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Sale 52: The Westpex Sale

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Danish West Indies - Foreign Mails

Lots 1364-1373 Lots 1374-1380

Lot 1364    

1817 (Apr. 20) American Consul at St. Thomas, seven page letter datelined "Saint Thomas, 20th April 1817" and written by the American Consul R.M. Harrison with wonderful content reading in part "Herewith you will receive copies of a correspondence which has recently taken place between his Excellency the Governor General of the Danish west India colonies & myself by which it appears this government have determined to restrict me in the execution of my Consular duties, to occasions only where my interference might prove advantageous to them as for instance the protection and support of such destitute American Seamen as would otherwise become a burden to his Government. Were this the first instance wherein the determined hostility of the individuals who compose the Government of his Danish majesty's colonies in this quarter had been evinced towards myself and the country I have the honor to represent….The collector of this port has assumed a practice, not, as I have been informed, delegated to him by any Law, of appointing a searcher who boards every American vessel to ascertain the nature and the amount of her cargo, a measure executed on American vessels only and not any other…", it continues with great content, signed by Harrison, F.-V.F., A wonderful piece of DWI and American Consular history.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,300

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Lot 1365    

1867 (Apr. 8) La Grange, Ill. to St. Thomas via New York, folded letter letter datelined "La Grange 8th April 1867" and bearing 1861, 3¢ rose (two singles), 10¢ green and 1863, 2¢ black, all tied by partial New York cds strikes, carried privately to New York and forwarded by Caesar & Paul (blue oval hs) to St. Thomas, prepaid 18c via Havana but sent direct, Apr. 29 receipt docketing, slightly wrinkled, still Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A RARE THREE-COLOR FRANKING TO ST. THOMAS WITH THE 2¢ BLACK JACK.

Realized: $1,200

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Lot 1366    

1869 (Jun. 7) Trinidad to Philadelphia, Pa. via St. Thomas, docketed blue folded cover carried privately to St. Thomas, light strike of blue "Lamb & Co., St. Thomas" forwarders oval, entered mails with "St. Thomas 14/6 1869" cds and U.S. 1868, 10¢ green, F. grill, horizontal pair, stamps cancelled upon arrival by "N. York Steamship, Jun 21" cds, reverse with perfect strike of "Philada. P.O. 'Received' Jun 21 12 M." cds; light perf toning, F.-V.F., a scarce double-weight use from St. Thomas.
Scott No. 96    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $625

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Lot 1367    

1873 (Aug. 27) St. Thomas to France via NDL Steamer to Germany, blue folded cover with address excised bearing 1872, 3¢ rose, perf, irregular at right, and horizontal pair of 1873, 4¢ dull blue, perf, each tied by bold strike of St. Thomas five-ring "missing wedge" cancel, matching "St. Thomas 27/8 1873" cds, red French "Allemagne, Paq. Amb. A., 13 Sept" entry cds with red "P.D." framed handstamp, red crayon "1" rating, sent at the 11¢ prepaid rate composed of 7¢ to Germany and 4¢ to France, Fine, ex-Blinn, Dubois; 1996 Paaskesen certificate. Facit No. 3 + 4.
Scott No. 3 + 4    Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.

THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED PAIR OF THE 1873 4¢ DULL BLUE USED ON COVER.

In 1871, the British post office announced a contract with Norddeutscher Llyod Bremen (NDL) to carry mails between Southampton, Venezuela, Panama, and, later that year, St. Thomas. This mail was dispatched through the Danish post office at St. Thomas. The NDL service lasted until March 1874. The other recorded 3¢ rose and 4¢ dull blue perf. combination franking is also dated Aug. 27, 1873 and was sent to Germany (ex-Schnell).

References: Illustrated Danish West Indies Mail, 1754-1917, Volume 1 — Postal History, by John L. DuBois (2000).

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Lot 1368    

1873 (Jul. 14) St. Thomas to Genoa, Italy, blue folded letter with "St-Thomas JY 14 '72" backstamp, carried by RMSS Elbe to England, red London (7.29) backstamp, forwarded in closed bags via France to Italy, Genoa (8.1) arrival backstamp and "17" decimi backstamp with Italy 1L, 30c. and 40c. postage dues cancelled by Genoa cds; horizontal fold with slight toning, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Under terms of the current Anglo-Italian Convention, the portion due G.B. was a combination of 1sh. (12 decimi) per ¼ ounce British transatlantic packet service and transit fee to France, plus the 1 France per 30 gram (25c. per 7½ gram) closed mail transit fee through France to Italy, for a total of 14½ decimi. Added to this was 20 centesimi per 7½ gram Italian internal postage, for total rounded up to 17 decimi.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1369    

1874, 3¢ Blue & Carmine, 1¢ single and 3¢ strip of three (pos. 51-53), tied by "St. Thomas 24/5 1892" circular datestamps on cover to Halifax, Nova Scotia at the 10¢ UPU rate, endorsed "pr Finance", printed "Bank of St. Thomas" corner card at lower left, New York Paid All (5.31) and Halifax (6.3) backstamps; Very Fine. Facit No. 5g + 6g.
Scott No. 5 + 6    Estimate $400 - 600.

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Lot 1370    

1874, 3¢ Blue & Carmine, used with United States 1875, 5¢ blue (179), s.e. at right, on large part of folded cover, 3¢ tied by St. Thomas missing wedge five ring cancel with matching "St. Thomas 26/11 1875" cds at left, 5¢ tied by partial "N.York Steamship" cds; endorsed "p. 'Carondelet' ", Very Fine and colorful, ex-Arnould, Dubois. Facit No. 6.
Scott No. 6 + U.S. #179    Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED U.S. 5¢ D.W.I. BICOLOR COMBINATION FRANKINGS.

A great rarity that would be valued at $10,000-15,000 as a full cover. This was posted a few days after the last U.S. Brazil Mail Steamship Co. sailing to New York. It was carried on the U.S. Steamship Carondelet via Puerto Rico to New York. The 3¢ bicolor stamp, printing I, paid the local D.W.I. charge and the U.S. 5¢ stamp pair the U.S. steamship charge.

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Lot 1371    

1876, 10¢ Light Brown & Light Pearl Grey, tied by "St. Thomas 29/1 1891" cds on cover with H. Michelsen Bay Rum Distillery corner card to Jersey City, N.J., New York (2.6) backstamp; small edge tear at top, Very Fine. Facit No. 10.
Scott No. 10    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $200

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Lot 1372    

1876, 10¢ Light Red Brown & Dull Grayish Blue, horizontal pair, tied by "Christiansted 29/10 1899" cds on cover to New York City, endorsed "per 'Madiana' ", purple Moorhead merchants handstamp, Frederiksted (10.29) and New York (11.1) backstamps; a Very Fine double-weight use. Facit No. 10.
Scott No. 10    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $250

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Lot 1373    

1878, 4¢ Yellow Brown & Light Blue, printing II, horizontal pair, used with two 1895, 3¢ dull green-blue and red singles, printing VIII, corner flaws, and three 1900, 1¢ light green singles, tied by "Fredericksted 25/12 1900" circular datestamps on registered cover to Brooklyn N.Y., endorsed "per S.S. Carribean", New York (1.2) and Brooklyn (1.3) backstamps; most of flap missing, F.-V.F. Facit No. 7b + 6h, 19.
Scott No. 7b + 6, 21    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $270

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Lots 1364-1373 Lots 1374-1380

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