Lot
28 
1864 (Dec. 22) New York, N.Y. to Hng Kong, China via London, cover bearing 1¢ blue (63), 3¢ rose (65), 5¢ brown (76) and 12¢ black (69), each stamp tied by NYFM crossroads cancel, "New-York Br. Pkt. Dec 22" exchange backstamp and magenta "48" credit, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Dec. 23rd to Queenstown arriving Jan. 4th, red London Paid (1.5) transit and red crayon "1" pence colonial credit, blue "Hong-Kong, FE 25, 64" arrival backstamp, apparently sent back to London in care of forwarder, small cover repair at top left, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A SPECTACULAR FIVE-COLOR FRANKING OF THE 1861 ISSUE TO HONG KONG AND FORWARDED TO LONDON.
At the time of mailing, there was a 45¢ rate via Southampton and a 53¢ rate via Marseilles. The 45¢ franking indicates the cover was fully paid for the route via Southampton, but the magenta "48" credit indicates that the cover was treated as fully prepaid for the route via Marseilles. The best explanation is that the New York exchange office sent the cover to Boston to make the Cunard sailing on December 23, 1863, and the miss-rating was overlooked. In Southampton, the letter was put in a closed mail bag and sent overland to Marseilles, France. At Marseilles, the letter departed Jan. 13th on the P&O Line "Vectis", arriving at Alexandria, Egypt Jan. 19th. From there, it went overland to Suez where it departed Jan. 20th on the P&O Line "Mooltan", arriving at Galle, Ceylon Feb. 5th. There, it changed ships and left Feb. 5th on the P&O Line "Orissa" arriving in Hong Kong Feb. 25th 1864.
Realized: $1,450