Lot
998 
(Post War - North American) 1870 (Aug. 19) New Orleans La. to Montargis, France, orange cover bearing 10¢ brown (150), tied by cork cancel, matching strike of "New Orleans La. Aug 19" duplex adjacent, sharp red "New York, Aug 24" exchange cds, carried on North American Steamship Co. Guiding Star departing New York Aug. 25th to Le Havre arriving Sep. 9th with extremely rare strike of red "Etats-Unis Le Havre 9 Sept. '70" arrival datestamp, Montargis (9.11) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, ex-Noel, Walske; signed Frajola. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED USAGES CARRIED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN STEAMSHIP CO., ONE OF ONLY TWO AMERICAN PACKET VOYAGES BY THIS LINE.
When this letter reached New York, the French packet Ligne H steamer had already departed and it would be two more weeks for the next sailing. Instead of waiting, the New York postmaster sent the cover on a special sailing (one of only two that were contracted) by American Packet on the North American Steamship Co. "Guiding Star". The company was the last of the American steamship lines until the advent of the American line in 1873. Of the company's three voyages across the Atlantic, two by the "Santiago de Cuba" and one by "Guiding Star". When this cover reached Le Havre, it was accepted as though it had been carried on a French Packet and struck with the rare "Etats-Unis Le Havre" arrival datestamp.
Realized: $1,700