Lot
4062 
Australian States: Victoria, 1859 (Jan. 16) Melbourne, Victoria to New York N.Y. via San Francisco, blue folded cover bearing Victoria, 1s blue tied by numeral "1" barred oval, matching "Melbourne, Victoria, JA*16, 1858" (year not updated to 1859) rimless oval backstamp, endorsed for Columbian via Suez and Southampton, framed "Detained for "2" Postage" handstamp with ms. "2" pence due, red "G.P.O. Insufficiently Paid, Melbourne" oval handstamp, Melbourne (2.1.1859) backstamp, sent by private ship via Pacific Ocean, "San Francisco Cal., '12' May 20, 1859" integral-due cds for 10¢ postage over 3,000 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, sent by ship via Panama to New York; bottom flap missing and bottom left corner repair, 1s creased from horizontal fold, Very Fine appearance. Estimate $500 - 750.
The rate to the United States border via Southampton during this period was 14 pence, so this cover was marked "Insufficiently Paid" and "Detained for Postage". When the additional 2 pence was not forthcoming, the cover was sent via San Francisco overpaid for the 6 pence private ship rate.
Realized: $500