(Italy) 1867 (Sep. 13) Milwaukee Wisc. to Rome, Italy. Orange cover bearing 12¢ black (69) horizontal pair, tied by quartered cork cancels duplexed with "Milwaukee Wis. Sep 13" cds, sender's directive "Via Bremen & Hamburg" at upper left, red "N. York, Brem. Pk. 'Paid' Sep 19" credit exchange cds, carried NGL Line Hermann from New York Sep. 19th to Bremerhaven arriving Oct. 1st, blue "America/über Bremen/Franco" three-line handstamp and matching "21" cent credit handstamp, red crayon "16" kreuzer crossed out and with matching "Wf 14" (weiterfranco 14 kreuzer) credit to Italy, manuscript "2" at upper left indicates this was considered double-weight in Rome and marked with large manuscript "10" décimes due from recipient (20¢ equivalent), reverse with Basel and Rome (10.14) arrival cds, missing small part of top flap, Very Fine, ex-Vogel, Gliedman.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED USES PREPAID AT THE 24¢ RATE TO ROME BY BREMEN-HAMBURG MAIL, THIS RATE WAS IN EFFECT FOR ONLY ELEVEN MONTHS.

This remarkable cover was the subject a Chronicle article by George Hargest in August 1972 (No. 75, pp 151-153). In the article, he notes that during this time the Papal States were not yet a part of the Kingdom of Italy. Uprisings, led in part by Garibaldi, had reduced their territory to Rome and a narrow strip of coastline which also contained the port of Civitavecchia. Napoleon III of France sent a contingent to help protect Papal interests. A majority of mail sent during this time was fully prepaid to destination and sent via French Mail. The Bremen-Hamburg route was only in existence from February 1, 1867, until January 1, 1868. It was compulsory that letters sent by this route be prepaid by stamps, with the final postage to destination collected from the recipient. In 1870, at the start of the Franco-Prussian War, the French troops were called home and after a short battle the remaining Papal States territory was incorporated into Italy.

Hargest also quotes from the U.S. Mail and Post Office Assistant for March 1867, which discusses the general state of affairs of the Italian postal system: "But, with all these improvements, the postal system of Italy is still very far behind the English and American systems… Our clerks could hardly, with impunity, fail to find a pile of letters of letters that had been in the office for many weeks, or to destroy others for the sake of making a stamp album. They do so in Italy yet. It is rather desirable to be forewarned that a rare American stamp on a letter will probably ensure its being stopped by the post office. Report says the wives of certain postmasters in Italy have the richest albums in Europe."

Reference: Illustrated and described in an article by Hargest in Chronicle No. 75. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

(Italy) 1868 (Nov. 8) Cincinnati, Ohio to Rome, Italy. Cover bearing 2¢ black, E grill (87) and 12¢ black (69), tied by "Cincinnati O., Nov 8" duplex with four-ring target cancel, red "New York, Paid All, Direct, Nov 10" exchange cds also ties 2¢, red "4" cent credit handstamp, carried by Hapag Line Cimbria from New York Nov. 10th to Hamburg arriving Nov. 23rd, red "Hamburg, Franco, 23/11 68" framed transit, large "P.P." part paid handstamp and ms. "25" centesimi due rating, Rome (11.28) arrival backstamp, F.-V.F., with 1983 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

The rates for foreign mail sent via the NGU included the base direct rate and closed mail rates plus transit fees. The US credited the NGU with the transit fee portion of the rate, which was 4¢ for Italy. This cover was for prepaid 14¢ direct rate with a 4¢ credit, but was mailed prior to the NGU-Italian Convention effective on April 1, 1869, so it was partially paid with 25 centesimi postage due (about 1¢). Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

(Italy) 1870 (Jan. 20) Gloucester, Mass. to Genova, Italy. Folded letter bearing 1¢ buff (112), 3¢ ultramarine (114) and 15¢ brown & blue, type I (118), bright colors, each cancelled by circle of wedges, matching "Gloucester, Mass. Jan 19" cds, red "New York, Paid All, Br. Transit, Jan 22" exchange cds and matching "4" cent credit handstamp, carried by Inman Line City of Brooklyn from New York Jan. 22nd to Liverpool arriving Feb. 2nd, red "Verviers, Coeln, Franco" (2.2) transit, blue crayon "f 1½" sgr credit rating, Italian "P.D." paid direct handstamp, transit and receiving backstamps; 1¢ small flaws, still Very Fine and colorful franking paying the 19¢ rate by North German Union Closed Mail via England, with 1988 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY 10 RECORDED 15C TYPE I 1869 ISSUE COVERS TO ITALY. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

(Italy) 1872 (Mar. 18) Lowell, Mass. to Rome, Italy. Cover bearing 2¢ red brown (146) and 3¢ green (147) pair and single, each canceled cancel duplexed with "Lowell, Mass., Mar 18" cds, bold red "New York, Paid All, Mar 20" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Abyssinia from New York Mar. 20th to Queenstown arriving Mar. 30, reverse with Genova (4.5) transit and Rome (4.6) arrival cds; reduced slightly at right; "Roma" doodling, Very Fine use at the 11¢ Closed Mail rate to Italy.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

The 4¢ transit fee for Italy remained the same for the life of the convention. Later cover often lack red credit markings for the transit fees, probably reflecting a change to implementation of the convention regulations. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Italy) 1874 (Mar. 14) Cincinnati, Ohio to Naples, Italy. Orange cover bearing 3¢ green (158) and 7¢ orange vermilion (160), tied by blue "Cincinnati, O. Mar. 14" duplex with four-ring target cancel, red "New York, Paid All, Mar 18" exchange cds, carried by Hapag Line Frisia from New York Mar. 19th to Hamburg arriving Jun. 2nd, partial red Napoli arrival backstamp; 3¢ slightly affected by edge placement, Very Fine and colorful use at the 10¢ Italian Direct mail rate.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

(Italy) 1858 (Apr. 21) New Orleans La. to Intra, Italy. Blue folded cover bearing 1¢ blue (24), 3¢ dull red (26 two) and 10¢ green, type I-III (31-33), types I and III in vertical pairs, small perf faults from placement at edge, tied by bold "New Orleans La. Apr 21, 1858" cds, black "New-York, Br. Pkt., Apr 28" exchange backstamp and red "15" cent credit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Apr. 28th to Liverpool arriving May 10th, red "Aachen, Franco 11/5" framed transit and magenta "2¼" sgr credit updated in red crayon "4", Genoa (5.15) transit, red "Franca", "P.D." and "Via Di Svizzera" handstamps, Intra (5.16) arrival backstamp, 1¢ pair creased, a Very Fine and attractive use, ex-Piller.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

A REMARKABLE THREE-COLOR 1857 ISSUE FRANKING ON 1858 COVER TO ITALY AT THE 38¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

(Italy) 1858 (Dec. 25) New Orleans La. to Genoa, Sardinia. Blue cover bearing 1¢ blue, type III-IIIa (21-22) horizontal plate 4 pair, C Reliefs, used with 12¢ black, Plate 1 (36), horizontal pair and single, perfs scissors-separated causing some straight edges, used with tied by "New Orleans La. Dec. 23, 1858" cds, sender's railroad route instructions "Via Jackson & G.N.R.R. & Co." at top (Jackson & Great Northern Railroad), red "New-York, Br. Pkt., Jan 5" exchange backstamp and magenta "15" cent credit rating, carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Jan. 5th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 16th, red "Aachen, Franco 18/1" framed handstamp ties left two 12¢ stamps and magenta "f 3¼" sgr credit to Italy, Genoa (1.21) arrival backstamp, red "Franca", "P.D." and "Via Di Svizzera" handstamps; 1¢ stamps with pre-printing paperfolds, a Very Fine and attractive use, ex-Neinken, Wagshal.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A WONDERFUL 1857 ISSUE FRANKING ON 1859 COVER TO ITALY AT THE 38¢ PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

(Italy) 1861 (Dec. 27) Paris, Ky. to Florence, Italy. Yellow cover bearing 30¢ orange (71) cancelled by circular grid cancel, matching sharp "Paris, Ky, Dec 27, 1861" double-circle datestamp, red "New York, Hamb. Pkt. 'Paid' Jan 11" exchange cds and magenta "23" cent credit rating, carried by Hapag Teutonia from New York Dec. 28th to Hamburg arriving Jan. 28th, Hamburg arrival backstamp and "Franco" straightline with red "3¼" sgr credit, black "P.D." handstamp and ms. "3¼" restatement updated in red crayon "15", numerous backstamps including Florence arrival cds, Fine and unusual use via Hamburg mails to Italy.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400