Lot
4006 
Australian States: South Australia, 1850 (Jun. 2) Adelaide, South Australia to Albany N.Y. via Great Britain, datelined folded letter sent with 6 pence ship letter paid in cash, sent by private ship via Cape Horn to Great Britain, reverse with framed "9 OC 1850, Liverpool Ship" transit and matching "ART-2" straightline and "8" handstamp for 8d ship letter, manuscript "32 Cents" debit rating, carried by Cunard Line Asia from Liverpool Oct. 12th to New York arriving Oct. 23rd, red "New-York, Oct 23" exchange backstamp and ms. "37" due rating, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
This is the earliest of fifteen 37¢ collect covers recorded by Winter and Forster (Chronicle Nov 1990). Earliest of twelve ART-2 covers recorded by Ben Palmer in Sydney Views, and one of only two with the handstamp on the front of the cover. The ART-2 device was sent from London to Liverpool on 21 Feb 1850 to be used to show letter-bill accounting number on unpaid transit mail from a foreign country to the United States.
Realized: $1,300