1¢ Blue, Type IV (9), Positions 26-30R/36-40R1L, large margins to almost clear including right sheet margin with "on & Cincinnati." of imprint, top stamps lightly soiled along pressed-out horizontal file fold, tied by light strikes of "San Francisco Cal. 18 Jun." (1855) circular datestamps on folded letter to Yorkville, New York, manuscript docketing at lower left confirms date of use, Fine, the largest recorded multiple on cover paying the 10¢ transcontinental rate, a highly unusual franking, the rate changed from 6¢ to 10¢ on April 1, 1855, just a short time before this was used, and 10¢ stamps were not available to pay the rate for mail sent from the West Coast until the end of June--the letter ends with a diatribe against someone's "faithless lover," a woman who deserves to have "the double forked tongue of serpents pierce her, infuse her blood with the venom and poison of the cobra de capello," ex Hackmey, with 2004 P.F. certificate

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