1856 (Nov. 18) Providence R.I. to Hong Kong, China, folded cover to William Comstock bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) with red crayon precancel, 5¢ red brown (12) and 10¢ green, type II (14) strip of three, bright colors with large margins to in except 5¢ four margins, all tied by red circular grid cancels, matching "Providence R.I. Nov 18" cds and "Paid" straightline, black "Boston Br. Pkt. 19 Nov" exchange backstamp with red crayon "15" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Nov. 19th to Liverpool arriving Dec. 1st, red Aachen Franco (12.2) framed transit with blue manuscript "f 3½" silbergroschen rating, blue Alexandria (12.17) transit backstamp with bold black "1/-" debit handstamp, Hong Kong (2.1) arrival backstamp; stamps creased by file folds, fresh and Very Fine appearance. Estimate  $15,000 - 20,000. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE THREE-COLOR IMPERFORATE 1851-56 ISSUE FRANKING TO HONG KONG, CHINA PREPAID AT THE 38¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 5¢ 1856 ACTUALLY SENT AT THIS RARE RATE AND ROUTING. This exceptional franking pays the 38¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate via Trieste effective October 1, 1852 to April 30, 1863. The 15¢ credit to Prussia comprised 2¢ British transit, 2¢ Belgian transit, 5¢ GAPU transit and 8¢ foreign postage. The addressee worked as an agent for and later as a partner of the famous firm Augustine, Heard & Co. and it appears from the docketing that the he received the letter in Foochow on February 2, 1857, one day after its delivery in Hong Kong. Another cover from the same correspondence dated Oct. 24th 1856 was prepaid with 1¢, 3¢, 10¢, 12¢ pair (7, 11A, 14, 17) franking for the 38¢ PCM rate but was actually sent via British Mails (ex-Sevenoaks, Rogers, Hackmey, Gross) and ended up being delivered on the same exact day as the cover offered here even though it was mailed three weeks prior. The Mayer auction of the 5¢ 1856 also had a cover franked for the 38¢ rate, but again was sent at the 33¢ British mail rate. $0 (Image)