The "Andromeda" Collection of U.S. Bank Note Issue Covers continued...

**Bassel Correspondence to Egypt and Japan**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
2218		1c Ultramarine, 3c Green, 12c Blackish Violet (156, 158, 162). Rich colors, 1c s.e., tied by lightly struck grid cancels, "Fort Garland Col. May 4" (1874) Colorado Territory circular datestamp on cover to Col. James Bassel, Egyptian Army, Cairo, Egypt, sender's routing "via Brindisi", red "New York * Paid All * May 13" transit datestamp, red crayon "10" credit to North German Union, "P.D." handstamp, red "2wf" and "4" re-stated credits, "Poste Egiziane" Alexandria and Cairo backstamps (Jun. 4) EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING COVER FROM THE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BASSEL CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSED TO ONE OF THE FIFTY AMERICANS WHO SERVED THE KHEDIVE ISMAIL OF EGYPT DURING THE 1870's. THIS COVER IS CORRECTLY PREPAID FOR THE 16-CENT RATE TO EGYPT BY NORTH GERMAN UNION DIRECT MAIL VIA BRINDISI. Three different lines had steamship departures in proximity to the May 13 (1874) New York exchange office date. Illustrated in Starnes book, U.S. International Postal Rates book (p. 21) and Chronicle 156 (p. 272). Ex Albert and Stever. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $3,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
2219		1c Ultramarine, 3c Green (156, 158). 3c pair with traces of plate number captured at top, small faults, 1c overlapping edge, tied by lightly struck cancels, partly visible "Walla Walla Wash." Washington Territory circular datestamp on 3c Green entire to Lieut. Col. James Bassel, Egyptian Army, Cairo, Egypt, red "New York * Paid All * Mar. 5" transit datestamp, red crayon "10" credit to North German Union, re-stated "fr 4" credit, "P.D." handstamp ties one 3c, Trieste oval backstamp (Mar. 21), "Poste Egiziane" Alexandria and Cairo backstamps (Apr. 2, 1874), reduced at left, still Fine, addressed to one of 50 or so American military officers who went to Egypt in the 1870's to train and direct the army of the Khedive Ismail, Lieutenant-Colonel James Bassel served in Egypt for about one year before leaving for the Far East, this was correctly prepaid for the 16c North German Union Direct rate to Egypt via Brindisi, there was a HAPAG departure on Mar. 5 (Hammonia II) and an NGL departure on Mar. 7 (Rhein), ex Stever (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $750.00 Will close during Public Auction
2220		3c Green (158). Six, three with s.e., dark shade, tied by target cancels, "Summerville (?) Jul. 21" (1874) circular datestamp on 3c Green entire to Lieut. Col. James Bassel, Egyptian Army, Cairo, Egypt, red "Detroit Paid All Br. Transit Aug. 2" transit datestamp (scarce exchange office routing), red crayon "16" credit and red "London Paid" transit datestamp, "Alexandria AU 27 74" British P.O. backstamp, "Poste Egiziane" Alexandria and Cairo backstamps (Aug. 28), some gum stains slightly affecting three stamps, small tear in top of left stamp, otherwise Very Fine, a rare cover to one of 50 or so American military officers who went to Egypt in the 1870's to train and direct the army of the Khedive Ismail, Lieutenant-Colonel James Bassel served in Egypt for about one year before leaving for the Far East, this was overpaid 1c for the 20c British Mail rate via Southampton, the Detroit Aug. 2 (1874) datestamp indicates this was carried on the Allan Line's Peruvian, departing Quebec on Aug. 8, arriving Liverpool Aug. 17, with 2003 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $800.00 Will close during Public Auction
2221		2c Brown, 6c Dull Pink (157, 159). 6c vertical strip of three, all stamps tied by "New-York Aug. 12 6:30PM" datestamp and duplex numeral grid cancel on cover to Lieut. Col. James Bassel, in care of General Stone, Egyptian Army, Cairo, Egypt, red "New York P.O. Aug. 13" exchange office datestamp, red crayon "20" credit, red "London Paid" transit datestamp (Aug. 29, 1874), based on N.Y. Aug. 13 and London Aug. 29 dates this was carried on the HAPAG Westphalia (on this trip the Westphalia's main shaft broke, she was towed into Queenstown on Aug. 28), red "P-D" in oval handstamp, "Poste Egiziane" Alexandria and Cairo backstamps (Sep. 10), reduced at left, stains at upper left, small stamp flaws, otherwise Fine, addressed to one of 50 or so American military officers who went to Egypt in the 1870's to train and direct the army of the Khedive Ismail, Lieutenant-Colonel James Bassel served in Egypt for about one year before leaving for the Far East, General Charles Pomeroy Stone served the Khedive until 1883, this cover has a 20c credit marking, which indicates it was carried by British Mail via Brindisi, the required 24c rate for this route was either underpaid or 4c postage has fallen off from upper left (there are no traces of the duplex cancellation in that area, so we cannot be sure what happened), ex Ainsworth (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $2,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
2222		3c Green, 24c Purple (153, 158). Tied by segmented cork cancels and "Del Norte Colo. Aug. 10" Colorado Territory circular datestamp on 3c Green entire to James Bassel, in care of American Consul at Yokohama, Japan, clear strike of "Yokohama Japan Sep. 26 4 P.M." receiving datestamp on back, with original letter enclosure datelined "Del Norte, Rio Grande Co. Colorado, Aug. 9th 1875" from Charles C. Upham, also accompanied by newspaper clippings, slightly reduced at left VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 24-CENT 1870 BANK NOTE ISSUE ON COVER FROM COLORADO TERRITORY TO JAPAN, PREPAID 30 CENTS FOR THE DOUBLE 15-CENT RATE. The 7-page letter contained within this double-rate cover to Japan was written by Charles C. Upham to his friend, James Bassel, while Upham travelled through Colorado and Bassel was in the Far East, following his short-lived service in the Khedive Ismail's army. Upham's letter is full of juicy details about expeditions in Colorado and the Black Hills, as well as references to military officers, Indian confrontations, Fort Garland, etc. Upham also asks Bassel to secure Japanese coins for his collection and laments not asking for Egyptian coins when Bassel was there. The 1875 clipped newspaper articles which accompany the letter refer to the Hayden Expedition. This was carried on the PMSS China, departing San Francisco on Sep. 1, 1875, and arriving in Yokohama on Sep. 26 (Frajola-Perlman-Scamp sailing tables). The 15c treaty rate to Japan was in effect for only one year, from January 1 to December 31, 1875. This is one of two recorded covers with the 24c 1870 Issue paying the treaty rate to Japan, both from the Bassel correspondence. The second cover was postmarked at Del Norte on Sep. 1 (ex Ishikawa). (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $4,500.00 Will close during Public Auction

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