Lot
5143 
1859 (Mar. 29) Philadelphia Pa. to Oberschwörstadt, Baden, cover bearing 5¢ red brown (28) and 10¢ green, type II (32), each tied by circular grid cancel, matching "Philadelphia Pa., Mar 10, 1859" octagon datestamp, red "N.York, Hamb. Pkt. 'Paid 17' Apr 1" credit exchange cds, carried by Hapag Line Borussia from New York Apr. 1st to Hamburg arriving Apr. 14th, backstamps include Hamburg (4.15) transit and Grennet (4.17) transits; cover repaired with stamps lifted and replaced, 10¢ light stain, Very Fine appearance and rare 5¢ red brown type I 1857 issue use. Estimate $500 - 750.
The sender of this cover was aware of the reduction in the Bremen rate six months earlier and wrote "Bremen Steamer, Paid 15 cts." at left. That steamer, "Weser", was damaged at sea and not scheduled to carry mail on its April 2nd 1859 sailing. Despite prepayment of only 15¢, the New York exchange office sent it as a fully prepaid 22¢ letter on the Hamburg packet.