5¢ Dark Brown (1a), deep rich color and impression from the First Printing, large margins to clear at bottom, tied by bold strike of blue grid cancel with matching "Philadelphia Pa. Jul. 16" (1847) circular datestamp (inverted "16"), used as forwarding postage to Boston on a folded letter originating in Dusseldorf, Germany--letter is datelined at Dusseldorf, June 14, 1847, and written by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, the artist who in 1851 painted the iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware Revolutionary War scene, and who also painted the Columbus in Chains scene used as the basis for the $2.00 Columbian stamp--addressed to the care of Furness, Brindley & Co. in Philadelphia, sent either via Aachen or Cologne and Belgium to London, manuscript "5/8" Prussian loth (weight) at top right, "P." in oval indicating prepayment of postage at Dusseldorf, Prussian "22" (silbergroschen) in red crayon indicating all transit fees to U.S. prepaid, red London "Paid" transit datestamp (June 17, 1847), Liverpool oval datestamp (June 17)--presumably carried on the Cunarder Caledonia, departing Liverpool on June 19, 1847, and arriving at Boston July 4--due markings were applied at the Philadelphia post office with the blue July 16 circular datestamp and "12" in circle handstamp struck for 10¢ over-300 miles rate plus 2¢ ship fee, address crossed out and forwarded back to Boston, in care of Thomas Lamb, with 5¢ stamp applied by Furness, Brindley & Co., manuscript line through "12" in circle and re-rated "10" cents for distance over 300 miles, the 5¢ stamp was insufficient so rated in manuscript "Due 5"

Very Fine; minor splits along folds--a unique use of the 5¢ 1847 Issue as forwarding postage on a folded letter from a famous artist writing from Dusseldorf, Germany, and a scarce first-month use of the 5¢ 1847 Issue.

This cover is fascinating in many aspects. It was mailed from Germany to the United States two weeks before the release of the 1847 Issue. By the time it reached Boston, on Independence Day, the first federal postage stamps were just three days old. The Philadelphia circular datestamp was dated July 16 either in error, as Creighton C. Hart speculated, or for another reason--perhaps the letter was carried on a different vessel, or the markings were applied after a delay or upon forwarding to Boston.

The writer, Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, was born in Germany, but emigrated to the U.S. as a child. His artistic talent manifested itself early in life, and in adulthood he was noted for many significant paintings, including his iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware. Another painting, Columbus in Chains, won him the gold medal at the Brussels Art Exhibition, and was subsequently purchased by the Art Union in New York; it was the basis of the 1893 $2.00 Columbian stamp. In this letter Leutze mentions having painted pictures entitled "Columbus" and "Knox." Leutze quotes a $1,000 price for the picture he is painting for James T. Furness, the addressee, and asks to be paid with a British bank draft. He writes that the picture will be sent via Havre in ten days.

Ex Creighton C. Hart and John R. Boker, Jr. Illustrated and discussed in Chronicle 46 (pp. 6 and 34-36) and in Hargest (p. 10). With 1963 P.F. certificate.

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