Lot
259 
Navy Dept., 1873, 7¢ ultramarine, cancelled by purple quartered cork as forwarding postage, matching purple "Washington D.C., Jun 18, 1878" cds on cover originally mailed bearing 3¢ green (158), faulty at bottom, tied by cork cancel duplexed with "Baltimore Md., Jun 18" cds to Midshipman W.S. Benson on the U.S. Flagship "Hartford", care of the U.S. Navy Department at Washington D.C., readdressed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reverse with Rio de Janeiro (7.30) arrival cds, Very Fine. Scott No. O39 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The 7¢ Navy stamp was added to the cover to make up the 10¢ UPU transition rate to Brazil effective July 1st, 1877.
Realized: $5,250