Lot
4155 
Australian States: New South Wales, 1869 (Apr. 21) Sydney, New South Wales to Chatham Mass., cover bearing New South Wales, three 2d blue singles, 6d violet (40) pair and two singles, all tied by strikes of "N.S.W." oval duplexed with "Sydney, AP 21, 1869" cds prepaying 30d for double the 15d rate, red crayon "10" pence credit to G.B., endorsed "Via Marseilles", carried by P&O Malta to Galle, P&O Mooltan to Suez arriving Jun. 3rd, across Isthmus by railroad to Alexandria Jun. 5th, then P&O Pera from Alexandria to Marseilles arriving Jun. 11th, red London Paid (6.12) transit cds and matching "4/Cents" handstamp credit to U.S., carried transatlantic by Cunard Line China from Queenstown Jun. 13th to New York arriving Jun. 22nd; corner nick bottom right affecting 6d, F.-V.F. Estimate $500 - 750.
Double 15 pence rate applied for between one half and one ounce (12 pence via Southampton rate plus 8 pence French charge plus 10 pence transatlantic).
In late 1870, with Paris was under siege during the Franco-Prussian War, the premium overland mail was switched to the Italian port of Brindisi and the Italian railroad. The shorter sailing from Alexandria speeded up the mails to London by about two days.
Realized: $425