Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

The Elliott H. Coulter Collection of The United States 1869 Pictorial Issue continued...

**British Mail to Other Countries**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
303		10c Yellow, 12c Green (116, 117). Remarkably bright and rich colors, tied by beautiful bold Leaf cancel on blue folded letter to Barcelona, Spain, , red "12" credit handstamp and matching "New York Paid All. Jul. 13" (1869) backstamp, red London transit (Jul. 24) and matching "PD" in oval handstamp, red "2d" handstamp credit for England to Spain, Barcelona receiving backstamp 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. Ex Juhring and Grunin. (Image)	E. 7,500-10,000
304		12c Green (117). Horizontal pair, rich color, tied by circle of wedges cancels, red "New York Oct. 12" (1869) circular datestamp, second strike dated Oct. 13, date of departure of Cunarder China, on blue folded letter to Cadiz, Spain, sender's blue oval datestamp, "Paid-Only/To England" two-line handstamp, red London transit backstamp (Oct. 25), red "8R" due handstamp VERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND RARE 1869 PICTORIAL COVER TO SPAIN VIA BRITISH OPEN MAIL. This was presumably stamped for the 22c fully-prepaid British Mail rate to Spain, but it was over the 7.5 gram (-1/4 oz.) weight limit and was instead marked "Paid Only to England" with 8 reales due in Spain. The 10c rate to Spain via British Open Mail lasted only nine months after the 1869 Pictorials were issued. With 1983 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000
305		12c Green (117). Two, used with pair of 2c Red Brown (146), tied by quartered cork cancels and "Fall River Mass. Nov. 18" (1870) duplex circular datestamp on small cover to Fayal, Azores, sender's ship-name designation "By Bark Fredonia", red "New York 24 [Nov] 19" credit datestamp, red London transit (Nov. 30), "Franca" oval and matching Lisbon (Dec. 8) backstamp, Horta (Dec. 22) receiving datestamp also on back, opening tear across center of cover, stamps have minor faults FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVER TO THE AZORES. ONE OF ELLIOTT COULTER'S MOST HIGHLY PRIZED DESTINATIONS IN HIS "AROUND THE WORLD" DISPLAY. Horta is the main city on the Island of Faial (Fayal), a part of the Azorean archipelago. It lies in the Atlantic about 500 miles from Lisbon, one of the transit post offices in this cover's journey from the United States. Ex Wunsch (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000
306		3c Ultramarine, 6c Ultramarine (114, 115). 3c and two 6c tied by quartered cork cancels, "East Saginaw Mich. Feb. 8" (1870) circular datestamp on light blue cover to Athens, Greece, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Feb. 12" backstamp, red "12" credit handstamp, red London Paid transit (Feb. 23), Athens receiving backstamp, reduced about -3/8 in. at right, one stamp missing according to P.F. certificate (rates to Greece were no less than 18c), still presentable and very rare, ex Wunsch, with 1978 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 750-1,000
307		3c Ultramarine (114). Used with 1c Ultramarine (145), tied by targets, "Northampton Ms. Nov. 18" (1870) double-circle datestamp on cover to Benjamin Smith Lyman in Calcutta, India, backstamped "New-York Nov. 19" and "Insufficiently Paid" (in black) with blue crayon "6", changed to "4" (also in blue crayon) and annotated "Ret. for postage", red "New-York Dec. 15" datestamp and matching "Insufficiently Paid" straightline, red London transit (Dec. 27), "Paid-Only/to England" two-line handstamp, routed via Brindisi with blue Verviers-Cologne transit (Jan. 12) on back, Bombay and Calcutta backstamps, "St. Bo. A-P 8-8" due handstamp (8 annas--8 pie, or 26c U.S.), with original enclosure, minor repair along top left edge VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR 1869 AND BANK NOTE MIXED-ISSUE USAGE DEMONSTRATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF FOREIGN-MAIL RATES DURING THE 1869-70 PERIOD. According to the PRA 1978 Register article on the Lyman correspondence, this cover was franked for the 4c British Open Mail rate, but the foreign mail clerk in New York rejected the prepayment. It evidently cleared New York on Dec. 15 and arrived in England after the route to India via Marseilles terminated. It was sent via Brindisi, but the surcharge for this route was not charged in India, thus they applied the 8a-8p due marking for the old via Marseilles route (30c less 4c because of the "Paid Only to England" marking). Benjamin Smith Lyman was a mining engineer for the Department of Public Works in India. The small Lyman correspondence is a challenge to postal historians, each cover presenting a peculiar franking and complex array of markings. Elliott Coulter always considered this cover the "pick of the litter" of the Lyman group. (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000
308		3c Ultramarine, 12c Green (114, 117). 12c pair and two 3c -- despite certificate, in our opinion one 3c did not originate -- three stamps tied by circular cork cancels, faint red New York backstamp on cover to British soldier in Meerul, India, red "18" credit handstamp, red London transit (Jun. 2, 1869), red crayon "1" British colonial rate, Sea Post Office oval and various Indian transit datestamps on back, "Missent to Meeanmeer" framed handstamp, ms. forwarding notations, appears Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate (Image)	E. 750-1,000
309		10c Yellow (116). Two, vivid color, used with 2c Red Brown (146), tied by segmented cork cancels and partly readable "East Greenwich Conn. Apr. 7" (1871) duplex datestamp on cover to Bombay, India, red "New York Paid All Apr. 8" transit and matching "18" credit handstamp, red London transit and "1d" colonial rate handstamp, Sea Post Office oval on back, reduced at right slightly into 10c, same stamp has long tear, 2c tiny tear, still Very Fine and exceptionally nice condition for the Carstein correspondence (the envelopes are made of thin paper and are prone to faults), a beautiful mixed-issue franking for the 22c British Mail rate to India via Southampton, ex Krug (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000
310		15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Horizontal pair, cork cancels, "Lancaster Pa. May 3" (1870) circular datestamp and "Paid" straightline on small cover addressed in purple to Moulmein, Burma, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit May 4" backstamp, red crayon "32" credit but re-rated with "26" handstamp, Sea Post Office and Calcutta transit backstamps, red Moulmein receiving datestamp, pencil note on back "We are to land at Cork instead of Liverpool" VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING 1869 PICTORIAL USAGE, BEING THE ONLY COVER TO BURMA RECORDED IN THE 1869 PRA CENSUS. IDEALLY SUITED FOR EXHIBITION. The Cunarder China departed New York on May 4, 1870, and is reported to have landed at Liverpool on May 13. The significance of the notation on back is not known. Illustrated in color in 1869 PRA Census (p. 136). Ex Knapp. (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500
311		2c Brown (113). Horizontal pair, deep rich color, left stamp has small piece out at bottom, used with 24c Gray (78a), tied by quartered cork cancels, "Milwaukee Wis. Sep. (22?)" circular datestamp on small narrow 1869 cover to Jaffna, Ceylon, red "Chicago Ill. Paid 18" credit datestamp, red London transit (Oct. 13), red crayon "1d" colonial rate, Jaffna receiving backstamp (Nov. 10), reduced at left and small repaired edge nicks, none of the faults are very noticeable FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MIXED-ISSUE FRANKING FOR THE 28-CENT BRITISH MAIL RATE TO CEYLON VIA SOUTHAMPTON. The 28c British Mail via Southampton rate to Ceylon was reduced to 22c on Jan. 1, 1870. (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000
312		24c Green & Violet (120). Tied by cork cancel and "New Bedford Mass. Sep. 16" (1870) circular datestamp on cover whaling ship captain at the Island of Mauritius, sender's blue oval backstamp and ms. "Via Marseilles" route instructions, red "20" credit handstamp, red London transit (Sep. 29) and "1d" colonial rate handstamp, blue Mauritius receiving backstamp (Dec. 1), repaired at right adding large piece of edge and stamp, still a presentable and unique artifact of postal history, this is the only recorded 24c 1869 Pictorial cover to Mauritius, illustrated in the Rose book (p. 139), signed Ashbrook (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000
313		2c Brown, 10c Yellow (113, 116). 2c pair and two 10c, tied by target cancels, "Lynn Mass. Feb. 23" (1870) circular datestamp on small narrow cover to Mahe, Seychelle Islands, sender's route instructions "Via Marseilles, France", red "Boston Paid Mar. 1" and London (Mar. 15?) transit datestamps, red crayon "20" credit, red "1d" colonial rate handstamp, 10c stamps have minor faults from placement near edge, light soiling and edgewear FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVERS TO THE SEYCHELLE ISLANDS. A REMARKABLE FOREIGN-MAIL USAGE. Signed Ashbrook with his notes on back. Illustrated in color in 1869 PRA Census where described as "one of the rarest destinations" (p. 130). (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000

British Mail to Other Countries

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

303

10c Yellow, 12c Green (116, 117). Remarkably bright and rich colors, tied by beautiful bold Leaf cancel on blue folded letter to Barcelona, Spain, , red "12" credit handstamp and matching "New York Paid All. Jul. 13" (1869) backstamp, red London transit (Jul. 24) and matching "PD" in oval handstamp, red "2d" handstamp credit for England to Spain, Barcelona receiving backstamp

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.

Ex Juhring and Grunin. (Image)

E. 7,500-10,000

304

12c Green (117). Horizontal pair, rich color, tied by circle of wedges cancels, red "New York Oct. 12" (1869) circular datestamp, second strike dated Oct. 13, date of departure of Cunarder China, on blue folded letter to Cadiz, Spain, sender's blue oval datestamp, "Paid-Only/To England" two-line handstamp, red London transit backstamp (Oct. 25), red "8R" due handstamp

VERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND RARE 1869 PICTORIAL COVER TO SPAIN VIA BRITISH OPEN MAIL.

This was presumably stamped for the 22c fully-prepaid British Mail rate to Spain, but it was over the 7.5 gram (-1/4 oz.) weight limit and was instead marked "Paid Only to England" with 8 reales due in Spain. The 10c rate to Spain via British Open Mail lasted only nine months after the 1869 Pictorials were issued.

With 1983 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

305

12c Green (117). Two, used with pair of 2c Red Brown (146), tied by quartered cork cancels and "Fall River Mass. Nov. 18" (1870) duplex circular datestamp on small cover to Fayal, Azores, sender's ship-name designation "By Bark Fredonia", red "New York 24 [Nov] 19" credit datestamp, red London transit (Nov. 30), "Franca" oval and matching Lisbon (Dec. 8) backstamp, Horta (Dec. 22) receiving datestamp also on back, opening tear across center of cover, stamps have minor faults

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVER TO THE AZORES. ONE OF ELLIOTT COULTER'S MOST HIGHLY PRIZED DESTINATIONS IN HIS "AROUND THE WORLD" DISPLAY.

Horta is the main city on the Island of Faial (Fayal), a part of the Azorean archipelago. It lies in the Atlantic about 500 miles from Lisbon, one of the transit post offices in this cover's journey from the United States.

Ex Wunsch (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

306

3c Ultramarine, 6c Ultramarine (114, 115). 3c and two 6c tied by quartered cork cancels, "East Saginaw Mich. Feb. 8" (1870) circular datestamp on light blue cover to Athens, Greece, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Feb. 12" backstamp, red "12" credit handstamp, red London Paid transit (Feb. 23), Athens receiving backstamp, reduced about -3/8 in. at right, one stamp missing according to P.F. certificate (rates to Greece were no less than 18c), still presentable and very rare, ex Wunsch, with 1978 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 750-1,000

307

3c Ultramarine (114). Used with 1c Ultramarine (145), tied by targets, "Northampton Ms. Nov. 18" (1870) double-circle datestamp on cover to Benjamin Smith Lyman in Calcutta, India, backstamped "New-York Nov. 19" and "Insufficiently Paid" (in black) with blue crayon "6", changed to "4" (also in blue crayon) and annotated "Ret. for postage", red "New-York Dec. 15" datestamp and matching "Insufficiently Paid" straightline, red London transit (Dec. 27), "Paid-Only/to England" two-line handstamp, routed via Brindisi with blue Verviers-Cologne transit (Jan. 12) on back, Bombay and Calcutta backstamps, "St. Bo. A-P 8-8" due handstamp (8 annas--8 pie, or 26c U.S.), with original enclosure, minor repair along top left edge

VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR 1869 AND BANK NOTE MIXED-ISSUE USAGE DEMONSTRATING THE COMPLEXITIES OF FOREIGN-MAIL RATES DURING THE 1869-70 PERIOD.

According to the PRA 1978 Register article on the Lyman correspondence, this cover was franked for the 4c British Open Mail rate, but the foreign mail clerk in New York rejected the prepayment. It evidently cleared New York on Dec. 15 and arrived in England after the route to India via Marseilles terminated. It was sent via Brindisi, but the surcharge for this route was not charged in India, thus they applied the 8a-8p due marking for the old via Marseilles route (30c less 4c because of the "Paid Only to England" marking).

Benjamin Smith Lyman was a mining engineer for the Department of Public Works in India. The small Lyman correspondence is a challenge to postal historians, each cover presenting a peculiar franking and complex array of markings. Elliott Coulter always considered this cover the "pick of the litter" of the Lyman group. (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

308

3c Ultramarine, 12c Green (114, 117). 12c pair and two 3c -- despite certificate, in our opinion one 3c did not originate -- three stamps tied by circular cork cancels, faint red New York backstamp on cover to British soldier in Meerul, India, red "18" credit handstamp, red London transit (Jun. 2, 1869), red crayon "1" British colonial rate, Sea Post Office oval and various Indian transit datestamps on back, "Missent to Meeanmeer" framed handstamp, ms. forwarding notations, appears Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate (Image)

E. 750-1,000

309

10c Yellow (116). Two, vivid color, used with 2c Red Brown (146), tied by segmented cork cancels and partly readable "East Greenwich Conn. Apr. 7" (1871) duplex datestamp on cover to Bombay, India, red "New York Paid All Apr. 8" transit and matching "18" credit handstamp, red London transit and "1d" colonial rate handstamp, Sea Post Office oval on back, reduced at right slightly into 10c, same stamp has long tear, 2c tiny tear, still Very Fine and exceptionally nice condition for the Carstein correspondence (the envelopes are made of thin paper and are prone to faults), a beautiful mixed-issue franking for the 22c British Mail rate to India via Southampton, ex Krug (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

310

15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II (119). Horizontal pair, cork cancels, "Lancaster Pa. May 3" (1870) circular datestamp and "Paid" straightline on small cover addressed in purple to Moulmein, Burma, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit May 4" backstamp, red crayon "32" credit but re-rated with "26" handstamp, Sea Post Office and Calcutta transit backstamps, red Moulmein receiving datestamp, pencil note on back "We are to land at Cork instead of Liverpool"

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING 1869 PICTORIAL USAGE, BEING THE ONLY COVER TO BURMA RECORDED IN THE 1869 PRA CENSUS. IDEALLY SUITED FOR EXHIBITION.

The Cunarder China departed New York on May 4, 1870, and is reported to have landed at Liverpool on May 13. The significance of the notation on back is not known.

Illustrated in color in 1869 PRA Census (p. 136). Ex Knapp. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

311

2c Brown (113). Horizontal pair, deep rich color, left stamp has small piece out at bottom, used with 24c Gray (78a), tied by quartered cork cancels, "Milwaukee Wis. Sep. (22?)" circular datestamp on small narrow 1869 cover to Jaffna, Ceylon, red "Chicago Ill. Paid 18" credit datestamp, red London transit (Oct. 13), red crayon "1d" colonial rate, Jaffna receiving backstamp (Nov. 10), reduced at left and small repaired edge nicks, none of the faults are very noticeable

FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MIXED-ISSUE FRANKING FOR THE 28-CENT BRITISH MAIL RATE TO CEYLON VIA SOUTHAMPTON.

The 28c British Mail via Southampton rate to Ceylon was reduced to 22c on Jan. 1, 1870. (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

312

24c Green & Violet (120). Tied by cork cancel and "New Bedford Mass. Sep. 16" (1870) circular datestamp on cover whaling ship captain at the Island of Mauritius, sender's blue oval backstamp and ms. "Via Marseilles" route instructions, red "20" credit handstamp, red London transit (Sep. 29) and "1d" colonial rate handstamp, blue Mauritius receiving backstamp (Dec. 1), repaired at right adding large piece of edge and stamp, still a presentable and unique artifact of postal history, this is the only recorded 24c 1869 Pictorial cover to Mauritius, illustrated in the Rose book (p. 139), signed Ashbrook (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

313

2c Brown, 10c Yellow (113, 116). 2c pair and two 10c, tied by target cancels, "Lynn Mass. Feb. 23" (1870) circular datestamp on small narrow cover to Mahe, Seychelle Islands, sender's route instructions "Via Marseilles, France", red "Boston Paid Mar. 1" and London (Mar. 15?) transit datestamps, red crayon "20" credit, red "1d" colonial rate handstamp, 10c stamps have minor faults from placement near edge, light soiling and edgewear

FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE COVERS TO THE SEYCHELLE ISLANDS. A REMARKABLE FOREIGN-MAIL USAGE.

Signed Ashbrook with his notes on back. Illustrated in color in 1869 PRA Census where described as "one of the rarest destinations" (p. 130). (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000