1849 (Apr. 11) Warren, Pa. to Zierolshofen, Baden. Folded letter with blurry "Warren Pa. Apr 11" origin cds and matching "Paid" h.s. with manuscript "10" cents rating, "New-York Apr 15" exchange cds with black "24" debit h.s. to Bremen, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Apr. 2nd to Bremerhaven arriving May 7th, Hannover black "9 America/über Bremen" two-line and red "10 1/3" handstamp, red crayon "59" kr total due rating, F.-V.F., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE HANNOVER "9 AMERICA/ÜBER BREMEN" HANDSTAMP IN BLACK INK.

The Hannover post in Bremen debited Hannover 9 gutegroschen, a restatement of the 24¢ U.S. debit. The "9 America/über Bremen" handstamp was introduced in May 1849 and is known in black ink on this one voyage only. Hannover marked 10 1/3 ggr. debit to Thurn & Taxis Post, later marked as 45 kr. Thurn & Taxis Post added 6 kr. transit fee to Baden, where 8 kr. Baden internal fee also was added for total postage due of 59 kr. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1850 (Aug. 31) Hermann Mo. to Durlach, Baden. Blue folded letter with blue manuscript "Hermann Mo., 31 August 1850" postmark and "Paid 52" rating at top right, red "New-York, Sep 12" exchange backstamp with red "PAID ALL" straightline and magenta "18" cent credit, carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Sep. 20th to Bremerhaven arriving Oct. 6th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, various credits including red ms. "6" kr and red crayon "4", Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1850 (Nov. 16) New York N.Y. to Mittenwald, Bavaria. Blue datelined folded letter with "New-York, Oct 14" ocean mail cds (wrong month) and matching "24" debit, red "Not Paid" framed handstamp; carried by Ocean Line Washington from New York Nov. 20th to Bremerhaven arriving Dec. 8th, red "9 America/über Bremen" two-line and two matching strikes of "10 1/3" handstamp handstamps, magenta manuscript. "45" kr restatement plus Thurn & Taxis manuscript. "9" kr postage due for total 54 kr due, Very Fine and choice use.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Feb. 21) New York N.Y. to Heidelberg, Baden. Orange cover with "New-York 'Part Paid' 21 Feb" integral exchange cds and pencil "80" cent prepaid rating, endorsed "Sample without Value", carried by Collins Line Pacific from New York Feb. 21st to Liverpool arriving Mar. 8th, then by ship to Bremerhaven arriving Mar. 8th, light strike of red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, reverse with Deutz-Minden (3.9) transit and Heidelberg (3.11) arrival, black crayon and blue ms. "9" kr. due ratings for GAPU fee; flap mostly missing and some restoration, Very Fine appearance.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A RARE USE OF THE NEW-YORK PART PAID INTEGRAL EXCHANGE CDS.

New York marked PAID PART as only the postage to Bremen was prepaid. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1852 (May 9) New York N.Y. to Heidelberg, Baden. Orange cover with partial red "New-York, May 8" exchange cds and pencil "27" cent prepaid rating, matching "PAID ALL" straightline and "7" credit handstamp, carried by Havre Line Franklin from New York May 8th to Southampton arriving May 20th, then by ship to Bremerhaven arriving May 24th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, red "Fr. 2 5/12" credit handstamp, reverse with Deutz-Minden (5.27) transit and Heidelberg (5.31) arrival, blue ms. "fr" indicating paid, Very Fine and scarce Bremen mails "Paid All" use.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

The "Paid All" handstamp is a New York marking indicating that the letter was prepaid to destination. The Hanover Post Office in Bremen red "Fr. 2 5/12" gutegroschen credit handstamp is know used only from April to June 1852. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1852 (Nov. 5) Philadelphia Pa. to Bremen, Germany. Gray folded cover with blue "Philadelphia Pa. Nov 5" cds and red "Phila., 5 Cts. Paid" octagon handstamp with manuscript "20" cent rerate, red "New-York, Nov 5" exchange backstamp and black "PAID PART" straightline handstamp; carried as endorsed by Ocean Line Washington from New York Nov. 6th to Bremerhaven arriving Nov. 23rd; small top edge tear, Very Fine and choice "Paid Part" error use.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Although this cover was marked "Paid Part", it was fully prepaid as there was no 3 sgr. (7¢) transit fee for mail addressed to Bremen itself. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1854 (Aug. 22) Lancaster, N.Y. to Kuchen, Baden. Blue folded letter with "Lancaster N.Y., Aug 22" cds and manuscript "22" rating, partial "New York, Brem. Pk. '5' Aug 25" exchange cds, carried by Fritz Line Hansa from New York Aug. 25th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 10th, Bremen red "24/29 Kr.R AMERICA UBER BREMEN" was struck being 24 Kreuzer packet rate plus 9 kr. inland resulting in blue ms. "33" due rating; few minor tone spots, otherwise Very Fine, A scarce use carried by the 3rd of only 9 voyages by the Fritz Line., ex-Feldman.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

With the exception of nine trips by the short-lived German Fritze Line, US packets carried the mails on the Bremen route until mid-1858. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1854 (Oct. 5) New York N.Y. to Bremerhaven, Germany. Blue folded letter bearing Swarts' City Dispatch Post, New York N.Y. (1c) Pink on Wove (136L10), large to huge margins, small star cancel, filing crease through stamp, black "N.York, U.S. Pkt. '9' Oct 7" debit exchange datestamp, carried as endorsed by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Oct. 7th to Bremerhaven arriving Oct. 24th, Bremen red crayon "10" grote due rating, Fine and scarce Swart's local post use by U.S. packet to Bremen, ex-Golden, Kuphal.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

Under the additional articles of 1853, the rate to Bremen was 10¢, with Bremen entitled to a 1¢ transit fee. A paid letter sent by US ship had a marking of 1¢ credit to Bremen; an unpaid letter showed a debit of 9¢. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1857 (May 5) Buffalo N.Y. to Bischofsheim, Baden. Orange buff cover with "Buffalo. N.Y. May 5" arc-datestamp and matching oval "22" rating handstamp, black "Paid" straightline, red "N.York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid 17' May 7" credit exchange cds, carried by Fritz Line Hansa from New York May 7th to Bremerhaven arriving May 24th, blue America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp, partial arrival backstamp; right flap missing, Very Fine, A scarce prepaid use carried by the Last of only 9 voyages by the Fritz Line., ex-Winter.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The Fritz Line "Hansa" carried mails on this last return voyage of nine round voyages between Bremerhaven and New York by this short-lived Bremen steamship company, which attempted to compete with the American Ocean Line as a mail steamship line. Less than five examples of this New York "N.York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid 17' May 7" credit exchange cds have been recorded, a credit marking used only on prepaid letters at the 22¢ rate carried by Bremen steamships.. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1857 (Sep. 2) Chicago Ill. to Wiesbaden, Germany. Yellow cover with black "Chicago Ill., Sep 2, 1857" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with red "22" in circle rating handstamp, endorsed "via Bremen" at top left, red "N.York, U.S. Pkt. 'Paid 8' Sep 5" credit exchange cds, carried by Vanderbilt Line North Star from New York Sep. 5th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 19th, blue America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp, reverse with Frankfurt (9.24) transit backstamp; reduced slightly at left, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The 1853 additional articles created a 22¢ rate for states served by Thurn & Taxis, which refused to adopt the low North German transit fee until 1858, when the 22¢ rate was eliminated. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1862 (Aug. 29) Philadelphia Pa. to Schorndorf, Germany. Orange buff cover with "Philadelphia Pa., Aug 29, 1862" cds and manuscript "15" cent rating, black "N.York Brem. Pk. '3' Aug 30" debit exchange cds to Bremen, carried in closed bag on NGL Line Hansa from New York Aug. 30th to Bremerhaven arriving Sep. 12th, blue "AMERIKA über Bremen, 22" double-circle integral debit handstamp denoting 22 kreuzer due, reverse with Stuttgart (9.13) and Schorndorf (9.14) arrival cds where 22 kreuzer due was restated in blue crayon, Very Fine with crisp postmarks.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200