VICTORIA, 1858, 6p Blue (30; SG 73). Horizontal strip of three, horizontal pair and six singles, Perkins & Bacon London printing, used with three each of 3p Blue and 1sh Blue (SG 48, 81), 3p stamps J. S. Campbell printing, Pos. 5-6-1, straddling two transfer groups of 24, tied by "1" in grid cancels on cover front only to New York, sender's route directive "Via Marseilles", red "London MY 16, 1859" circular datestamp, red "96" (cents) and "4/-" (shilling) credit markings to the United States for 6 x 16c by American packet, "30" due marking applied in New York for 6 x 5c U.S. internal rate also ties a stamp, one stamp missing from lower left (most likely a 6p), file folds affect most stamps which also have other flaws

A SPECTACULAR APPEARING COVER FRONT TO NEW YORK FRANKED WITH A HIGH VALUE AND COLORFUL ARRAY OF VICTORIA STAMPS. THIS IS THE HIGHEST FRANKING WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED ON A VICTORIA COVER.

The analysis of the rate paid by this cover is fascinating and somewhat complicated (our thanks to John Barwis and Dale Forster for their analysis). Assuming we are correct that the missing stamp is a 6p, the sender paid 9sh9p (a total of 117p) to prepay the British, French and American packet portion of the rate to the U.S. for British mail via Marseilles. The letter must have weighed between 2-1/2 and 2-3/4 ounces -- the single prepaid rate for less than -1/2 ounce was 2sh. For the single rate, the components upon leaving Victoria were 6p per half ounce to England, plus 3p per quarter ounce to the French for the railroad charge from Marseilles to Calais, plus 8p per half ounce transatlantic rate for the ship portion (of the 1sh prepaid rate between England and the U.S.) by American packet. For a cover weighing between 2-1/2 and 2-3/4 ounces, this would be 6 x 6p Victoria to England, plus 11 x 3p French transit, plus 6 x 8p American packet, for a total of 117p, or 9sh9p. The 6 x 5c U.S. internal rate portion of the treaty rate from England was payable by the recipient.

The cover left Melbourne on the P & O steamer Emeu, departing on Mar. 17, 1859 -- the Emeu put into Port Louis, Mauritius, with a broken screw on Apr. 13. Mails were transferred to the Granada which sailed from Port Louis on April 14, arriving in Aden on Apr. 27. From Aden the cover was carried on the P & O Bengal, sailing on Apr. 27 and arriving at Suez on May 4. The cover was then carried to Alexandria for the May 7 departure of the P & O Ellora, arriving at Marseilles on May 13. After a voyage by train to Paris and Calais, then making the trip to Dover and London, the cover finally sailed on the HAPAG Hammonia, departing Liverpool on May 18 and arriving in New York on May 30.

If this were a full cover it might well be regarded as the most spectacular Victoria cover in existence. Even as a front, it is very desirable and a most impressive franking

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