Lot
5200 
1872 (Sep. 27) Hoboken, N.J. to Rostock, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, "Henry Bischoff Banker" corner card cover bearing 12¢ dull purple (151) tied by four-ring cancel duplexed with "Hoboken, N.J., Sep 27" double-circle datestamp and partial indistinct strike of red "New York, Paid All, Br. Transit, Sep 28" exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Rhein from New York Sep. 28th to Bremerhaven arriving Oct. 10th, red "Bremen, Franco, 10/10 72" framed transit, Oct. 11th arrival backstamp, Very Fine use at double the 6¢ Direct Mail rate. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $350
Lot
5201
1873 (Jun. 26) New York N.Y. to Hamburg, blue folded cover bearing 6¢ carmine (137), strong grill and large margins, tied by NYFM geometric star fancy cancel and sharp red "New York, Paid All, Direct, Jun 26" exchange cds, carried as endorsed by Hapag Cimbria from New York Jun. 26th to Hamburg arriving Jul. 9th, Hamburg (7.9) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and scarce 6¢ 1870 grill use; with 1984 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 137; $525 Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $180
Lot
5202
1874 (Feb. 13) New York N.Y. to Cassel, Hesse, cover bearing two 3¢ green (158) s.e. singles, tied by NYFM geometric fancy cancel and red "New York, Feb. 14" exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Hermann from New York Feb. 14th to Bremerhaven arriving Feb. 27th, German (3.2) arrival backstamp; light stains at left, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $90
Lot
5203
1875 (Jan. 9) New York N.Y. to Regensburg, Bavaria, all-over gray shaded "Bildersee & May Lamps & Glassware" ad cover attractively addressed in purple ink and bearing 3¢ green (158) pair tied by NYFM geometric radial fancy cancel and red "New York Jan 9" exchange cds, carried by NGL Line Hohenzollern from New York Jan. 9th to Bremen arriving Jan. 20th, Regensburg (1.21) arrival backstamp; tiny edge tear, Very Fine and pretty NYFM ad cover use. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $200
Lot
5204
1875 (Apr. 27) Washington D.C. to Freiburg, Baden, gray "Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C." imprint cover bearing 6¢ Interior (O18) cancelled by bold quartered cork cancel duplexed with "Washington D.C., Apr 27" cds, tied by indistinct strike of red "New York, P.O., Apr 28" exchange cds, carried by Hapag Line Pommerania from New York Apr. 29th to Plymouth arriving May 9th, Freiburg (5.14) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice, ex-Huggins. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A RARE USE OF THE 6¢ INTERIOR DEPARTMENT ISSUE ON COVER TO GERMANY.
Lester C. Lanphear, in his comprehensive study of Official covers to foreign destinations in Chronicle 239 (Aug. 2013), records only 126 covers to any foreign destination. For the Interior Department he records 21 covers, mostly franked with 2¢ or 3¢ stamps. This is one of only two covers franked with a 6¢ stamp, the other is addressed to Italy.
Realized: $4,250