Lot
1165 
1860 (Nov. 20) Boston Mass. to Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope, blue Howland correspondence folded cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and 10¢ green (35) strip of three, all tied by strikes of "Paid" circular grid cancel, black "Boston Br. Pkt. Nov 20" exchange backstamp and red crayon "28" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Persia from New York Nov. 21st to Queenstown arriving Dec. 1st, red London Paid (12.3) transit cds and red manuscript "1" pence credit rating, reverse with red Capetown transit and Port Elizabeth (1.16) oval arrival handstamps; light vertical fold slightly affects middle 10¢, otherwise Very Fine and attractive use. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $600
Lot
1166
1861 (Apr. 17) Boston Mass. to Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope, blue Howland correspondence folded cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and 30¢ orange (38), nat. s.e. at left, tied by two strikes of "Paid" circular grid cancel, black "Boston Br. Pkt. Apr 17" exchange backstamp and red "28" cent credit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Apr. 17th to Queenstown arriving Apr. 29th, red London Paid (4.30) transit cds and red manuscript "1" pence credit rating, Capetown (6.10) transit backstamp, Port Elizabeth (6.14) oval arrival handstamp; cover refolded, 3¢ tear to bottom left, Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A CHOICE USE AT THE 33¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE VIA PLYMOUTH.
The 33¢ British mail rate via Plymouth was effective from January 1, 1857 to April 30, 1863.
Realized: $1,500
Lot
1167
1862 (Nov. 13) Newburyport Mas. to Capetown, Cape of Good Hope, orange buff cover to Capt. of Ship Good Return bearing 1¢ blue (63) and 10¢ green (68) pair, cancelled by circular grids and pair tied by "Newburyport Ms. Nov 13 1862" cds, black "Boston Am. Pkt. Nov 21" exchange backstamp, carried by Inman Line City of Baltimore from New York Nov. 22nd to Liverpool Dec. 3rd, London (12.5) transit with manuscript "5" pence debit rating, red Cape of Good Hope (1.10) arrival backstamp and "6" pence due rating, Jan. 22nd receipt docketing; partial flap. Estimate $500 - 750.
This cover was prepaid 21¢ for British Open mail rate via American packet, a service that did not exist to Cape of Good Hope. This was apparently accepted by both the American and British exchange clerks.
Realized: $550
Lot
1168
1857 (Oct. 20) United States to Porto Grande, Cape Verde Islands, cover bearing faulty franking of 1¢ blue (24) pair, 12¢ black (17) block of five and 3¢ dull red (26), all tied by blue indistinct cds to Lt. John Banard of U.S. Ship Cumberland, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Oct 24" exchange cds with magenta "44" cent credit rating, carried by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Oct. 27th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 7th, red London Paid (11.9) transit cds, Fine, A rare use at the 65¢ British mail rate via England. Estimate $300 - 400.
Lot
1169
1863 (May 20) Fernando Po to Lawrenceville N.J., orange cover with "Fernando Po, MY 20 63" cds, Liverpool Br. Packet (7.11) transit backstamp and manuscript "28" cent debit rating, carried by Cunard Line Africa from Liverpool Jul. 11th to Boston arriving Jul. 22nd, "Boston Br. Pkt. Jul 22" exchange backstamp with bold "33" cent due rating handstamp and "40 / In U.S. Notes" two-line depreciated currency handstamp; reduced at left and cover edge faults, Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE INBOUND DEPRECIATED CURRENCY USE FROM FERNANDO PO.
The 33¢ British Mail rate to West Africa was effective from 1854 to December 31, 1867. The debit rating was for 16¢ British transatlantic packet plus 12¢ British transit. The cover was due 33¢ in coin or 40¢ in depreciated currency.
Realized: $725
Lot
1170
1859 (Feb. 1) Philadelphia Pa. to Cape Palmas, Liberia, orange buff cover to Rev. Jacob Rambo with bold red "Philadelphia Pa. 'Paid' Feb 1" and matching circled "Paid" handstamp with magenta "33" cent prepaid rating, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Feb. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Feb. 14th, red London Paid (2.15) and Liverpool (2.16) transits; no flap, opened on three sides and line indent in address, F.-V.F. and rare. Estimate $400 - 600.
THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF MAIL TO LIBERIA DURING THIS TIME PERIOD.
Realized: $1,800
Lot
1171
1861 (Apr. 1) Brunswick Me. to St. Paul de Loando, West Coast of Africa, cover addressed to the Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and 10¢ green (35) pair and single, all tied by circular grid cancels, matching "Brunswick Me Apr 1 1861" cds and "Paid" straightline handstamp, red "Boston Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Apr 3" exchange backstamp and matching "28" cent credit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Apr. 3rd to Queenstown arriving Apr. 15th, Liverpool (4.16) transit backstamp, docketed as received Jun. 9th on reverse; right 10¢ trivial perf tear at top, fresh and Extremely Fine. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A RARE AND CHOICE USE OF THE 1857 ISSUE ON A COVER TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY SLOOP-OF-WAR MOHICAN, WHICH WAS PATROLLING THE WATERS OFF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA IN SEARCH OF SLAVE-TRADING VESSELS.
St. Paul de Loando was the capital of the Portuguese colony of Angola and a known area of activity for slave traders. The letter is addressed to Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, which was patrolling the waters off the African coastline. Later this same year the Mohican captured the slave-carrying ship Erie, whose captain, Nathaniel Gordon, was hanged in 1862, the first man condemned under an 1820 Federal law declaring slave-trading a form of piracy. In August 1861 she departed the African coast to take part in the Battle of Port Royal and blockade duty in the Civil War.
Realized: $11,000