VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING 10-CENT 1855 ISSUE COVER FROM NEW MEXICO TERRITORY TO GERMANY BY PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL.

This is an extremely rare 10c 1855 Issue cover from New Mexico Territory to an overseas destination -- it is probably the only one to Germany and the only one from Taos. Based on the New York British Packet November 17 datestamp, this was probably carried on the Cunarder Canada from Boston, departing November 18, 1857, and arriving at Liverpool November 29, which fits with the Aachen December 1 datestamp. The sender, although not indicated, was probably Solomon Beuthner, a German Jewish immigrant who established a well-known mercantile business in Taos in the 1850s (see lot 117). The mail from Taos was taken to Independence, Missouri, on the Hall-Hockaday stagecoach line, which added a mid-month departure starting in July 1857.

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), Position 1L1, the misplaced B Relief instead of A--the only Type III corner position possible (others are Types I or II)--a superb stamp with huge portion of corner sheet margins, enormous margins on other sides, rich color, fine impression, tied by large "Michigan Bluff Cal." circular datestamp struck twice with manuscript "Feb. 1" date on blue folded cover to Washington D.C., manuscript "Due 10" for weight over half-ounce, Extremely Fine, this remarkable example of the 10¢ Type III with corner sheet margins may be unique on cover, a wonderful rarity, ex Emerson (with his "RSE" in circle backstamp), Rohloff, Grunin and Zoellner

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), Positions 23-26L1, horizontal strip of four, large margins to full all around, rich color and detailed impression, tied by "New Orleans La. Nov. 15, 1857" circular datestamps on blue folded cover to Vera Cruz, Mexico, from the Hargous correspondence, bold "5" reales due handstamp at bottom, tiny margin tear touches top right of left stamp (not noted on certificate), still Extremely Fine, a desirable multiple in choice condition paying quadruple 10¢ rate to Mexico, ex Caspary, Rust and Klein, with 1988 P.F. certificate

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), three huge margins, in at bottom, tied by well-struck "Toronto C.W. Sep. 28" circular datestamp on small cover to Superior, Wisconsin, neat "CANADA 10 Cts" straightline handstamp, red "Canada 10 Cents" in oval and matching "PAID" handstamp, with original 1856-dated enclosure, trivial cover edge tear at top, Fine, an exceedingly rare example of the 10¢ 1855 Issue used from Canada, only three such covers are reported, including one from Nova Scotia--the stamp was cancelled at the originating office in Toronto, but it was not accepted as prepayment by the Canadian postmaster, who applied the black straightline, however, on arrival at the U.S.-Canada exchange office, the clerk stamped it "Paid" and "10 cents", thus accepting the stamp as prepayment of U.S. postage, ex Krug, J. David Baker, Wilkinson and Hackmey

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), three large margins, just in at right, tied by brownish-black 7-ring Canadian target cancel, matching "St. Vincent de Paul, L.C." double-circle datestamp with manuscript "3 Novembre 1856" date on cover to Albany, New York, manuscript rate mark at center but this appears to have been accepted as fully prepaid, "Montreal U.C. NO 3, 1856" circular datestamp on back, cover with small edge tears, some toning also affects stamp, otherwise Fine, one of three recorded covers with the 10¢ 1855 Issue originating in Canada, ex Dr. Kapiloff, with 1969 P.F. certificate

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), horizontal pair, three ample to large margins, large to just in at left, used with 1¢ Blue, Type V (24), straight edge at left, pulled perfs at bottom, minor wrinkles, and 3¢ Dull Red, Type III (26), both perforated stamps some toned perfs from gum, tied by "Carlyle Ills. Mar. 4" (1858) circular datestamps on cover to Chelmsford, England, red "19" credit handstamp-- carried on the Cunarder America, departing Boston March 10, 1858, arriving Liverpool March 22--red "America Liverpool Paid MR 22 58" circular datestamp, London (March 23) and Chelmsford (March 23) circular datestamps on back, some edgewear, still Very Fine, unusual combination of imperforate and perforated stamps to pay the 24¢ treaty rate, ex Hackmey

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), horizontal strip of four, three large margins, clear to just barely in at left, left stamp barely affected from placement at edge of cover, rich color, used with horizontal pair of 1¢ Blue, Type II (7), intense shade and impression, large margins to just in, tied by three perfect strikes of "New Orleans La. Jan. 23" (1856) balloon-style circular datestamp on grayish blue folded letter to Chalon sur Saone, France, pencil "42" rate, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Feb. 2" circular datestamp, sender's generic "pr Steamship" directive--carried on the Collins Line Baltic, departing New York on February 2, 1856, and arriving at Liverpool February 13--red London backstamp (February 14), Calais arrival datestamp (February 14) also ties strip, French railroad and receiving backstamps (February 15), manuscript "16" for grams in weight and "24" decimes due markings

Very Fine--a rare strip of four of the 1855 10¢ Imperforate on cover to France, and especially rare as part of a double 21¢ rate franking.

The 42¢ postage pays the double 21¢ British Open Mail rate by American Packet. The double rate was calculated in New York, but the 24 decimes due--three times the 8 decimes per 7.5 grams--was based on the weight calculated in France and noted as 16 grams at left.

Ex Joseph Hackmey. Signed Baudot and Calves handstamp.

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), horizontal pair, large to huge margins all around, used with vertical pair of 3¢ Dull Red, Type I (11), huge margins to just in, tied by "Terre Haute Ind. Jan. 1" (1857) circular datestamps on buff cover to Schlitz, Germany, red London backstamp (February 2), scarce British "U.S. PKT." straightline handstamp--likely carried on the Collins Line Ericsson, departing New York January 17, 1857, arriving Liverpool February 1--red "Per England und Aachen 3/2" double-circle datestamp on back, Frankfurt double-circle datestamp on back (February 5), blue manuscript German rates, Very Fine, an attractive and unusual franking overpaying the 21¢ British Open Mail rate to Germany by American Packet, which is indicated by the British "U.S. PKT." handstamp, ex White (1937 Doane sale) and Knapp

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10¢ Green, Type III (15), horizontal strip of three, huge margins all around, used with 3¢ Dull Red, Type I (11), large to huge margins, cancelled or tied by grids and "Greenfield Ms. Mar. 17" (1857) circular datestamp on immaculate cover to Shanghai, China, from the Reverend Henry Blodgett correspondence, sender's route directive "via New York", red "New-York Br. Pkt. Mar. 18" circular datestamp on back, magenta manuscript "28" credit--carried on the Cunarder Persia, departing New York March 18, 1857, and arriving Liverpool March 29 due to heavy fog, but mails unloaded via steam tug on March 28--red London circular datestamp (March 30), Hong Kong backstamp (May 22)

Extremely Fine and stunning cover to Shanghai, China, with the 3¢ 1851 and strip of 10¢ 1855 paying the 33¢ rate via Southampton. We have offered only eight other covers to Shanghai with the 1851-56 Issue since keeping computerized records, and this is certainly one of the finest.

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