1852 (Nov. 16) San Francisco Cal. to La Rochelle, France, folded cover with blue "San Francisco Cal. 16 Nov" cds with matching "Paid" and "26" rating handstamps, red "New-York Br. PKt. Dec 15" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Europa from New York Dec. 15 to Liverpool arriving Dec. 26, London (12.27) arrival backstamp, Calais (12.28) entry cds with matching "26" decimes due rating h.s., La Rochelle (12.29) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, the latest of only four recorded blue San Francisco "26" rating usages. Estimate  $200 - 300. Letter carried from San Francisco by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Golden Gate" to Panama City and U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer "Illinois" from Aspinwall to New York. New York clerk sent letter on British packet rather than an American packet for which it was paid. Paris marked the postage due of 2x13 = 26 decimes. Blue color used at San Francisco only from October 1 - December 13, 1852, but blue "26" not seen after November 16. $0 (Image)