Lot
3175 
1857 (Sep. 14) Philadelphia Pa. to Liverpool, England, immaculate cover bearing 12¢ black (17) horizontal pair, position. 19-20L, full to large margins including right sheet margin, deep shade and intense impression, tied by two bold strikes of "Philadelphia Pa., Sep 14" cds and red "Philadelphia Br. Pkt. '19' Sep 15" credit cds for 16¢ British packet and 3¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Sep. 16th to Liverpool arriving Sep. 27th, pretty red "American, Liverpool, Paid SP27 57" receiving cds, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Haas, Grunin, "Sevenoaks"; with 1988 P.F. certificate. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL GEM 12¢ 1851 ISSUE PAIR AND USE TO LIVERPOOL.
Branch offices in Philadelphia were instructed not to postmark treaty mail, but to pass it to the foreign desk. The black date stamp was applied in error.
Realized: $1,800
Lot
3176
1857 (Jan. 20) Philadelphia Pa. to Paris, France forwarded to Rome, light buff cover with red "Philadelphia Pa., Paid, Jan 20" origin exchange cds and matching "Paid 21" cent prepaid rating for 5¢ inland plus 16¢ American packet, carried by Ocean Line Constitution from New York Jan. 24th to Southampton arriving Feb. 7th, red London (2.10) transit backstamp and "GB/40c" accounting handstamp, Calais (2.10) entry cds and matching "5" décimes due handstamp, blue "Greene & Ca." forwarding oval to Rome, dropped into post box with red "Trouvé á bôite" framed handstamp struck, Paris (2.11) cds and manuscript "20" décimes due rating, red "VIA DI MARE" straightline for "By Sea" Marseilles to Civitavecchia, red Rome (2.14) arrival backstamp; partial flap; folds. Estimate $200 - 300.
Under the 1856 Anglo-French treaty, effective 1 January 1857 the fee charged to France by Great Britain for unpaid letters transiting the U.K. was reduced from 40 décimes to only 40 centimes per ounce. Senders in America paid the same amount, but recipients in France saw a steep reduction in postage due. Because the U.S-French treaty was not effective until April 1, the first quarter of 1857 is often called the Three Month Period by collectors. Few covers are known from Philadelphia.
Realized: $220
Lot
3177
1857 (Mar. 9) Soutshields, England to Philadelphia Pa., cover bearing G.B. 1s green tied by "704" barred oval, "Southfield, MR 9, 1857" origin and Liverpool (3.10) transit backstamps, large red "21/Cents" credit to U.S. handstamp, carried by Havre Line Arago from Mar. 11th to New York arriving Mar. 27th, red "Phila. Am. Pkt. 'Paid 24' Mar 28" integral-rate cds. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
3178
1857, 1859 Philadelphia Pa. to England, two covers comprising 1857 (Sep. 29) with red "Phila. Br. Pkt. '19' Sep 29" credit exchange cds and matching "Paid" straightline to Liverpool carried by Cunard Line Persia, 1859 (Apr. 1) with red "Philada. Am. Pkt. '3' Apr 1" credit exchange cds and matching "Paid" in circle handstamp to London carried by Havre Line Arago, Very Fine pair by British and American packet. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
3179
1857 (Oct. 24) St. Helena to Philadelphia Pa., cover with red "St. Helena, OC24 1857" oval backstamp and endorsed "Ship Letter", sent unpaid via British Packet, carried by Ship Sir Edward Paget from St. Helena to London arriving Dec. 18th, London manuscript "3" cent debit in error updated to "28" cents debit to U.S. for 12¢ (6d) uniform rate to London plus 16¢ transatlantic packet, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Dec. 19th to Boston arriving Jan. 3rd, "Philadelphia, Br. Pkt., Jan 4" exchange cds and matching "33" due handstamp including 5¢ inland postage. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED LETTER FROM ST. HELENA TO PHILADELPHIA, AND THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THIS PHILADELPHIA "33" RATING HANDSTAMP.
The Philadelphia Exchange Office
Philadelphia became an exchange office on I January 1854, and was to correspond in closed bags with the exchange offices at Liverpool, London or Southampton. Although mail despatched by the Philadelphia exchange office could originate anywhere, British bags sent to Philadelphia were to comprise only mail to addresses within the Philadelphia city limits.
Realized: $1,700
Lot
3180
1857 (Nov. 24) Philadelphia, Pa. to Singapore, Straits Settlements, light buff cover with red "Philadelphia Pa. Nov 24" cds with matching "Paid 30" prepaid handstamp, endorsed "per Overland Mail via 'Galle' Ceylon", carried by Cunard Line Arabia from New York Nov. 25th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 6th, French (12.7) entry cds with "P.D." framed handstamp, Marseille (9.11) backstamp; couple flap tears, ex-Winter. Estimate $300 - 400.
Philadelphia exchange office used "PAID/30" handstamp to show prepayment but failed to indicate 27¢ credit to France in accordance with the treaty. Letter carried by P&O steamer "Vectis" from Marseille to Alexandria, unidentified P&O steamer from Suez to Galle, and P&O steamer "Ganges" from Galle to Singapore. Letter was 66 days in transit to Singapore.
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Realized: $325
Lot
3181
1857 (Dec. 8) Philadelphia Pa. to Malvern, England, cover bearing 12¢ black, plate I (36) horizontal pair, tiny tear at top affecting left stamp, tied by neat "Phila. Br. Pkt. '19' Dec 8" credit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Dec. 9th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 20th, red "America, Liverpool, Paid, DE 20, 57" entry cds, Malvern (12.21) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and attractive use cancelled by red cds, 12¢ pair catalogs $850 on cover. Estimate $200 - 300.
Cover is addressed to Rebecca B. Cope, who was the great-granddaughter to Thomas P. Cope.
Lot
3182
1858 (Feb. 4) Philadelphia Pa. to Valparaiso, Chile, orange buff cover bearing 1¢ blue (24), 3¢ dull red (26), 10¢ green, type II (32) strip of three, positions 78-80R, prepaying the 34¢ treaty rate via American and British packet, Philadelphia red "24" cents credit handstamp to U.K., carried by U.S. Mail Steamship Co. Moses Taylor from New York Feb. 5th to Aspinwall arriving Feb. 19th, then Pacific Steam Navigation Co. Valparaiso from Panama Feb. 22nd to Valparaiso arriving around Mar. 16th, Consular mail in closed bag, so no Panama transit or Valparaiso arrival markings; some expert edge restoration, Very Fine appearance, ex-Piller. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE USE TO CHILE AT THE 34¢ TREATY RATE PREPAID BY THE 1857 ISSUE.
Letters to the west cost of South America conveyed by British packet from Panama entered the British mails at Chagres for the trip across the isthmus. From January 28, 1855 onward he Chagres-Panama leg was by rail, a journey of only a few hours. The 34¢ treaty rate via American and British packet breakdown comprises 10¢ to Aspinwall and 24¢ British packet, with corresponding Philadelphia 24¢ credit to U.K. for British packet from Panama to Chile.
This cover was rated by the Philadelphia exchange office after having been datestamped in error by the domestic mail department.
Lot
3183
1858 (May 17) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England forwarded back to Philadelphia, tissue-paper cover bearing 12¢ black, plate 1 (36) horizontal pair, cancelled by circular grids and tied by red "Phila. Br. Pkt. '19' May 17" credit exchange cds prepaying the 24¢ treaty rate with 19¢ credit to G.B. for 16¢ packet plus 3¢ inland, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Boston May 19th to Liverpool arriving May 30th, red London Paid (5.31) arrival cds, reverse with "Forwarded, Geo. Peabody & Co., London" double-oval, returned unpaid with London "B J, 1 JU 1, 1858" crown cds and black "3/Cents" debit handstamp to U.S. for British inland, 12¢ stamps also cancelled by "26" barred oval, returned by Havre Line Arago from Southampton Jun. 2nd to New York arriving Jun. 15th, black "Philadelphia Am. Pkt. '24' Jun 15" integral-due cds also ties pair; some ink erosion, otherwise Very Fine and interesting round-trip cover, 30-day trip. Estimate $200 - 300.
Lot
3184
1858 (May 21) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, cover bearing 12¢ black, plate 1 (36) pair, tied by grid circular cancels prepaying the 24¢ packet rate, partial strike of red "Phila. Br. Pkt. '19' May 21" credit exchange cds for 16¢ packet plus 3¢ inland, carried by Cunard Persia from Boston Jun. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Jun. 13th, sharp red London Paid (6.14.58) arrival cds, Extremely Fine and choice use. Estimate $300 - 400.