Lot
454 
Victoria, 1854, Queen Victoria ("Wood Block"), 2s dull bluish green on pale yellow, used with 4d rose, rouletted (35), each tied by "1" barred oval cancel on cover to Madison Wis., matching "Melbourne DE 17, 1858" backstamp, magenta ms. "1/4" one shilling-four pence credit to G.B., carried by as endorsed by non-contract steamship Columbian from Melbourne, red London Paid (2.11) cds, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Liverpool Feb. 12th to Boston arriving Feb. 26th, bold "Br. Packet, Boston, 26 Feb" exchange cds and matching "10" due handstamp for inland postage, Very Fine and scarce use at double the 1s2d rate, ex-Risvold. Scott No. 19 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The "Columbian" was a steamer owned by The European and Australian Royal Mail Company, and at the time was operating as a British Packet. For this voyage she left Melbourne on 18 Dec 58, and steamed via King George's Sound (25 Dec) Galle (8 Jan 59) to Suez (23 Jan). At Alexandria the letter was picked up by the "Thames" (27 Jan) and taken via Malta (31 Jan) to Southampton (11 Feb).
Realized: $2,100