1850 (Jan. 16) United States to Wurttemberg, Germany. Folded letter with indistinct red town cds and matching red "Paid" straightline with magenta "34" cent rating, red "New-York, Feb 2" exchange backstamp and sharp "PART PAID" straightline, carried by Ocean Line Hermann from New York Feb. 20th to Bremen arriving Mar. 10th, Hannover red "America/über Bremen" two-line and "1 1/3" debit handstamps, various manuscript ratings, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300.

The "Paid Part" handstamp is a New York marking indicating that the letter was prepaid only to Bremen. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1850 (Apr. 26) New York N.Y. to Cognac, France. Gray folded letter with New York pencil "21" prepaid rating and endorsed per "Steamer 'Atlantic' ", carried as endorsed by Collins Line Atlantic from New York Apr. 27th to Liverpool arriving May 10th, red London (5.11) transit backstamp and matching red "U.S. Pkt." handstamp, Calais (5.12) arrival datestamp and manuscript "16" décimes due rating, fresh and Very Fine.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

A CHOICE USE WITH THE RARE "U.S. PKT" HANDSTAMP CARRIED ON THE FIRST AMERICAN PACKET SAILING OF THE COLLINS LINE.

This letter was treated as an unpaid double-weight letter with "16" décimes due in France. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1850 (Jul. 4) Penang, Malaysia to Boston Mass. via London. Datelined folded letter via Baring Bros. in London with "BEARING" framed handstamp, manuscript rates for overland mail via Marseilles crossed out, London (8.17) receiving backstamp, Liverpool (8.20, 8.21) datestamps, Baring Bros. red "Per U.S. Mail Packet/ 'Atlantic.' " two-line handstamp, carried on the Collins Line Atlantic departing Liverpool Aug. 21st to New York arriving Sep. 1st.
Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500.

AN EXCEPTIONAL TRANSATLANTIC LETTER FROM PENANG, MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED STATES WITH THE BARING BROS. "ATLANTIC" STEAMER HANDSTAMP. Est. $1,000-1,500 (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1850 (Dec. 17) Memphis Tenn. to Wü

rttemberg, Germany. Light blue folded letter with blue "Memphis Ten. Dec 17" cds and matching "Paid" handstamp with "34" cent rating, red "New-York, Dec 20" exchange backstamp and bold "PAID PART" straightline, carried by Collins Line Arctic from New York Dec. 21st to Bremen arriving Jan. 7th, Hannover red "America/über Bremen" two-line and "1 1/3" debit handstamps, various manuscript ratings, Very Fine and scarce Bremen Closed Mail use, Letter was in the fifth Bremen Closed Mail sent from New York.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The "Paid Part" handstamp is a New York marking indicating that the letter was prepaid only to Bremen. Starting in 1849, if there were no Ocean Line sailings, Bremen Convention mail was sent in closed mails was sent through England under a provision of the U.S.-British treaty. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Mar. 3) Pittsburgh Pa. to Württemberg, Germany. Blue folded letter with "Pittsburgh Pa. Mar 3" cds and red "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "20" and "24" totaled to "44c", red "New-York, Mar 5" exchange backstamp and "PART PAID" straightline, carried on Cunard Line Cambria from Boston Mar. 3rd via Liverpool Mar. 16th to Bremen arriving Mar. 22nd, reverse with Minden (3.28) transit and blue Künzelsau (3.31) arrival, Hannover red "America/über Bremen" two-line postmark and various manuscript ratings, Very Fine and rare Bremen Closed Mail use from Boston.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Ocean Line "Hermann" returned to New York on Feb. 29th, having grounded while leaving port. Her mails were sent to Boston for the Mar. 3rd sailing of Cunard Line "Cambria". Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Jun. 5) New York N.Y. to Ebern, Bavaria. Light blue folded letter with partial "New-York, Jun 5" exchange cds and matching "20" cent debit handstamp, red framed "NOT PAID" handstamp (Winter 335), red "America/über/Bremen 33/9" debit handstamp totaled to "42" in red crayon and manuscript, reverse with Minden (1.21), Leipzig (1.22) transits and Ebern (6.22) arrival, Very Fine and scarce unpaid Bremen Mails use to Bavaria.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1852 (Jul. 31) Syracuse, N.Y. to Halle, Prussia. Cover with blue rimless "Syracuse N.Y. Jul 29" cds and matching fancy framed "Paid" handstamp with manuscript "21" rating, endorsed "Paid to Bremen", red "New-York, Jul 31" exchange backstamp and bold "New-York, Paid Part, 31 Jul" cds, carried by N.Y. & Havre Humboldt from New York Jul. 31st to Bremen arriving Aug. 16th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line handstamp, pencil "3" and blue ms. "3" rating, Aug. 17th arrival backstamp; cover tear at left, otherwise Very Fine and attractive use.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000.

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

New York marked PAID PART as only the 20¢ Treaty rate to Bremen was prepaid. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

1852 (Aug. 3) Williamsburg N.Y. to Ludwigsburg, Württemberg. Blue folded letter with "New-York, Aug 3" ocean mail cds and matching "Not Paid" framed handstamp (Winter 335) with "20" cent debit handstamp, carried on Collins Line Arctic from New York Aug. 7th to Liverpool arriving Aug. 18th, red "32/9R Bremen" exchange straightline (Van der Linden 3326), blue manuscript "41" debit crossed out and updated in red crayon "42"; some slight soiling, F.-V.F. and scarce Bremen Closed Mail use.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1852 (Aug. 29) Balingen, Wurttemberg to Zoar, Ohio. Gray folded letter with blue "Balingen, 29/8 52" cds and red manuscript "7 -" rating, reverse with Frankfurt (8.31) and Bremen (9.3) transits, bold strike of Bremen large stylized "7" due rating handstamp (Linden 3103), sent via Closed Mail by Collins Line Pacific from Bremen Sep. 3rd via Liverpool (9.8) to New York arriving Sep. 18th, black "New York '27' Sep 19" exchange due cds; some edge wear and slight edge toning, Very Fine and rare inbound Bremen Closed Mail use.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1853 (Dec. 30) Columbia Ill. to Baden, Germany. Folded cover with manuscript "Columbia Ills., Dec 30" postmark and matching "Paid 20" rating, red "N. York U.S. Pkt. 'Paid 1' Jan 7" credit exchange cds, carried by Collins Line Pacific from New York Jan. 7th to Liverpool arriving Jan. 18th, red "America/über Bremen" two-line and "Paid to Bremen" handstamps, blue manuscript "2½" debit crossed out and updated to "9" in blue crayon, reverse with Cassel (1.22.54), Frankfurt (1.23) transits and Offenburg (1.25) arrival; cover wear and soiling, Fine and rare special Bremen Closed Mail voyage.
Estimate; $400 - 600.

Collins Line "Pacific" carried a special closed mail for Bremen on this voyage by order of the Postmaster General. The mail arrived at Bremen on January 21, 1854 via Aachen. The New York 1¢ credit to Bremen cds was used only on mail carried to Bremen under American packet, or in this case, closed mail. Letter was only prepaid for the 20¢ Treaty rate to Bremen and Hannover marked "Paid to Bremen". Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

1854, 1856 Glasgow, Scotland to San Francisco, Cal. Two folded letters comprising 1854 at the scarce "2/4" prepaid 2s4d rating for West Indies rate to California; and 1856 at the 2/5" prepaid 2s5d rating for two-times the 1s2½d rate via Cunard Line; each with San Francisco "Paid" handstamps; a Very Fine and scarce pair.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1854 (Oct. 30) Evansville Ind. to Württemberg, Germany. Datelined folded letter with sharp "Evansville Ind. Oct 30" cds and matching bold "30" rating handstamp, "N. York U.S. Pkt. '14' Nov 4" debit exchange cds, clear strike of red "24/9 Kr.R. America/über Bremen" handstamp, blue manuscript "33" and magenta "33", reverse with Frankfurt (11.24) and Tubingen (11.26) arrival cds, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1854 (Nov. 11) Melbourne, Victoria to New York N.Y. Blue cover bearing Victoria 1s blue (18), cut-to-shape, tied by "1 V" oval cancel, "Melbourne, Victoria, NO 11, 1854" rimless crown oval postmark, endorsed "pr 'Calcutta' via Southampton, carried as endorsed by GSS Calcutta via Cape Horn to London, red London (1.20) transit backstamp, manuscript "28" debit to U.S., "New-York Am. Pkt. Feb 16" exchange cds and matching "33" due handstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1855 (Aug. 22) New York N.Y. to Canton, China. Folded letter datelined "New York August 22, 1855" and addressed to Augustine Heard & Co., red "New York Am. Pkt. Aug. 22" cds and matching bold large "12" credit to G.B. handstamp, pencil "33" cent prepayment rating, carried by Collins Line Baltic from New York Aug. 22nd to Liverpool arriving Sep. 2nd, red London Paid (9.3) transit, Hong Kong (10.26) arrival backstamp; horizontal file fold, Very Fine use sent at the 33c rate via Southampton.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1856 (Mar. 22) New Orleans La. to Toulouse, France. Folded cover bearing 1¢ blue (7) horizontal pair, large margins to in, tied by large "New Orleans La., Mar 22" cds, endorsed "Circulaire" at top left, red Calais (4.14) entry cds and manuscript "11" décimes due, Toulouse (4.17) arrival backstamp; no side flap, F.-V.F.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1856 (Jun. 14) San Francisco Cal. to Sneek, Holland. Blue folded cover with blue Netherlands Consular handstamp corner card, black "San Francisco Cal. 5 May" cds and red "Paid" handstamp with magenta "26" cent prepaid rating, red "New-York Am. Pkt. May 31" exchange cds, carried on Havre Line Fulton from New York May 31st to Southampton arriving Jun. 14th, black "U.S. Pkt." straightline, red London (6.14.61) transit backstamp and manuscript "4" pence due rating, Sneek (6.14) arrival backstamp and "400" Dutch cents due rating, ex-Richardson.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This is the only recorded example of the 26¢ West Coast rate by American packet via British Open mails to Holland. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1856, 1858 St. Petersburg, Russia to the United States. Two covers each with St. Petersbourg diamond backstamps comprising 1856 (Oct. 10) with red "Aachen, Paid 25 Cts. 27/10" transit cds and matching "P" in circle with "Aus Russland" and "Franco" straightlines to Newark N.J.; and 1858 (Nov. 17) with red "Aachen, Paid 25 Cts. 6/12" transit cds, both with "N.York 'Paid 30' Am. Pkt" credit exchange cds, Very Fine and scarce pair of covers.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1857 (Feb. 25) Mobile Ala. to Augsburg, Germany. Gray printed circular bearing 3¢ dull red (11) horizontal pair, pos. 81-82R4, rich color, tied by two strikes of "Mobile Ala., Mar 25" cds, endorsed "Open print, Per Prussian Closed Mail, carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Mar. 4th to Liverpool arriving Mar. 16th, bold Liverpool America (3.16) transit backstamp with matching bold "2" pence due rating, London (3.17) transit backstamp, blue Liverpool (3.18) dotted double-arc, Aachen (3.18) transit backstamp and blue manuscript "8" due rating, "Bahnh.Augsburg (3.20) arrival backstamp, Very Fine and choice circular rate use during three-month period.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1857 (Aug. 29) Williamsport Pa. to Algeria. Buff cover with "Williamsport Pa. Aug 29" cds and matching "Paid" "30" rating handstamps, red "New York 'Paid 24' Sep 2" credit exchange cds, carried by Cunard Arabia from New York Sep. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Sep. 13th, French (9.14) entry cds, reverse with Paris (9.15) transit and Algeria (9.25) arrival cds; edge wear, F.-V.F. and scarce destination, ex-Littauer.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

Since Algeria was part of France, the 15¢ rate to France also applied to mail destined for Algeria. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

1858 (Oct. 4) New Orleans La. to Marseilles, France. Printed circular bearing 1¢ blue, type V (24) vertical pair, pos. 27-37R5, tied by "New Orleans La. Oct 4" cds, blue "Printed Circular / Per Steamer" two-line handstamp, French (10.25) entry cds and matching "15^c" due handstamp, reverse with Paris transit and Marseilles arrival; bottom stamp corner tear, Very Fine.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1859 (Jun. 10) Augusta Ga. to Geneva, Switzerland. Light buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (25), pos. 77R4, and two 12¢ black (36) singles, tied by two strikes of "Augusta Ga. Jun 10" cds, red "N. York Hamb. Pkt. 'Paid' Jun 15" exchange cds with magenta "22" cent credit rating, carried by Hapag Line Hammonia from New York Jun. 15th to Hamburg arriving Jun. 29th, Hamburg (6.29) backstamp with "Franco" italics handstamp and red crayon "2" rating later updated to "6", reverse with Frankfurt (6.30), Chene (7.3) and Geneva (7.3) backstamps; small stamp flaws, F.-V.F. and scarce franking prepaying the 27¢ Bremen-Hamburg rate, ex-Richardson.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

The 27¢ per ½ ounce rate by Bremen-Hamburg mails was effective from July 1, 1857 to September 30, 1860, when it was reduced to 19¢. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400