12¢ Black (17), horizontal strip of three, mostly full to large margins except touched at top left, a few toned spots, used with 1¢ Blue, Type II (7), Position 71L2, large margins including parts of adjoining stamps at right and bottom, tied by grid cancels and "Oxford O. Jul. 20, 1857" circular datestamp on buff cover to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and forwarded to Mount Korong, addressed to James W. Messler and directed in another hand "By British Packet via England", prepaid 37¢ for a non-applicable rate but credited "12" cents for 33¢ British Mail via Southampton rate by American Packet--despite the directive, this was not carried on a British steamer; it was carried on the Inman Line City of Washington, departing New York on July 23, 1857, and arriving at Liverpool August 5--red "New-York Am. Packet Jul. 23" circular datestamp on back, red British transit datestamp (August 6), Melbourne rimless oval backstamp (October 15), another part strike of receiving backstamp applied at Victoria

Very Fine--an outstanding 1851 Issue foreign-mail cover, with a franking that is rare because it overpaid the prevailing 33¢ rate to Australia.

James W. Messler traveled to Australia in search of gold and found success. His activities are noted in an account of Joshua Rogers Gray's life in Australia at http://www.thetreeofus.net/8/273960.htm . It includes this colorful description:

During the time I was partners with Messler and some years after he left I usually bought from 100 to 150 ounces of gold per week. The gold bought at Wedderburn had to be taken either to Sandhurst Maryborough or Ballarat for sale. The profit on the gold was from 2/- to 3/- per ounce but the risk to life and property was very great and I have very little doubt but I would have been nobbled and in all probability killed had it not been generally known that I always went armed and that I was not likely to part with life or treasure without a struggle.

Ex William C. Michaels, Marc Haas, Louis Grunin, Ryohei Ishikawa and Joseph Hackmey.

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