Lot
500 
1857 (Dec. 4) Baltimore, Md. to Florence, Italy, folded letter with blue "Baltimore Md. Dec 4 1857" cds with red "Paid" h.s. and red crayon "35" cent rating for single rate, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Dec 5" exchange cds and matching "12" credit to Prussia, carried on Collins Line Atlantic from New York Dec. 5 to Liverpool arriving Dec. 16, red Aachen (12.18) framed h.s. and red manuscript "fr 2", Florence (12.24) arrival backstamp; Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter was carried on the last mail voyage of the "Atlantic" for the Collins Line and the next to last voyage for the line which ceased operations in February 1858. Aachen marked "fr 2" in magenta ink to show that 2 silbergroschen (approximately 5¢) had been paid for transit fees beyond the German-Austrian Postal Union.
Realized: $500
Lot
501
1858 (Jan. 8) Baltimore, Md. to Florence, Tuscany, blue folded letter with blue "Baltimore Md. Jan 8 1858" cds and red "Paid" h.s. with red crayon "54" prepaid rating for two-times the 27¢ rate, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Jan 9" exchange cds and magenta "30" cent credit to France for two-times 15¢, carried by Havre Line Arago from New York Jan. 9 to Havre arriving Jan. 22, Havre (1.22) entry d.s., Very Fine. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $85
Lot
502
1858 (Aug. 4) New York, N.Y. to Livorno, Tuscany, folded letter with "New York '6' Aug 4" exchange debit cds for 6¢ double rate debit to France, carried by Cunard Line America from New York on Aug. 4th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 16th, French (8.17) entry cds, letter disinfected with slits and Office of Public Health framed h.s. Livorno (8.21) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, a rare example of a disinfected transatlantic letter under U.S.-French convention. Estimate $200 - 300.
Letter arrived by French Messageries Impériales steamship "Capitole" from Marseille to Livorno, an uncommon route since most mail went overland from France. Letter disinfected at the lazaretto in Livorno and received the handstamp of the Office of Public health at the harbor entrance. Knife slits in the letter from the disinfection process are consistent with those known to be used at this lazaretto.
Lot
503
Confederate States 1863 (Apr. 4) Blockade-Run Usage from Savannah Ga. to Rome, Italy, via Nassau, Bahamas, buff cover from the "Locke" correspondence (#53), originating in Savannah on April 4, 1863 (docketed) and carried under separate cover, addressed to Rome in care of Baring Bros. in London, Bahamas (4.12) backstamp, London (5.4) backstamp and manuscript "2/-" shilling due rating for the 1s British West Indies rate plus 1s unpaid fine; flap torn, Very Fine and scarce usage. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Carried from Charleston to Nassau by blockade runner "Margaret and Jessie" that departed April 8th and arrived at Nassua on April 10th. Then carried by Cunard Branch Steamer "British Queen" departing Nassau on April 13th and arrived at New York on April 17th. The British mail bags were transferred to the Cunard steamer Africa, which departed New York on April 22nd and arrived at Queenstown on May 3, 1863.
Realized: $1,500
Lot
504
1871 (Apr. 11) Baltimore, Md. to Rome, Italy, mourning envelope prepaid with 1870, 10¢ brown tied by red four-rings duplexed with "Baltimore Md. Apr 11" cds, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Apr 12" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Russia from New York Apr. 12 to Queenstown arriving Apr. 21, Rome (4.27) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice mourning use. Scott No. 150 Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $525