Sale 55: United States Postal History

Lot 977    

1858 (Dec. 1) New York, N.Y. To Copenhagen, Denmark, blue folded letter with "N. York '5' Hamb. Pkt. Dec 1" debit exchange cds, carried as endorsed by Bavaria that departed New York Dec. 1, but had machine problems and arrived in Queenstown on Dec. 21, Hamburg (12.23) transit backstamp and blue "8¾" sgr. debit handstamp, Danish red crayon "12" sch. equivalent (38sk.) rating and reverse with "38/9" for 47sk. total due with 9sk. foreign postage added, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $600

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Lot 978    

1859 (Jan. 6) Albany, N.Y. To Rome, Italy, yellow cover bearing 1857, 3¢ dull red, tied by "Albany N.Y. Jan. 6" cds and also by "New York Jan 9" exchange cds, French transits including Jan. 22 entry cds, manuscript "32" decimes due rating, Rome (1.27) arrival backstamp; flap tear ending in small edge tear, Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $70

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Lot 979    

1859 (Feb. 6) Vera Cruz, Mexico To Négrepelisse, France, folded letter entered U.S. mails with "New Orleans La. Feb 12 1859" and manuscript "22" unpaid rating for French Mail rate, Boston "10" cent debit for U.S. transit from Mexico, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Feb. 23 to Liverpool arriving Mar. 8, French entry (3.9) entry cds with "12" decimes due h.s., Négrepelisse (3.14) arrival backstamp, tiny edge tear, otherwise Very Fine, a scarce French Treaty mail from Mexico via U.S.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

From contents, letter written by junior naval officer on brig D'Oliver in anchorage off small island of Sacrificios, where Fort of San Juan de Ulma protects entrance to Veracruz. His vessel was based at Fort-de-France, Martinique. It was carried to New Orleans by mail steamer "Tennessee", a temporary mail steamer owned by Charles Morgan.

Realized: $220

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Lot 980    

1859 (Mar. 19) Baltimore, Md. To Amsterdam, Holland, blue printed circular at 2¢ newspaper rate prepaid in cash with "Balto. Paid" and red crayon "2" cents rating, carried by Cunard Line Arabia, red French (4.4) transit cds, manuscript "7½" Dutch Cents postage; small part of address redrawn, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Amsterdam applied triangular "1½ c., Amsterdam" handstamp on backflap, a fiscal tax on all printed matter from foreign countries. Holland incorrectly charged "7½" Dutch cents for the British open mail rate instead of the correct "12½" Dutch cents for mail via France.

Realized: $90

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Lot 981    

1859 (Jun. 23) Boston, Mass. To Calcutta, India Via New York, folded letter datelined from Boston with red "New-York Am. Pkt. Jun 25" exchange cds, red framed "Paid" handstamp and pencil "21" rating, endorsed "via Marseilles", red London (7.8) backstamp transit with "1/-" shilling due rating, "Calcutta Steam Letter, 1859 Aug 11" arrival backstamp with ms. 8a due rating, Very Fine, ex-Arthur White.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Carried by Havre Line "Fulton" from New York Jun. 25 to Southampton arriving Jul. 7th, then P&O "Panther" from Marseilles Jul. 13th to Alexandria arriving Jul. 19th, then P&O "Nemesis" from Suez Jul. 21st via Galle to Calcutta arriving Aug. 11th.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 982    

1859 (Oct. 20) High-Wycombe, England To New York, N.Y., registered mourning envelope bearing G.B. 6d. purple and 1s. green, tied by "364" barred ovals, red "Registered London 20 OC 59" oval datestamp with matching "Registered" crown handstamp, red New York arrival cds and "36" rating handstamp; some edge wear, Very Fine.
Scott No. GB #27 + 28    Estimate $100 - 150.

Realized: $85

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