378. Auktion

1851, (Oct 2) envelope endorsed "pr Steamer Hermann for New York" from "ST.P.A. BREMEN 2 10" addressed to forwarder Kirchhoff in San Francisco, California, which had been part of the United States for a year; the American inland special rate of 40c to the West Coast was invalid as of July 1, 1851, and replaced by the combined sea and inland rate of 20c, although mail to the American Pacific Coast still had to go via Panama. The cover arrived in "NEW-YORK OCT 24", in transit via "California" to Chargres (US-Mail Steamship Co), then from Panama with the steamer "Illinois" (Pacific-Mail-Steamship Co) to San Francisco and forwarded by the forwarder, with the British brig "Harley Inn" as "ship-letter" on 31 Dec. after 90 days to Honolulu - prepaid in Bremen with 20 Grote, probably the earliest letter from the German States to the Sandwich Islands