Lot
559 
Hong Kong, 1853 Canton to New York. Part entire from Canton, 10 Mar, either hand-carried on board P&O Singapore on her first voyage from Hong Kong, 11 Mar, to Singapore, 16 Mar, or missed Singapore, and sent by another vessel to catch her at Singapore. Entered mails in Singapore where "Singapore Bearing 18 Mar"applied. Manuscript rated 1/10 for up to a quarter ounce letter via Marseille, manuscript "70" cents debit by GB, with red "28AP28 1853" Great Britain transit on reverse, hand-stamped 75 cents due by New York Exchange Office for letter weighing quarter to half ounce, including 5 cents for US inland, but, unusually, no date-stamp, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
"Singapore" departed Singapore 18 Mar arriving Galle 25 Mar; Oriental: Galle 28 Mar - Suez 15 Apr; Bengal: Alexandria 19 Apr - Malta 22 Apr; Euxine: Malta 22 Apr - Marseilles 25 Apr. An early voyage after P&O took over Malta - Marseille route from British Admiralty in Feb 1853. Per Cunard Line Cambria: Liverpool 30 Apr - Boston 13 May. Letters from China entering the mail at Singapore are very seldom seen.
Realized: $900