Lot
4037 
Australian States: Victoria, 1855 (Nov. 1) Greelong, Victoria to Harrisburg Pa. via New York, registered cover bearing Victoria, 3d blue (SG 31) horizontal pair, large margins with rich color, and Victoria 1s registration (F1), large to huge margins, both tied by strikes of Greelong "2 V" barred numeral ovals, matching "Greelong, Victoria, NO 1, 1855" rimless oval backstamp, manuscript "6" pence debit, Melbourne transit backstamp, carried as endorsed by Clipper James Baines via Cape Horn to England, reverse with "Australian Packet, Liverpool, MR 4 * 55" transit cds and manuscript "Art 2", manuscript "1/" rating and "¢ 24" cent debit to U.S., carried by Collins Line Quaker City from Liverpool Mar. 5th to New York arriving Mar. 21st, "New.York Am. Packet, Mar 21" exchange cds with matching "45" cent due handstamp, Very Fine, ex-Col. Green; with 2002 B.P.A. certificate. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
THE ONLY RECORDED VICTORIA HALF-LENGTH COVER TO THE UNITED STATES WITH THE WORLD'S FIRST REGISTRATION STAMP.
The "45" due handstamp is the 33¢ collect rate plus 12¢ for British registration. Note that England was still punishing Victoria by not considering transit covers paid to England at the 6d empire rate.
References: Illustrated and Discussed in Milgrams "Foreign Registered Mail: 1855-1875, Part Two: British" in the Chronicle May 2019, p. 181, fig. 21.
Realized: $8,500