Lot
615 
1851 (Aug. 1) San Francisco to Herford, Prussia, folded letter with black "San Francisco Cal. 1 Aug" cds and matching "Paid" and "3" rating handstamps, updated with red "Paid" and framed "30" rate h.s., carried by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Sep. 13 to Liverpool arriving Sep. 24, London (9.25) backstamp and "U.S. Pkt." straightline with manuscript "8" debit to Prussia, Aachen (9.26) backstamp and blue manuscript "10" silbergroschen due rating, Very Fine, the only recorded example of this 30¢ Bremen treaty error rate, one of the rarest California rates. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Letter carried by Pacific Mail Steam Navigation Company steamer "Oregon" to Panama and United States Mail Steamship Company steamer "Georgia" from Chagres to New York. San Francisco did not know how to implement July 1, 1851 rate changes on foreign mails and produced a number of different error rates. Here the letter was paid 3¢ for internal rates only which was corrected to 30¢ for the rate to Bremen as interpreted by the San Francisco postmaster (24¢ sea postage to Bremen and 6¢ prepaid cross country rate to New York). He was unaware that Bremen treaty rate had been reduced to 20¢ with no U.S. inland fees required. This 30¢ rate was a Bremen Treaty error rate, corrected two months later. Since at least 26¢ had been paid, New York sent letter in the British Open mails. London marked the U.S.PKT, debited Prussia 8 pence, and sent letter to Aachen via Belgium. Aachen marked 10 sgr. postage due.
Realized: $1,150