Lot
3011 
1852 (Jun. 11) Philadelphia Pa. to Canton, China, gray folded cover with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Jun 11" cds and red "Phila. Paid 5cts" octagonal handstamp updated with manuscript "1.80" quadruple rating for four-times the 45¢ British Mail rate via Southampton, manuscript "$1.80 Paid" crossed out by New York in magenta and "96" cents credit to G.B. applied, carried by Collins Line Arctic from New York Jun. 12th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 23rd, red London Paid (6.23) transit cds, carried by P&O Sultan from Southampton Jun. 29th to Malta Jul. 9th, then HMS Medina (Admiralty Packet) from Malta Jul. 13th to Alexandria arriving Jul. 17th, then P&O Oriental from Suez Aug. 5th to Galle arriving Aug. 20th, then P&O Ganges from Galle Aug. 21st via Singapore to Hong Kong arriving Sep. 2nd, Hong Kong (9.3) double-arc transit backstamp; light horizontal file fold, Very Fine and rare prepaid quadruple-rate use to China., ex-Barwis. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF UP-RATING THE OCTAGONAL DATESTAMP TO $1.80.
Philadelphia's red octagonal postmarks, taken out of service in 1836 and then re-introduced in 1849, were up-rated in manuscript to a wide range of values to cover various prepayments encountered under the U.S.-British Treaty of 1848.
Realized: $2,500