Lot
136 
Hong Kong, 1867 (Apr. 8) Shanghai, China from U.S.S. "Wachusett" to Fisherville, N.H. via Hong Kong, with enclosed April 1st and 2nd letters, blue Shanghae (4.8.67) origin backstamp initially rated 1/10½ changed to 1/9½ (1s9½d) plus 1d colonial credit, bearing Hong Kong QV no watermark 18¢ and CC watermark 4¢ and 24¢, each canceled by Hong Kong "B62" grid paying the 45¢ half-ounce rate to U.S. via Southampton (46¢ paid as Hong Kong did not then issue odd-cents denominated stamps), reverse with Shanghae (4.8.67) blue origin and Hong Kong (4.12) transit backstamps, carried by P&O Cadiz from Shanghai Apr. 9th to Hong Kong arriving Apr. 12th, then P&O Emeu from Hong Kong (Apr. 15) to Galle arriving Apr. 30th, then P&O Candia from Galle May 2nd to Suez arriving May 17th, overland in Egypt from Suez to Alexandria, P&O Nyanza from Alexandria May 19th to Southampton arriving May 31st, red London Paid (5.31) transit and matching "5/Cents" credit h.s. to U.S. for domestic postage, carried by Cunard Line Persia from Queenstown Jun. 2nd to New York arriving Jun. 13th, red "New York, Br. Pkt. Paid, Jun 13" exchange arrival cds; some edge wear, slightly rough opening at left, Very Fine and unusual cover from a U.S. ship in Chinese waters with a nice three-color franking; with 1991 Holcombe certificate. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The sender notes that they had been six or seven hundred miles into the country, having been to Hankow, Kiukiang and Chinkiang.
The U.S.S. "Wachusett" was commissioned in March 1862 during the Civil War and was sent to China in March 1865 originally to search for the Confederate commerce raider C.S.S. "Shenandoah." It stayed on to track down outlaws and pirates who were harming American interests, then attempted to enter Korean waters to investigate the demise of the U.S.S. "General Sherman" before returning to the U.S. for its February 1868 decommissioning.