1851 (Aug. 28) Kiautschou, German China to Biberach, Württemberg via Culloma, Cal., datelined March 1850 folded letter entered mails with red "Culloma Call. Aug. 28" cds and matching "Paid" and "10", "10" and "5" rate handstamps, 25¢ prepaid (corrected to 15¢) for mistaken British open mail rate, carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Oct. 8th to Liverpool arriving Oct. 19th, London (10.20) backstamp, red Paris transit, Heilbronn (10.24) backstamp, red "40" kreuzer postage due rating for 34 kr. to France and 6 kr. to Württemberg plus "1" kr. local fee, Very Fine, A unique use from German China to Europe via California by British open mails. An exceptional California error rate use. Estimate  $2,000 - 3,000. In July 1851, California postmasters apparently did not know how to implement the new U.S. rates on foreign mails. An unauthorized 25¢ rate was used for mails to England instead of the intended 29¢ rate. Error rates to the Continent of 22¢ instead of 26¢ (British open mail by American packet) and 15¢ instead of 10¢ (British open mail by British packet) also were used. The error rates were corrected two months later, probably when instructions were received from Washington D.C.This letter originated in the German enclave at Kiautschou, China in March 1850. It was carried privately from China to Northern California and posted 17 months later! Culloma collected the 25¢ error rate, then corrected to 15¢ for British open mail to France by British packet from New York, also an error rate. $0 (Image)