Lot
1189 
1862 (Feb. 1) New York N.Y. to Hong Kong, China, cover to Cornelius B. Gold on the Bark Oriental, care of the U.S. Consul, bearing 5¢ buff (67), 10¢ green (68) and 30¢ orange (71), all tied by NYFM circular open grid cancels, partial red New York 'Paid' (2.1) backstamp and magenta "24" cent credit rating, endorsed "Via Southampton", carried by Inman Line City of New York from New York to Liverpool arriving Feb. 15th, red London Paid (2.15) transit cds and matching red "1d" colonial credit handstamp, Hong Kong (4.11) arrival backstamp; cover tear and edge nick at top left, couple trivial short perfs, Very Fine. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A REMARKABLE THREE-COLOR FRANKING OF 1861 ISSUES IN EARLY SHADES USED TO PAY THE 45¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE VIA SOUTHAMPTON TO HONG KONG, CHINA.
Cornelius B. Gold sailed for Hong Kong aboard the ship "Oriental" with a cargo of coal in December 1861. In Hong Kong, he found passage on the "Jabez Snow" to Liverpool with a load of hemp and sugar. From Liverpool he made his way to Cork and then sailed home on the "City of Manchester" arriving in March 1863. In August of 1863 he was enrolled in Company B of the 6th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Gold joined his regiment in Hilton Head, S.C. in October of 1863 and was soon assigned to be secretary in court martial proceedings. In the spring of 1864, the Connecticut 6th Infantry moved to Bermuda Hundred, Va. and then participated in the Petersburg Campaign. During this time he spent some time in Balfour Hospital in Portsmouth, Va. and was considered for a medical discharge due to his frailty, but was ultimately returned to his company. In November, 1864 Gold received a transfer to the U.S. Navy where he served as a paymaster. He signed letters through the spring and summer of 1865 from the USS Vincennes, Stockdale, Circassian, and Anderson in Mobile Bay, and from Mobile, Ala. and Pensacola, Fla. By the beginning of 1866 he was back home in Connecticut.
The 45¢ British mail rate via Southampton to China was effective September 1, 1861 to December 31, 1867. The 24¢ credit to Great Britain was for 24¢ British transit, with New York retaining 21¢ for 5¢ U.S. postage plus 16¢ transatlantic packet.
Realized: $10,500