Lot
4150 
1865 (Jan. 7) Boston, Mass. to Melbourne, Australia, tissue-paper cover bearing 30¢ orange (71) tied by four-bar grid and red "Boston. Am. Pkt. '27 Paid' Jan 7" credit exchange cds, endorsed "Via Marseilles", carried by Allan Line St. David from Portland Me. Jan. 7th to Londonderry arriving Jan. 19th, French "Etats Unis Serv. Br., 21 Janv 65" exchange cds and matching bold "P.D." framed handstamp, reverse with Marseilles (1.22) and blue Melbourne (3.15) arrival cds; bit of flap missing, light stain at bottom, otherwise Very Fine and rare use. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED 30¢ FRENCH MAIL RATE TO AUSTRALIA CORRECTLY SENT VIA FRENCH PACKET.
Starnes lists a 30¢ French Mail rate to Australia from 1857 to 1870 - this may be the only properly carried example surviving. Allan Line Packets were treated as American Packets by the USA, but British Packets by France - which explains the French "BR" handstamp.
Realized: $900