1857 (May 4) San Francisco, Cal. to Paris, France, folded letter endorsed "pr. Arago" and with crisp "New York '12' May 30" exchange debit cds, carried by Havre Line Arago from New York May 30 to Havre arriving June 11, Havre (6.11) entry octagon and "8" decimes entry h.s., Paris (6.11) arrival backstamp, Very Fine. Estimate  $150 - 200. Letter was written in San Francisco before the U.S.-French Treaty went into effect, but was carried privately to New York, where it was posted after the treaty started. Had the letter been posted in San Francisco, 26¢ would have been required for the West Coast rate. $0 (Image)