15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II
(119). Rich colors, tied by segmented cork on blue 1870 folded cover
to Switzerland, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Apr. 13" circular
datestamp, Basel backstamp, faint horizontal file fold does not affect
stamp, Very Fine, ex Mason (Image) 
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II
(119). Tied by cork cancel on light yellow cover to Berlin,
Prussia, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Dec. 2?" circular
datestamp, red German transit, receiving backstamp, fresh and Fine (Image)
24c Green & Violet (120).
Unusually choice centering, tied by "Dansville N.Y." circular datestamp on
front of package wrapper to Stonersville Md., with Austin, Jackson & Cos.
medical publishing house address label at top right, pencil "Md." at
bottom right, faint horizontal file fold well away from stamp, small filing
holesEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL USED FOR DOMESTIC POSTAGE ON A PACKAGE WRAPPER ORIGINALLY CONTAINING A MEDICAL PUBLICATION. A UNIQUE USE OF THIS 1869 HIGH VALUE.
With 1980 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail on cover $20,000.00 (Image)
30c Ultramarine & Carmine
(121). Vertical pair, bright colors, couple short perfs, used with
10c Yellow (116), vivid shade, tied by three strikes of Shanghai
circle of wedges cancel, full strike of "P.O.D. U.S. Con. Genl. Shanghai
Jan. 14" (1871) circular datestamp on linen-lined cover with printed
address to Mrs. E. W. (changed to Mr. A. B.) Bradford, Enon Valley Pa.,
endorsed "via San Francisco", "U.S. Consulate General/Shanghai" two-line
handstamp at lower left, U.S. Consulate Shanghai red wax seal on back,
repaired edge tears and clipped corner at lower leftVERY FINE. THIS IS THE CELEBRATED 30-CENT 1869 "BRADFORD" COVER FROM SHANGHAI, WIDELY REGARDED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 1869 PICTORIAL COVERS IN EXISTENCE. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE LEBOW COLLECTION AND ONE OF THE GREATEST CLASSIC UNITED STATES COVERS.
Although there is neither a year date nor source notation on this cover, it was probably sent in January 1871 (not 1870) by Oliver B. Bradford, who was in Shanghai in 1871 and was appointed Vice Consul two months later. Several years later, Bradford was convicted of tampering with the U.S. mail and subjected to a congressional impeachment review (he was not impeached). Bradford went on to help build China's first railroad (source: Michael Laurence, Chronicle 80, p. 219).
The cover was postmarked at the U.S. Consulate Post Office in Shanghai on January 14 (1871) and sent by a Pacific Mail Steamship Company branch steamer to Yokohama, where it made the January 24 sailing of the PMSS Great Republic, arriving in San Francisco on February 16, 1871. There was a nearly identical set of sailing dates in 1870 for the Japan, but for the historical reasons cited above, the correct year date is probably 1871. From San Francisco it would have been carried by the relatively new transcontinental railroad to Pennsylvania.
Of the approximately 50 covers known with the 30c 1869, only three originated in the Far East: 1) the "Bradford" cover offered here, 2) another seven-times rate cover from the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, with a pair of 30c 1869 and 10c 1869, in restored condition, and 3) the "Miro" cover with pairs of 10c and 30c 1869's, "China and Japan Steam Service" oval, no origin indicated.
Michael Laurence described this cover in his Chronicle series as "one of the great gems of 1869 philately." In the 1981 Sotheby Parke Bernet sale catalogue of the Ishikawa USPO in China and Japan collection, the late Calvet M. Hahn (who described the material) made a rare use of the superlatives "magnificent and unique" to describe this cover.
Signed Ashbrook. Ex Ishikawa. (Image)