1869 New York, N.Y. To Paris, France. Mourning cover franked with 1869, 15¢ brown & blue, type I, two singles tied by cork handstamps, bold red "New York, Paid 12, Aug 19" cds, blue Calais entry cds, Very Fine and choice, the Census and Analysis of 1869 covers (1986) lists the use of a single cover with 3 copies of Scott 118, and seven with 2 copies (3 domestic from a single correspondence, and 4 foreign uses), this cover is not listed in that census. Scott No. 118  Estimate $2,000 - 3,000. Sent via North German Lloyd Line - per steamer Union, departing New York August 19th and arriving in Southampton on August 30th. $0 (Image)

1869 New York, N.Y. To Paris, France. Cover franked with nicely centered 1869, 15¢ brown & blue, type II tied by circle of wedges cancel, red "New York, Paid 6, Dec 31" cds sent on the last day of the U.S. - French Mail Convention (April 1, 1857 to December 31, 1869), blue Calais cds additionally tying stamp, Very Fine. Scott No. 119  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. Sent via North German Lloyd Line - per steamer Rhein, departing New York on January 1st and arriving in Southampton on January 11th. There was an Inman Line sailing on the same date, but according to Hubbard & Winter North Atlantic Mail Sailings 1840-1875 "The Inman Line carried no mails from New York until May 1870 when Irish mails were again carried from New York.". $0 (Image)