1871, folded lettersheet endorsed "Via Panama by North German Lloyds Steamer Graf Bismarck", franked with Peru 1868 Coat or Arms 1d. yellow-green, close to good margins, tied by cds. "LIMA 18 JUN 1871". Carried by British ships to Panama, then overland to Colon on the Caribbean side, where the NDL Steamer took over the mail as "British Closed Mail" and ran via St. Thomas to Bremen, there on arrival the Ra2 "From West Indies via Bremen" struck and blue crayon taxation "19 ¼" Gr. applied (18¼ British and German sea postage as well as 1 Gr. inland postage). A very attractive and rare cover from the first voyage of the "Graf Bismarck".
