U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Position 2L, large to huge margins including frameline of adjoining stamp at right, bright and fresh, tied by red "U.S." in frame, clear strike of matching "U.S. City Despatch Post Jan. 31 4 O'Clock" Type II circular datestamp on greenish Dec. 5, 1842 datelined folded letter from Paris, France, to New York, endorsed per Havre packet of 8 Decbr. and carried on private ship out of the mails, manuscript "1" credit to post office for drop rate, sealed backflap tear extends to front just clear of datestamp

EXTREMELY FINE STAMP ON A REMARKABLE FOLDED LETTER SENT FROM PARIS TO NEW YORK VIA LE HAVRE, THEN DELIVERED BY THE UNITED STATES CITY DESPATCH POST CARRIER DEPARTMENT. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS STAMP USED ON A COVER FROM ABROAD.

A lengthy 1861 eulogy of the addressee, Dr. John W. Francis M.D., before the New York Medico-Chirurgical College, can be found at Google Books. Ex Caspary and Middendorf

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