Lot
1437 
Danish West Indies, 1875 (Dec. 14) St. Thomas, D.W.I. to Searsport Me., cover with bold strike of blue "Forwarded by G.W. Smith & Co., St. Thomas. W.I." forwarders oval, red framed "FRANCO." handstamp, partial strike of St. Thomas 1873 origin cds at top, bearing United States 10¢ brown (150) tied by cork cancel, carried by USBMC Merrimark from St. Thomas Dec. 14th to New York arriving Dec. 20th, reverse with unusual "New York, Ship, Dec 20" transit cds; reduced slightly at right and some light staining, Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
THE EARLIEST OF ONLY SIX RECORDED STRIKES OF THE FRAMED "FRANCO" PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP IN RED.
The St. Thomas post office applied a Provisional "Franco" framed handstamp to indicate the prepayment of the D.W.I. local postage. They were seldom used probably only in times of stamp shortages.