¢, 12¢ pair (7, 11A, 14, 17) franking for the 38¢ PCM rate but was actually sent via British Mails (ex-Sevenoaks, Rogers, Hackmey, Gross) and ended up being delivered on the same exact day as the cover offered here even though it was mailed three weeks prior. The Mayer auction of the 5¢ 1856 also had a cover franked for the 38¢ rate, but again was sent at the 33¢ British mail rate.

Realized: $47,500

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Lot 1182    

1856 (Nov. 25) Boston Mass. to Canton, China, blue folded letter from the Heard correspondence with red "Boston Paid, Br. Pkt. Nov 25" exchange balloon cds with pencil "53" cent prepaid rating, matching red "48" cent credit rating, endorsed "pr. Overland Mail via Marseilles", carried by Cunard Europa from New York Nov. 26th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 8th, orange London Paid (12.9) transit cds, indistinct Hong Kong transit backstamp; slightly erosion upper left, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Letter is prepaid at the 53¢ British Mail rate via Marseilles effective October 10, 1854 to December 31, 1856. Credit of 48¢ to Great Britain was given with the United States retaining 5¢ only.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1183    

1857 (Mar. 17) Springfield Mass. to Shanghai, China, Blodget correspondence cover bearing 3¢ dull red (11) and three 10¢ green (14) singles, margins to slightly in, tied together by circular grid cancels, red "Springfield Mass. Mar 17" cds and matching "Paid" straightline with red manuscript "33" rating restatement, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Mar 18" exchange backstamp and magenta "28" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Persia from New York Mar. 18th to Liverpool arriving Mar. 29th, red London Paid (3.30.57) transit cds, Hong Kong (5.22) double-arc arrival backstamp; small stamp flaws including two 10¢ with small scissor cut, a Very Fine use.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A SCARCE 1851 ISSUE USE AT THE 33¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE VIA SOUTHAMPTON FROM THE BLODGET CORRESPONDENCE.

Realized: $1,900

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Lot 1184    

1859 (Aug. 21) New-York N.Y. to Hong Kong, China, cover with preprinted address to Lieut. R.L. Law on the USS Hartford, bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and three 10¢ green (32) singles, all tied by strikes of "Terre Haute Ind Aug 25" cds, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Aug 31" exchange cds, magenta "12" credit rating crossed out and updated to "28" cents, carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Aug. 31st to Queenstown arriving Sep. 11th, London rd manuscript "1" pence colonial credit rating, indistinct Hong Kong arrival backstamp; right 10¢ affected slightly by edge placement, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A CHOICE 1857 ISSUE USE AT THE 33¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE VIA SOUTHAMPTON.

This cover was prepaid for the 33¢ per ½ oz. British mail rate via Southampton effective October 1, 1854 to August 30, 1861. The proper credit of 28¢ to Great Britain was given.

Realized: $2,400

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Lot 1185    

1859 (Dec. 6) Boston Mass. to Hong Kong, China, datelined folded letter from the Heard correspondence with Boston red "Paid" framed handstamp and pencil "90" cent prepaid rating, magenta "80" cent credit rating, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Dec 7" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Dec. 7th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 19th, red London Paid (12.20) transit cds and manuscript "4" pence Colonial credit rating, Hong Kong (2.11) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Letter was prepaid 90¢ for a letter weighing between ¾ and 1 oz. by British Mail via Marseilles effective January 1, 1857 to August 30, 1861. The U.S. retained 10¢ (two times 5¢ U.S. postage) with 80¢ credit to Great Britain.

Realized: $750

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Lot 1186    

1860 (May 11) Boston Mass. to Hong Kong, China, folded letter from Heard correspondence with red "Paid" framed handstamp and pencil "39" cent prepaid rating, black "Boston Am. Pkt. May 11" exchange cds with red crayon "18" cent credit rating, carried by Allan Line North Briton from Quebec May 12th to Liverpool arriving May 25th, red London Paid (5.25) transit cds and red manuscript "1" pence Colonial credit rating, Hong Kong (7.6) arrival backstamp, some fold wear.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Letter was prepaid for 39¢ British Mail rate via Marseilles effective January 1, 1857 to August 30, 1861. The U.S. retained 5¢ postage plus 16¢ American packet with 18¢ credit to Great Britain (6¢ French transit, 12¢ British transit).

Realized: $475

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Lot 1187    

1860 (Nov. 7) Terre Haute Ind. to Hong Kong, China, cover with preprinted address to Lieut. R.L. Law on the USS Hartford, bearing 1¢ blue (24) pair and 3¢ dull red (26) tied by "Paid" cancels and "Terre Haute Ind Nov 7" cds, bold red "New-York Br. Pkt. Nov 13" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Boston Nov. 14th to Queenstown arriving Nov. 25th, red London (11.27) transit backstamp and manuscript "1/1" 1s1d due rating, Hong Kong (1.23) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A CHOICE USE AT THE 5¢ BRITISH OPEN MAIL RATE TO HONG KONG.

The USS "Hartford" was commissioned in 1858 and served as the flagship of the East India Squadron until being recalled for the Civil War where she served as Farragut's flagship in the West Gulf Blockading Squadron and was instrumental in retaking New Orleans.

Realized: $3,000

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Lots 1178-1187 Lots 1188-1194

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