1864 (Nov. 23) Detroit, Mich. to Belfort, France, buff cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose and 12¢ black, tied by blue four-ring cancels duplexed with "Detroit Mich. Nov 23" double circle postmark, red "New York 'Paid 12' Nov 26" exchange credit cds, carried by Hapag Line Borussia from New York Nov. 26 to Hamburg arriving Dec. 10, Hamburg (12.10) backstamp with "Fr. Grenze" straightline, Erquelines (12.12) entry cds with "PD" framed h.s., Belfort (12.13) arrival backstamp; light folds, Very Fine and unusual routing. Scott No. 65, 69  Estimate $200 - 300. The fact that New York used a credit marking normal to French mails indicates they understood the letter was to go in the French mails. By mistake, the letter was placed in a mail bag to Hamburg. Hamburg marked the "Fr(anco): Grenze." marking to show letter paid only to the German-French border (rate to France via Germany was 21¢). Hamburg sent letter to Paris via the Thurn & Taxis Post and entry into France at Erquelines. Paris did not mark the letter for postage due, probably because the error had been made by the post office in New York. $0 (Image)