Lot 8111
1865: 1861/63, 10¢ green vertical strip of four used with 3¢ rose and 1863, 2¢ black on cover addressed to “U. S. Ship Relief, Care American Consul, Macao China”; scarce large red “Portland Me. Am. Pkt. 24 Paid Mar 4” exchange mark and London transit at left; manuscript “Via Southampton England” at lower left; stamps cancelled with manuscript “Milo Maine U. S. America”, “Charleston was after Feb 20” with a “Milo Me Feb 28” town marking below stamps; blue 1865 Hong Kong backstamp; stamps with small flaws including a vertical crease in the 2¢ from being folded over the right edge of the cover; still an attractive three color franking with the scarcer Portland Me exchange marking; interesting usage as both Milo and Charleston are inland cities in Maine; stamps paid the 45¢ rate for ½ oz by British Mail via Southampton. 2016 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott 68,65,73).
USS Relief was a supply ship in the United States Navy lauched in 1836. In 1864 she was ordered to the Pacific and delivered supplies at Rio de Janeiro, on her way to China. USS relief arrived at the Portuguese colony of Macao in December 1864. After service in the Asiatic Station, she returned to New York in late 1866.
