Lot
4166 
1871 (Jan. 13) Paris to Mexico City, folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. St. Lazare, 13 Janv. 71" double circle postmark and franked with 80c Empire Lauré + 40c Cérès tied by numeral "2" star cancel, additionally tied by red "London, 27 JA 71" transit and large numeral "4" reales Mexican due rate handstamp, endorsed at bottom left, "via St. Nazaire ou des Etats Unis", 80c small defect, Extremely Fine, carried by the Vaucanson. Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.
A SUPERB COVER OF GREAT RARITY FOR THE CONNOISSEUR AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FORSTER COLLECTION.
The cover was carried by RMSS "Seine" from Southampton on Feb 2nd to St. Thomas arriving on Feb 18th, then by RMSP "Eider" departing on Feb. 19th to Vera Cruz arriving on March 2nd.
Realized: $47,500
Lot
4092
1870 (Nov. 23) Paris to Panama (Central America), folded "Gazette des Absents No 10" postmarked "Paris, Pl. de la Bourse, 23 Nov. 70" double circle with magenta manuscript endorsement "Vapeur Anglais" and "via Southhampton" red boxed "PD" and box "PP" handstamps, the franking (80c) has been floated off as this was part of the jettisoned mail during the voyage, some minor cover damage due to immersion in the sea, carried by the Ville d'Orléans. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A SUPERB COVER CARRIED ON THE FAMED VILLE D'ORLÉANS BALLOON FLIGHT AND THE ONLY RECORDED COVER TO PANAMA.
The balloon "Ville d'Orléans" left the Gare du Nord at 11:40pm with 4 sacks of mail (230 kg) and landed the next day at the Tunet farm in Norway at 2:25pm.
During the aerial voyage, at 6:30am on November 25, the balloon descended toward the North Sea, so pilot threw out some mail to re-ascend; at noon he jettisoned a 125kg bag of mail near the coast of Mandal (Norway). The Mandal mail was recovered and forwarded via London on December 2.
Realized: $37,500
Lot
4120
1870 (Dec. 12) Paris to Santiago de Cuba, Amérique Espagnolle (Cuba), envelope postmarked "Paris, R. de Bondy, 12 Dec. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 80c Empire Lauré tied by "5" star cancel, manuscript endorsement "Par les Vapeurs Transatlantiques" with small red "PD" handstamp, no arrival postmark as this is part of the captured mail, stamp & cover with trivial imperfections, F.-V.F., carried by the Ville de Paris. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
A MAJOR BALLON MONTÉ RARITY. THIS IS ONE OF TWO KNOWN COVERS TO THIS EXOTIC DESTINATION.
Realized: $45,000
Lot
4121
1870 (Dec. 12) Paris to Lima, Peru, folded letter postmarked "Paris, Bl. Malesherbes, 12 Dec. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 80c Empire Lauré + 20c Cérès tied by "37" star cancel, manuscript endorsement "Voie Panama" with red & black "PD" handstamps, no arrival postmark as this is part of the captured mail, 20c trivial imperfections, F.-V.F., carried by the Ville de Paris, Mr. Forster purchased this cover in 1939 for $36. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
AN OUTSTANDING COVER TO THIS RARE SOUTH AMERICAN DESTINATION.
Realized: $35,000
Lot
4100
1870 (Dec. 2) Paris to Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, folded cover postmarked "Paris, Pl. de la Bourse, 2 Dec. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 80c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "1" star cancel, backstamped blue "Rio de Janeiro, 14 Jan. 71" arrival postmark, small unnoticeable erosion hole to left of address, Extremely Fine and rare, carried by the Franklin, ex-Henry Gibson. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A STUNNING AND IMPORTANT BALLON MONTÉ COVER DURING THE SIEGE OF PARIS.
Realized: $35,000
Lot
4557
(Michigan Central Railroad) Mic. Central R.R. Mic., May 5, perfect strike of route agent's cds ties 5¢ red brown (1) bright shade, huge margins to clear including part of three adjoining stamps, on orange buff cover to Howell Mich., fresh and Very Fine, Rarity VII, ex Moody, Jack Dick, Rust, Boker and Gross. Towle No. 610-A-1 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A STUNNING RAILROAD USE BEARING THE 5¢ 1847 ISSUE GRACING MANY OF THE GREAT 1847 ISSUE COLLECTIONS OF THE PAST.
Put onto Route 3702 on May 5th circa 1850 and carried to Ann Arbor for the 28 mile post road to Howell.
Lot
4221
(New Jersey Railroad & Transportation Co.) NY, blue manuscript postmark and matching "10" rating on buff cover to Trenton, N.J. bearing New York Postmaster Provisional, 5¢ Black (9X1a) two singles for double weight, stamps uncancelled but left stamp just tied by "NY" postmark, adhesives fresh and with large margins, except left stamp in at left; right with tiny margin tear, Very Fine and rare; with 2001 P.F. certificate. Towle No. 240-Sp unlisted Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A REMARKABLE RAILROAD USE OF THE NEW YORK POSTMASTER PROVISIONAL.
The franking was disallowed as the cover was put onto the mail car at Jersey City, at Philadelphia the franking was disallowed and a manuscript charge of 10¢ applied before being sent back up the line to Trenton.
Realized: $2,500
Lot
4581
(Union Pacific Railroad) Union Pacific R.P.O., Sep 29, bold strike of route agent cds and small cross cancel tie 12¢ green (117) on 1870 buff cover to Edinburgh, Scotland, Oct. 20th receiving backstamp; stamp has slight corner crease, Very Fine and choice railroad use, ex-Kuphal, Heimberger. Towle No. 932-G-1 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THIS ROUTE AGENT'S MARKING ON A 12¢ 1869 ISSUE TRANSATLANTIC COVER.
Realized: $1,500
Lot
4551
(Madison & Indianapolis Railroad) Madison & Indnpls. R.R. Sep. 19, red route agent cds with matching "Paid" straightline cancels 5¢ orange Brown (1b), radiant color, large margins to ample, orange buff cover to Cincinnati, Ohio, manuscript box charge no. at upper left, Very Fine and choice, ex-Ackerman, Picher, Grunin, Garrett, Ishikawa, Boker, Gross. Towle No. 654-B-1 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A REMARKABLE 1847 ISSUE RAILROAD USE FROM THE ONLY OPERATING RAILROAD OPERATING IN INDIANA PRIOR TO 1850.
Put onto Route 3904 carried south to Madison for transfer to the steamboat Route 3052 for Cincinnati. The 87-mile route was contracted from January 1848 at $3,792 a year for a daily service excluding Sundays.
Realized: $3,500
Lot
4487
(Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad) Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad, Mar 11, sharp strike of red route agent cds on blue folded cover from the Ludlow Beebee correspondence to Philadelphia bearing 5¢ red brown (1) horizontal pair, large margins all around, brilliant shade and crisp impression, each cancelled by manuscript "X"; tiny scissors-cut at bottom between stamps, cover with tear at top that does not detract, Extremely Fine, Rarity V, ex-Picher, Gross. Towle No. 305-H-2 Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A CHOICE 1847 ISSUE WILMINGTON & RALEIGH RAILROAD USE.
Probably originating from Charleston circa 1848 and put onto Route 2817 carried by steamboat and railroad the 340 miles to Weldon. Transferred via Richmond and Washington to Philadelphia.
Realized: $3,250