Lot
580 
Hong Kong, 1863 Macau to Boston. With 26 Nov letter, envelope with red "Hong Kong Paid C No 30 63" cds (Proud PD8, Latest Recorded Date), red crayon 1/9 ½ credit to GB, and red 1/10 ½ total paid (45 cents US.). Red "London Paid Bc Ja18 64" transit cds, and partial "Boston Br Pkt. Feb 4" cds, with 5 cents debit to GB for US inland postage (Blake & Davis type 807, only recorded 18.12.63 - 27.1.64, later use than recorded), embossed "Overland Via Marseilles" changed to "Southampton" in black manuscript. Blue "Hong Kong C No30 63" transit cds on reverse, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Paid 45 cents in Hong Kong, rate for up to half ounce letter via Southampton Sep 1861 - Dec 1867. Per P&O steamers Emeu: departing Hong Kong 1 Dec, arriving Galle 15 Dec; Candia: Galle 17Dec - Suez 30 Dec; Poona: Alexandria 4 Jan 1864 - Southampton 17 Jan. Cover carried by Galway Line Hibernia: Galway 19 Jan, via Halifax (instead of usual St. Johns) 27 Jan, to New York 3 Feb1864, then by train to Boston. Last voyage (westbound) by Hibernia, since Galway Line ceased operation on her homeward voyage. Winter states "Mails from the U.S. to the United Kingdom were carried on each voyage in 1863, but no record has been found of mail being carried on the last two voyages of the line in early 1864." This cover proves mail was carried up through last voyage of Galway Line.
Realized: $1,050