Lot
959 
1853 (Sep. 14) Warrensville, Pa. To Freudenstadt, Württemberg, folded letter with manuscript "Warrenville Sept 14" postmark and "Paid 7" rating, "N. York Brem. Pkt. '5' Sep 19" exchange debit cds, carried by W.A. Fritze Line Germania from New York Sep. 19 to Bremerhaven arriving Oct. 8; some soiling and wear, Fine, Letter carried on maiden return voyage of Germania on first round voyage of the line. Germania made four of the nine round voyages between Bremerhaven and New York carrying mails for this very short-lived Bremen steamship company attempting to compete with the American Ocean Line. Estimate $150 - 200.
Letter prepayment believed to be 5¢ internal plus 2¢ ship fee, a non-existent rate. New York ignored the prepayment, since it was less than the full amount to Bremen, and sent letter unpaid. The Bremen handstamp showed that 24 Rhennish kreuzer was the unpaid international transit postage and 9 kr. the German internal transit to Württemberg, for a total postage due of 33 kr. Additional fees were imposed in Württemberg (reasons unknown) bringing the postage due to 46¢.
Realized: $260