384. Auction

1863, 5c brown, and 10c green, faint grill, tied to c. 1868 cover to Carlsruhe, Germany, endorsed “Per Prussian Closed Mails”, postmarked Philadelphia (Sep 25), next-day “New York Paid All / BR Transit” in red, “Verviers. B. / 8.10.III. / Coeln / Franco” in red, reverse with Carlsruhe c.d.s. arrival backstamp (Oct 9), opening tear through back, else fine.

1861, 10c green and 1863 5c brown, on Eagle & Shield 1864 Civil War patriotic cover to Kirchhofen, Baden, Germany, each centrally-struck with black target cancel, postmarked Port Clinton, Ohio (Sep 28),  overstruck by red “N. York Hamb Pkt / 12” c.d.s. (Oct 1), reverse with oval Hamburg (Oct 17), Frankfurt (Oct 19) and Gr. Bad. Bahnpost c.d.s. (Oct 20), with contents from the Consul for Baden in Cincinnati, cover repaired at right, nevertheless a scarce transatlantic usage of a Union patriotic cover, with tremendous visual appeal.

1861-2 12c. black and 1863 2c. black, on cover to Baden, Germany, each cancelled in manuscript, neat Carrollton LA c.d.s. alongside, red “N York AM PKT 7 PAID” c.d.s. (Feb 9) and boxed blue AACHEN / FRANCO at top, backstamped with Heidelberg c.d.s. receiver, tear through back flap, else fine; with 1982 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

1862/3, 2c. black and 24c. greyish lilac, tied to 1867 cover to Baden, Germany by black fancy cork cancels, postmarked New Orleans (Jul 24), red New York transit (Jul 26) and blue boxed “AACHEN / FRANCO”, reverse with Heidelberg - Basel TPO transit (Aug 12), file fold crossing lower adhesive, small lower corner flaws, an otherwise fine and pleasing franking. 

1863, 5c. brown, strip of three, pair, and single, perforated 12, affixed to 1867 cover to Baden, Germany, cancelled in pen, faint New York c.d.s. alongside, pair tied by blue “America / Uber Bremen / Franco” handstamp, clear red “N. York Brem. Pk. PAID / 24” c.d.s. (Dec 12) and red “2” (Silbergroschen) in manuscript, reverse with “R. Bad Bahnpost” (Dec 27) and “Heidelberg - Basel” (Dec 28) TPOs, Steinbach c.d.s. receiver (Dec 28), some flaws to franking particularly at upper left of strip, else a fine and visually-pleasing cover; signed Holcombe, with his 1995 certificate.

1869, 10c yellow tied by black cork cancel to 1870 cover to Stockach, Baden, Germany, postmarked Williamsburg (May 21), red “New York / Direct / Paid All” c.d.s. (May 24), adhesive further tied by red boxed “Hamburg / Franco” datestamp (June 7), reverse with Heidelberg-Basel TPO (Jun 8) and Stockach c.d.s. receiver (Jun 9), cover slightly reduced at top, else a lovely single franking; with 2002 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

(Cole’s) City Despatch Post, 1847, 2c. black on green, “C” at left hand etched on plate, large to very large margins, on folded letter from New York to Kenzingen, Germany, internally dated Williamsburgh, 16 June, 1850,  adhesive cancelled in pencil, effectively “tied” to cover through paper, postmarked New York (Jun 27), sender’s directive “per Havre”, corresponding red “Outre-Mer Le Havre” entry c.d.s. on front (Jul 28), reverse with “Ligne-Du-Havre / 1” (Jul 28) c.d.s. and boxed German railroad transit “E.B. 31 JUL 50 / Cur IV,” adhesive with scrapes and other faults, yet a rare cover, the only recorded example of this Post Office City Despatch sent to a destination outside the United States (“The City Despatch Post 1842-1852 Issues” by Scott R.Trepel, page 23); with 2000 Philatelic Foundation certificate.