Pr. Adams & Co. Express. Docketing at top of folded letter datelined "Mannheim 6 April 1854" and addressed to San Francisco, red boxed "Returned for Postage" struck twice at left and crossed out, "LS 12 AP 12 1854" in Maltese Cross handstamp, some slight wear, still Very Fine and unusual use, this was twice refused transit by British Open Mail and returned for postage, it finally made it into the Prussian Closed Mail system at the Aachen exchange office in October, a full five months after it was sent, it was charged 30c for Prussian Closed Mail (versus 21c for U.S. Open Mail), the sender's attempt to save 9c in postage resulted in a delay of seven months

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