Lot
361 
1857 (Jul. 29) Boston, Mass. to Leghorn, Tuscany, Italy, gray folded letter with "Boston, Br. Pkt. 29 Jul" exchange cds and matching bold large "23" cent debit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Jul. 29th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 10th, Aachen (8.11) backstamp and blue "38" kr. debit, Florence (8.17.57) arrival backstamp with red manuscript "30" crazie due rating, Very Fine and choice, Prussian Closed Mail covers to Tuscany are uncommon. Estimate $300 - 400.
This large Boston "23" debit handstamp is not recorded by Blake. Aachen marked 38 kreuzer (Austrian) as the debit to Austria for the international rate of 30¢. Transit through Switzerland added 3 kr.(A) for a total Austrian debit of 41 kr.(A) which was passed on to the Kingdom of Sardinia. This was equivalent to 26 crazie in Tuscany to which 4 crazie transit was added. Total postage due marked in red pen was 30 crazie.
Realized: $350
Lot
362
1857 (Jul. 30) Towsontown Md. to Paris, France, forwarded to Geneva, Switzerland, cover bearing 12¢ black (Scott 17) vertical pair, full margins to just in at top left, tied by neat strike of neat strike of black "Towsontown Md. Jul. 30" cds, New York red "3" credit handstamp crossed out by foreign mail circular grid cancel, updated with red "New York 'Paid 6' Aug. 1" credit exchange cds, carried by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Aug. 1st to Liverpool arriving Aug. 12th, French (8.12) entry cds and Paris (8.12) arrival backstamp, "John Munroe & Co., Paris" oval backstamp and remailed to Geneva with Paris (8.13) cds and black "35cs" due handstamp, Geneva (8.14) arrival backstamp, with original 1857 enclosure, small repair at top left corner of top stamp, otherwise Very Fine and unusual use, ex-Eubanks; with clear 1999 P.F. certificate. Estimate $500 - 750.
This cover was mistakenly given a 3¢ credit in New York (the clerk must have thought this was paying the 24¢ rate to England), the 24¢ in stamps overpaid by 9¢ the 15¢ rate to France. Charged 35 centimes for forwarding postage from France to Switzerland.
Realized: $550
Lot
363
1857 (Oct.) St. Petersburg, Russia to Newark N.J., cover endorsed "Via Liverpool, pr. Prussian Closed Mail", reverse with "St. Petersbourg, 1857, 23/X" diamond datestamp and manuscript "22/6" rating, face with "franco" and "2" ratings, "Aachen, Paid 25 Cts." updated in magenta to "50" cents, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Nov. 7th to Boston arriving Nov. 19th, red "N. York Br. Pkt. '60 Paid' Nov 21" exchange credit cds (Winter 107), Very Fine and scarce incoming PCM from Russia. Estimate $200 - 300.
The rare New York Br. Pkt. "60 Paid" exchange credit cds (Winter 107) is recorded by Winter on Jan. 26th 1861. This example is far earlier.
Realized: $160
Lot
364
1857 (Nov. 5) San Francisco Cal. to Enniscorthy, Ireland, 10¢ green (U18) buff entire cancelled by "San Francisco, Cal. Nov 5, 1857" cds, sent via Panama to New York, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Dec. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Dec. 14th, reverse with "Liverpool, America, DE 14, 857" transit cds and matching "ART-5 / BR. PKT." two-line handstamp, bold strike of "1/1½" 1s1½d due handstamp, Dublin (12.15) and Enniscorthy (12.16) arrival cds; top edge restored, Very Fine appearance and scarce use. Estimate $300 - 400.
This cover was underpaid for the 29¢ West Coast rate to Ireland and therefore treaty as wholly unpaid. The U.S. - G.B. Treaty specified the rate under Article 5 of the treaty and handstamps were applied at Liverpool stating "ART-5 / B.R. PKT." and "ART-5 / U.S. PKT." depending on British and American packets respectively.
Realized: $200