Sale 59: The Robert J. Karrer Collection of Charleston Postal History

Lot 4081    

1850 (Feb. 18) Charleston S.C. to London, England, red "Charleston S.C. Jan 19" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "24" cent rating, New York "Too Late" handstamp and large "19" cent credit rating handstamp to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston departing Feb. 6th to Liverpool arriving Feb. 17th, red London Paid (2.18) arrival cds; minor edge wear, Very Fine and scarce "Too Late" use.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $110

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Lot 4082    

1851 (Jul. 22) Cuba to London, England via Charleston, docketed folded cover with red "Charleston S.C. '10' Aug 26" integral-rate cds for postage from Cuba to Charleston carried by Isabel, red bold "Charleston S.C. '24' Jul 26" integral-rate cds for transatlantic packet postage due, New York "10" circled handstamp for debit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Jul. 30th to Liverpool Aug. 10th, red London (8.11) backstamp with manuscript "1/2½" one shilling 2½ pence due rating, Very Fine and attractive.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The volume of mail to Great Britain justified the purchase of new handstamps incorporating the 24¢ rate. The different type "24" cancels used at Charleston can be identified most easily by the relative position of the 24. The combination of the 10¢ and 24¢ integral due circular datestamps on this cover incorrectly overstated the total postage due as 34¢ instead of the correct 29¢ rate (one shilling, 2½ pence) for the Cuba to Great Britain rate.

Realized: $220

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Lot 4083    

1852 (Aug. 26) Charleston S.C. to Paris, France, cover bearing two 3¢ dull red (11A) singles, bright vibrant color, cancelled together by blue "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Aug 26" cds, overpay of 5¢ open mail rate, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Sep. 1st to Liverpool arriving Sep. 11th, London (9.12) backstamp, red Paris (9.14) entry cds and "13" decimes due rating handstamp, magenta ms. "port 1f. 30c" rating at top left; light seal stain, Very Fine, Ex-Alexander.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $150

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Lot 4084    

1855 (Jul. 11) Charleston S.C. to Liverpool, England, forwarded to Paris, France, cover with pretty blue "Charleston S.c. '24' 11 Jul" integral-rate cds with matching "Paid" handstamp, red crayon "24" restatement, carried by Southerner Jul. 11th to New York arriving Jul. 14th, New York red "3" cent credit handstamp, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York for Bremen via Southampton arriving Jul. 30th, red London Paid (7.30) cds, red Liverpool Paid (7.31) cds and forwarded to Paris, manuscript "4" pence rating per ¼ oz. to France, red London Paid (8.1) cds with matching "PD" circled handstamp, Calais (8.1) entry cds and Paris (8.2) backstamp, Very Fine and colorful use, ex-Arthur White.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $120

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Lot 4085    

1855-60 (Nov. 19) Charleston S.C. to Hannover, Germany, 3¢ red on buff Nesbitt entire bearing 10¢ green, type II-III-II (14-15-15) vertical strip of three, tied by three strikes of "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Nov 19" cds, red "New York 'Paid 7' Nov 28" integral exchange credit cds, red Aachen (12.11) framed transit, prepaid 30¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate, Fine and scarce use; Chase notes on reverse.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

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Lot 4086    

1856 (Jan. 14) Charleston S.C. to Havre, France, cover bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), pair and single, used with 12¢ black (17), margins to slightly in, tied by three strikes of "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Jan 14" cds, addressed to Capt Jos. Tucker of Ship Othello, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Jan 19" cds, carried by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Jan 19th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 31st, Calais (2.1) entry cds and "16" decimes due rating handstamp, Paris (2.1) and Le Havre (2.1) backstamps; part of flap missing, minor edge toning, still a Very Fine and scarce use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $250

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Lot 4087    

1856 (Mar. 31) Charleston S.C. to Nantes, France, folded letter from the Garnier correspondence bearing 1¢ blue (9), horizontal pair, margins to just in, used with 3¢ dull red (11), large margins all around, strong colors, all tied by three bold strikes of "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Mar 31" cds, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Apr 8" exchange cds, missed the Persia and carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Apr. 9th to Liverpool arriving Apr. 20th, red London (4.21) backstamp, Calais (4.21) entry cds with "13" decimes due rating handstamp, Nantes (4.22) arrival backstamp; 1¢ small tear at left, couple corner creases, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $325

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Lot 4088    

1856 (Aug. 15) Charleston S.C. to Nantes, France, folded cover from the Garnier correspondence bearing 1¢ blue (9), horizontal pair, large margins all around except barely touched at lower left, used with 3¢ dull red (11), large margins to just shaving outer frameline, strong colors, both tied by two strikes of "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Aug 15" cds, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Aug 20" exchange cds, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Asia from New York Aug. 20th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 31st, red London (9.1) backstamp, Calais (9.1) entry cds with "26" decimes due rating handstamp, Nantes (9.2) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, Letter was prepaid at the 21¢ British Closed mail rate with French 26 decimes double-weight due rating for ¼ to ½ oz.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $525

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Lot 4089    

1857 (Aug. 7) Charleston S.C. to Nantes, France, blue docketed folded cover from the Garnier correspondence bearing 1¢ blue (9) pair, large margins except touch at top left, and 3¢ dull red (11A), black "New York '6' Aug 11" debit exchange cds, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Europa from Boston Aug. 12th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 23rd, Calais (8.24) entry cds with "16" decimes due rating handstamp, Nantes (8.25) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The new U.S. France Treaty went into effect on April 1st 1857. The basic rate was 15¢ per ¼ ounce, which could only be fully prepaid or left unpaid at the originating post office. No provisions were made for partially paid letters. There were two routes the mail could travel, via England by American or British packet and then British mail over to France, or directly to Havre by American packet.

Realized: $650

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Lot 4090    

1857 (Dec. 24) Havana, Cuba to Edinburg, Scotland via Charleston S.C., datelined folded letter, entered mails with "Charleston S.C. Dec 28 1857" cds and matching "Steam-Ship" oval handstamp with red crayon "29" cent due rating for 5¢ U.S. transit plus 24¢ transatlantic packet fee, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Jan 6" exchange cds and black "10" cent circled debit rating, carried by Cunard Line Persia from New York Jan. 6th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 16th, Liverpool (1.16) transit backstamp with matching rare "ART-2" and "1/2½" one shilling 2½ pence due rating handstamps, Edinburgh (1.17) backstamp; some receipt docketing, Very Fine and rare, ex-Shephard.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $2,600

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