1¢ Blue, Types IIIa-IIIa-II-II-II/II (8A-8A-7-7-7/7). Positions 51-55 and 61R1E, L-shaped combination strip of six, top two left stamps Type IIIa, others Type II, huge margins showing left interpane margin and part of seven adjoining stamps, slightly in at top on left pair of upper stamps and at right, tied by neat strikes of grid cancel and "New York Sep. 26" (1851) ocean-mail circular datestamp on September 23, 1851, blue folded letter to San Francisco--carried from New York to Panama on the U.S. Mail Steamship Co. Georgia, departing September 26, 1851, then by Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Panama, departing around October 17 and arriving at San Francisco November 4--discreet receipt docketing at left "recd. Nov. 5/51 pr 'Panama' mail"

Very Fine; tiny scuff in left margin of Position 52R, cover has a few negligible bleached spots.

A beautiful and extremely rare combination strip of 1¢ Blue Types II and IIIa from Plate 1 Early paying the 6¢ prepaid transcontinental rate to California--the more common method of franking was a pair of 3¢ stamps.

Ex Ryohei Ishikawa and Joseph Hackmey.

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