10c Brown (161). Horizontal strip of three, tied by circle of spokes "Chop" cancel, matching "Yokohama, Japan Jul. 19" circular datestamp on 1874 folded cover to Mortara, Italy, sender's route directive "Open Mail to Italy" at upper left, light strike of "San Francisco Cal. Aug. 9" circular datestamp, red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Aug. 18" circular datestamp, several backstamps incl. Verona and Vigevano, some overall staining and small faults, tear at bottom

A RARE AND DESIRABLE UNITED STATES BANK NOTE ISSUE COVER FROM THE U.S. POST OFFICE AT YOKOHAMA, JAPAN, TO ITALY VIA SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK AND ENGLAND.

This cover was carried on the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.'s Colorado, which arrived in San Francisco on Aug. 8, 1874. It then departed New York on Aug. 19 on the Cunarder Scotia, which arrived in Queenstown on Aug. 28. The rate from Japan to the U.S. was 10c, and the rate from the U.S. to Italy via Closed Mail was 10c. The 30c prepayment was either an overpayment of the combined single rates or an accepted underpayment of a double rate.

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