Lot
4148 
1863 (Feb. 1) Onisbo Cal. to Sandhurst, Victoria, embossed lady's cover bearing United States, 10¢ dark green (62B) and two 10¢ green (68) singles, each cancelled by tiny ms. cancel, matching manuscript "Onisbo, Feb 1 1863" postmark, partial "N.York Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Mar 3" exchange cds and magenta "28" cent credit, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Mar. 4th to Queenstown arriving Mar. 15th, red London Paid (3.16) transit cds, then P&O steamers via Suez to Melbourne, reverse with red Melbourne (5.10) transit and Sandhurst (5.11) arrival oval; cover wear, some perf toning and small stamp flaws, Fine, a rare combination franking of the First Design and later issue. Estimate $300 - 400.
Sender prepaid the 30¢ French Mail rate, but the 28¢ credit marking to England indicates the cover was treated as being fully prepaid for the 33¢ rate via Southampton.
Realized: $350
Lot
4149
1864 (Jul. 20) Boston Mass. to Melbourne, Australia, yellow cover United States, 5¢ brown (76), 10¢ green (68) and 30¢ orange (71), tied by strike of 6-section split grid cancel, red "Boston Br. Pkt. '40; Jul 20" exchange credit cds to G.B., carried by Asia from Boston Jul. 20th to Queenstown arriving Jul. 30th, red London Paid (8.1) transit cds, sent via Marseilles and Suez, carried by P&O Madras to Melbourne, blue Melbourne (10.13) arrival backstamp; reduced slightly at right slightly affecting 5¢, Very Fine three-color franking at the 45¢ rate for ½ ounce via Marseilles. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $950
Lot
4150
1865 (Jan. 7) Boston, Mass. to Melbourne, Australia, tissue-paper cover bearing 30¢ orange (71) tied by four-bar grid and red "Boston. Am. Pkt. '27 Paid' Jan 7" credit exchange cds, endorsed "Via Marseilles", carried by Allan Line St. David from Portland Me. Jan. 7th to Londonderry arriving Jan. 19th, French "Etats Unis Serv. Br., 21 Janv 65" exchange cds and matching bold "P.D." framed handstamp, reverse with Marseilles (1.22) and blue Melbourne (3.15) arrival cds; bit of flap missing, light stain at bottom, otherwise Very Fine and rare use. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED 30¢ FRENCH MAIL RATE TO AUSTRALIA CORRECTLY SENT VIA FRENCH PACKET.
Starnes lists a 30¢ French Mail rate to Australia from 1857 to 1870 - this may be the only properly carried example surviving. Allan Line Packets were treated as American Packets by the USA, but British Packets by France - which explains the French "BR" handstamp.
Realized: $900
Lot
4151
1865 (Jul. 7) Boston Mass. to Melbourne, Victoria, yellow cover bearing United States, 5¢ brown (76), 10¢ green (68) and 24¢ lilac (78), all tied by two strikes of split grid cancels, red "Boston Am. Pkt. Paid, 7 Jul" exchange backstamp and red crayon "18" cent credit to G.B., endorsed "Via Marseilles", carried by City of Boston from New York Jul. 8th to Liverpool arriving Jul. 18th, red London Paid (7.19) transit cds, sent via Marseilles and Suez, carried by P&O Bombay to Melbourne, blue Melbourne (9.19) arrival backstamp, mended top edge flaw and cover wrinkling, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $500 - 750.
Australian Colonies went to ½ ounce rates for Marseilles mail in 1863, but the United States continued to use the old ¼ ounce rate schedule until 1868. This is the 39¢ rate for ¼ ounce via Marseilles.
Realized: $1,800
Lot
4152
Australian States: New South Wales, 1866 (Apr. 21) Sydney, New South Wales to Danville N.Y., salmon buff cover bearing New South Wales, 6d violet (40) and 1s rose (42), tied by "N.S.W" oval duplex with "Sydney, AP 21, 1866" cds, red crayon "8" pence credit, carried by P&O Madras from Australia, red London Paid (6.11) transit cds with matching "16/Cents" handstamp credit to U.S., carried by Inman Line City of New York II from Liverpool Jun. 13th to New York arriving Jun. 26th, "N. York, Am. Pkt. '5' Jun 26" exchange due cds for 5¢ inland; some cover restoration, Fine appearance. Estimate $300 - 400.
The 18d rate for ½ ounce via Marseilles applied from July 1863 in England and September 1863 in Australia. Accountancy applied between England and United States for transatlantic postage.
Realized: $210
Lot
4153
1866 (Dec. 11) Washington D.C. to Sydney, Australia, cover bearing United States, 90¢ blue (72) pair, right stamp tiny perf tear, tied by two quartered corks, matching "Washington D.C., Dec 11" duplex at upper right, endorsed "by steamer via London and Marseilles", partial red "N.York Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Dec 12" exchange cds and red "142" credit to G.B.; carried by Cunard Line Scotia from New York Dec. 12th to Queenstown arriving Dec. 21st, red London Paid (12.22) transit cds, sent via Marseilles and Galle, P&O Geelong to Sydney, Sydney Ship Letter (2.13) arrival backstamp; light central file crease, Very Fine, ex-Ackerman, Grunin, Ishikawa. Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED UNITED STATES 90¢ 1861 ISSUE PAIR ON COVER TO AUSTRALIA.
Cover was prepaid $1.80 for two ounces via Marseilles with $1.42 credit to England indicates 1¼ ounces.
Realized: $45,000
Lot
4154
1867 (Dec. 10) Washington D.C. to Sydney, New South Wales, light buff cover bearing United States, 15¢ black (77) and 30¢ orange (71), tied by circular grid cancels duplexed with "Washington D.C., Dec 10" cds, additional strike of cds at right, endorsed "by steamer via England and Marseilles", partial red New York exchange cds and matching "40" handstamp credit to G.B.; carried by Cunard Line Persia from New York Dec. 11th to Queenstown arriving Dec. 22nd, red London Paid (12.23) transit cds, sent via Marseilles and Galle, P&O Geelong to Sydney, Sydney (2.14) arrival backstamp; central file crease and small edge tear, F.-V.F. and attractive franking at the 45¢ rate for ½ ounce via Marseilles, ex-West. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $500
Lot
4155
Australian States: New South Wales, 1869 (Apr. 21) Sydney, New South Wales to Chatham Mass., cover bearing New South Wales, three 2d blue singles, 6d violet (40) pair and two singles, all tied by strikes of "N.S.W." oval duplexed with "Sydney, AP 21, 1869" cds prepaying 30d for double the 15d rate, red crayon "10" pence credit to G.B., endorsed "Via Marseilles", carried by P&O Malta to Galle, P&O Mooltan to Suez arriving Jun. 3rd, across Isthmus by railroad to Alexandria Jun. 5th, then P&O Pera from Alexandria to Marseilles arriving Jun. 11th, red London Paid (6.12) transit cds and matching "4/Cents" handstamp credit to U.S., carried transatlantic by Cunard Line China from Queenstown Jun. 13th to New York arriving Jun. 22nd; corner nick bottom right affecting 6d, F.-V.F. Estimate $500 - 750.
Double 15 pence rate applied for between one half and one ounce (12 pence via Southampton rate plus 8 pence French charge plus 10 pence transatlantic).
In late 1870, with Paris was under siege during the Franco-Prussian War, the premium overland mail was switched to the Italian port of Brindisi and the Italian railroad. The shorter sailing from Alexandria speeded up the mails to London by about two days.
Realized: $425
Lot
4156
Australian States: Victoria, 1869 (Apr. 24) Melbourne, Victoria to New York N.Y., tissue-paper cover bearing Victoria, 3d lilac (83) and 1s blue (80), tied by two strikes of "Victoria" barred circle cancel duplexed with "Melbourne, AP 24, 69" cds, red crayon "5" pence credit to G.B., endorsed "Via Marseilles", carried by P&O Malta from Melbourne, partial strike of red London Paid (6.12) transit cds and matching "2/Cents" handstamp credit to U.S., carried transatlantic by Cunard Line China from Liverpool Jun. 13th to New York arriving Jun. 22nd, red "New York Br. Pkt, Jun 23" exchange cds; edge wear and flaws, Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
The 1868 Marseilles rate of 15d per half ounce paid postage to all United States destinations, but accountancy between England and the United States still applied.
The 1868 Act reduced the transatlantic rate to 6d, which included internal postage for both England and USA. The 1869 Act mandated a 2¢ credit to United States for internal postage.
Realized: $450
Lot
4157
Australian States: Victoria, 1869 (Jun. 19) Melbourne, Victoria to San Francisco Cal., blue cover with embossed "Via Marseilles" cameo corner card, bearing Victoria 3d orange (114), 1s blue (119), both tied by two strikes of "Victoria" barred ovals duplexed with "Melbourne, JN 19, 69" cds, red crayon "5" pence credit to G.B., carried by P&O Avoca from Melbourne, red London Paid (8.7) transit cds and matching red "2/Cents" handstamp credit to U.S., carried by Cunard Line Scotia from Queenstown Aug. 8th to New York arriving Aug. 17th, closed back to San Francisco where magenta "San Francisco, Paid All, Aug 24" exchange cds, "Advertised" straightline and "Cannot Be Found" framed handstamps, reverse with partial "San Francisco Cal., Advertised, 8 Sep" cds and green "D.L.B., Victoria, AP 14, 70" cds; 1s corner tear, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A VISUALLY APPEALING AROUND-THE-WORLD USE TO THE UNITED STATES AT THE 1S 3D (30¢) RATE.
This cover was unclaimed in San Francisco and returned to Melbourne by private ship across Pacific Ocean - Around the world in 300 days.