Lot
5031 
1857 (May 5) Buffalo N.Y. to Bischofsheim, Baden, orange buff cover with "Buffalo. N.Y. May 5" arc-datestamp and matching oval "22" rating handstamp, black "Paid" straightline, red "N.York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid 17' May 7" credit exchange cds, carried by Fritz Line Hansa from New York May 7th to Bremerhaven arriving May 24th, blue America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp, partial arrival backstamp; right flap missing, Very Fine, A scarce prepaid use carried by the Last of only 9 voyages by the Fritz Line., ex-Winter. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Fritz Line "Hansa" carried mails on this last return voyage of nine round voyages between Bremerhaven and New York by this short-lived Bremen steamship company, which attempted to compete with the American Ocean Line as a mail steamship line. Less than five examples of this New York "N.York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid 17' May 7" credit exchange cds have been recorded, a credit marking used only on prepaid letters at the 22¢ rate carried by Bremen steamships..
Realized: $270