Lot 8101
1858: 1857/61, Jefferson 5 c. red brown, single example used on cover from Washington to a crew member on 'U.S.S. Powhatan' care of the Naval Store-keeper in Hong Kong, tied by Washington DC cds (Sept 19) in black. Carried on Cunard steamer 'Asia' to London and thence by P&O packets Pera, Candia and Norma to Hong Kong, where charged 1/2d. due in manuscript to collect. Cover slight file fold and small repairs away from adhesive, reverse with 'Boston / Br. Pkt.' cds (Sept 22), London transit cds (Oct 4) in red and double arc HONG-KONG arrival cds (Nov 24) in black. A rare cover. Cert. Philatelic Foundation (1977).
Richard Potts (1828-1915), was Surgeon in the US Navy, Confederate States Army and in Jacksonville, Fla.
USS Powhatan was a sidewheel steam fregate in the United States navy. USS Powhatan was launched on 14 February 1850 by the Norfolk Navy Yard. Under Commander William J. McCluney, USS powhatan was assigned to the East India Squadron in 1853. The US-Japan ‚Treaty of Amity and Commerce‘ was signed on her deck on 29 July 1858! This most important treaty, also called ‚the Harris Treaty‘ opened the ports of Kanagawa and four other Japanese cities to trade and granted extraterritoriality to foreigners, among a number of trading stipulations.
