The Gordon Eubanks Collection of The U.S. 1869 Pictorial Issue continued...

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VERY FINE. A SCARCE 1869 PICTORIAL COVER TO DENMARK, PAYING THE 13-CENT RATE VIA NORTH GERMAN UNION DIRECT MAIL.

Between June 1868 and July 1870, the North German Union Direct rate to Denmark (via Bremen or Hamburg) was 13c (16c unpaid). During the same period, the NGU Closed Mail rate (via England, Belgium and Germany) was 18c (21c unpaid). Effective July 1, 1870, these rates were lowered to 10c and 13c, respectively (prepaid only). This cover was correctly prepaid for the earlier 13c NGU Direct rate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A COLORFUL AND BREATHTAKING 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVER SENT FULLY PREPAID BY BRITISH MAIL AT THE 22-CENT RATE. EXAMPLES OF THIS RATE PAID BY THE 1869 ISSUE ARE EXTREMELY RARE.

This cover is pictured and discussed in U.S.-Spain Mails via British Convention, 1849-1876 by Richard F. Winter (supplement to Chronicle 147, pp. 15-16). The Convention rates effective from Jan. 1, 1868, to Dec. 31, 1870, followed a progression of 10c U.S. per -1/2 oz. and 12c credit to G.B. per 7.5 grams (-1/4 oz.). Therefore, this letter must have weighed no more than a quarter-ounce and was prepaid with 22c postage (12c U.S. credit to G.B. and 2p G.B. credit to Spain). It was carried on the Cunarder Java, departing New York on Jul. 14, 1869, and arriving off Queenstown on Jul. 22.

Illustrated in Laurence 10c 1869 book (p. 123). Ex Juhring, Grunin and Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ON COVER TO CEYLON.

The franking pays the 22c rate to Ceylon by British Open Mail via Southampton. It was carried aboard the Cunarder Siberia, which departed New York on Aug. 4, 1870.

Illustrated in Laurence 10c 1869 book (p. 113). Ex Juhring and Rose (where it realized $6,500 hammer in our 1997 auction). With 1997 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TEN RECORDED COVERS TO SYRIA BEARING THE 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN COVER FRANKED FOR THE TRIPLE RATE VIA NORTH GERMAN UNION DIRECT MAIL. ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE 1869 PICTORIAL FRANKINGS EXTANT. ONLY ONE OTHER COVER HAS A 10-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL STRIP OF FOUR, THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE ON COVER.

In his book on the 10c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Michael Laurence notes that the addressee was a Christian evangelist who for many years was part of the American Presbyterian Mission at Beirut. This mission attempted to bring Christianity to the Arab world. In the 1860's it launched the highly-regarded American University at Beirut. Dennis served as librarian for the mission and corresponded with other missionaries around the world.

Of the ten recorded 10c 1869 covers to Syria, two were sent via French Mail and the other eight via German Mail. Five of these eight bear two singles to pay the 20c rate by North German Union Closed Mail. Another bears three singles, and the latest bears one single used with three 10c Bank Note stamps. This is the only cover to Syria with a 10c strip of four. The 48c postage apparently was intended to prepay a quadruple 12c rate, which did not go into effect until three weeks later.

Carried aboard the NGL's America, which departed New York on April 30 and arrived in Bremen on May 13, 1870.

With 1994 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN UNUSUAL AND BEAUTIFUL COVER FROM THE REVEREND DENNIS MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE TO BEIRUT, SYRIA. ONLY TWO OF THE TEN RECORDED 10-CENT 1869 COVERS TO SYRIA WERE SENT VIA FRENCH MAIL.

The 30c French Mail rate to Syria was in effect until December 31, 1869. There are ten 10c 1869 covers to Syria (eight listed in the 1869 PRA Census), but only two were prepaid 30c for the French Mail rate while it was in effect. The others were sent via North German Union Mail. This cover missed the HAPAG sailing to Cherbourg on Nov. 2 and was sent instead on the Cunarder Scotia, which departed N.Y. on Nov. 3 and arrived in Queenstown on Nov. 12. The 21c credit and the Calais transit datestamp indicate transit through England. The other recorded 30c French Mail cover to Syria has an 18c credit and Cherbourg transit (direct to France).

Illustrated in Laurence 10c 1869 book (p. 183). Ex Juhring, Grunin and Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE FRANKING PAYING THE TRIPLE 10-CENT RATE TO JAPAN. THIS IS THE ONLY TRIPLE-RATE 10-CENT 1869 FRANKING TO JAPAN RECORDED BY MICHAEL LAURENCE. A GREAT RARITY.

Michael Laurence records a total of 34 10c 1869 Pictorial Issue covers to the Far East, including 13 to Japan. Of the 34, this is the only one with three stamps paying the triple 10c rate. It was carried by the PMSS China, which departed San Francisco on Oct. 4 and arrived in Yokohama on Oct. 30, 1869.

The background of the U.S. Flagship Piscataqua (later the U.S.S. Delaware) and the addressee, John F. Bingham, is summarized in an article by Richard B. Graham in the Chronicle 75 (August 1972), from which we quote (with minor edits and deletions): "The U.S.S. Piscataqua was launched on June 11, 1866, and first placed in commission on October 21, 1867. She was a screw steamer, 2400 tons, ship rigged, with 20 nine-inch smoothbore guns -- similar in appearance and armament to Civil War naval ships such as Admiral Farragut's Hartford. On December 16, 1867, the Piscataqua left New York for the Far East, arriving at Singapore on April 18, 1868. On May 15, 1869, her name was changed to U.S.S. Delaware, as one of several U. S. Navy ship name changes taking place on that date at the Navy Department in Washington... the Delaware left Singapore for home on August 23, 1870, reached New York on November 19, 1870, and was placed out of commission on December 5, 1870. This was the only voyage ever made by the Delaware, which was broken up in 1877. John F. Bingham was a 2nd Asst. Engineer, assigned to the Piscataqua on September 30, 1867, and detached from her, after she returned home, on November 26, 1870."

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED 1869 PICTORIAL COVER ADDRESSED TO KOREA AND ONE OF THE EARLIEST PIECES OF MAIL DIRECTED TO KOREA.

In the 1869 period, Korea was isolated from other countries and communicated only through Chinese diplomatic channels. Kingkitao was the Chinese name for their administrative district in west-central Korea in the Pyonggi-do Province. This cover to Kingkitao was probably carried to Shanghai by a PMSS branch line steamer -- other 10c 1869 covers to Japan or China via PMSS steamers also lack transit markings -- and from Shanghai it might have travelled via diplomatic courier into Korean territory. At various times in the 1860's and early 1870's, American missionaries and adventurers who had made their way into Korea were killed. This cover may have contained a plea for information related to Americans in Korea.

Illustrated in Laurence 10c 1869 book (p. 261). With 1999 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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