The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History continued...

5¢ Red Brown (12), three full to large margins, barely in at top, used with 10¢ Green, Type III (33), tied by "Milwaukie Wis. Sep. 2, 1857" circular datestamp on cover to Gronau, Hanover, Germany, red "N. York U.S. Pkt. 6 Paid Sep. 5" 6¢ credit datestamp for Bremen Mail--carried on the Vanderbilt European Line North Star, departing New York September 5, 1857, and arriving at Bremerhaven September 19--blue "AMERICA/UBER BREMEN/ FRANCO" handstamp, Gronau receiving backstamp (September 20), certificate notes some very minor stamp toning, still Very Fine, only a half-dozen covers to Europe with the 5¢ 1856 and 10¢ 1857 Perforated combination are recorded (two to Germany), ex Mayer and Hackmey, illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 106), with 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), large to huge margins, rich color, used with horizontal strip of three 10¢ Green, Type II (14), Positions 58-60R1, three large margins, just touched at right, strip cancelled by three strikes of circle of wedges cancel, 5¢ tied by "Orient N.Y. 1858 Apr. 20" double-line circular datestamp (Collins marking) on cover to Copenhagen, Denmark, sender's directive "via Prusn. Closed Mail"--carried on the Cunarder America, departing Boston on April 21, 1858, and arriving at Liverpool on May 4--red "New-York Am. Pkt. Apr. 24" circular datestamp on back, Boston office applied the red "12" credit handstamp for Prussian Closed Mail, red "AACHEN 8/5 FRANCO" (May 8) framed datestamp, "KDOPA HAMBURG 9/5" (May 9) Royal Danish Postal Agency in Hamburg double-circle datestamp on back

Fine appearance; repaired cover tears at bottom, left 10¢ has tiny pre-use tear and crease in top margin, but the appearance is attractive, especially with the unusual Collins-type datestamp and fancy cancels.

Our records contain listings for seven covers with the 35¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate paid by a 5¢ used with three 10¢ 1855 Imperforate stamps. This is the only one of the seven to Denmark. The only other 5¢ 1856 cover to Denmark went by French mail and apparently has a missing stamp (ex Baker and Piller).

Ex Alfred H. Caspary, Philip G. Rust (1987 Rarities of the World sale), Frederick R. Mayer and Joseph Hackmey. Illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 147). With 2005 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), large to huge margins showing bit of adjoining stamp at top, rich color, tied by "New Orleans La. Dec. 9" (1856) circular datestamp on folded cover to Intra, Piedmont, Italy, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Dec. 24" circular datestamp--carried on the Cunarder Africa, departing New York December 24, 1856, and arriving at Liverpool January 4, 1857, the first Cunard sailing to arrive during the "Three Months" period--"GB/1F60C" framed Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, red Liverpool transit backstamp and Calais arrival datestamp (both January 5), manuscript "10" decimes due for transit charges, Intra receiving backstamp (January 10), top back panel detached and rejoined, slight toning, Very Fine, a scarce 5¢ 1856 cover to Italy carried under the same "Three Months" interim arrangements as mail to France, ex Caspary, Mayer and Hackmey, illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 99), with 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), full even margins, deep shade, tied by "New Orleans La. Feb. 25" (1857) circular datestamp on folded letter to Intra, Piedmont, Italy, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Mar. 10" circular datestamp--carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston March 11, 1857, and arriving at Liverpool March 23--"GB/1F60C" framed Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, red Liverpool transit backstamp and Calais arrival datestamp (both January 5), manuscript "10" decimes due for transit charges, Intra receiving backstamp (March 28), Very Fine, beautiful and scarce 5¢ 1856 cover to Italy carried under the same "Three Months" interim arrangements as mail to France, ex Wunderlich, Reed, Mayer and Hackmey, with 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), two full to large margins, others slightly in, deep shade, tied by "Baresville Ohio Jun. 11" (1857) circular datestamp on buff cover to Schwyz, Switzerland, "New York 6 Jun. 16" 6¢ debit datestamp--carried on the Cunarder America, departing Boston June 17, 1857, and arriving at Liverpool June 28--Calais arrival datestamp (June 29), Paris and Basel transit backstamps (June 30 and July 1), Swiss receiving backstamp, red crayon "230" rappen due marking equivalent to 42¢ rate, minor edgewear, Very Fine, our records contain only five examples of this single 5¢ franking for the British Open Mail rate to Switzerland (including one other from this correspondence), ex Gibson, Walter Hubbard, Mayer and Hackmey, illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 123) (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), mostly clear to ample margins, just touched at left, used with vertical strip of three 10¢ Green, Types III/II/III (33/32/33), large margins to in at right, tied by "New Orleans La. Jul. 15, 1857" circular datestamp on buff cover to Geneva, Switzerland, red "N. York Br. Pkt. Jul. 22" backstamp--despite the New York exchange office British Packet designation, it was carried on the Collins Line Columbia, departing New York July 18, 1857, and arriving at Liverpool July 29--red "12" credit handstamp, red "AACHEN 4/8 FRANCO" (August 4) framed datestamp, magenta manuscript "f2" silbergroschen for Prussian transit, red crayon "6" rappen Swiss due marking, transit backstamps including Basel and Geneva (August 9), cover repaired at top and bottom right but not affecting stamps, still Fine overall appearance, our records contain only six 35¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate covers to Switzerland with this 5¢ and 10¢ combination, ex Mayer and Hackmey, illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 120), with 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), huge bottom sheet margin and full to clear at left and top, slightly in at right, crisp shade and impression, tied by clear strike of "Peoria Ills. Oct. 31" (1856) circular datestamp on buff cover to Eperies, Hungary (now known as Presov, Slovakia), sender's directive "p first Steamer via Liverpool" and prepaid for the British Open Mail rate, but evidently arrived too late for the November 5 Cunard sailing from Boston--carried on the Collins Line Atlantic, departing from New York November 8, 1856, and arriving at Liverpool November 20--treated as totally unpaid with "N. York Am. Pkt. 23 Nov. 8" 23¢ debit datestamp for U.S. portion of 30¢ Prussian Closed Mail rate, red Aachen transit backstamp (November 22), blue manuscript "48" kreuzers due, "CASCHAU/26 NOV." italics two-line receiving datestamp on back--the Military District of Kaschau was one of the administrative units of the Habsburg Kingdom of Hungary from 1850 to 1860

Very Fine and a unique 5¢ 1856 Issue cover to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Ex Paul C. Rohloff, D. Scott Gallagher, Tito Giamporcaro, Frederick R. Mayer and Joseph Hackmey. Illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 150). With 2005 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), mostly clear margins, touched at bottom, used with block of four of 10¢ Green, Types II/III (33/32), Positions 33-34/43-44L1, bright shade, tied by "Troy N.Y. Paid May 4, 1858" circular datestamps on light blue folded letter to Saugor, Hindustan (India), sender's directive "Overland via Southampton" and "Paid to India" with correct 45¢ postage for British Mail via Southampton--carried on the Cunarder Canada, departing from Boston May 5, 1858, and arriving at Liverpool May 17--"Boston Br. Pkt. 5 May" backstamp, red "40" credit handstamp, red British transit datestamp (May 17), manuscript "1" pence British Colonial credit marking--the journey to India continued from Great Britain on the Peninsular & Oriental Line steamer Columbo, departing Southampton May 20, and arriving at Alexandria (Egypt) June 2; carried overland to Suez and from there by the steamer Nubia to Aden (arriving June 10) and on to Bombay--red Bombay transit (June 24) and Saugor receiving datestamp (June 29) on back, receipt docketing "Recd June 29, 1858"

Fine overall appearance; the 10¢ block was originally folded over the top edge of letter--refolded and crease in stamps pressed out, inside of letter reinforced with silk, and 5¢ has faint small crease.

The three recorded 5¢ 1856 covers to India come from the same correspondence, addressed to Fitz-Edward Hall (1825–1901), the eldest of six children born in Troy, New York. Hall entered Harvard in 1846, but left the same year for Calcutta in pursuit of his brother. Wrecked off the Ganges and forced to stay in India, Hall took lessons in Hindustani and Sanskrit, and decided to stay to master the languages. From 1850 to 1855 he studied and taught as a professor of Sanskrit and English. In 1856 he became inspector of public instruction for the central provinces at Saugor. Hall served as a rifleman for nine months, fighting rebels in the Sepoy mutiny of 1856 to 1858, during which time these letters were sent to him from Troy. He left India in 1862, and settled in London as a professor of Sanskrit, Hindustani, and Indian jurisprudence in King's College.

Ex Mortimer L. Neinken, David T. Beals, Frederick R. Mayer and Joseph Hackmey. Illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 134). Signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook. With 1989 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), full margins to clear, used with two pairs of 10¢ Green, Types II and III (32, 33), bright shade, tied by "Troy N.Y. Paid Feb. 2, 1858" circular datestamps and square grid cancels on light blue folded letter to Saugor, Hindustan (India), sender's directive "Overland via Southampton" and "Paid" with correct 45¢ postage for British Mail via Southampton--carried on the Cunarder Europa, departing New York February 3, 1858, and arriving at Liverpool February 15--red "New-York Br. Pkt. Feb. 3" backstamp, magenta manuscript "40" credit, red "London Paid" transit datestamp (February 16)--the journey to India continued from Great Britain on the Peninsular & Oriental Line steamer Columbo, departing Southampton February 20, and arriving at Alexandria (Egypt) March 5; carried overland to Suez and from there by the steamers to Aden and Bombay--red Bombay transit and Saugor receiving datestamp (April 14) on back, receipt docketing "Recd Ap. 14, 1858", left 10¢ small tear, 5¢ small corner crease, still Very Fine, only three 5¢ 1856 covers to India are recorded, ex "Patrick Henry" (Molesworth), Mayer and Hackmey, illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 133), with 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), ample to large margins, rich color, used with two vertical pairs and single 12¢ Black (17), each with sheet margin at bottom, other sides large to slightly in, tied by "Washington D.C. Jul. 23" (1857) circular datestamps on cover to Porto Grande, Isle St. Vincent, Cape Verde Islands, addressed to Lieut. E. C. Stout aboard the U.S.S. St. Louis--this navy vessel was patrolling the waters off the west coast of Africa to capture slave traders--red "(New-Yor)k Am. Pkt. (Jul.) 25" circular datestamp on back (only part remains), magenta manuscript "44" credit--carried on the Havre Line Fulton, departing New York July 25, 1857, and arriving at Southampton August 6--red British transit datestamp (August 6), 5¢ tiny tear at bottom and corner creases, top stamps in 12¢ pairs have small faults and margin toning, backflap and part of side flap removed, slightly reduced at top, repaired just above the red British datestamp, otherwise Fine, ex Mayer and Hackmey, from our 1975 Rarities of the World sale, illustrated in Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 144, where described as one of two covers to Cape Verde, but we record only one), with 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (12), two full margins, others touching to slightly in, used with two 10¢ Green, Type I (31) and pair of 10¢ Green, Type III (33), the Type I singles have perfs trimmed on all sides, tied by grid cancels and "Edgartown Ms. Mar. 29" (1858) circular datestamp with another clear strike on cover to Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies, addressed to Captain S. Lyman Norton of the ship Minstrel, in care of Paine, Stricker & Co., sender's directive "Via Southampton" and prepaid at the old 45¢ rate (lowered to 33¢ in February 1856)--carried on the Cunarder Arabia, departing New York March 31, 1858, and arriving at Liverpool April 11--"(Bost)on Br. Pkt. 30 Mar." backstamp (only part remains), red "40" credit handstamp, red "London Paid" transit datestamp (April 12), manuscript "80" for additional postage due in Batavia

Fine overall appearance; small part of bottom left corner repaired, part of backflap replaced (visible along top edge), two 10¢ Type I stamps trimmed and scored by horizontal line.

The sender applied 45¢ in stamps and wrote "via Southampton" to indicate the route, but by this date the rate to Java by British Mail via Southampton was only 33¢. The sender was either unaware of the rate change two years earlier, or they affixed additional postage for the faster route via Marseilles (45¢ rate) to ensure that the letter was fully prepaid regardless of which route was used.

After the first leg of the journey from the U.S. to Great Britain, the cover was carried by the Peninsular & Oriental Line Indus to Alexandria (arriving May 5). It traveled overland to Suez and then by steamer Hindostan to Galle, Ceylon (arriving May 22). The next leg from Galle to Singapore was on the Cadiz (arriving May 30). Finally, the trip from Singapore to Batavia was made on another vessel, and an additional 80 Dutch cents was collected from the addressee.

This sale contains three remarkable covers addressed to Captain S. Lyman Norton as he sailed the ship Minstrel from Boston to the East Indies and Far East in 1857 and 1858. Included are covers with the 1851-56 Issue addressed to Java (lots 246, offered here, and lot 297) and Singapore (lot 270).

Ex Emmerson C. Krug, Paul C. Rohloff, Frederick R. Mayer and Joseph Hackmey. Illustrated in Bakers' U.S. Classics (p. 214), Starnes, United States Letter Rates to Foreign Destinations 1847 to GPU-UPU (p. 30) and Frajola-Mayer, The United States Five Cent Stamp of 1856 (p. 151). With 1977 and 2006 P.F. certificates.

The Norton Correspondence

This sale contains three remarkable covers addressed to Captain S. Lyman Norton as he sailed the ship Minstrel from Boston to the East Indies and Far East in 1857 and 1858. Included are covers with the 1851-56 Issue addressed to Java (lots 246 and 297) and Singapore (lot 270). (Image)

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