Lot
263 
Hong Kong, 1869 (Dec. 8) Cannonville, N.Y. to Singapore, East Indies, cover franked with 1861, 10¢ green, F. grill (96) canceled by target handstamp with matching "Cannonville, N.Y., Dec 8" origin cds below, addressed "Mr. Robert McLellan Belfrage, American Ship Castine, Care of American Consul, Singapore, India", red "New York, Dec 24" exchange office cds and red "Singapore, Paid, Fe 2, 70" receiving cds; stamp with nibbed perf and cover with some edge soiling, F.-V.F.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
ONE OF TWO REPORTED COVERS CARRIED ON THE EXTENDED MAIL ROUTE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO SINGAPORE, EAST INDIES.
A postal treaty between the United States and Great Britain governing mails to be carried beyond Hong Kong to the Strait Settlements or British East Indies was signed on July 28, 1868 (effective November 1, 1868). This treaty did not alter the terms of the treaty with Hong Kong, but not allowed for additional mails made up for further British Colonies to be carried by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.
This cover arrived in San Francisco on January 1st, 1870 and placed aboard the P.M.S.S. steamer "China" via Yokohama and Hong Kong.