Sale 50: United States Postal History

Lot 351    

1863 (Jul. 20) Mucheln, Prussia to Lafayette, Indiana, handmade envelope (from postal form) which contained a letter accompanying a package sent through the mails to Hamburg (packetbegleitbrief). Parcel weighed 14 4/10 Lorraine and was prepaid 66 silbergroschen, special label on reverse identified tax quadrant of parcel origin, "Munchen 7/20" framed origin datestamp and "Am Bestimmungsorte/nicht abgelfordert" framed backstamp, carried by Hapag Line Saxonia from Hamburg Jul. 25 to New York arriving Aug. 10, "N.Y. Hamb. Pkt. '15 or 18 in U.S. Notes' Aug 11" depreciated currency exchange cds, F.-V.F., This is the only transatlantic packetbegleitbrief use recorded.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Since there was no provision for sending parcels in the U.S.-Hamburg Treaty, Hamburg postmaster detached letter from parcel (which was forwarded privately by ship) and sent packetbegleitbrief in treaty mails. New York marked letter for postage due of 15¢ in coin or 18¢ in depreciated greenback currency. Lafayette post office advertised letter, adding 1¢ more to postage due. Unsuccessful, letter marked "Not called for" on right edge and returned to New York for transmission back to Hamburg, where boxed marking in German indicated letter not called for at destination.

Realized: $575

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Lot 352    

1864 (Feb. 18) Beuthen, Prussia to Fernando de Taos, New Mexico Territory, folded letter with Beuthen origin cds and matching "Franco" h.s. with red crayon "6½" sbr. prepaid rating, Hamburg (2.19) backstamp and red "Hamburg Packet 'Paid 3' Feb 20" exchange credit cds, carried by Hapag Line Bavaria from Hamburg Feb. 21 to New York arriving Mar. 9, "N. York 'Paid 10' Hamb Pkt Feb 26" exchange cds, Very Fine, a wonderful cover to this rare destination.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Blue ink "f4½" was a restatement of the international fee (10¢) paid in silbergroschen. Hamburg’s circular datestamp showed the letter was paid and 3¢ was credited to the U.S. New York circular datestamp showed letter prepaid, but not the correct amount of 15¢ (6½ silbergroschen).

Realized: $300

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Lot 353    

1864 (Aug. 17) Hamburg to Boston, Mass., folded letter with red "Hamburg Aug 17 1864" cds with attached "PD" and "16" schillinge prepaid treaty rating, magenta "Aachen 18/8 Paid 23 Cts." cds credit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line Europa from Queenstown Aug. 21 to Boston arriving Sep. 2, red "Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Sep 2" exchange cds, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Aachen used magenta color for a brief period from about July 1864 to January 1865. Its use on this stampless Prussian Closed Mail cover is quite uncommon.

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Lot 354    

1864 (Sep. 28) Neunkirken Bezirk Arnsberg, Prussia (Westfallen) to Reading, Pa., folded letter with Neunkirken (9.28) boxed postmark and red "Recommendirt" serrated box h.s. with red crayon "14" silbergroschen prepaid rating (12 sgr. international rate plus 2 sgr. registry fee), magenta "Aachen 30/9 Paid 23 Cts." cds credit to U.S. and matching "Registered" crown h.s., carried by Cunard Line Europa from Queenstown Oct. 2 to Boston arriving Oct. 14, red "Boston Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Oct 15" exchange cds, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Aachen used magenta color for a brief period from about July 1864 to January 1865. Its use on this stampless Prussian Closed Mail cover is quite uncommon and on a registered cover, rare.

Realized: $850

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Lot 355    

1864 (Nov. 16) Hadersleben, Schleswig to San Francisco, Cal., cover with "Hadersleben 16 11 '64" cds and sent unpaid, Hamburg (11.18) and Bremen (11.19) backstamps with manuscript "10/10" debit to U.S., carried by NGL Line Hansa from Bremerhaven Nov. 20 to New York arriving Dec. 9, "N. York Brem. Pk. '20' Dec 9" exchange debit cds in coin and "U.S. Notes / 47" depreciated currency h.s., partial flap, some light soiling and wear, Fine, Bremen treaty covers from Schleswig (not yet a part of the German union) are quite scarce.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Bremen manuscript in the upper left indicated that 10¢ transit from Schleswig and 10¢ international fee (Bremen to New York) were due. Foreign transit fees consisted of 2 silbergroschen (5¢) Hadersleben to Hamburg and 2 silbergroschen (5¢) Hamburg to Bremen.

Realized: $450

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Lot 356    

1868 (Jun. 26) Frankfurt, Germany to Washington, D.C., cover prepaid 14kr. for direct mail rate with NGU 3kr. strip of three and 1kr. pair, both faulty, tied by Frankfurt (6.26) cds, red London (6.29) transit cds with matching "P.D." framed h.s. and "3/Cents" credit h.s., carried by NGL Line Bremen from Southampton Jun. 30 to New York arriving Jun. 11, red "New York Paid All Jul 12" exchange cds, manuscript "Forwarded" back to New York City with "Washington D.C. Jul 13" cds, Very Fine, this was an uncommon routing from Germany because of the error in handling.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

This letter was intended to be sent from either Bremen or Hamburg directly to New York, but it was sent in error in the open mails to G.B. Under the 1867 treaty, London was required to credit the U.S. with 3¢ on paid letters transiting through Great Britain.

Realized: $325

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