Lot
5093 
1862 (Sep 3) Boston Mass. to Meran, Austria, stunning red and blue Eagle with Shield, Flags, and Symbols, Magee patriotic design (Walcott 2463) with "Onward to Victory" slogan on cover bearing 1¢ blue, 3¢ rose, 12¢ black (63, 65, 69 pair) tied by Boston "Paid" grid cancellations, red "Boston, Br Pkt '7 Paid' Sep 8" credit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Europa from Boston Sep. 3rd to Queenstown arriving Sep. 13th, red "Aachen Franco 16 / 9" framed transit with manuscript "5 / 15" rating for 5 kreuzer internal German fee and 15 kr foreign fee, Meran arrival backstamp, redirected to Vevey, Switzerland with various backstamps including Zurich (9.21) and Lausanne (9.22) transits; 3¢ with straight edge, Very Fine, ex-Matthies, Gabriel, Mark Gordon, Pacetti; with 1987 P.F. certificate. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL CIVIL WAR PATRIOTIC DESIGN WITH A THREE-COLOR FRANKING FROM THE ANGELL CORRESPONDENCE.
In September 1861, the US Post Office Department reduced the prepaid letter single rate to most German states from 30¢ to 28¢ due to a British reduction of 1d (2¢) postage to those states. By British-Prussian agreement, the single rate for letters was reduced by 2d, half of which was extended to the transit of US mail.
In May 1862, the reduction was applied to all German States except Baden, which was included one year later. The rate for unpaid mail remained at 30¢.
Realized: $20,000
Lot
5084
1856 (Jun. 10) Mercersburg Pa. to Berlin, Prussia, light "Mercersburgh Pa. Jun. 10" cds ties 1¢ blue (9), 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, mostly ample margins, and 10¢ green, types II-IV (14-16) pair, positions 53-54L1, right stamp recut at bottom, large margins all around, on 3¢ red Nesbitt (U10) buff entire, endorsed "Per Prussian Closed Mail, paid through" at bottom left, red "N.York, Am. Pkt. 'Paid 7' Jun 14" credit exchange cds, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Jun. 14th to Southampton arriving Jun. 28th, bold red "Aachen, Franco, 20/6" framed handstamp; one 3¢ has manuscript. "X" cancel, which has been removed from 1¢ and 10¢ stamps to improve appearance, entire slight wrinkle and part of backflap missing, Very Fine appearance, ex-De Wasserman, Piller, Sevenoaks, Tito. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN EXTRAORDINARY FOUR-COLOR COMBINATION TO MAKE UP THE 30¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE, WHICH IS PROBABLY UNIQUE WITH THE 10¢ TYPE IV STAMP.
Realized: $2,500
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
Lot
5217
(India) 1870 (Nov. 18) Northampton Mass. to Calcutta, India, Benjamin Smith Lyman correspondence cover bearing 3¢ ultramarine (114) and 1¢ ultramarine (145), each tied by four-ring target cancels duplexed with "Northampton Ms. Nov 18" double-circle datestamp, black "New-York Nov 19" backstamp and matching "Insufficiently Paid" straightline with blue crayon "6", changed to "4" with "Calcutta" underlined and and annotated "Ret. for postage", red "New-York, Dec 15" exchange cds ties stamps and matching "Insufficiently Paid" straightline handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Aleppo from New York Dec. 15th to Queenstown arriving Dec. 26th, red London (12.27) transit and "PAID-ONLY/TO ENGLAND" two-line handstamp, routed via Brindisi with blue Verviers-Cologne transit (1.12) backstamp, Bombay (1.20) transit and Calcutta (1.24) arrival backstamps, "St. Bo. A-P 8-8" due handstamp (8 annas - 8 pie, or 26¢ U.S.), with original enclosure; 3¢ stamp with small tear, cover with sealed tear at top affecting postmark and minor repair along top left edge, a Very Fine use, ex-Coulter, Bailar; with 2015 P.F. certificate. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A SPECTACULAR 1869 AND BANK NOTE MIXED-ISSUE USE DEMONSTRATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF FOREIGN-MAIL RATES DURING THE 1869-70 PERIOD.
The 1870 US-UK agreement allowed partial payment of 4¢ on mail to or through England, but the New York foreign mail clerk rejected the prepayment. This letter would normally have gone in British Mail via Marseilles, but in November 1870 overland routes through France were closed due to the Franco-Prussian War. The British Post Office sent it via Ostende (Belgium) and Coeln (Germany) through the Brenner Pass to Brindisi, then to Alexandria, Egypt by Italian or British packet. It went to India on a steamship of the British Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
India did not apply the correct surcharge for this route, instead applying the old 8a-8p due marking for mail via Marseilles route (30¢ less 4¢ because of the "Paid Only to England" marking). The Via Brindisi route was in use for less than nine months.
Benjamin Smith Lyman was a mining engineer for the Department of Public Works in India.
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Realized: $4,500
Lot
5114
1861 (Oct. 8) Lima, Oh. to Oberweisbach, Thuringia, Gates red and blue Flag & Eagle clutching "Protect" ribbon Civil War Patriotic cover bearing 24¢ gray lilac (37) tied by "Lima O., Oct 3, 1861" cds, repeated at left, black "New-York, Am. Pkt. '23' Oct 12" debit exchange cds, carried by Havre Line Fulton from New York Oct. 12th to Southampton arriving Oct. 24th, red Aachen (10.26) transit backstamp and blue ms. "45" kr due rating, updated in blue ms. "12¾" sgr, Oct. 28th arrival backstamp; light edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Waterhouse, Ishikawa, Gallagher, Gabriel. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE 24¢ 1860 ISSUE USED ON A CIVIL WAR PATRIOTIC TO GERMANY.
There was a widespread misapprehension in the latter half of the 1850s that a 24¢ rate to Germany existed. Ashbrook's note on reverse interpreted the late use of the 24¢ 1860 issue as "Old Stamp Not Recognized", but this was actually a short payment of the 30¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate treated as totally unpaid.
Realized: $2,800
Lot
5215
(Greece) 1871 (Oct. 2) Clinton, N.Y. to Athens, Greece, cover bearing 12¢ black, E grill (90) clear grill, and 6¢ carmine, H grill (137), s.e. at right and with discernible grill on forehead, each tied by circle of wedges cancel duplexes with "Clinton N.Y., Oct 2" cds, red "New York, Paid All, Oct 4" exchange cds and red crayon "8" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Russia from New York Oct. 4th to Queenstown arriving Oct. 13th, red "P.D." paid direct handstamp and blue crayon "1½" sgr, reverse with Trieste (10.16) oval and Athens receiving backstamp; some edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Vogel, Gliedman. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A CHOICE 1868 AND 1870 GRILLED ISSUE COMBINATION FRANKING PREPAYING THE 18¢ RATE TO GREECE VIA NORTH GERMAN UNION CLOSED MAIL.
In July 1870, the NGU Direct Mail rate was reduced to 15¢ with a corresponding reduction of the 23¢ NGU Closed Mail rate to 18¢. The extra transit charge for letters to Greece was 8¢ for the entire NGU period. Cover to Greece in these years are uncommon as there was little emigration from Greece and no large finds of business or professional correspondence. The recipient Dr. Edward North was a Professor of Greek at Hamilton College, Clinton N.Y. before his appointment as Secretary of the Legation at Athens. This letter was probably sent by a friend there.
Realized: $4,500
Lot
5045
1861 (Jun. 8) New York N.Y. to Nösund, Sweden, registered buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and 30¢ orange (38), each cancelled by matching magenta squiggle, sharp red "N.York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid' Jun 8" exchange cds with magenta "30" credit rating, carried by NGL Line New York from New York Jun. 8th to Bremerhaven arriving Jun. 24th, Hamburg (6.25.61) oval backstamp and "Franco" straightline with red crayon "5" sgr credit rating (11¢), red fancy "Recomandirt" handstamp, reverse with Hamburg K.S.P.A. (6.25) framed transit and Gotheborg (6.27) arrival cds; 30¢ small perf flaws, Very Fine and rare 30¢ 1857 issue use. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED REGISTERED COVER VIA BREMEN TO SWEDEN FROM THIS CLASSIC PERIOD.
An article for the exchange of registered mail was added to the Bremen agreement in August 1855. Prepayment was required, including a registration fee of 5¢ payable in cash.
The Bremen City PO transmitted mail to Scandinavia directly through Hamburg, so this cover does not have the "AMERICA UBER BREMEN" marking of the Hanover PO in Bremen. Hamburg marked it "FRANCO" and credited Sweden with 5 sgr (11¢) in red crayon (lower left). The distinctive red "Recomandirt" (Registered-line over m indicates a double letter) marking was also used by the Prussian PO. Sweden marked the letter with a blue manuscript "Rekdr." (Rekommenderat-Registered) at top right.
Realized: $9,000
Lot
5096
1861 (Jan. 10) New Orleans La. to Weddewarden, Hanover, orange yellow cover bearing 30¢ orange (38) vertical pair, vibrant color, tied by large "New Orleans La., 10 Jan" cds, red "N.York, Br. Pkt. '14 Paid' Jan 16" credit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Australasian from New York Jan. 16th to Queenstown arriving Jan. 26th, red "Aachen, Franco 29/1" framed transit; slightly reduced at right, expertly restored along edges, otherwise Very Fine, unusual quadruple-rate franking, otherwise Very Fine, unusual quadruple-rate franking, ex-Wagshal. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE 30¢ 1860 ISSUE PAIR AT DOUBLE THE 30¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE TO GERMANY.
Realized: $2,900
Lot
5103
1865 (May 1) Buffalo N.Y. to Langenblielau, Silesia (Poland), yellow cover bearing 10¢ green (68), 12¢ black (69) and three 30¢ orange (71) singles, all cancelled by circular grids matching "Buffalo N.Y., May 1, 1865" cds, red "N.York, Br. Pkt. 'Paid' May 8" exchange cds and red crayon "28" cent credit, carried by Cunard Line Persia from New York May 3rd to Queenstown arriving May 13th, blue "Aachen, Franco 16/5" framed transit, May 17th arrival backstamp; one 30¢ stamp rounded corner, small cover tear at top right and part of backflap missing, Very Fine and attractive franking prepaying quadruple the 28¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate to Italy, ex-Dupuy, Gliedman. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Realized: $4,250
Lot
5226
(Ottoman Empire) 1870 (Apr. 19) Middleborough, Mass. to Constantinople, Turkey, tissue paper cover from the Washburn correspondence bearing 15¢ brown & blue (119), rich colors, cancelled by cork duplexed with "Middleborough, Mass. Apr 19" cds and tied by red "Boston, Paid All, Direct, Apr 20" exchange cds, red crayon "5" credit rating, carried by NGL Line Hermann from New York Apr. 21st to Bremen arriving May 4th, red "Bremen, Franco, 4/5 70" framed transit and matching red "Weiterfr. 2 Sgr" framed handstamp restating credit in silbergroschen, Norddeutsche Post (5.9) arrival backstamp; small edge repair at top just affecting cds rim, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF FINEST OF ONLY SIX RECORDED 15¢ 1869 COVERS TO TURKEY.
In US publications, quotes of postage rates were given for "Turkey", which actually.
Realized: $1,600