Lot
980 
1853 (Feb. 1) San Francisco Cal. to Schaffhausen, Switzerland, folded cover with clear strike of "San Francisco Cal, 1 Feb" cds with matching "Paid" and large "26" rating handstamps, red "New York Am. Packet Mar 5" exchange cds, carried by Collins Line Arctic from New York Mar. 5th to Liverpool arriving Mar. 16th, red London (3.17) transit backstamp, red "Etats-Unis Paq.Am.A. Paris" (3.18) transit cds, Basel (3.19) transit backstamp with red crayon "270" rappen due rating, Mar. 20th arrival backstamp; some minor pencil doodles, F.-V.F. and scarce use from San Francisco at the 26¢ British Open Mail rate to Switzerland. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $200
Lot
981
(French Retaliatory Rates) 1853 (Feb. 8) Philadelphia, Pa. to Cognac, France, folded letter with blue "Philadelphia Pa. Feb 8" cds and red "Paid" handstamp with red manuscript "21" prepaid rating for British open mail rate by British packet, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Feb 9" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Feb. 9th to Liverpool arriving Feb. 23rd, Calais (2.24) entry cds with "13" décimes due handstamp for 7½ to 15 grams; small edge flaws, F.-V.F., a scarce second retaliatory rate period usage (January 24 to February 10, 1853), ex-Winter. Estimate $500 - 750.
THE ONLY RECORDED COVER FROM PHILADELPHIA DURING THIS RETALIATORY PERIOD.
The Retaliatory Rate Period of 24 January to 10 February, 1853
Due to miscommunication, U.S. Postmaster General Hubbard thought that double sea postage was being charged on letters to France carried via American packets in the British open mail. This had been the case, but Hubbard was unaware that the French had already corrected the inequity by lowering their rate to the U.S. from 15 decimes to 13 decimes. Hubbard's new rate was 21 cents regardless of whether a letter was carried by British or American packet. Hubbard's misapprehension was corrected, and the retaliation was suspended after only 17 days.
Realized: $500
Lot
982
1853 (Mar. 11) Dresden, Germany to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter with "Dresden" origin cds and various ms. and crayon ratings, Leipzig (3.13) and Berlin (3.16) transit backstamps, red "Aachen" transit with "Paid 25cts." rectangular and "Brit: Packet" half-moon handstamps, carried by Cunard Line Niagara from Liverpool Mar. 19th to Boston arriving Apr. 1st, red "Boston, Br. Pkt. '30 Paid' Apr 1" exchange cds; edge wear, otherwise Very Fine and colorful use. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $100
Lot
983
1853 (Jul. 28) Benares, India to Troy, N.Y., datelined gray folded letter with reddish "Benares, Jul 28, 1853" framed backstamp along with red "Calcutta G.P.O., 1 AG 1, 1853" framed backstamp and matching "INDIA" framed handstamp, red London (9.19) transit backstamp and manuscript "44" debit rating, sharp "New.York, Am. Packet, Oct 3" exchange cds and "65" due handstamp, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $250
Lot
984
1854 (Apr. 20) Cleveland, Oh. to Baureuth, Bavaria, buff cover bearing 5¢ red brown (12), full to large margins, tied by "Washington, Iowa May 14" cds, black "New York, Br. Pkt. '23' May 19" debit exchange datestamp, red Aachen (6.2) transit backstamp and blue ms. "45" kreuzer due marking, Baureuth (6.4) arrival backstamp; some overall wear, expertly repaired along edges incl. top flap reattached, still Very Fine and scarce use, ex-Rohloff, Mayer. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED USAGE OF THE OF THE 5¢ 1856 ISSUE TO BAVARIA, AND ONE OF ONLY SEVEN RECORDED SINGLE FRANKINGS TO GERMANY.
Realized: $500
Lot
985
1854 (c., Jun. 23) New York N.Y. to Reichenberg, Bohemia, cover showing "Saint Louis Mo. Jun 23" cds with matching "Paid" and "Paid." handstamps, red "20" rating handstamp, red "New-York, Jul 1" exchange backstamp and black "Paid Part" straightline, carried by Harve Line Union from New York Jul. 1st to Southampton arriving Jul. 15th, then by ship to Bremerhaven, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, reverse with Magdeburg-Leipzig, Minden (7.19) and Bodenbach (7.21) backstamps, red crayon "29", black crayon and blue ms. "9" kr. due ratings for GAPU fee; some wear and light soiling, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
New York marked PAID PART as only the postage to Bremen was prepaid.
Realized: $425
Lot
986
1855 (Jun. 12) Bordeaux, France to New Orleans, La., folded letter with orange Bordeaux (6.13) origin cds and matching "P.P." framed handstamp, carried by Cunard Line America from Liverpool Jun. 23 to Boston arriving Jul. 6, black ""Boston Br. Pkt. '5' Jul 6"" debit exchange cds, black "N.O.U.S. City Post, Jul 13" for carrier service, Very Fine and scarce New Orleans City Post use, ex-Winter. Estimate $300 - 400.
Lot
987
1855 (Jan. 29) Richmond Va. to London, England, forwarded to Frankfurt, Germany, cover with blue "Richmond Va., Jan 29" cds and matching "Paid" and "5" rating handstamps, red "New-York, Br. Pkt., Feb 13" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line sent to London in British Open Mail, forwarded to Frankfurt via France with red Paris (3.1) transit with "12" decimes due handstamp, returned to London and resent via Aachen with London (3.2) Maltese cross, partial red Aachen transit backstamp and blue ms. "23" sgr. due rating, "3½ Groschen" debit handstamp; Frankfurt (3.5) arrival backstamp; no flap, edge faults and wear, Fine and unusual forwarded use. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $100
Lot
988
1855 (Apr. 4) Fort Ridgely, Minnesota Territory to Altingen, Wurttemberg, manuscript "Ft Ridgley, Apr 4" postmark and "Paid 19" rating on 3¢ red (U10) buff entire, red "N.York, U.S. Pkt. '8 Paid' May 19" credit exchange cds, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York May 19th to Bremerhaven arriving Jun. 6th, blue "America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line exchange, Frankfurt (6.8) transit backstamp; edge wear, Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $140
Lot
989
1855 (Jun. 3) New Orleans La. to Gènes (Genoa), Sardinia, Italy, blue printed circular with blue "Printed Circular / Per Steamer" two-line company handstamp and bearing 1¢ blue (9) vertical pair, large to huge margins except in at left, tied by partial "New Orleans La., Jun 3" cds, red "Arrivo, Genova" (6.29.55) arrival backstamp and manuscript "17½" centesimi due rating, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $450