Lot 1275
1861, 10¢ green, horizontal pair, rich color, tied between perfs by four-ring target with center dot cancel, matching "Alpena, Mich, Apr 14" cds on orange buff cover to Trondheim, Norway, endorsed "Via Hamburg or Bremen line paid" at bottom left, partial red "New York, Paid All, Direct, Apr 19" exchange backstamp and matching "10" in circle overstruck with correct "6" credit, carried by NGL Line Weser II from New York Apr. 23rd to Bremen arriving May 6th, red "Bremen, Franco 6/5 68." framed handstamp and matching red "Weiterfr. 2-1/2 Sgr." framed handstamp (equivalent to the 6¢ credit); edge wear, left 10¢ tiny tear, Very Fine.Scott No. 68 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 1861 ISSUE FRANKING PREPAYING THE RARE PREPAID 20¢ NORTH GERMAN UNION DIRECT MAIL RATE TO NORWAY, PERHAPS THE ONLY RECORDED PROPERLY PREPAID EXAMPLE.
The prepaid 20¢ North German Union direct mail rate per ½ ounce became effective with the US-NGU Convention on January 1, 1868. It was lowered to 16¢ only four months later on May 1st. The Chicago exchange office typically made up treaty mail from the Northwest and Chicago area, and sent it by train to the Allan Line steamers departing from Quebec (Summer) or Portland (Winter).
Realized: $5,500