Lot 115 1870s (December 10), Bavaria to Canada, 3kr and 6kr franking to Montreal, cover franked with 3 kr carmine-rose and 6 kr brown Coat of Arms definitives (Mi. #23y, #24x), tied by München single-circle c.d.s., showing bold red New York “Paid All” (24 Dec) transit and blue “Franco” handstamp, manuscript “1/8” (1 shilling 8 pence) denoting British credit, large black “5” due marking at upper left for 5 cents Canadian inland postage payable upon delivery, with Montreal (2 Jan) receiver on reverse, some wrinkling, else a fine cover to Canada. Sold for C$750.00 plus 18% buyer’s premium.
PAID ALL
Lot 366, 1894 1pi single franking from Shwaifat to New York City, sold for C$1,888
Lot 366 1894 (December), 1pi single franking from Shwaifat (Mount Lebanon) via Beirut to New York, commercial cover endorsed in manuscript “from Shwaifate – Mount Lebanon via Beyrouth – Syria – Dec. 1894” addressed to New York City, bearing a 1pi pale blue Arms and Tughra issue of Abdul Hamid II, neatly tied by a full strike of the Arabic-only Beirut circular datestamp (reading Beirût with Rumi date 11/2095), reverse showing New York Paid All (20 Jan 95) receiver, light folds and mild toning typical of local paper yet overall fresh, an an exceptional example of this cancellation. Sold for C$1,600.00 plus 18% buyer’s premium.
Lot 932, Newfoundland1889 cover St. John’s to Melbourne Australia through San Francisco
Lot 932 15c rate 1889 cover to Australia, mailed from St John’s on FE.9.1889 and addressed to Melbourne, Australia, through San Francisco (FEB.20 transit on back). Originally franked with a strip of three of the 5c dark blue Harp Seal and somewhere along the way a large part of the middle stamp got removed (remaining two are damaged), with “Stamp Lost / In Transit” boxed handstamp. There is also a red “PAID ALL” handstamp on front. Once arrived in Melbourne on APR.11, several attempts were made to try and find the addressee, with many hand written notes to that effect, as well as pink Letter Carrier handstamps on front. Both front and back show a boxed “Unclaimed At / Melbourne” handstamp, and the cover was opened at bottom and re-sealed with stamp selvedge, with a pencil “2/9/89” date, as well as an interesting note on back reading “Opened by Mrs. Strachan but not for her, 11/4/89.” The back then shows several circular and boxed datestamps, mostly Dead Letter Office, dated OCT.10 and DEC.3. Very fine, and a rare destination for Newfoundland, plus a great story to boot. Estimate $500.