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

Lot 4091    

1858 (Feb. 12) Charleston S.C. to Nantes, France, datelined blue folded letter with "Charleston S.C. '30' Feb 12 1858" integral-rate cds, black "New York '6' Feb 17" integral-debit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Arabia from New York Feb. 17th to Liverpool Mar. 1st, Calais (3.2) entry cds with matching "8" decimes due rating handstamp, crossed out in manuscript and rated "16" decimes due, reverse with Paris (3.2) transit and Nantes (3.2) arrival backstamps, Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $65

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Lot 4092    

1858 (Nov. 12) London, England to Baltimore Md., datelined folded letter carried privately to Charleston, entered the mails with 1¢ blue (24) vertical strip of three tied by two strikes of "Charleston S.C. Nov 29 1858" cds for the 3¢ letter rate to Baltimore, avoiding the 24¢ transatlantic packet fee, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $190

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Lot 4093    

1858 (Dec. 31) Charleston S.C. To Leipzig, Germany, cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26), small fault, tied by "Charleston S.C. '30' Dec 31 1858" integral-rate due cds, endorsed "Closed Mail", black "New York Br. Pkt. '23' Jan 5" exchange due cds, carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Jan. 5th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 16th, red Aachen (1.18) backstamp transit with blue ms. "13" silbergroschen due rating, Jan. 19th arrival backstamp; flap and couple small edge tears, F.-V.F., a scarce use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The Prussian Closer Mail rates had to be fully prepaid, no credit was given for prepayment if rate was shortpaid.

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Lot 4094    

1859 (Jan. 15) Charleston S.C. to Bordeaux, France, blue folded cover bearing 5¢ red brown, type I (28), corner flaw, and 10¢ green, type III (33), tied together "Charleston S.c. Jan 15 1859" cds, red "New York 'Paid 12' Jan 19" exchange credit cds, carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Jan. 19th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 29th, French "Et. Unis Serv. Br. A. C. 'L' 31 Janv. 59" entry cds, Bordeaux (2.2) arrival backstamp, F.-V.F., Stamps catalog $1,400 off-cover.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $250

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Lot 4095    

1859 (Feb. 7) Charleston S.C. to Liverpool, England, orange cover bearing 3¢ dull red (26), torn from opening, tied by "Charleston S.C. '24' Feb 7 1859" integral-rate due cds, black "N. York Am. Pkt. '21' Feb 12" debit exchange cds, carried by Inman Line Kangaroo from New York Feb. 12th to Liverpool arriving Feb. 26th, Liverpool U.S. Packet (2.26) arrival cds and "1/-" shilling due rating for packet fee; small corner repair and light stain, Fine and scarce use.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $125

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Lot 4096    

1859 (Mar.) Havana, Cuba to London, England via Charleston S.C., folded cover entered mails with Charleston "Steam-ship" oval handstamp with blue crayon "29" cent due rating for 5¢ U.S. transit plus 24¢ transatlantic packet fee, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Apr 2" exchange cds and black "26" cent debit rating, carried by Havre Line Arago departing New York Apr. 2nd to Southampton arriving Apr. 14th, red London (4.15) backstamp and manuscript "1/2½" one shilling 2½ pence due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $250

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Lot 4097    

1859 (Mar. 9) Havana, Cuba to London, England via Charleston, docketed folded cover, entered mails with "Steam-Ship" oval handstamp with blue crayon "29" cent due rating for 5¢ U.S. transit plus 24¢ transatlantic packet fee, manuscript "10" cent debit rating, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Mar. 16th to Liverpool arriving Mar. 28th, red London (3.29) backstamp with manuscript "1/2½" one shilling 2½ pence due rating, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $240

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Lot 4098    

1859 (May 6) Charleston S.C. to Balearic Islands, folded letter with "Charleston S.C. May 6 1859" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "73" cent rating, endorsed "Pr. Via England", red "New-York Br. Pkt. May 11" exchange backstamp and magenta "68" cent credit rating to G.B., carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Africa from New York May 11th to Liverpool arriving May 23rd, red London Paid (5.24) cds and matching circled "PD" handstamp, La Junquera (5.27) and Palma Mallorca (5.29) backstamps, manuscript "4" rating, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS 73¢ RATE BY BRITISH MAILS.

Beginning 1 July 1849, it became possible to prepay letters to destinations beyond Great Britain under the new U.S.-British Convention. With regard to the Spanish mails, a 73 cent per ½ ounce "via Southampton" rate was established for prepaid letters sent first to England, then forwarded directly to the Peninsula by British packet service. At the same time, a "via France" rate to Spain was established at 41 cents per ¼ ounce, or 51 cents per ½ ounce. In all cases, the postage collected paid all fees to the Spanish border only, and an additional amount was charged on delivery.

Realized: $550

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Lot 4099    

1859 (Nov. 26) Charleston, S.C. to Barcelona, Spain, printed circular of Hall & Co. with "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Dec 10, 1859" origin cds, New York large red "2" cent credit to U.K., apparently carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Dec. 7th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 19th, Barcelona "½ Rs." reales due rating, Palma Mallorca (12.23) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and scarce printed matter use.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

When the newspaper rate to most European destinations was reduced in April 1853 from 4¢ to 2¢, Spain was not included and 4¢ rate remained until early 1860. Charleston indicated that the newspaper rate was paid but did not show the amount. New York credited the U.K. with 2¢ using a red handstamp. Barcelona marked ½ real postage due using characteristic script-style handstamp.

Realized: $375

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Lot 4100    

1860 (Jan. 28) Charleston S.C. to Rome, Italy, blue folded letter bearing 10¢ green (35), seven singles, tied by four strikes of "Charleston S.C. Jan 28 1860" cds, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Feb 1" exchange backstamp with magenta "52" cent credit to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Feb. 1st to Liverpool arriving Feb. 13th, red crayon "2" rating, red Aachen Franco (2.15) framed transit, Basel (2.17) backstamp transit with "P.P." handstamp for part paid and red crayon "24" debit, Rome "5" due rating; some light gum staining and one with small stamp tear, minor edge wear, still a Very Fine use; with 1988 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A REMARKABLE ALL 10¢ 1857 ISSUE FRANKING PREPAYING DOUBLE THE 35¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE TO ITALY.

Realized: $4,500

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