1873, folded letter to Portland, Maine, franked with 1871 30c brown horizontal pair, tied by dotted lozenge cancel, postmarked with Guadeloupe / Pointe a Pitre c.d.s. (10 Jul), passed to the British Post Office and cancelled on front with scarce “Guadeloupe / PAID” c.d.s. (11 Jul), and backstamped with “Guadeloupe / A” c.d.s. (11 Jul), manuscript “4” (pence) in red crayon for the journey to St. Thomas, endorsed “Per U.S. & Brazil Mail Str via St. Thomas”, the United States portion unpaid and thus struck with crisp “N.Y. STEAMSHIP / 10” entry mark (21 Jul), trivial light filing fold, an unusual and important entire conveyed from the French P.O. in Guadeloupe by the British Agency through the USBMSC via St. Thomas.
