1852 (Oct. 29) Philadelphia Pa. to Heilbronn, Württemberg. Blue folded letter sheet with blue "Philadelphia Pa., Oct 29" cds and matching "20" rate handstamp, black "N. York, Am. Pkt. '23' Oct 30" debit exchange cds, carried by Collins Line Baltic from New York Oct. 30th to Liverpool arriving Nov. 10th, red Aachen (11.12) backstamp and blue ms. "45" kreuzer due rating, reverse with Frankfurt (11.14) transit and Nov. 15th arrival cds, magenta "47" kreuzer final due rating; cover wrinkle, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED USAGES CARRIED ON THE FIRST VOYAGE FROM THE UNITED STATES WITH PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL, THIS BEING THE ONLY ONE TO GERMANY.

We record three uses carried on the first Prussian Closed Mail voyage:
1. 1852 Oct. 29, Philadelphia Pa. to Heilbronn, Württemberg.
2. 1852 Oct. 30, New York, N.Y. to Wohlen, Switzerland, ex-Winter.
3. 1852 Oct. 30, New York, N.Y. to Geneva, Switzerland, ex-Baird. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1854 (Apr. 20) Cleveland Oh. to Weilburg, Nassau. Buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (11A) horizontal pair, large margins except slightly in at bottom, with red "Cleveland Oh. Apr 20" cds, partial also tied by "N.York, Br. Pkt. '23' Apr 25" debit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Apr. 26th to Liverpool arriving May 8th, red Aachen (5.10) transit backstamp and blue ms. "45" kreuzer due rating, Weilburg (5.12) arrival backstamp, Very Fine use.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This cover was franked to convenience overpay by 1¢ the 3¢ domestic U.S. postage plus 2¢ shore-to-ship rate via British Mails, this was treated as unpaid and so 23¢ of the 30¢ rate was debited by the U.S. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1861 (Oct. 8) Lima, Oh. to Oberweisbach, Thuringia. Gates red and blue Flag & Eagle clutching "Protect" ribbon Civil War Patriotic cover bearing 24¢ gray lilac (37) tied by "Lima O., Oct 3, 1861" cds, repeated at left, black "New-York, Am. Pkt. '23' Oct 12" debit exchange cds, carried by Havre Line Fulton from New York Oct. 12th to Southampton arriving Oct. 24th, red Aachen (10.26) transit backstamp and blue ms. "45" kr due rating, updated in blue ms. "12¾" sgr, Oct. 28th arrival backstamp; light edge wear, Very Fine, ex-Waterhouse, Ishikawa, Gallagher, Gabriel.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE 24¢ 1860 ISSUE USED ON A CIVIL WAR PATRIOTIC TO GERMANY.

There was a widespread misapprehension in the latter half of the 1850s that a 24¢ rate to Germany existed. Ashbrook's note on reverse interpreted the late use of the 24¢ 1860 issue as "Old Stamp Not Recognized", but this was actually a short payment of the 30¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate treated as totally unpaid. Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

1865 (Dec.) San Francisco Cal. to Maburg, Hesse. Printed "Wells Fargo & Co., Paid" frank on 3¢ pink (U35) buff entire bearing 5¢ brown (76) and 10¢ green (68), nat. s.e. at left, tied by NYFM cross-roads cancels, red "N. York '7 Paid' Dec 27" exchange cds, manuscript "per Steamer Constitution Connexion to German line of steamers from New York" endorsement, carried by Cunard Java from New York Dec. 27th to Queenstown arriving Jan. 5th, red Aachen Franco (10.1) boxed transit datestamp, Marburg (10.12) arrival backstamp; reduced slightly at top, stamp flaws, Very Fine.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

A rare usage carried by Wells, Fargo & Co. and entering the mails in New York, with U.S. adhesives intending to pay the Hamburg rate however sent by Prussian closed mail. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500