Samoa, 1879, 6d Lilac, State III. Position 1 (R1/1), deep rich color, tied by "Apia, Samoa, Apr 20, 1881" cds with second strike at lower left on cover to San Francisco, Cal., in combination with U.S. 1879, 2¢ vermilion, horizontal pair tied by "San Francisco, Cal., Jun 16, 81" duplex postmark with second strike at right additionally tying 6d Express stamp, bold "Ship" in circle handstamp; cover slightly reduced at left and left 2¢ stamp with crease from overlapping cover at top, otherwise Very Fine, one of the Most Enigmatic Samoan Covers in Existence, this being one of two known Samoa Express issue covers bearing U.S. stamps and an unique usage to the United States (Odenweller EO9), ex-Wainwright. Scott No. 4. SG No. 12+U.S. 183  Estimate $15,000 - 20,000. This cover left on May 14, 1881 from Apia on schooner "Tongatuba" for Fiji. It was treated as a ship letter for local delivery, with a charge of 4¢, the equivalent of the 2d charge seen on the Samoa Express cover combination cover to Sydney. It even had the honor of being featured on the Samoa 1997 13s Stamp Centenary Issue (S.G. 489). $0 (Image)

Samoa, 1879, 6d Lilac, State III. Position 3 (R1/3), tied by "Apia, Samoa, Jun 4, 1879" cds with second strike alongside on cover to Bowrall, New South Wales, in combination with N.S.W. 1871, 2d blue tied by "Sydney, N.S.W., Jy 7, 1879" duplex postmark; cover tears at top affecting Sydney postmark and 6d stamp with nick at upper left, F.-V.F., one of four single 6d Express usages on cover and the only known usage to Sydney (Odenweller EO3). Scott No. 4. SG No. 12+N.S.W. 209  Estimate $5,000 - 7,500. This cover left on June 7, 1879 from Apia on schooner "Mazeppa" for Tonga. $0 (Image)