Lot
3081 
1851, 12¢ gray black, large margins to barely in at top, used with two 10¢ green (15) singles, mostly full margins, rich color, each tied by red segmented cork cancel, matching "New Bedford Mass., Paid, Mar 3" cds on circa 1856 buff cover to Paita, Peru, addressed to Capt. William H. Almy, Bark Cape Horn Pigeon, New York large red "12" cent handstamp credit to G.B., Very Fine, ex-Ackerman, Emerson (his pencil "D.L." Deluxe notation on back), Haas, Grunin, Giamporcaro, Hackmey, Gross; with 1988 and 1999 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 17 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED 1851 IMPERFORATE ISSUE COVERS TO PERU.
Cover prepaid the 22¢ rate comprising 10¢ American Packet plus 12¢ British packet from Panama. Captain William Howland Almy was the son of George and Phebe (Howland) Almy and husband of Almira (Brownell) Almy. He and his son, George H., were lost on a whaling voyage around Cape Horn in 1860 when their vessel was struck by a whale.
References: Illustrated in Wierenga, United States Incoming Steamship Mail 1847-1875 on p. 113.