364 / März 2017

1848, lettersheet from New York via Boston, England, France, Hamburg and Stralsund to Carlscrona, paid for inland postage only, showing red "NEW YORK 5 cts. 30 JUL.", in London marked with red boxed "COLONIES & c. ART. 13", in Hamburg debited with a total of "24" shilling, converted in Stralsund and marked as "23½" sgr. incl. 3 sgr. for Prussian transit; in Sweden a total of "2 Rdr. 11 sk. 6 rst banco" was charged to the recipient; a rare early letter via France with high postage due

1851, Cover from New York to Motalla, prepaid with 24 c. sea postage to Bremen, therefore marked "PAID PART", transferred to Hamburg, charged "3" shilling for the distance Bremen-Hamburg, converted in Ystad to "2½" sgr. and "7" sgr. charged incl. 4½ sgr. for the distance Hamburg-Stralsund; the recipient was charged with a total of "Lösen 1 Rd 9 skl. Bc."

1852, Entire letter from San Francisco to Stockholm, partly paid with "26" cents, transported via Panama and New York, showing on front red "NEW YORK AM. PACKET / JAN 15", transported with the next ship to Europe which happened to be a steamship to France (rate 20 c.), from France transferred to Hamburg, where debited "11" Hamburg shilling for combined French and Thurn & Taxis transit to the Swedish post; in Stockholm charged with a total of "42½" skilling banco; an unusually routed letter pre-convention U.S.-France

1854, Partly prepaid entire letter from San Francisco to Stockholm, transported via Panama, New York, Liverpool and Hamburg, showing black straight line "PAID 26" and red "NEW YORK AM. PACKET", in England marked "U.S. PKT." and "3½ GROSCHEN"; in Hamburg charged "7" sgr. for the postage from England debited to the Swedish/Norwegian post; in Sweden converted to 21 skilling and a total of "36" skilling banco charged incl. 15 skilling for the postage from Hamburg to Sweden

1857, Envelope to Stockholm, franked with 1851/57, 1 c. blue, type II and 10 c. green, type II, horizontal pair from the upper right sheet corner with parts of sheet margins, tied by large "MAQUON ILL. SEP 17", showing on front "NEW YORK AM. PKT." and straight line "U.S. PKT."; the cover was transported via England, Hamburg and Stralsund, prepaid to England with 5 c. inland fee and 16 c. sea postage, in Hamburg charged "7" sgr. and finally in Stockholm with "36" skilling banco (Scott 20, 32)

1858, Quadruple rate envelope to Göteborg, prepaid for the triple rate with 63 cents, sent via New York with red "N. YORK BR. PKT. 14 PAID" and red boxed "SHORT PAID"; Prussian post marked "26 ung pto" (insufficient postage), in Sweden a total of 3 riksdaler 38 öre was charged to the recipient incl. Danish transit and Swedish inland postage; a rare letter

1860, Unpaid envelope from New York to Wenersborg via Hamburg and Denmark showing on reverse boxed "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 18/10 1860"; on front "NEW YOKR AM. PKT. 23" (23 c. debit to U.S.), changed in Hamburg to "13" sgr.; in Sweden charged "162 öre"; part of back flap missing, otherwise fine

1861, Entire letter from New Orleans (written June 6), via New York und Hamburg to Stockholm, showing on front forwarding agent mark "FORWARDED BY OELRICHS & Co. NEW-YORK", black "N. YORK HAMB. PKT 5" and blue Hamburg tax stamp "8 3/4"; filing fold affecting the tax stamp, otherwise fine; a very interesting and rare letter to Sweden during the early period of the Civil War

1867, Double rate "OFFICIAL BUSINESS"-cover from headquarters of U.S. infantery at Fort Donelson, Dover, Tennessee, sent from New York via Prussian closed mail to Cimbrishamn, charged on arrival with "306" öre, incl. 22 sgr. (= 198 öre) sea post credited to the US and 108 öre for the postage from German Postal Union to Sweden; a scarce military item with high postage due

1869, envelope to Göteborg, originally fully franked and credited "4 CENTS", transported with Hamburg-American line steamer "Germania", which was wrecked during the night of August 4, saved from seawater and transported by steamer "Cimbria" to Hamburg, here marked "HAMBURG FRANCO 26.8.69" and label "Aus dem untergegangenen Post=Dampfschiffe Germania geborgen" (not quite complete); scarce wreck-mail to Sweden

1869, Cash-paid envelope from Montana, Iowa to Gefle, credited "4 CENTS", adjacent red boxed "Weiterfr 1½ Sgr." and "BREMEN / 2-10 69 / FRANCO"

1873, Insufficiently paid envelope from "SAINT PAULS MINN. NOV 12" to Grenna, franked with 2 copies 1870/71, 3 c. green (one with tear), marked "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID" and "32", on reverse "NEW YORK GERMAN TRANSIT" and arrival marks; on front manuscript "Lösen 32 öre"

1854, Beautiful strike of Uddevalla steamboat cancel "MED ÅNGBÅT. Lösen 4 Sk:Bco UDDEVALLA 13/4 1854" on unpaid folded letter with contents from Dunkerque, France April 4th. The letter was sent as a ship letter from Gothenburg to Uddevalla by the s/s Thorild, with an extra charge of 4 sk for this service. Uddevalla cancel type 3IC manuscript date and year. Transit Hamburg 6.4 54 and K.D.O.P.A Hamburg 7.4. 2-3. No other letter from abroad is known stamped with Uddevalla's Postage due Postmark. Attractive condition with slight archival fold.

"15 Sk" Postage due charge mark on clean unpaid folded letter to Stockholm 1856 without contents. Manuscript notation Hamburg 19 july 1856 on inside and transit "K.D.O.P.A Hamburg 19.7 3-4" as well as "*K.S.&N.P.A.* Hamburg 20.7 1856" on reverse.

"1 Rdr." Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate letter 1858 to Stockholm from Paris via Ystad, transit "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 21 SEPT. 58".

"1 Rdr. 10sk." Postage due charge mark. Attractive strike on unpaid double rate letter without contents sent from Sassari (Sardinia) January 31st 1858 via Ajaccio (Corsika) "SARDAIGNE 2 FEVR.58", Marseille, Paris, Hamburg, Helsingborg to Carlskrona, Sweden. Transit cancels (selection) on reverse: "PARIS 5 FEVR. 58 60 3",  "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 5 FEVR. 58 A 4" and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 7 2 1858". Only five letters are known to exist with the 1 Rds. 10sk. charge mark.

"1 Rdr. 20 sk." Postage due charge mark on partly unpaid double rate letter with contents from "Consulate of Sweden and Norway for the Philippine Islands" with nice letterhead dated Manila April 15th 1856 and sent via Hong Kong, Marseille, Paris and Ystad to Stockholm. Sent with private ship to Hong Kong and cancelled red crowned "PAID AT HONG KONG". Transit on reverse: "MARSEILLE A PARIS 28 JUIL 56", PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 29 JUIL 56 A (and separate cancel B, dated 30 JUIL). "PARIS 30 JUIL 56" with YSTAD 4.8.1856 square-cancel on front.

"1 Rdr. 20 sk." Distinct Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate cover without contents (opened out for display). Sent from Malta November 30 1856, via Paris, Hamburg and Helsingborg to Carlskrona. Endorsed with red crayon "1 Rd 20 S" all over the front. Transit on reverse: "MALTA NO 30 1856", PARIS 8 DEC. 56 (60) and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 10 12 1856".

"1 Rdr." + "24 Sk." Postage due charge marks on unpaid triple rate folded letter with contents from Boulogne-Sur-Mer (France) August 5th 1857 sent via Calais, Paris, Hamburg and Stockholm to Neder-Kalix. Transit cancels on reverse: "CALAIS A PARIS 6 AOUT. 57", PARIS 6 AOUT. 57", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 6 AOUT. 57", "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 9 8 1857" and "STOCKHOLM 14 AUG 57". Handstamps existed only for single and double rates therefore the postmaster had to improvise and made a combination of the cancels for 1 Rdr. and for 24 Sk. Only three letters are known with this combination of charge marks.

"3 Rdr. 26 Sk." Postage due charge mark on unpaid fivefold rate cover without contents sent from Constantinopel (Turkey) September 29th 1858 via Marseille, Paris, Hamburg and Helsingborg to Wenersborg. The Postmaster wrongly calculated the postage as 2 Rdr 24 Sk and as no handstamp was available for such a high amount he used the handstamp for 1 Rdr. 24 Sk and filled in a "2" in manuscript in front of the cancel, but he noticed his mistake and crossed it over. The correct due was 3 Rdr. 26 Sk. No handstamp was available for this amount either, so he improvised once more and partly used a handstamp and partly handwrote the correct postage due. Transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLE XY OCT. 58", "MARSEILLE A LYON 6 OCT. 58 D", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 7 OCT. 58" and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 9 10 1858".  Very high postage due charge mark for a letter from abroad.

"36 S Bco" Postage due charge mark on unpaid cover without contents sent from Dehree (India) August 16th 1858 to Carlskrona. The postmaster first stamped the cover "24 Sk" then changed it to the correct "36 S Bco" which was struck twice. The Postmaster in Carlskrona converted the 36 sk to 1 Rd 8 öre and marked this in red crayon on the letter. Also boxed "UNPAID INDIA" on front. Transit cancels on reverse: "GPO 19 AU 1858 XYZ", "MARSEILLE A PARIS 1 OCT. 58 B", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 2 OCT. 58 D" and "YSTAD 8 10 1858". Sent from a seamen in the Indian Navy, his commanding officer signed the envelope in an unsuccesful attempt to reduce the postage for private letters. The cover is slightly affected by humidity (as one would expect) on the right side. Only three covers are known with this Postage due charge mark.

"1 Rdr. 24 s Bco" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate folded letter with printed contents from Adelaide (South Australia) January 11th 1858 (Blue cancel on front) and sent via Suez, Marseille, Paris, Hamburg to Gothenburg. Transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLE A PARIS 7 MARS 58", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 8 MARS 58", "PARIS 8 MARS 58 (60)", and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 11 3 1858". Also red "AUSTRALIE V.SUEZ 7 MARS 58" on front. Originally affixed with postage stamps, but the stamps have fallen off. This prepayment has not been taken into account when charging the postage due as prepayment was not accepted. Only two letters are known with this postage due marking.

"29 Sk." Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter without contents from Genova (Sardinian Kingdom) March 11th 1857 to Stockholm. Sent from the Swedish and Norwegian Consulate as shown by cancel on reverse, also transit marks on reverse: "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 18 3 1857". The letter is cut open on both sides.

"34 Sk" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents from Malta December 1st 1858 to Stockholm and then readdressed to Nyköping. Transit cancels on reverse: "MALTA DEC XY 58", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 10 DEC 58 A", "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 12 12 1858" as well as manuscript notation "Forwarded by ..." on backflap. The monetary change from Skillings to öre was introduced on july 1st 1858, new handstamps took some time to be delivered and Postmasters therefore continued to use the old ones. This postage due charge mark, struck on december 10th, is the latest one recorded.

"72" Postage due charge mark on insufficiently prepaid folded letter with contents from Angers (France) December 8th 1866 and sent to Stockholm. Stamped with 20 centimes and marked with red boxed "Affranchissement Insuffisant". Transit cancels on reverse: "ANGERS A PARIS 8 DEC. 66", "PARIS 9 DEC. 66 (60)" and "SÖDRA ST. BANAN 12 12 1866".

"87" Postage due charge mark, used by mistake on a partly prepaid single rate folded letter with contents sent from Barcelona May 6th via Paris to Stockholm. The postmaster noticed his mistake crossed out the 87 mark and added the correct "72". Transit cancels on reverse: "ESPANA LA JUNQUERA 7 MAY 62", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN XY MAI 62" and "HAMBURG K.S.P.A (D.) 12/5. 1862". Slight archival fold across the charge marks.

"87" Postage due charge mark on partly prepaid folded letter with contents postmarked Rome (Papal States) May 24th 1862 and sent to Stockholm. Transit cancel red Marseilles on front. Letters entering Italy from the Papal states were treated as unpaid letters. The postage from the Papal states via France was 102 öre. This letter had originally an adhesive that has later disappeared from the bottom right-hand corner, this missing stamp corresponded to 15 öre, the remaining postage was 87 öre. Four letters are known to exist with this type of "87" charge mark.

"87" Postage due charge mark in different type on insufficiently prepaid folded letter without contents, Postmarked Lisboa March 26th 1867 and sent to Söderhamn. Transit cancel on reverse: "SÖDRA ST. BANAN 2 4 1867". The "8" in "87" in this charge mark (struck in Paris) is different from the usual mark, and is known to exist on three letters only, all originating from Portugal.

"102" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter with contents from Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) March 25th 1861 and sent to Stockholm. Sent with French packet ship "Navarre" as marked on letter, also red "BRESIL 2 BORDEAUX 20 AVRIL 61" on front and transit cancel on reverse: "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 20 AVRIL 61".

"102" Postage due charge mark on unpaid folded letter without contents postmarked Palermo (Kingdom of the two Sicilies) May 21st 1859 and sent to Stockholm. Attractive with blue octagonal cancel "D. SICILIES S.E. (Service Etranger) Marseille May 27th 1859" on front and transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLES A PARIS 27 MAI 59" and "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 29 MAI 1859" as well as black cachet cancel from the Swedish and Norwegian Consulate in Palermo.

"108" Postage due charge mark on insufficiently prepaid Mourning cover on flimsy paper postmarked "CALCUTTA INDIA UNPAID April 20th 1864" and sent via Suez, Marseille, Paris and Jönköping to Hernösand. Attractive appearance with three-colour franking and boxed red "INDIA PAID" crossed out, also GB accountancy mark "1 F 62 4/10 C" struck in Calcutta. Several transit cancels on reverse: "PARIS 22 MAI 64", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 22 MAI 64" and Boxed "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 4/5. 1864" + several others illegible.

"108" Postage due charge mark on folded letter with contents postmarked "ROME 24 FEB 60" (Papal States), prepaid only to the Italian border and sent via Berlin and Hamburg to Stockholm. Transit cancels on reverse: "BERLIN.." illegible text, "HAMBURG 2/3 7-8 M", HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 2/3 1860". The Italian  postage was 2 sgr., which, together with the Swiss and German-Austrian Postal Union fee, added up to 7 Sgr = 63 öre + 45 öre from Hamburg to Stockholm to be paid by the addressee.

"144" Postage due charge mark on partly prepaid double rate folded letter without contents, Postmarked "LISBOA 7 - 7 1860" and sent via Paris and Hamburg to Stockholm. Transit cancels on reverse: "LISBOA 8.7", "BADAJOZ 10. XY", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 1o JUIL. 60" and "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 19/7. 1860". Prepaid with 2x 25 Reis to the Spanish/French border where it could be sent unpaid to Sweden. By mistake the Postmaster first struck "72" corresponding to the single rate, cancelled it and struck the correct mark "144".

"174" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate cover without contents sent from Nizza (Sardinian Kingdom) January 21st 1859 via "HELSINGBORG 28.1.1859" to Ystad. Transit cancels on reverse: "MARSEILLE A PARIS 22 JAN. 59", "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN 23 JAN. 59" and "*K.S.P.A.* HAMBURG 25 1 1859". Attractive strike on small cover.

"204" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate cover (opened up for display, backflap missing and repaired on right-hand side), Postmarked "TUNIS-PAR-BONE ALGERIE 8 JANV 60" and sent via Hamburg and Helsingborg to Gefle. Transit cancels on reverse: two illegible and "K.S.P.A. (D.) 16/1. 1860" (without Hamburg) The correct rate was 216 öre, a few covers inexplicably stamped "204" are known. Attractive yellow cover despite repairs.

"204" Postage due charge mark on unpaid double rate folded letter with contents postmarked Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) December 24 1863 and sent via France to Stockholm. The letter was sent with ship "Estramadure" as noted on front, which left Rio on December 24th 1863 and arrived in Bordeaux January 17th 1864. Transit cancels on reverse: "PARIS A QUIEVRAIN B 18 JAN. 64", Boxed "HAMBURG K.S.P.A. (D.) 20/1.1864" and "STOCKHOLM 6.TUR 20/4. For some reason the Postmaster struck the charge mark "204" instead of the correct "232", a few letters thus handled are known.