Lot
975 
1858 (Aug. 27) Port Louis, Mauritius To New York N.Y., folded letter datelined "U.S. Consulate, Port Louis, August 27th/58" from E. A. Glover and embossed with consulate seal, black "Packet Letter, Mauritius, AU 27" oval datestamp, then sent to Aden aboard the P&O steamship Grenada (despite the Azof endorsement). At Aden, this letter was transferred to the European & Australian steamship Columbian that carried it to Suez. After crossing the Isthmus to Alexandria, the E&A steamship Cambria carried this letter as far as Malta, from where the E&A steamship Wye provided the final transit to Marseille. After crossing France by rail, this letter arrived at London on 14 October 1858, carried by Cunard Line Persia, the British applied a 34¢ debit against the U.S. (a combination of the 9 pence (18¢) rate between Mauritius and the United Kingdom, plus the 16¢ transatlantic fee), black "New-York Br. Pkt. Oct 26" cds and "39" cent debit rating (addtl. 5¢ inland); part of backflap removed, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
Under additional articles of the U.S.-British Convention, effective in July 1857, the ordinary letter rate between the United States and Mauritius was reduced to 33¢ per ½ ounce for those letters sent by British packet service via the Southampton route. For those letters sent by British packet service via Marseille, the rate was 33¢ per ½ ounce, plus 6¢ per ¼ ounce for the French transit fee.
Realized: $1,600