The Steven Walske Collection of U.S.-France Transatlantic Mail

**1849-50 Ceres Issue**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
101°		FRANCE, 1850, 10c Bister-Brown on Yellowish (1 var; Yvert 1a). Horizontal strip of six, cancelled and end stamps tied by diamond grids, "Collioure 9 Dec. 1851" "cachet moyen" (medium size) circular datestamp on folded cover to New York, Paris and red "Bureau Maritime Havre 12 Dec. '51" backstamps, "20" cents due handstamp struck in New York, light file fold creases position 2 VERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE AND RARE STRIP OF SIX OF THE 1850 10-CENTIMES ISSUE IN THE BISTER-BROWN SHADE ON COVER TO NEW YORK. The 60-centimes franking on this cover paid the rate per 7.5 grams from beyond the departure point and was due 20c direct packet postage in the U.S. This was carried on the N.Y. & Havre Line's Franklin, departing Le Havre Dec. 21, 1851 and arriving New York Jan. 3, 1852 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 10,000-15,000 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
102		FRANCE, 1850, 10c Bister on Yellowish (1; Yvert 1). Two singles, used with 1850, 40c Orange on Yellowish, Ty. I (7; Yvert 5), all tied by neat strikes of diamond grid cancel, Guebwiller Apr. 14, 1851 double-circle datestamp on folded cover to Constableville N.Y., Paris and Le Havre "Maritime" backstamps, "New York Ship 12cts. May 22" due circular datestamp, some minor wear and soiling, still Very Fine and attractive First Issue cover, carried by private ship at the 60-centimes rate for origination beyond the port of departure (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $1,100.00 Will close during Public Auction
103		FRANCE, 1850, 10c Bister on Yellowish (1; Yvert 1). Used with horizontal pair 1849, 25c Light Blue on Bluish (6; Yvert 4), tied by large open grid cancels and by Paris Oct. 16, 1851 double-circle datestamp on narrow cover to Philadelphia Pa., red Le Havre "Maritime" backstamp, "New York Ship 7cts. Nov. 14" circular datestamp ties 25c pair, minor soiling and backflap tear, Very Fine use, carried by private ship at the 60-centimes rate for origination beyond the port of departure (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 750-1,000 SOLD for $950.00 Will close during Public Auction
104		FRANCE, 1849, 15c Green on Greenish (2; Yvert 2). Horizontal strip of four, large margins to in on right stamp, tied by large open grid cancel, Paris Jul. 23, 1852 double-circle datestamp on folded cover to New York, red "Bureau Maritime Havre 24 Jul. '52" backstamp and strikes of boxed "P.P." and "PD", "20" cents due handstamp struck in New York VERY FINE. A RARE STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 1849 15-CENTIMES ISSUE ON COVER TO NEW YORK. The 15c 1849 Issue was sold only in Paris and is very uncommon to find in multiples. This transatlantic use of a strip of four is remarkable. The 60-centimes franking paid the rate per 7.5 grams from beyond the port of departure and was due 20c direct packet postage in the U.S. This was carried on the N.Y. & Havre Line's Franklin, departing Le Havre on Aug. 4, 1852 and arriving New York Aug. 16 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 5,000-7,500 SOLD for $4,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
105		FRANCE, 1849, 15c Green on Greenish (2; Yvert 2). Two singles, both with ample to large margins, used with vertical pair 1852, 25c Blue on Bluish (11; Yvert 10), ample margins to just in, both pairs tied by open grid cancels, "Paris 14 Mai '53" double-circle datestamp on small 1853 folded letter to Easton, Maryland, manuscript directive "Per American Steamer via Liverpool", red boxed "PD" handstamp "N. York Am. Pkt. 21 May 29" due circular datestamp (16c sea plus 5c inland postage) FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL COVER FROM FRANCE TO THE UNITED STATES, FRANKED WITH THE 1849 15-CENTIMES AND 1852 25-CENTIMES ISSUES AND SENT BY AMERICAN PACKET. This was carried on the Collins Line steamer Arctic, departing Liverpool May 18 and arriving New York May 28. Ex Dubus (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 5,000-7,500 SOLD for $3,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
106°		FRANCE, 1849, 20c Black (3; Yvert 3).Three singles, two at left affixed as a vertical pair and one at right, all tied by diamond grid cancels on narrow 1849 cover datelined Paris Oct. 14 to New York, red Oct. 15 London transit datestamp and "P.P." (part paid) handstamp, carried by Cunarder Hibernia from Liverpool on Oct. 20, arriving New York Nov. 5 with "5" in circle due handstamp VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 1849 20-CENTIMES CERES FIRST ISSUE OF FRANCE ON AN UNDERPAID TRANSATLANTIC COVER TO NEW YORK. A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE. The sender apparently intended to have this cover to go by private ship or by American Packet--the Ocean Line’s Washington sailed from Southampton on Oct. 20--however, the cover was not endorsed to go by any particular route, so the default was by British Packet via London and Liverpool. A letter sent by this route should have been prepaid 1fr50c (50-centimes inland plus 10-decimes British sea transit). The 60-centimes was accepted as full prepayment for French inland and British transit. This represents an extremely rare franking for French-U.S. transatlantic mail. The 20c Ceres issue was never intended for external use and is very rarely found on covers to foreign destinations (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 7,500-10,000 SOLD for $10,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
107		FRANCE, 1849, 20c Black on Yellowish (3; Yvert 3). Used with 1850, 40c Orange on Yellowish, Ty. I (7; Yvert 5), tied by diamond grid cancels, Montpellier Jun. 3, 1850 double-circle datestamp on folded letter to Ipswich Mass., Paris and red Le Havre "Maritime" double-circle datestamps, red "New York Ship 7cts. Jul. 17" due circular datestamp VERY FINE AND RARE USE OF THE 1849 20-CENTIMES STAMP ON COVER TO A FOREIGN DESTINATION. The 20c Ceres Issue was never intended for external mail and is rare on covers to foreign destinations. This was carried by private ship at the 60-centimes rate for origination beyond the port of departure (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $4,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
108		FRANCE, 1850, 40c Orange on Yellowish, Ty. I (7; Yvert 5). Horizontal pair, bright color and large margins all around, tied by open grid cancel, Paris Sep.16, 1852 double-circle datestamp on cover to Lancaster Pa., red boxed "PD" handstamp, "New York 21 Oct. 2" due circular datestamp (16c sea plus 5c inland postage), Very Fine, carried on the Collins Line steamer Atlantic, departing Liverpool Sep. 22 and arriving New York Oct. 2 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $1,100.00 Will close during Public Auction
109		FRANCE, 1850, 40c Orange on Yellowish, Ty. I (7; Yvert 5). Used with horizontal pair 1849, 10c Bister on Yellowish (1; Yvert 1), boldly cancelled by diamond grids, "Paris 3 Jun. '51" double-circle datestamp on folded letter to Boston Mass., manuscript "Via Havre" and carried on maiden voyage of N.Y. & Havre Line Humboldt, arrived Jun. 17 and struck with "New-York Ship 29 Jun. 18" circular datestamp, 10c stamps with minor bends and cover refolded at top, Very Fine American Packet direct cover, only four sailings occurred during this period (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $3,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
110°		FRANCE, 1849, 1fr Cerise (Cherry) on Yellowish (9 var; Yvert 6d). Horizontal strip of six, used with vertical pair 1852, 25c Blue on Bluish (11; Yvert 10), both tied by large grid of dots cancels and strip by red boxed "PD" handstamps and Paris Aug. 23 (1853) double-circle datestamp on cover to Groton Mass., carried on the Cunarder Asia, from Liverpool on Aug. 27, 1853, arriving New York Sep. 8, "New-York Br. Pkt. Sep. 9" circular datestamp ties pair, "20" cents due handstamp ties strip, left stamp in strip roughly separated into frameline, minor envelope corner flaws including nicked at bottom left VERY FINE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE RARE ONE-FRANC 1849 ISSUE IN THE DISTINCTIVE "CERISE" SHADE. This shade is recorded used in Paris only during August 1853. The cover was franked for five-times the 13-decimes rate in France, and rated in the U.S. as a quadruple-rate cover, demonstrating the non-parallel weight progressions for French-U.S. mails. The 20 cents postage due in the U.S. is also an example of the 5c Open Mail "Restored Rate" which followed the brief Second Retaliatory Rate period of early 1853. Ex Caspary (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 30,000-40,000 SOLD for $30,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
111°		FRANCE, 1849, 1fr Dark Carmine (9; Yvert 6). 13 stamps affixed as three strips of three and four singles, most stamps tied by large open grid cancels, "Paris 24 Nov. '52" double-circle datestamp on legal-size folded letter to business address in New York, red boxed "PD" handstamp, "Boston Br. Pkt. Dec. 12" circular datestamp and "40" cents due, cover wear and light staining, some stamps with faults including file fold and one stamp in a strip torn prior to use, all to be expected on such a heavy letter, which probably contained an enclosure VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A STRIKING AND EXTREMELY RARE 10-TIMES FRANKING WITH THIRTEEN EXAMPLES OF THE 1849 ONE-FRANC ISSUE, ON COVER TO NEW YORK. This was carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Liverpool Nov. 27 and arriving Boston Dec. 11. The 10-times rating in France nicely demonstrates the non-parallel weight progressions for French and U.S. mails, as it was rated in Boston for eight-times the 5c rate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 7,500-10,000 SOLD for $7,000.00 Will close during Public Auction