Lot
665 
1847 (Jul. 2) Bremen to Cambridge, Mass., folded letter endorsed "U.S. Consulate, Leipsig" at top right and "pr. Steamship Washington via Bremen", sent by diplomatic courier to Bremen, flap with manuscript "Received & forwarded, U.S. Consulate at Bremen" and "from Southampton" endorsement added, entered mails with Bremen (7.2) origin cds and dark magenta framed "Paid." handstamp with magenta "3" schilling credit to G.B. rating for double the 1s6d rate, red London "Paid 5 JY 1847" transit cds, carried by Ocean Line Washington from Southampton Jul. 15th to New York arriving Jul. 30th, New York blue ms. "34" due rating for 24¢ American packet fee plus 10¢ inland postage; some edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Friedrich Meyer. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED LETTERS CARRIED ON THE MAIDEN RETURN VOYAGE OF OCEAN LINE'S "WASHINGTON", THE ONLY INVOLVING FORWARDING VIA THE U.S. CONSULATE AT BREMEN.
While letters on the eastbound route during the Discriminatory Rate period are relatively rare, those on westbound voyages are exceptional. On arrival at New York, they were charged the full US sea postage rate of 24 cents plus the appropriate inland rate for delivery. The "Washington" was delayed 2½ days due to repairs.
References: Friedrich A. Meyer, "An Early Westbound Bremen-Mail Letter and the First Three Round Trips of the Pioneer Steamer Washington", Chronicle 255, Aug. 2017, pp. 295-307.
Lot
666
1848 (Mar. 15) Bremen, Germany to New York N.Y., folded cover with "St. P.A. Bremen. 14/3" double-circle origin cds and endorsed "pr Steamer Washington" at top, carried as endorsed by Ocean Line Washington from Bremen Mar. 15th to New York arriving Apr. 7th, New York red "24" cent due handstamp for 24¢ transatlantic packet, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Baird. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
CARRIED ON THE FIRST WESTBOUND SAILING UNDER THE U.S.-GERMANY TREATY OF MARCH 1848 - THE FIRST DIRECT CLOSED MAIL SERVICE DEPARTURE CONNECTING THE PORT OF BREMEN AND THE UNITED STATES.
Realized: $800
Lot
667
1849 (Jul. 30) United States to Wallenstadt, Switzerland, fully paid gray folded cover with red "Paid" handstamp and ms. "55" cent prepaid rating, endorsed "via Boston & Liverpool" and "postpaid", red "New-York, Jul 30" exchange backstamp and matching red "PAID ALL" straightline with magenta "21" cent credit to Bremen, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Aug. 20th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 5th, Bremen red two-line "America/über Bremen" handstamp and red crayon "wfr 7" credit, Hannover dark red ms. "5.8" credit (5 2/3ggr or 22x) and finally gray ms. "6" kr, Wallenstadt (9.13) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED PREPAID BREMEN MAILS USE FROM THE UNITED STATES TO SWITZERLAND DURING THIS PERIOD.
Letter was full prepaid according to the tariff from March 1848 with 55¢. This extremely rare rate is 9¢ over the maximum postage of 12¢ for the German states and is the only known paid letter from this first rate period to Switzerland. New York credited Bremen with 21¢ (12¢ German plus 9¢ Switzerland), Hannover credited 7ggr; Hanover hands over with "5.8" credit (5 2/3 ggr or 22kr), and 6kr for Switzerland.
Realized: $425
Lot
668
1849 (Sep. 18) Schafstädt, Germany to Burlington N.J., greenish folded letter with "Schafstädt" straightline, red crayon "4½" sgr. rating at lower left, Bremen (10.4) transit backstamp and boxed "Paid to Bremen." handstamp, carried by NGL Line Washington from Bremen Oct. 15th to New York arriving Nov. 6th, "New York 'Ship 29 cts.' Nov 7" integral-due cds; some edge wear, Very Fine and rare incoming "Paid to Bremen" use. Estimate $400 - 600.
The boxed "Paid to Bremen" handstamp was struck at Bremen to show transit fees from Prussia to Bremen only were prepaid. Letter was unpaid from Bremen to destination. About a dozen examples of this marking have been recorded used from August 1849 to September 1865. Most mails were sent either full paid or unpaid, but not just paid to Bremen.
Realized: $325
Lot
669
1852 (Mar. 15) San Francisco, Cal. to Herford, Germany, blue folded letter with red "San Francisco, Cal. 15 Mar" cds and matching bold "Paid" and error "26" rating handstamps (26¢ British rate instead of 27¢ for Bremen Mail), red "New York, Apr 21" exchange backstamp and matching "PAID ALL" straightline with "26" rating crossed out and magenta "7" cent credit, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Aor. 24th to Bremen arriving Sep. 8th, Hannover P.O. in Bremen red script "Fr. 2 5/12" straightline applied, Minden (5.10) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and unique error use. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A BEAUTIFUL SAN FRANCISCO BREMEN MAILS TRANSATLANTIC ERROR USE WITH ALL MARKINGS STRUCK IN RED.
San Francisco erroneously struck "26" (British Rate of 10¢ plus 16¢, instead of 27¢ for Bremen Mail). New York noticed the error and crossed out the "26" and still credited "7" cents. The "Paid All" handstamp is a New York marking indicating that the letter was prepaid to destination. The Hanover P.O. in Bremen red "Fr. 2 5/12" gutegroschen credit handstamp is know used only from April to June 1852.
Lot
670
1852 (Jul. 31) Syracuse, N.Y. to Halle, Prussia, cover with blue rimless "Syracuse N.Y. Jul 29" cds and matching fancy framed "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "21" rating, endorsed "Paid to Bremen", red "New-York, Jul 31" exchange backstamp and bold "New-York, Paid Part, 31 Jul" cds, carried in Bremen Closed Mails by N.Y. & Havre Humboldt from New York Jul. 31st to Bremen arriving Aug. 16th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, pencil "3" and blue ms. "3" rating, Aug. 17th arrival backstamp; cover tear at left, otherwise Very Fine and attractive Bremen Closed Mails use. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A SCARCE BREMEN CLOSED MAILS USE WITH THE RARE NEW-YORK PART PAID INTEGRAL EXCHANGE CDS, ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN ARE KNOWN.
New York marked PAID PART as only the 20¢ Treaty rate to Bremen was prepaid.
Lot
671
1853 (Aug. 25) Upper Alton, Ill. to Schwäbisch Hall, Wurttemberg, blue folded letter with "Upper Alton Ill. Aug 27" cds and manuscript "Paid 22" rating, endorsed "by N.Y. & Bremen Mail" at top right, red "N. York 'Paid 8' U.S. Pkt, Sep 10" credit exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Hermann from New York Sep. 10th to Bremen arriving Sep. 25th, red "America/Über Bremen" two-line handstamp and black "Fr. 3" script handstamp, Very Fine and choice use at the new 22¢ Bremen Mail rate. Estimate $500 - 750.
CARRIED ON THE FIRST VOYAGE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR UNDER THE NEW BREMEN MAILS TREATY.
New York credited Bremen with 8¢ and sent letter fully paid to destination. Bremen credited 3 silbergroschen to the Thurn & Taxis Post for transit fees to Württemberg. The "Fr.3" marking, although in black ink, showed the 3 silbergroschen transit fee was paid, an uncommon marking used only for about one year.
Realized: $240
Lot
672
1863 (c.) New York, N.Y. to Bremen, Germany, folded cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by ny fancy leaf cancel used on circular mail, matching sharp "PAID ALL", endorsed "p. Teutonia via Hamburg" at top left and "1 printed Price Current, Paid" at bottom left, carried as endorsed by HAPAG Line Teutonia from New York to Hamburg; upper right corner flaw, a Very Fine and scarce use at the 3¢ Hamburg newspaper rate. Scott No. 65 Estimate $400 - 600.
Another newspaper use from the same correspondence is dated January 23rd 1863 and endorsed "p Teutonia via Hamburg". Under Article V of the 1857 U.S.-Hamburg Convention, the rate to other parts of the G.A.P.U. was 3¢ (2¢ to Hamburg, 1¢ to G.A.P.U.).
Lot
673
1865 (Aug. 22) Chatham 4 Corners, N.Y. to Jever, Oldenburg, orange buff cover bearing 10¢ green (68), canceled by grid with matching "Chatham 4 Corners N.Y. Aug 22" cds, red "N. York Brem. Pk. 'Paid 7' Aug 26" exchange cds ties 10¢, carried by NGL Line Bremen from New York Aug. 26th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 9th, framed "Paid to Bremen" handstamp, blue crayon "1" sgr. due rating, Very Fine and scarce partially prepaid letter to Oldenburg. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $850
Lot
674
1866 (Jul.) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Washington D.C. via London and Boston, legal-size cover with "United States Consul: Buenos Ayres" imprint to the Examiner in the Patent Office, entered British mails with blue "Rio de Janeiro, JY 9, 1866" double-arc backstamp, red London (8.3) transit backstamp and manuscript "200/5" debit rating for five-times 40¢, carried transatlantic by Cunard Line Cuba from Liverpool Aug. 4th to Boston arriving Aug. 16th, black "Boston Br. Pkt. Aug 16" exchange backstamp and blue crayon depreciated currency rating "2.25/3.30" with "In U.S. Notes" handstamp adjacent; some wear and toning mostly on back, some separation, Fine and scarce five-times rate depreciated currency use. Estimate $400 - 600.
Cover was rated $2.25 due for five-times the 45¢ rate in currency, or $3.30 in depreciated greenback notes for a 1.47 inflation factor.
Realized: $400