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Sale 50: United States Postal History

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Transatlantic Mail to Mexico

Lots 522-526

Lot 522    

1856 (Aug. 12) Hamburg, Germany to Durango, Mexico via USA, folded cover with "Hamburg 12 Aug 1856" origin d.s. and manuscript "Paid 27" (schillinge) for all transit fees, red manuscript "1/7" credit to London, red London (8.14) and Liverpool (8.14) transits, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Aug. 16 to Boston arriving Aug. 27, Vera Cruz (9.14) arrival oval and "2" reales postage due rating h.s., Very Fine and rare routing.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Routing endorsement on this letter, "pr Steamer from Liverpool to New York & from New Orls to Vera Cruz", requested an unusual postal route to Mexico, consisting of Hamburg-G.B. treaty to London, U.S.-G.B. treaty to New York, and U.S. contract steamship mail service from New Orleans to Vera Cruz. The rate for this route in Northern Germany currency was 3 silbergroschen (sgr.) internal and 16¼ sgr. foreign fees or 19¼ sgr. total (equivalent to 27 schillinge Hamburg currency).

The Liverpool transit lozenge substantiated routing to the U.S. since normal mails by West Indies packet were despatched from London to St. Thomas and did not show a Liverpool marking.

From Aug.-Oct. 1856, the New Orleans-Very Cruz steamship operations were interrupted. This letter was probably sent from New York to Havana and then by British mail steamer to Vera Cruz.

This is the only recorded example of a cover from Germany to Mexico sent by this route.
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Realized: $425

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Lot 523    

1857 (Sep. 3) Paris, France to Oajaca, Mexico, folded letter with Paris (9.3) cds with manuscript "12" decimes prepaid rating on reverse, red "Br Service" h.s., carried by Cunard Line Persia departing Liverpool Sep. 5 to New York arriving Sep. 15, red "New York 'Paid' Sep 15" exchange cds and magenta "22" rating, Veracruz (10.5) arrival oval, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

The U.S.-French Treaty had provisions for sending fully paid letters from France through the United States to countries beyond, such as Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America, etc. The fully prepaid rate to Mexico via the U.S. the 12 decimes or 22¢. This paid the letter as far as the U.S. mails could take it, in this case, the port of Vera Cruz.

Realized: $260

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Lot 524    

1859 (Jan. 18) London, England to Durango, Mexico via New York, folded letter with red "Lombard Street Paid JA 18 59" d.s. with red manuscript "1/5" 1s5d prepaid rating for all transit fees via U.S., straightline "Viâ United States" h.s., carried by Inman Line Kangaroo from Liverpool Jan. 19 to New York arriving Feb. 7, Mexican large "3" reales due h.s., Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

In August 1854 the British public was notified that letters could be sent to Mexico by U.S. mail packet from New Orleans at a combined rate of 1s5d (24¢ transatlantic plus 10¢ U.S. packet rate to Mexico). Mails by this route had to be specifically marked "Viâ the United States". Covers showing this routing and rate are quite scarce.

Realized: $260

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Lot 525    

1859 (Jul. 22) London, England to Mexico City, Mexico via New York, folded letter with "Viâ United States" routing h.s., Lombard Street (7.22) cds with manuscript "1/5" 1s5d prepaid rating, carried by Cunard Line Persia from Liverpool July 23rd to New York arriving Aug. 3rd, Mexican "2" reales due h.s., Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

In August 1854 the British public was notified that letters could be sent to Mexico by U.S. mail packet from New Orleans at a combined rate of 1s5d (24¢ transatlantic plus 10¢ U.S. packet rate to Mexico). Mails by this route had to be specifically marked "Via the United States." Covers showing this routing and rate are quite scarce. The "VIÂ UNITED STATES" marking was private marking of C. de Murrieta & Co. of London.

Realized: $375

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Lot 526    

1860 (May 14) Hamburg to Vera Cruz, Mexico, folded cover with red "Hamburg Paid Mai 14" origin cds and red manuscript "10/5" prepaid rating and pencil "9" schillinge equivalent, carried by Hapag Line Saxonia from Hamburg May 15 to New York arriving May 30; light toning along fold, F.-V.F., letters by the Hamburg Treaty going beyond the U.S. are quite scarce.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Letter sent by Hamburg mails via New York. Magenta "10/5" in lower left showed Hamburg breakdown (U.S. currency) of prepaid 10¢ international rate and 5¢ transit fee beyond the U.S. Total postage to Mexico via New York was 6¾ silbergroschen or 9 schillinge.

Realized: $500

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Lots 522-526

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