Lot
5025 
1852 (Jul. 9) St. Louis, Mo. to Backnang, Württemberg, folded letter with "Saint Louis Mo., Jul 9" cds with two strikes of red "Paid/All" two-line handstamp and red crayon "32" cent prepaid rating, red "New-York, Jul 15" exchange backstamp with matching complete "PAID ALL" straightline and magenta "7" cent credit rating, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Jul. 17th to Bremerhaven arriving Aug. 2nd, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp and black "Fr. 3." handstamp, Very Fine and choice. 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 black "Fr. 3." sgr credit handstamp is known used only from August 1852 to November 1853. The credit increase from 2 5/12 sgr to 3 sgr in July 1852.
Realized: $500
Lot
5026
1852 (Nov. 5) Philadelphia Pa. to Bremen, Germany, gray folded cover with blue "Philadelphia Pa. Nov 5" cds and red "Phila., 5 Cts. Paid" octagon handstamp with manuscript "20" cent rerate, red "New-York, Nov 5" exchange backstamp and black "PAID PART" straightline handstamp; carried as endorsed by Ocean Line Washington from New York Nov. 6th to Bremerhaven arriving Nov. 23rd; small top edge tear, Very Fine and choice "Paid Part" error use. Estimate $400 - 600.
Although this cover was marked "Paid Part", it was fully prepaid as there was no 3 sgr. (7¢) transit fee for mail addressed to Bremen itself.
Realized: $375
Lot
5027
1853 (Aug. 30) Waterloo, Va. to Schorndorf, Württemberg, blue folded letter with manuscript "Waterloo, Va. Augt. 30/53" postmark and "Paid 34¢" rating, red "N. York, U.S. Pkt. 'Paid 8' Sep 10" exchange cds, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Sep. 10th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 29th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line transit and sharp strike of black "Fr. 3" for 3 sgr credit restatement, reverse with Berlin (9.26), Minden (9.27) transits and Schorndorf arrival, Very Fine and scarce use. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $375
Lot
5028
1854 (Aug. 22) Lancaster, N.Y. to Kuchen, Baden, blue folded letter with "Lancaster N.Y., Aug 22" cds and manuscript "22" rating, partial "New York, Brem. Pk. '5' Aug 25" exchange cds, carried by Fritz Line Hansa from New York Aug. 25th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 10th, Bremen red "24/29 Kr.R AMERICA UBER BREMEN" was struck being 24 Kreuzer packet rate plus 9 kr. inland resulting in blue ms. "33" due rating; few minor tone spots, otherwise Very Fine, A scarce use carried by the 3rd of only 9 voyages by the Fritz Line., ex-Feldman. Estimate $150 - 200.
With the exception of nine trips by the short-lived German Fritze Line, US packets carried the mails on the Bremen route until mid-1858.
Realized: $170
Lot
5029
1854 (Oct. 5) New York N.Y. to Bremerhaven, Germany, blue folded letter bearing Swarts' City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y. (1c) Pink on Wove (136L10), large to huge margins, small star cancel, filing crease through stamp, black "N.York, U.S. Pkt. '9' Oct 7" debit exchange datestamp, carried as endorsed by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Oct. 7th to Bremerhaven arriving Oct. 24th, Bremen red crayon "10" grote due rating, Fine and scarce Swart's local post use by U.S. packet to Bremen, ex-Golden, Kuphal. Estimate $500 - 750.
Under the additional articles of 1853, the rate to Bremen was 10¢, with Bremen entitled to a 1¢ transit fee. A paid letter sent by US ship had a marking of 1¢ credit to Bremen; an unpaid letter showed a debit of 9¢.
Realized: $700
Lot
5030
1855 (Apr. 21) New York, N.Y. to Bremen, orange buff envelope with large pencil "10" prepaid rating and red "N. York U.S. Pkt. 'Paid 1' Apr 21" exchange credit cds, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Apr. 21st to Bremerhaven arriving May 8th; small abrasion spot, Very Fine and scarce New York 1¢ credit circular datestamp, ex-Winter. Estimate $200 - 300.
Under the second Bremen Treaty, of the 10¢ prepaid, the U.S. was entitled to 5¢ internal fee and 4¢ sea transit fee since an American contract steamship carried the letter to Bremerhaven. Bremen was entitled to 1¢ of the international fee.
Realized: $180
Lot
5031
1857 (May 5) Buffalo N.Y. to Bischofsheim, Baden, orange buff cover with "Buffalo. N.Y. May 5" arc-datestamp and matching oval "22" rating handstamp, black "Paid" straightline, red "N.York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid 17' May 7" credit exchange cds, carried by Fritz Line Hansa from New York May 7th to Bremerhaven arriving May 24th, blue America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp, partial arrival backstamp; right flap missing, Very Fine, A scarce prepaid use carried by the Last of only 9 voyages by the Fritz Line., ex-Winter. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Fritz Line "Hansa" carried mails on this last return voyage of nine round voyages between Bremerhaven and New York by this short-lived Bremen steamship company, which attempted to compete with the American Ocean Line as a mail steamship line. Less than five examples of this New York "N.York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid 17' May 7" credit exchange cds have been recorded, a credit marking used only on prepaid letters at the 22¢ rate carried by Bremen steamships..
Realized: $270
Lot
5032
1857 (Sep. 2) Chicago Ill. to Wiesbaden, Germany, yellow cover with black "Chicago Ill., Sep 2, 1857" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red "22" in circle rating handstamp, endorsed "via Bremen" at top left, red "N.York, U.S. Pkt. 'Paid 8' Sep 5" credit exchange cds, carried by Vanderbilt Line North Star from New York Sep. 5th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 19th, blue America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp, reverse with Frankfurt (9.24) transit backstamp; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
The 1853 additional articles created a 22¢ rate for states served by Thurn & Taxis, which refused to adopt the low North German transit fee until 1858, when the 22¢ rate was eliminated.
Realized: $140
Lot
5033
1858 (Apr. 6) Pekin, Ill. to Berlin, Prussia, light buff cover bearing 5¢ red brown (12), four large even margins, used with 10¢ green, type III (33), faulty, tied together by "Pekin Ills., Apr 6" cds for the 15¢ treaty rate, endorsed "Via Bremen Mail", red "New York 'Paid 6' U.S. Pkt. Apr 14" credit exchange cds, carried by Vanderbilt Line North Star from New York Apr. 17th to Bremerhaven arriving May 3rd, blue America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp, Berlin (5.5) arrival backstamp; minor soiling, Very Fine, ex-Baker; with 1977 and 1988 P.F. certificates. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 5¢ 1856 IMPERF - 10¢ 1857 PERFORATED MIXED ISSUE FRANKING TO GERMANY.
The two recorded 5¢ 1856 imperf - 10¢ 1857 perforated mixed issue frankings to Germany:
1. 1857 Sep. 2, Milwaukee WI to Gronau, Hanover, Germany, ex-Mayer, Hackmey, Gross.
2. 1858 Apr. 6, Pekin IL to Berlin, Prussia, ex-Baker, the cover offered here.
Realized: $1,300
Lot
5034
1859 (Mar. 25) Reading Pa. to Neustadt am Rübenberge, Hanover, buff cover bearing 5¢ Indian red (28A), intense color, used with 10¢ green, type III (33), tied together by "Reading Pa., Mar 25, 1859" cds, red "N. York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid 12' Apr 2" credit exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Weser from New York Apr. 2nd to Bremerhaven arriving Apr. 15th, blue America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp, partial Neustadt arrival backstamp; bit of flap missing and vertical filing crease at right, 5¢ trivial toned corner perf, Very Fine; with clear 1984 P.F. certificate. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE AND DESIRABLE 5¢ 1857 INDIAN RED SHADE USED ON COVER TO GERMANY.
Realized: $1,350