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Sale 96: The Robert S. Boyd Collection of US-German Mails

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1847 US-Bremen Agreement

Lots 5015-5024 Lots 5025-5034 Lots 5035-5041

Lot 5015    

1848 (Mar. 15) Elizabethtown, Ind. to Ochsenbach, Württemberg, folded letter with manuscript "Elizabeth Town, March 15" postmark and matching "Paid 10" rating, "New-York, Mar 20" backstamp, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York on Mar. 21st to Bremerhaven arriving Apr. 13th, many manuscript postal ratings, handstamped "America/über Bremen" with red crayon "9¾" transit fee rating showing Bremen port-to-city fee, final red crayon "1f22" due rating (82kr), Very Fine, ex-Winter.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

THIS LETTER WAS CARRIED ON THE FIRST OF FIVE VOYAGES UNDER THE BREMEN POSTAL TREATY OF 1847.

Letter sent to Oberamt of Brackenheim since there was no post office in Ochsenbach. On first five voyages of Ocean Line to Bremerhaven, Bremen charged ¾ ggr. for transit from Bremerhaven to Bremen. Bremen debited Hannover 9¾ ggr. Hannover debited Thurn & Taxis Post 11 1/12 ggr. (equivalent to 49 kr.). Thurn & Taxis Post added 24 kr. transit but debited Württemberg 77 kr. instead of 73 kr., or 1 fl. 17 kr. Württemberg added 3 kr. and Oberamt added 2 kr. for total postage due of 1 fl. 22 kr. Less than 20 covers have been recorded showing the ¾ ggr. transit fee.

Realized: $475

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Lot 5016    

1848 (May 19) Charleston S.C. to Gottingen, Sweden, datelined folded letter with red "Charleston S.C. May 19" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with ms. "34" rating, red "New-York, May 23" exchange backstamp and "PAID PART" straightline, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Jun. 20th to Bremerhaven arriving Jul. 9th, Hanover "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp and red crayon "2" ggr debit rating, Gottingen (7.8) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and scarce "Paid Part" use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The charge for mail addressed to Hanover was 2 ggr and for mail transiting Hanover 1 1/3 ggr. By agreement with Hanover and the US, Bremen did not charge transit fees. Because of the complexity of calculating postage transiting several states, the US Post Office recommended paying only the International Rate, leaving the German postage due; such letters were marked "PAID PART." Due to this guidance, letters with full postage paid were uncommon and were marked "PAID ALL".

Realized: $375

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Lot 5017    

1848 (Jun. 8) Cincinnati Oh. to Sersheim, Württemberg, blue folded letter with red "Cincinnati, O. '10' Jun 8" integral-rate origin cds and matching "Paid", red "New-York Jun 13" exchange backstamp with black "24" debit handstamp to Bremen, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Jun. 13th to Bremerhaven arriving Jul. 6th, black "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, red "10 1/3" rating handstamp and various red crayon and green ms. markings, Very Fine, a wonderful letter showing the rating complexities.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

The Hannover post in Bremen debited Hannover 9 gutegroschen, a restatement of the 24¢ U.S. debit. Hannover marked 10 1/3 ggr. debit to Thurn & Taxis Post, later marked as 46 kr. Thurn & Taxis Post added 24 kr. transit fee to Württemberg and wrote the total as "1/10" for 1 florin 10kr. Vaihingen added 3kr delivery fee for final total due of "1f13" (1 florin 13 kr).

Realized: $525

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Lot 5018    

1849 (Apr. 11) Warren, Pa. to Zierolshofen, Baden, folded letter with blurry "Warren Pa. Apr 11" origin cds and matching "Paid" h.s. with manuscript "10" cents rating, "New-York Apr 15" exchange cds with black "24" debit h.s. to Bremen, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Apr. 2nd to Bremerhaven arriving May 7th, Hannover black "9 America/über Bremen" two-line and red "10 1/3" handstamp, red crayon "59" kr total due rating, F.-V.F., ex-Winter.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE HANNOVER "9 AMERICA/ÜBER BREMEN" HANDSTAMP IN BLACK INK.

The Hannover post in Bremen debited Hannover 9 gutegroschen, a restatement of the 24¢ U.S. debit. The "9 America/über Bremen" handstamp was introduced in May 1849 and is known in black ink on this one voyage only. Hannover marked 10 1/3 ggr. debit to Thurn & Taxis Post, later marked as 45 kr. Thurn & Taxis Post added 6 kr. transit fee to Baden, where 8 kr. Baden internal fee also was added for total postage due of 59 kr.

Realized: $850

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Lot 5019    

1850 (Aug. 31) Hermann Mo. to Durlach, Baden, blue folded letter with blue manuscript "Hermann Mo., 31 August 1850" postmark and "Paid 52" rating at top right, red "New-York, Sep 12" exchange backstamp with red "PAID ALL" straightline and magenta "18" cent credit, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Sep. 20th to Bremerhaven arriving Oct. 6th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, various credits including red ms. "6" kr and red crayon "4", Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $300

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Lot 5020    

1850 (Nov. 16) New York N.Y. to Mittenwald, Bavaria, blue datelined folded letter with "New-York, Oct 14" ocean mail cds (wrong month) and matching "24" debit, red "Not Paid" framed handstamp; carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Nov. 20th to Bremerhaven arriving Dec. 8th, red "9 America/über Bremen" two-line and two matching strikes of "10 1/3" handstamp handstamps, magenta manuscript. "45" kr restatement plus Thurn & Taxis manuscript. "9" kr postage due for total 54 kr due, Very Fine and choice use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $600

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Lot 5021    

1851 (Sep. 30) Wheeling Va. to Sondelfingen, Württemberg, blue folded letter with red "Wheeling, Va., Sep 30" cds and matching "Free" handstamp overstruck with correct "Paid" and additional strike below, ms. "34" rating, red "New-York, Oct 4" exchange backstamp and magenta "12" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Oct. 15th to Liverpool arriving Oct. 26th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, various credits and restatements, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

From 30 June 1851, a single international rate of 20¢ from anywhere in the US replaced the 24¢, 29¢, and 34¢ rates. The founding of the German-Austrian Postal Union (GAPU) in July 1850 led to more uniform German rates. Nonetheless, this lot and the following reflect continued uncertainty about correct rates.

Realized: $260

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Lot 5022    

(Bremen Closed Mail) 1851 (Nov. 24) Cleveland Oh. to Hamburg, Germany, gray datelined folded letter with "Cleveland O. Nov 24" cds and red "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "21" cent rating, red "New-York, Nov 28" exchange backstamp and black "PAID PART" straightline, carried by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Dec. 6th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 17th, closed bag through Bremen, Hamburg (12.23) arrival backstamp, red crayon "3" schillinge (5¢) due rating for GAPU transit, Very Fine and scarce Bremen Closed mail use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Ocean Line ships often did not sail in winter in the early 1850s, so NY made up "closed mails," i.e., locked mail bags sent to England by other American or British ships and then sent on to Bremen for processing. Bremen Closed Mail was used throughout 1851-52 to meet demand. This cover was endorsed to go in British Open Mail by US packet, but instead were sent by Bremen Closed Mail.

Realized: $325

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Lot 5023    

1852 (Feb. 21) New York N.Y. to Heidelberg, Baden, orange cover with "New-York 'Part Paid' 21 Feb" integral exchange cds and pencil "80" cent prepaid rating, endorsed "Sample without Value", carried by Collins Line Pacific from New York Feb. 21st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 8th, then by ship to Bremerhaven arriving Mar. 8th, light strike of red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, reverse with Deutz-Minden (3.9) transit and Heidelberg (3.11) arrival, black crayon and blue ms. "9" kr. due ratings for GAPU fee; flap mostly missing and some restoration, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

A RARE USE OF THE NEW-YORK PART PAID INTEGRAL EXCHANGE CDS.

New York marked PAID PART as only the postage to Bremen was prepaid.

Realized: $1,050

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Lot 5024    

1852 (May 9) New York N.Y. to Heidelberg, Baden, orange cover with partial red "New-York, May 8" exchange cds and pencil "27" cent prepaid rating, matching "PAID ALL" straightline and "7" credit handstamp, carried by Havre Line Franklin from New York May 8th to Southampton arriving May 20th, then by ship to Bremerhaven arriving May 24th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, red "Fr. 2 5/12" credit handstamp, reverse with Deutz-Minden (5.27) transit and Heidelberg (5.31) arrival, blue ms. "fr" indicating paid, Very Fine and scarce Bremen mails "Paid All" use.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

The "Paid All" handstamp is a New York marking indicating that the letter was prepaid to destination. The Hanover Post Office in Bremen red "Fr. 2 5/12" gutegroschen credit handstamp is know used only from April to June 1852.

Realized: $575

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Lots 5015-5024 Lots 5025-5034 Lots 5035-5041

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