Lot
1623 
Cuba, 1855 (Dec. 22) Havana, Cuba to New York N.Y., blue folded letter with bold strike of "Charleston S.C., Dec 28" cds and matching "HAVANA" straightline handstamp, pencil "60" rating for six-times the 10¢ steamship rate, endorsed per "pr. 'Quaker City' ", actually carried on the Isabel which departed two days before the Quaker City; some wrinkling, Very Fine, ex-Kouri. Estimate $300 - 400.
ONE OF ONLY 10 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS CHARLESTON "HAVANA" STRAIGHT (THREE IN BLACK). THE HIGHEST RATE USE KNOWN CARRIED BY STEAMSHIP.
In the same time period, 1854 to 1856, Charleston used a single-line postmark "Havana" (9.8x2.6 mm) struck on letters exceeding ½ ounce in weight. This letter likely contained several letters to be sent onwards, the recipient is a well-known forwarder.
Illustrated and described by Kouri in Chronicle 201, pp. 63-73. This Charleston "HAVANA" straightline is scarce with only ten recorded (seven blue and three black). The Karrer example was not in the census.
Realized: $325