378th Auction

1853, (Jan. 8) folded letter franked with vertical pair 1851 Franklin 1c. blue, two singles Washington 3c. red and single 12c. black, all tied by blue integral cds "Columbia S.C. 3 Paid Jan. 11" to letter to Bremen, carried on the Havre Line Humboldt, leaving New York on Jan. 15, 1853, and arriving in Le Havre Jan. 29 with red cds. "Outre-Mer Le Havre 29 Janv. 53" alongside, a rare and very attractive "Complete Set" 1851 Issue Franking on an unusual Bremen Closed Mail cover, certificate PF (2010)

Provenance:The Ambassador J. William Middendorf II Collection (Robert A. Siegel, 2020)

                    The Wagshal Collection (Robert A. Siegel, 2010)

                  ex M. Neinken

1854, (Oct. 7) envelope endorsed "Per steamer Hermann" and manuscript "21" added, franked with 1851 Washington 3c. strip of three and horizontal pair, all tied by cds. "NEW-YORK OCT 7", with adjacent integral cds. "N.YORK U.S. Pkt. OCT 7 PAID 6" to Ankum, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" added, sime imperfections at top, otherwise fine 

1859, (Feb 2) envelope endorsed "By the Bremen & Hamburg mail", franked with 1857/60 Washington 3c. rose, four singles and 10c. green, all tied by cds. "HARDIN FEB 2", via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN PKT. 19 PAID", upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, adhesives some faults, an attractive and rare 22c.-Rate cover

1859, (Mar 19) envelope dated "Newburg Wis. March 3 1859", franked with 1857/60  Washington 3c. rose and 12c. black, used with black manuscript cross, to Bockenheim. The letter weighed over ½ ounce and was supplemented at the counter by 15c. cash payment with corresponding manuscript "Paid 15 cents", via New York with red integral cds., also tying the stamps, "N. YORK BREMEN Pkt. MAR 19 PAID 24" and upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, a scarce and very attractive cover which was fully paid but partly paid in cash

Provenance: 140. Edgar Mohrmann Auktion (1973)

1859, (Sep 28) small sized envelope franked with 1861 Washington 3c. rose and vertical pair 12c. black, tied by cds. "AUGUSTA SEP 28", via New York with red cds. "NEW YORK PAID OCT 1" to Geneva, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, stamps minor imperfections and little unfresh, otherwise a scarce and attractive cover

1860, (Aug 25), cover endorsed "Per Steamer New York", franked with 1857/60 Washington 3c. rose and 12c. black, tied by grid cancel with matching cds. "SAINT PAUL AUG 25 1860", via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN PKT. SEP 1 PAID 12" to Strohhof near Welzheim, Württemberg. Upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, the recipient was charges with "1" kr delivery fee, fine

1860, (Dec 12) envelope franked with 1857/60 Washington 10c. green, strip of three, tied by manuscript with matching cds "STOCKTON DEC 12", via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREM. PK JAN 29 PAID 24" to Herford, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, stamps applied at edge thus some minor imperfections, backflap missing, an attractive entire

1861, (Mar 7)  part paid envelope franked with 1857/60 Washington 1c. blue, and three singles 3c. red, tied by barred oval with adjacent cds. "ALLEGHANY MAR 7 1861", to Harburg, via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREM Pk. MAR 16 PAID 7" and Bremen, where it was weighed and marked "2 fach" as a double-weight letter, blue two-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN" and straight-line "Paid to Bremen" applied, sent to Kassel mistakenly, the actual destination "Harburg" noted again, in transit marked with red L1 "Charge" and the recipient was finally charged "6" Gr., despite some faults and added 3c. a very interesting and attractive entire

1861, (Mar 29) printed matter wrapper endorsed "pr Hamburg Steamer" franked with 1861 Washington 3c. rose (oxydized), tied by cds. "MARSHALL MAR 29" to Germany, with New York red straight-line "PAID ALL" applied in transit and upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, some folds, a scarce item

1861, (May 28)  envelope franked with 1857/60 Washington 1c. blue, 3c. red and vertical pair 10c. green., all used with mute ring cancel and adjacent cds. "OWENSBORO MAY 28 1861" to Goslar, via New York, originally marked with handstamp "9", this cancelled and red "N YORK BREM PKt JUN 8 12 PAID", applied, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" added, the 10c. with pre-printing paper fold, a very fine and rare 24c. rate cover

Reference: MISTAKEN 24c RATE TO GERMANY, 1857-61 (ROBERT S. BOYD), The Chronicle of the U.S. Classic Postal Issues (226)

1861, (Oct 31) envelope endorsed "via Bremen or Hamburg Steamer" franked with 1861 Washington 3c. rose strip of five, with mute ring-cancel and adjacent cds., via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREM. Pk. NOV 4 PAID 12" to Ichenhausen in Bavaria, carried on the NDL's "Hansa", upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" struck and partly tying the stamps, these with some minor faults, a very attractive, unusual franking to pay the 15c rate

1863, (Nov 19) overpaid cover endorsed "via Hamburg or Bremen" franked with 1861 Washington 3c. rose, two singles and 24c. gray-lilac, all tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "NEW BRIGHTON NOV 19" via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREM PK NOV 21 PAID" to Florence, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, in transit further "Franco ultra" applied, the recipient was charged with "5" cts., vertical fold affecting 24c. adhesives, otherwise fine and very attractive

1865, cover endorsed "per Bremen Steamer, Hansa" franked with 1861 Franklin 30c. orange, tied by cork cancel, via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN Pkt. Feb 10 PAID 12" to Gössitz, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, a very fine and attractive cover

1865, (Apr 8) envelope franked with 1861 Jackson 2c. black, tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "N.Y. CITY APR 8, to Darmstadt, via Bremen where blue two-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN" was applied, charged with "22" plus "1" kr. delivery fee, stamp some faults, otherwise fine, scarce

1865, (May 1) printed matter price list franked with 1861 Jackson 2c. black, tied by grid, to Offenbach, upon arrival in Bremen even though underpaid blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, the recipient was charged "1" kr., a very fine and attractive entire

1865, (Aug 26) double-weight pre-printed envelope of the "Consulate General of Switzerland" endorsed "Per Bremen Steamer", franked with 1861, Washington 3c. rose and Jefferson 5c. brown and Washington 10c. green as strip of three, all tied by cds., to Egelshofen Switzerland. First accountancy mark "16" applied, this crossed out and correctly "32" applied, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied and "8 Wf" noted for the postage beyond the GAPU

1866, (Feb 19) cover endorsed "By Bremen / Hamburg Line" franked with 1861 Jackson 2c. black, two singles affixed slightly overlapping and single Washington 24c. grayish lilac, all tied by target cancel with matching cds. "SPARTA FEB 19" alongside, via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMN. PKt. FEB 24 PAID" to "George E. Pratt Car of his Excellency Rufus King..Rome". Red Crayon "25" credit to the Stadtpostamt and via Taxis mail, Marseille and Civitavecchia to the Destination. The stamps some blunted perfs, small tear, some wear and mended at right where opened roughly, a fine and very scarce fully prepaid use  through France to Italy

Provenance: The Bernard Faust Collection of U.S. 1863-68 Black Jack Issues (Robert A. Siegel, 2018)

1867, (May 15) small cover franked with 1861 Jackson 2c. black and Washington 3c. rose and 10c. green, all used with manuscript with adjacent cds. "BEISTERTOWN MAY 15", via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN PK MAY 16 PAID 12" to Horgen, Switzerland. Upon arrival in Bremen, despite the insufficent franking, blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" added, only Baden than added boxed "FRANCO Schweizer Grenze", thus the recipient was charged with "15" rp., some staining around the stamps, a very interesting entire showing the rare handstamp

adressed to Horgen, Switzerland. 

1867, (Aug 10) envelope franked with 1861 Washington 3c. rose and 12c. black, tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "RICHMOND AUG 10" alongside, via New York wit red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN Pkt. AUG 15 PAID 12" and upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, a fine and attractive entire

1867, (Oct 9) mourning cover endorsed "per steamer for Bremen from New York", franked with 1861 Lincoln 15c. black, used with cork cancel and matching cds. "BALTIMORE OCT 9", to Hannover via New York with red "N. YORK BREM. PKT OCT 10 PAID 12" and upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, fine and attractive

1867, (Oct 24) cover endorsed "p. New York" and franked with 1861 Jefferson 5c. brown and Lincoln 15c. black, tied by cork cancel, via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN Pk. OCT 24 PAID 12" and Bremen to Pruschany, Gouver. Grodno, Russia. Upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied, "Wf 2" charged, with Pruschany arrival mark, some minor toning and some nibbed perfs, a very attractive and rare cover

1867, (Oct 24) double-weight cover endorsed "via Bremen" and franked with 1861 Washington 3c. rose horizontal pair, tied by cork cancel, via New York with black integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN Pkt. 6 OCT 24", New York stamped "SHORT PAID", upon arrival in Bremen blue two-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN" and the rare accountancy mark "13" sgr. applied, some transportation wear, otherwise fine and rare

1867, (Oct 24) cover franked with 1861 Lincoln 15c. black, tied by cork cancel, via "N. YORK BREM. PKt. OCT 24 PAID 12" to Vienna, carried on the NDL's "New York, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" struck and tying the stamp, fresh and very attractive cover

1867, (Dec 2) envelope franked with 1861 Jackson 2c. black as vertical pair and Lincoln 15c. black, all tied by cork cancel with adjacent cds., via Bremen to Safenwyl, Switzerland. Upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" applied and "4" noted for the postage beyond the GAPU, very fine and attractive

1867, (Dec 5) double-weight registered envelope endorsed "pr Bremen Steamer" franked with 1861 Jefferson 5c. brown and Franklin 30c. orange, neatly tied by cork cancel, via New York with "NEW-YORK REGISTERED DEC 5 1867" applied to Eichelsachsen, where the recipient had to pay "4" delivery fee, a fine and very rare registered letter

1867, (Dec 12) double-weight envelope franked with 1861 Jefferson 5c. brown single, pair and horizontal strip of three, all with manuscript cancellation, via New York with red integral cds. "N. YORK BREMEN Pkt. DEC 12 PAID 24" to Steinach, upon arrival in Bremen blue three-line "AMERICA ÜBER BREMEN FRANCO" struck and partly tying the stamps, the recipient was charged "2" Kr. delivery fee, stamps some minor faults, a very attractive, unusual franking to pay the double 15c rate

USA TO DENMARK: 1868, Washington 3c. rose and 10c. green with cork cancel and matching cds. "WINONA OCT 19" alongside on cover to Denmark, upon arrival in Bremen violet boxed "BREMEN 2 11 68" and boxed accountancy mark "Weiterfr. 1 Sgr". applied, some wear, as stamps where applied at edge, and part of backflap and small part of front at lower left restored, still a attractive and scarce destination

USA DEN DENMARK: 1870, Pictorial Issue 3c. blue, single and strip of three tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "HARTDORF FEB 23" to pre-printed cover via New York with "NEW YORK PAID ALL DIRECT FEB 26" and via Bremen with red boxed "BREMEN 1/3 70 FRANCO" and accountancy marks "2½" resp. "Weiterfr. 1 Sgr." to Denmark with arrival mark, small opening tears at left, right stamp with corner crease entirely in margin. Very attractive cover from the Warner correspondence, the rates to Denmark by NGU mails were 13c prepaid and 16c unpaid, the Hartford mail clerk apparently experienced significant confusion on this point as a number of covers from this correspondence are overpaid or underpaid, here a 1c. underpayment was ignored and treated as fully prepaid 

USA TO DENMARK: 1872, McMasters Stanton 7c. orange-red tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "SAN FRANCISCO SEP 1" alongside to cover via "NEW YORK PAID ALL VIA BREMEN SEP 11" to Kopenhagen, Denmark, fine

USA TO GREECE: 1871, 12c. Clay dull violett and horizontal pair Jackson 2c. red brown, tied by two neat strikes of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel with adjacent "NEW YORK PAID ALL OCT 7" and red "B.F. Stevens Despatch Agent London" alongside to cover, transported by the "Weser II" of the NDL, via Bremen with red boxed "BREMEN 18.10.71 FRANCO" to U.S. Consul in Piraeus, Greece. The right 2c. stamp with archive cut at bottom, 12c. trivial corner crease, cover reduced at left, otherwise a fine and scarce usage of this Foreign Mail cancel on a cover to Greece, with just two covers known to Greece taking this route. Enclosed with original letter and calling card from Clews, Habight & Co. Banking House N.Y.

USA TO ITALY: 1868, Jackson 2c. black as horizontal pair and Washington 10c. green, each with grill, tied by cork to cover front with cds. "NEW YORK PAID ALL DIRECT MAR 5" via Bremen with red boxed "BREMEN 17/3 68 FRANCO" and red "4" credit handstamp to Genova, stamps lifted for inspection and some short perfs at top, an attractive item showing the newly introduced 14c. Rate to Italy

USA TO ITALY: 1870, Pictorial Issue 2c. brown and 12c. green tied by cork cancel to cover endorsed "via North German Union" with "4" credit handstamp via Bremen with boxed "BREMEN 21 1 70 FRANCO" and accountancy mark "Weiterfr. 1½ Sgr." to Rome, Italy. A very fine, 2c. almost invisible nick at upper right, and beautiful cover paying the 14c Rate by the North German Union Direct Mail

USA TO ITALY: 1870, Pictorial Issue 3c. blue and 12c. green tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "BRATTELBORO NOV 9" alongside to cover via New York with red "4" credit handstamp, transportet with the "America", to Bremen with boxed "BREMEN 24/11 69 FRANCO" and accountancy mark "Weiterfran. 1½ Sgr." to Rome, Italy. 3c adhesive small corner crease, otherwise a very fine and attractive cover

USA TO NORWAY: 1868, Washington 10c. green and horizontal pair, Lincoln 15c. black with mute ring cancel and adjacent cds. "NEW YORK" and matching "10" in circle on orange buff double-weight cover to Trondheim Norway, endorsed "via Hamburg or Bremen paid" at bottom left, carried by the "New York" of the NDL from New York to Bremen arriving on Feb. 19th. with boxed "BREMEN 16/2 68 FRANCO" and matching, since the letter has been treated as a double-weight letter, "Weiterfr. 4 Sgr." applied. 10c. adhesive applied over edge. Small tear beneath adhesives. An exceptionally rare and attractive 1861 Issue franking prepaying the rare North German Union Direct Mail rate to Norway, perhaps the only known double-weight cover

USA TO NORWAY: 1869, Jackson 2c. black as horizontal pair, F-Grill, and Washington 12c. black, F-Grill, as single tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "WILLIAMSBURGH MAY 7" alongside to cover via New York and Bremen with boxed accountancy mark "Weiterfr. 2½ Sgr." and boxed "BREMEN 20/5 69 FRANCO" to Frederikshold, Norway (address faded due to previous cleaning). The stamps applied at edge thus some short perfs at top, Norway is a rare Destination for an 1861 Issue cover, particularly franked with the 2-Cent Black Jack. Sent via North German Union Direct Mail at the 16c rate, which was only in effect from May 1st. 1868 through July 31st 1869

USA TO NORWAY: 1871, Franklin 1c. blue, Jackson 2c. brown and vertical pair and single Washington 3c. green tied by cork cancel with matching cds. "ST. PAUL" alongside to cover via New York, transported by the "Main" of the NGL, and Bremen with boxed accountancy mark "Weiterfr. 2 Sgr." to Norway, the vertical pair with straight edge, some overall toning and wear do not detract from the colorful and good appearance of this scarce Destination cover