Consular Forwarded Mail, Santander, Spain to New York, 1864. Placed in the Spanish Post Office with insufficient postage (probably a 4 cuartos stamp intended to pay the domestic rate). Unable to contact the sender, the post office delivered the letter to the local U.S. consul, who removed the original stamp and added the 2 reales stamp, which effectively paid the 10 cent rate by American packet via Britain. Reposted November 28, the letter seems to have been returned to Santander and promptly reposted once again, ultimately being put upon the Inman Line's Etna at Liverpool for carriage to New York; some archival tape reinforcement at folds, Very Fine. Estimate  $5,000 - 7,500. One duty of U.S.consuls was to ensure that mails from American citizens falling into their hands were forwarded to the United States, The consul had the right to reclaim the postage paid from the Post Office Department, but this was rarely enforced, this cover and one other being the only two recorded examples showing the demand for reimbursement. The Santander consul endorsed the following on the reverse: "Collect 10c = The post master will collect ten cents on this letter besides the usual postage, sent paid by me to advance this letter detained by want of stamps, as provided by law. Richd. C. Hannah U.S. Consul.". $0 (Image)