(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Large margins, deep impression, cancelled by well-struck red "Free" in frame, matching "City Despatch Post N.Y. 29 Mar., 1 O'Clock" (1842) Type II double-line circular datestamp on folded letter originating in Paris, France, and forwarded by Greig's local post within New York City, lettersheet is complete but there must have been an additional internal sheet with dateline, written from Cornelia Ray (nee Prime) to her mother in care of the banking firm of Prime, Ward & King, red "Forwarded by Yr. Obdt. Sevnts. Greene & Co. Paris" two-line script handstamp on backflap, carried under cover to New York, forwarding address reads "No 22 Bond Street", immaculate condition

EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE FOLDED LETTER SENT UNDER COVER FROM PARIS TO NEW YORK, THEN FORWARDED TO BOND STREET BY GREIG'S CITY DESPATCH POST.

Cornelia Ray was a member of the famous Prime family of New York, whose patriarch, Nathaniel, was the head of the preeminent banking firm, Prime, Ward & King. This letter was sent by Cornelia to her mother in March 1842, while she, her husband and their children were staying in Paris. This letter was carried under cover on a vessel that sailed from France to New York. On arrival it was forwarded to 22 Bond Street by the City Despatch Post at 1:00 p.m. on March 29. The privately-operated City Despatch Post was bought by the government in August 1842 and re-established as the U.S. City Despatch Post carrier department. Two similar covers are known from the same correspondence, sent in 1844 and bearing the United States City Despatch Post 3c Black on Blue Green Glazed carrier stamp (Siegel Sale 1005, lots 240-241).

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