Lot Details

71, 1861 30c Orange, two singles alongside two 1861 3c Rose (65), all tied by black grids, on cover from New Orleans to Zofingen, Switzerland, black "New Orleans La Jul 10 1863" and red "Paid N. York Hamb. Pkt. July 12" datestamp, various European transit/arrival handstamps, a Very Fine and interesting cover, accompanied by a letter from Melvin W. Schuh to Mortimer L. Neinken (June 19, 1962) discussing this cover, ex-Knapp, 1984 Philatelic Foundation certificate This cover was prepaid 66c to cover double the 33c rate by Prussian Closed Mail. This was the highest possible rate so that it could be sent by the earliest available steamer, which ended up being a Hamburg Packet. This letter was overpaid by 28 cents, as the rate via Hamburg was 19c (38c for double rate). Of the 38c the United States retained 10c for internal postage, so the manuscript "28/2" indicates 28c credited to Hamburg for a double rate letter. The majority of mail sent to Switzerland was carried by Prussian Closed Mail or French mail, making this a particularly interesting specimen.