30c Orange (38). Vibrant color, used with vertical strip of three of 5c Brown, Ty. II (30A), tied by large grid cancels, red "New York Am. Pkt. Sep. 8" backstamp on 1860 folded letter to Hong Kong, China, addressed to Capt. George Heely of the American clipper ship Queen of the East, in care of Olyphant & Co., sender's ship-name directive "Vanderbilt" at lower left and carried aboard the Vanderbilt, magenta manuscript "24" credit, red London Paid transit (Sep. 19) and "1d" manuscript British Colonial credit, Nov. 14 receiving backstamp, center stamp of strip has a tiny tear at left, trivial soiling along a few perfs from gum

VERY FINE. A RARE 1857-60 ISSUE FRANKING TO PAY THE 45-CENT RATE TO HONG KONG BY BRITISH MAIL VIA MARSEILLES.

Built for direct competition with the British Cunard Line, the passenger mail steamship Vanderbilt was named for steamship and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt. Flying the flag of the Vanderbilt European Line, she sailed (in summertime only) until the Civil War. The Vanderbilt was then chartered to the government as a transport, but when the Confederacy unveiled the C.S.S. Virginia, Vanderbilt offered the services of his ship -- which had 50 feet of iron plating forward -- as a ram to destroy the ironclad. Armed with two 200-pounder, twelve 9-inch, and one 12-pounder guns, she arrived at Hampton Roads after the duel between Virginia and Monitor. She then sailed in a yearlong search for the Confederate raider Alabama, during which time she captured several blockade-runners.

Accompanied by note from Calvet M. Hahn, who states that this was carried via Southampton, despite the 45c prepayment for British Mail via Marseilles.

Ex DuPuy. With 1991 P.S.E. certificate

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