12c Black, Diagonal Half Used as 6c (17a). Top right diagonal half, large margins, used with two singles of intact 12c stamps, all tied by multiple strikes of "San Francisco Cal. 1 Aug." (1853) circular datestamp on cover to Bordeaux, France, red "New York Am. Packet Sep. 3" circular datestamp, London and French transit and receiving backstamps, neat "8" decimes due handstamp, staining around stamps, some overall wear, left stamp small corner crease at top left

FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 12-CENT 1851 BISECT WITH TWO FULL STAMPS FOR THE 30-CENT RATE. WE ARE AWARE OF ONLY ONE OTHER SIMILAR FRANKING.

This cover was carried from San Francisco on the PMSC Northerner, departing Aug. 1, 1853 and arriving Panama Aug. 17. After the trip across the isthmus, it was carried from Aspinwall by the USMSC Georgia on Aug. 19, arriving New York Aug. 29. From New York it was carried on the Collins Line steamer Baltic, departing Sep. 3 and arriving Liverpool Sep. 14.

One other cover, used from San Francisco to Liverpool, has an identical franking (ex Caspary).

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables