1853 (Jun. 30) San Francisco Cal. to Bordeaux, France, folded printed prices current with "San Francisco Cal. Jul 1" cds and matching "Paid 26" crude rating h.s. for British open mail by American Packet, red "New-York Am. Packet Jul 30" exchange cds, carried by Havre Line Franklin from New York Jul. 30 to Liverpool arriving Aug. 11, Le Havre (8.11) entry cds with "12" decimes postage due, Very Fine, one of only four recorded examples of this crude "Paid 26" rate handstamp. Estimate  $400 - 600. Letter carried from San Francisco by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. steamer Oregon to Panama City and U.S. Mail Steamship Co. steamer Georgia from Aspinwall to New York. Paris marked the postage due of 12 decimes (2 x 6 decimes for 7½-15 gram letter going beyond the arrival port). Scarce San Francisco rate marking, a crude-style "Paid 26," used only from 30 June-16 July 1853. $0 (Image)