1854 (Apr. 20) Cleveland, Oh. to to Baureuth, Bavaria. Buff cover bearing 5¢ red brown (12), full to large margins, tied by "Washington, Iowa May 14" cds, black "New York, Br. Pkt. '23' May 19" debit exchange datestamp, red Aachen (6.2) transit backstamp and blue ms. "45" kreuzer due marking, Baureuth (6.4) arrival backstamp; some overall wear, expertly repaired along edges incl. top flap reattached, still Very Fine and scarce use, ex-Rohloff, Mayer.
Estimate; $1,500 - 2,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED USAGE OF THE OF THE 5¢ 1856 ISSUE TO BAVARIA, AND ONE OF ONLY SEVEN RECORDED SINGLE FRANKINGS TO GERMANY. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

1857 (Aug. 28) Cedar Rapids, Ia. to Steinheim am Aalbuch, Württemberg. Buff cover bearing 10¢ green, type II (32) strip of three, right stamp with trimmed perfs, tied by matching strikes of "Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Aug 28" cds, black "New York Br. Pkt. '23' Sep 2" exchange debit cds, carried by Cunard Line Arabia from New York Sep. 2nd to Liverpool arriving Sep. 13th, Aachen blue manuscript "halbf" and "45" kr. due rating; some cover stains and wear, Fine and unusual Prussian Closed Mail postage due usage, ex-Winter.
Estimate; $500 - 750.

The New York exchange office weighed the letter and determined two rates were required. Existing regulations permitted sending the letter if at least one full rate was prepaid, with the remaining postage to be collected at destination. New York credited Prussia 7¢ for the one rate paid and debited Prussia 23¢ for the one rate unpaid. Aachen marked "halbf" in blue ink to indicate that half the rate was paid as an explanation for the additional postage due rate of 45 kreuzer, the remaining unpaid rate. This cover was referenced in Chronicle 181, parcel post. 58-67. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

1859 (Jan. 3) United States to Büdesheim, Hesse. Orange buff cover bearing 10¢ green (32) and 12¢ black (36), tied by indistinct cds and red "N.York, Am. Pkt. 'Paid 7' Jan 8" credit exchange cds, carried by Havre Line Fulton from New York Jan. 8th to Southampton arriving Jan. 21st, red "Aachen, Franco 22/1" framed transit, German arrival backstamps; 10¢ stamp small tear, F.-V.F. and interesting accepted partial prepayment, with 1999 P.F. certificate.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This cover was prepaid 22¢ for Bremen mails, but NGL Line Weser had suffered severe damage on its maiden voyage and could not sail on January 8th. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400