Lot
1548 
1869 (Mar. 16) New York N.Y. to Cadiz, Spain, gray folded cover with "New York, Direct, 16 Mar" cds, sent unpaid via Germany in closed bag through England, carried on Hapag Line Cimbria from New York Mar. 16th to Southampton arriving Mar. 27th, Hamburg (3.28) transit backstamp and black crayon "8½" rating, Spanish red "525" milesimas due handstamp for the unpaid rate from the U.S. to Spain via Germany, Very Fine and scarce use to Spain via Germany. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $250
Lot
1549
1869 (Jun. 8) Newark N.J. to Beirut, Syria, yellow Rev. James S. Dennis correspondence cover with preprinted address bearing two 10¢ green, F. grill (96) singles, prepaying the 20¢ closed mail rate to Syria via the Germany, tied by donut cancels duplexed with "Newark N.J. Jun 8" cds, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit, May 9" exchange backstamp (incorrect month slug) and matching "5" in circle credit handstamp to NGU, carried by Cunard Line Java from New York Jun. 9th to Queenstown Jun. 18th, red "Verviers. B., 20 6, Coeln, Franco" four-line transit and matching red "Wfco 2" credit handstamp, reverse with Trieste (6.22) oval backstamp, brownish Beirut (7.5.) arrival cds; stamp faults and top edge repairs affecting Newark cds, Fine appearance and scarce destination. Estimate $500 - 750.
The Verviers to Cologne traveling post offices handstamp showed the letter was fully paid. The clerk also marked the letter "Wfco 2" to show that foreign postage, i.e. beyond Germany, or "weiterfranco" of 2 silbergroshen had also been paid.
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Realized: $625
Lot
1550
1869 (Jun. 15) Passaic N.J. to Manchester, England, mourning envelope with "Passaic, N.J." oval postmark with manuscript "Jun 15" dating and matching cancel on 12¢ green (117), red "New York Paid All Jun 17" exchange office cds, red "London, Paid, Jun 17 69" arrival cds, carried by NGL Line Donau from New York Jun. 17th to Southampton arriving Jun. 27th, Very Fine and scarce use from Passaic. Estimate $300 - 400.
Lot
1551
1869 (Sep. 7) Princeton N.J. to Edinburgh, Scotland, 3¢ pink entire bearing 3¢ red, F. gill (94) strip of three tied by fancy cork cancels duplexed with "Princeton N.J. Sep 7" cds, red "New York Sep 8" exchange cds, red "Paid, Liverpool, U.S. Packet, 18 SP 69" arrival cds; small faults, F.-V.F. and attractive use at the 12¢ treaty rate. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $130
Lot
1552
1869 (Sep. 10) Lambertville N.J. to Paris, France, cover bearing 15¢ black, F. grill (98) tied by cork cancel duplexed with "Lambertville N.J. 10 Sep" cds and red "New York 'Paid 12' Sep 11" exchange cd, black French (9.18.69) entry cds and small red "PD" framed handstamp, fresh and Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $180
Lot
1553
1869 (Oct 29) Philadelphia Pa. to Paris, France, cover bearing 15¢ black, F. grill (98), light crease, tied by Philadelphia foreign mail grid cancel prepaying the 15¢ treaty rate by French packet for up to 1/4 oz., violet "Philadelphia, Paid 12, Oct 29" exchange credit cds to France for packet and inland, carried on French Line Pérriere from New York Oct 30th to Le Havre arriving Nov. 9th, red Havre (10.30) entry datestamp and matching small "PD" framed handstamp, bold strike of blue "Forwarded to Milan by Drexel Harjes & Co." oval handstamp; some edge wear, Very Fine and colorful use; with 2003 P.F. certificate. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Philadelphia foreign mail six-bar grid cancel was used only in the last four months of 1869.
Realized: $220
Lot
1554
1870 (Mar. 15) Boston Mass. to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil via London, cover bearing 6¢ ultramarine (115) tied by circular of wedges fancy cancel, red "Boston Paid Mar 15" foreign mail cds, carried by Guion Line Colorado from New York Mar. 16th to Queenstown arriving Mar. 27th, red London (3.28) arrival cds, sharp strike of red "B.F. Stevens, United States Despatch Agent, London, Mar 28 1870" oval handstamp and forwarded the letter to Rio de Janeiro the next day, most likely on the Royal Mail Steamship Company's Douro departing Southampton Apr. 9th to Rio de Janeiro arriving Apr. 30th, Commander Walker docketed May 11th receipt; small tear, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $250
Lot
1555
1870 (Nov. 30) Buenos Ayres, Argentina to New York N.Y. via France and London, unpaid folded letter with partial French Post Office "Buenos-Ayres, 30 Nov. 70" origin datestamp, carried by French Ligne J paquebot Sindh to Bordeaux arriving Dec. 30th, exchanged with G.B. at the 2F20c per ounce bulk rate, red London (1.9) transit backstamp and blue crayon "28" cent debit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line Russia from Liverpool Jan. 14th to New York arriving Jan. 27th, New York (1.28) backstamp, manuscript "33" due rating in U.S. notes, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
French Post Office failed to apply the "FR/2F20c" accountancy marking, presumably because this letter arrived in France during the time when Paris was besieged by the Germany troops. Since the letter took 10 days to get from Bordeaux to London, indicating the mails were delayed because of war.
Lot
1556
1871 (Feb. 10) Havana, Cuba to Edinburgh, Scotland via New York and Ireland, datelined blue folded letter endorsed "pr Missouri via New York" at top, "New York '12' Feb 17" exchange debit cds, carried transatlantic by Cunard Line Samaria from New York Feb. 17th to Liverpool arriving Feb. 28th, apparently sent in Dublin bag in error and Dublin "1 S/"" due handstamp for one shilling packet rate, Edinburgh (3.2) arrival backstamp, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $190
Lot
1557
1871 (Feb. 17) New York N.Y. to Edinburgh, Scotland, blue folded letter datelined "Havana 10th February 1871", endorsed "pr Missouri via New York", black "New York '12' Feb 17" exchange debit cds, carried by Cunard Line Samaria from New York Feb. 17th to Queenstown arriving Feb. 28th, apparently sent in the Dublin bag in error and "1 S/" " due rating struck for U.S. 6d postage, 3d 1869 Convention and 3d unpaid fine, Edinburgh (3.2) arrival backstamp; central fold, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $90