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United States Postal History continued...

1861-68 30c Issue continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

101

(71) 1861 30c orange Franklin tied by segmented cork cancel with red “New York Paid All Br. Transit” (1863) cds on reverse of cover to Mr. Edwin F. Forbes, Port Blair, Andaman Islands, East Indies (administered by India today). Red Nov 11 1863 London Paid transit cds at left alongside two manuscript credit markings, red Calcutta transit backstamp.

The 30c stamp underpays the 33c single-weight British mail rate to India at the time, but treated as fully paid at the 30c French mail rate for correspondence carried by British packet to the Andaman Islands - one of the most remote outposts of the British Empire, serving as a penal colony at Port Blair. Carried via Southampton and Calcutta for delivery to the Andamans.

Stamp with a small stain at one corner and minor fault at the opposite side of cover; backflap with tears, otherwise a fine and remarkable destination usage of the 30c 1861 Issue. Only a handful of U.S. classic period covers are known to the Andaman Islands.

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Current Opening Price...$750.00
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1861-68 Issues

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

102

(71) 1861 30c orange Franklin tied by bold geometric cancel with matching “Rockland, Me. Jan. 24” (1865) double-circle cds on cover endorsed “French Mail” to Rangoon, Burma, care of Halliday, Bullock & Co., Ship J. J. Southard. Red “N. York Am. Pkt. Paid Jan. 28” exchange cds and magenta manuscript “21” credit to France, red “Calais 11 Fevr. 65” transit cds and boxed red “P.D.” handstamp, with Feb 12 Marseilles receiving backstamp. Red Calcutta transit cds tying stamp and faint Rangoon “20 Mar 65” arrival marking on reverse. Slightly reduced at right clear of the adhesive, 30c with small tear at top, but still overall fine and attractive.

The 30c franking prepaid the single-weight French mail rate via Calais and Marseilles to Burma, then under British Indian postal administration in effect from April 1857 to January 1868. Carried by American packet across the Atlantic to France, then overland through the Mediterranean and Suez to India before delivery to Rangoon.

A rare and desirable 1861 Issue usage to Burma - one of the few recorded 30c French mail covers to this destination - showing a complete sequence of U.S., French, and Indian transit markings.

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Current Opening Price...$1,000.00
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1861-68 30c Issue

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

103

(63,65,71) 1¢ blue Franklin, 3c rose Washington and 30c orange Franklin, canceled by blue quartered cork postmarks with matching “Easton, Pa. Jan 16” (1868) cds on cover to the 2nd Asst. Engineer, U.S.S. Piscataqua, Care of American Consul, Singapore. Red “New York Paid All Br. Transit Jan 18” exchange cds at left, red “1d” Colonial credit handstamp at center, faint London transit cds at left and red "24" credit handstamp at lower right.

The 34c franking pays the single-weight British mail rate via Southampton to Singapore, effective January 1868 - January 1870. Carried by British packet across the Atlantic and through the Suez route, reaching Singapore where the U.S.S. Piscataqua - a screw-steam frigate of the Asiatic Squadron - was then stationed on diplomatic patrol in the East Indies.

The addressee, John F. Bingham, served as Second Assistant Engineer aboard U.S.S. Piscataqua, flagship of the U.S. Asiatic Squadron under Rear Admiral Stephen C. Rowan. Commissioned in October 1867 as one of the Navy’s largest post-Civil War vessels, the Piscataqua sailed from New York in December 1867, reaching Singapore in April 1868 to begin a two-and-a-half-year deployment across the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. The squadron’s mission reflected the expanding reach of American naval and commercial interests in Asia, with port calls at Bombay, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Yokohama supporting U.S. diplomatic, mercantile, and consular activity. On May 15, 1869, the vessel was renamed U.S.S. Delaware, continuing service under that name until departing Singapore in August 1870 and returning to New York that November. Bingham served for the entire duration of the ship's overseas deployment.

This striking and important U.S. Navy-related usage combines three denominations of the 1861 Issue with distinctive blue cancellations and clear exchange markings connecting the U.S. Navy’s Asiatic presence with American postal history in Southeast Asia, very fine.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$1,500.00
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104

(65,71,70a) 1861 3c rose Washington, 30c orange Franklin and 24c brown lilac Washington, all used by bold black grid cancels with matching “Sheffield, Ms. Apr 27” (1863) cds on cover to Singapore, East Indies. Manuscript directive “Via Marseilles” at upper left, red “52” credit handstamp at left and red “London Paid 11 MY 63” transit at lower right, with red crayon “1” (1p) Colonial rate marking for British credit.

The 57c franking pays the ¼-½ oz. British mail rate via Marseilles to Singapore, effective December 1861 to June 1863. 30c and part of cover have been expertly restored, including minor flap repairs, still fine, and scarce and colorful three-color franking from the Cobb correspondence, correctly paying the 57c Marseilles route rate to Singapore - a rare destination for the 1861 Issue.

With 1989 Philatelic Foundation certificate stating “genuinely used on cover.”

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Current Opening Price...$750.00
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1861-68 Issues

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

105

(71) 1861 30c orange Franklin horizontal strip of three, all tied by bold black “Paid” grid cancels with red “Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Nov 19” (1861) on back of cover to George H. Dana, Singapore, East Indies. Manuscript directive “Via Marseilles” at upper left, red London “Paid 2 DE 61” transit at center, and clear strike of red “INSUFFICIENTLY / PREPAID” handstamp with red crayon “80/2” credit and “2” (2d) Colonial rate marking. Rightmost 30c stamp affected by edge placement, cover with backflap tears, otherwise very fine appearing.

The 90c franking was intended to prepay the double 45c British mail rate via Marseilles, effective from September 1861, but the rate increased to 51c in December 1861 while this cover was en route—thus marked “Insufficiently Prepaid” and redirected via the less costly Southampton route at the double 45c rate. A visually striking and dramatic use of the 30c 1861 Issue to Singapore.

The addressee, George H. Dana, was an American merchant active in the East Indies before the Civil War. Returning to Boston in 1861, he joined the Union Army as a second lieutenant with the 32nd Massachusetts Regiment and fought in 27 battles, sustaining serious wounds at Gettysburg. He also served as an aide-de-camp to his cousin, General Napoleon J. T. Dana.

Ex Paliafito and Hill, with 1988 Philatelic Foundation certificate confirming the franking as genuine.

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1861-68 30c Issue

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

106

(70,71) 1861 24c lilac Washington and 30c orange Franklin, three singles, all tied by bold black grid cancels with light strike of “Sheffield, Ms. Jan 19” (1863) cds on folded letter to Singapore, East Indies. Red “Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Jan 20” backstamp, sender’s directive “Via Marseilles” at upper left, red crayon “104/4” accounting and “2” (2d) Colonial credit markings, with clear red “London Paid 3 FE 63” transit handstamp at center.

The $1.14 franking pays the double 57c rate for a letter weighing between ¾–1 oz. carried by British mail via Marseilles, effective from December 1861 to June 1863. Stamps show minor faults at top, cover with minor expert restoration including backflap replaced and top rim of exchange backstamp painted in. A rare and impressive double-weight franking to Singapore, combining four high-denomination 1861 Issue stamps to precisely pay the $1.14 British mail rate via Marseilles.

With 2019 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$1,000.00
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107

(100) 1868 30c orange Franklin F Grill tied by segmented cork cancel with matching “Holmes Hole, Mas Feb 2” (1870) cds on cover to Captain James Cottle, Bark Kathleen, Island of Celebes, East Indies. Manuscript directive “Via Marseilles” at upper left, red “New York Br. Transit Feb. 5” exchange cds on reverse, Feb 16 London transit cds at center, bold red “26” credit handstamp at right, and large manuscript “20” rate notation across face.

The 30c franking slightly overpays the 28c British mail rate via Southampton to the Netherlands East Indies, effective January–November 1870, after the discontinuation of the 30c French mail rate a month earlier. Carried via British packet through Southampton and Singapore for delivery to the Dutch-administered port of Makassar on the island of Celebes (modern Sulawesi).

A fine and extremely scarce F Grill single franking to Celebes, Dutch East Indies - an exotic maritime destination with very few recorded U.S. classic period covers known.

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Current Opening Price...$1,500.00
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1861-68 Issues

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

108

(65,71,78) 1861 3c rose Washington 24c lilac Washington, and 30c orange Franklin used by bold circular grid cancels on folded cover endorsed “for Hansa” and “Via Marseilles,” to Manila. Clear red “N. York Am. Pkt. Paid Oct 23” (1862) exchange cds, red “London Paid NO 7 62” transit cds, and black oval New York forwarder’s handstamp on reverse alongside Manila December 28, 1862 receiving backstamp. Red manuscript "1" Colonial credit alongside manuscript magenta "36" credit marking and finally a black "1" reales due handstamp at right.

The 57c franking pays the ¼-½ oz. British mail rate to the Philippines via Marseilles, effective December 1861 to June 1863. The cover with tears and soiling affecting stamps, though still a scarce and colorful three-color franking to the Spanish Philippines - one of the most distant destinations reached by U.S. 1861 Issue franked mail.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$750.00
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1861-68 30c Issue

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

109

(68,71,76) 1861 10c green Washington, 30c orange Franklin, and 5c brown Jefferson all tied by bold four-bar grid cancels with red “Boston Br. Pkt. 40 Dec 21” (1864) credit cds on folded letter to George H. Peirce, Peele Hubbell & Co, Manila, Philippines. Sender’s blue oval handstamp at left and manuscript directive “Via Southampton.” at top left. Additional red London Paid transit cds (Jan. 3, 1865), Hong Kong transit and Manila receiving backstamps. Red crayon “1” (1 penny) Colonial rate notation at left and large black “2” reales due handstamp applied on arrival in the Philippines.

The 45c franking correctly pays the single-weight British mail rate to the Philippines via Southampton, in effect from September 1861 to January 1868. The letter’s contents discuss Sherman’s March to the Sea, General Thomas’s victory at Nashville, and the new Union draft—an evocative glimpse of U.S. Civil War–era correspondence sent halfway around the world.

Excerpt: "The march of General Sherman through the very heart of the Confederacy and the unexpected and splendid victory of Thomas at Nashville are topics of great congratulation throughout the North. It was expected that Sherman would march the sea-coast with comparative little loss, but few had expected in view of rebel threats and reports that his march would be so completely unmolested and on the contrary so comfortable...He has crowned his march by the capture of Savannah."

The addressee, George Henry Peirce (1842–1905), was a young New England merchant working for Peele, Hubbell & Co., one of the foremost American trading houses in the Far East. Founded in the 1820s by Joseph Peirce and Amos Hubbell, the firm maintained offices in Manila, Canton, and New York, acting as a vital intermediary in the Pacific trade network. It specialized in the export of abacá (Manila hemp) - the Philippines’ most valuable cash crop - used in rope and cordage for Western navies and industries. By the 1860s, Peele, Hubbell & Co. handled nearly one-third of all abacá shipments leaving Manila, dominating the American share of the hemp trade and helping to anchor U.S. commercial presence in Asia decades before formal diplomatic relations. Peirce rose through the firm’s ranks, becoming a partner by 1868.

The Peirce correspondence, comprising letters sent between Manila and the U.S. from 1859 to 1870, surfaced in the 1980s and was dispersed in the celebrated 1994 “Manila Find” sale by H.R. Harmer. These covers provide an extraordinary record of mid-19th-century American mercantile activity in Asia and of the postal links that connected Boston and Manila through Britain’s imperial mail network.

A very fine and beautiful three-color franking to the Philippines - one of the most visually appealing covers from the famed Peirce correspondence.

With 2019 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$5,000.00
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1861-68 Issues

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

110

(68,71,76) 1861 10c green Washington, 30c orange Franklin and 5c brown Jefferson, all tied by black circle of wedges cancels with matching “Brooklyn, N.Y. Feb 13” (1866) cds on small cover to Amoy, China. Red “N. York Br. Pkt. Paid Feb 13” exchange cds at lower left, with bold red “40” credit handstamp to Great Britain just below the 5c stamp and red London Paid transit cds (Feb 26) at center. Additional red crayon “1” (1 penny) Colonial rate marking and Hong Kong backstamp (April 19) on reverse.

The 45c franking pays the single-weight British mail rate to China via Southampton, in effect from September 1861 to January 1868. Carried by British packet to England and onward through the Peninsular & Oriental (P&O) steamship route from Suez to Hong Kong, then transferred to the coastal mail for Amoy.

10c with minor top-right flaw and barely affected from edge placement, otherwise very fine appearing. A rare and highly attractive three-color franking to Amoy, China - an infrequently encountered destination for 1861–68 Issue mail, showing a complete sequence of exchange and colonial rate markings.

With 1990 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$1,000.00
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1861-68 30c Issue

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

111

(65,68,71) 1861 3c rose Washington, 10c green Washington horizontal pair and 30c orange Franklin, all used by bold black target cancels on cover to Commander Robert Townsend U.S.N., U.S. Steamer Wachusett, Macao, China. Black “Syracuse, N.Y. Nov 6” (1865) cds at left, red “N. York Br. Pkt Paid Nov 7” exchange cds, and red “40” credit handstamp at right. Manuscript “Via Marseilles” routing below address, with red "London Paid 20 NO 65" transit marking at lower right and "Hong Kong JA 1 66" backstamp.

The 53c franking pays the British mail rate to Macao via Marseilles, in effect from June 1863 to January 1868.

The addressee, Commander Robert Townsend (1819–1866), entered the U.S. Navy as a midshipman in 1837 and served for nearly thirty years across peacetime and wartime assignments. A veteran of the Mexican War and the Civil War, he commanded the USS Essex from 1863 until November 1864, before given command of the sloop-of-war USS Wachusett, which earlier in 1864 had captured the Confederate commerce raider CSS Florida at Bahia, Brazil - one of the most daring U.S. naval actions of the war. In early 1865, Townsend was ordered to hunt down the CSS Shenandoah in the Indian Ocean. Following the war, Townsend continued to command the Wachusett on the Asiatic Station, protecting American commercial interests in China and Japan as part of the East India Squadron. He died of heat stroke aboard ship on the Yangtze River near Shanghai on August 15, 1866, closing a career emblematic of the U.S. Navy’s growing global reach in the mid-19th century.

A striking 1861 Issue franking combining the 30c, 10c pair, and 3c to make up the 53c British mail rate to Macao - an exceptionally rare destination connecting U.S. naval and postal history.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$3,000.00
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112

(65,71,78) 1861 3c rose, 30c orange Franklin and 24c gray lilac Washington, all tied by bold black grid cancels on 1862 folded letter from New York to Augustine Heard & Co., Shanghai, China. Red “N. York Br. Pkt. Paid Jun. 10” (1862) exchange office cds at lower left, with red “London Paid 23 JU 62” transit and magenta manuscript “52” credit to Great Britain at center. Additional red “1” (1p) Colonial credit handstamp at right, “Hong Kong C AU 7 62” backstamp, and sender’s directive “per ‘Europa’” at top. Clear red oval forwarding agent’s handstamp “Forwarded by / Weston & Gray / New York.” on reverse.

The 57c franking prepays the single ½-ounce letter rate to Shanghai via British mail through Marseilles, effective December 1861 to June 1863. 30c stamp with a tiny margin tear at right, otherwise very fine and colorful. A striking three-color 1861 Issue franking fully paying the 57c British mail rate to China, with a complete series of exchange, forwarding, and transit markings.

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Current Opening Price...$750.00
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113

(100,117) 1868 30c orange Franklin F Grill and 1869 12c green Pictorial, both tied by bold black cork cancels on folded letter datelined “New York, 9th April, 1869” to Charles Thorel & Co., Yokohama, Japan. Manuscript directive “p. City of Boston via Marseilles” at top, red “New York Paid All Br. Transit Apr. 10” (1869) cds on reverse, with red “32” credit handstamp and red “London Paid 23 AP 69” transit alongside red “1d” Colonial credit handstamp. Backstamped “Hong Kong C JU 2 69” and Yokohama arrival cds.

The 42c franking prepaying the single ½ oz. British mail rate via Marseilles to Japan (effective January 1868–January 1870) represents a rare and visually appealing combination of the 1868 F Grill and 1869 Pictorial issues. Weston & Gray correspondence covers to the Far East are among the finest 1869 Pictorial-era maritime usages known.

The addressee, Charles Thorel, was a Swiss merchant active in Yokohama following the 1858 Harris Treaty that opened U.S.–Japanese trade. As co-founder of Thorel, Ziegler & Co., and later proprietor of Charles Thorel & Co., he helped establish early Western participation in Japan’s silk export economy in the 1860s-1870s.

A very fine and extraordinary mixed-issue usage to Japan, carried via the Suez route and showing clear British and colonial accounting markings — a highlight of the Thorel correspondence.

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Current Opening Price...$5,000.00
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114

(65,71) 1861 3c rose Washington and 30c orange Franklin, each tied by black circle-of-wedges cancels with matching “Buffalo, N.Y., Sep. 8 (1865)" cds on cover to Melbourne, Australia. Red “N. York Br. Pkt. Paid Sep 12” exchange cds, red “London Paid 25 SP 65” transit cds and blue “Melbourne DC 18 65” arrival backstamp on reverse.

The 33c franking pays the single-weight British mail rate to Victoria in effect from January 1857 to January 1868. Carried by British packet via London, then overland and sea routes to Melbourne. Both stamps with small faults yet still overall a fine appearing and scarce usage of the 30c 1861 Issue to Australia, illustrating the long-distance British mail routing to Victoria.

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Current Opening Price...$300.00
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115

(65,71) 1861 3c rose Washington vertical strip of three and 30c orange Franklin, all tied by large open-grid cancels with matching red “Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Aug. 22 (1865)" cds on cover reverse to Melbourne, Australia. Manuscript “Via Marseilles” routing at upper left and “Steamer Cuba” directive at lower left, red crayon “34” credit to Great Britain, red “London Paid 7 SP 65” transit cds at right, and clear black “Melbourne NO 19 65” arrival backstamp.

The 39c franking pays the single-weight British mail rate then by French mails via Marseilles to Australia, in effect from April 1857 to January 1868 - six cents higher than the more common 33c British mail route. Top 3c stamp and 30c slightly affected by edge placement, and part of backflap missing, still very fine appearing and attractive. A very scarce and correctly rated 39c “via Marseilles” usage of the 1861 Issue to Australia, combining a 30c and 3c multiple to make up the exact postage for this rarely used route due to extra cost and longer transit time.

Ex Knapp.

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116

(69,71,72) 1861 12c black Washington, 30c orange Franklin, and 90c blue Washington each with matching segmented grid cancels with matching “Washington, D.C. Oct 2” (1866) cds on cover to William Hogan Jr., care of Wilkinson Brothers & Co., Sydney, New South Wales, endorsed “per Steamer via London.” Red “New York Br. Pkt. Paid Oct. 3” exchange cds at right with magenta “112/4” credit at left, representing the credit of 28¢ per 1/2 oz for four times the 33c British mail rate via Southampton. Red “London Paid 15 OC 66” transit cds and Sydney, New South Wales, Dec 19, 1866 receiving backstamp.

One of only five recorded 90c 1861 covers to New South Wales, all originating from the famous Hogan correspondence, this example being the only one bearing additional additional 1861 Issue stamps alongside a 90c stamp.

A visually stunning and significant postal artifact - combining the highest denomination of the 1861 Issue with two companion values on a fully prepaid transoceanic letter to New South Wales. Cover restored at top, 12c affected by light file fold, otherwise fine appearing and choice example of this important rarity.

Recorded as #49 in the Herzog-Starnes census, Chronicle 140, Nov. 1988. Ex Gibson, Wunderlich, Paliafito, DuPuy; signed Ashbrook, with 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

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Current Opening Price...$20,000.00
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117

(71) 1861 30c orange Franklin used by bold grid cancel and tied by red “Philadelphia, Pa. Paid May 5 (1863)" exchange cds on blue cover to Wellington, India then mis-sent to Wellington, New Zealand. Struck with clear red boxed “P.D.” handstamp at lower right, with French transit markings and backstamps including “Wellington, N.Z. JY 27 63” and “Madras SP 23 63.” Expertly repaired along top edge, still fine overall.

The 30c franking prepaid the single-weight French mail rate to India, in effect from April 1857 to January 1868. Owing to the identical name of the intended destination, the cover was mistakenly routed through the French mails to Wellington, New Zealand, before being redirected via Madras to its proper addressee in India - an extraordinary round-the-world postal journey demonstrating both the reach and the fallibility of 19th-century global mail networks.

A highly unusual and well-documented misdirection across hemispheres - a startling U.S. 1861 Issue cover to India mis-sent to New Zealand and then sent on to its originally intended destination.

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Current Opening Price...$1,000.00
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