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