3c Dull Red, Type II (11A). Positions 13-18/23-28R3, block of twelve, large margins to slightly in on four stamps, four stamps cancelled by manuscript squiggles, tied by "Braunfels, Tex. Oct. 3" (1856) circular datestamp on bluish gray folded cover to Gettorf, Schleswig-Holstein, then under Danish crown rule, sender's directive "pr prussian closed mail" at lower left--carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston on October 22, 1856, and arriving at Liverpool November 2--red "N. York Br. Pkt. 7 Paid Oct. 21" 7c credit datestamp, the foreign-mail office applied the 7c credit instead of 12c, so this was marked as paid to Prussia only and not to its final destination, red "AACHEN 4 11 FRANCO" (November 4) framed datestamp, red framed "Franco Preuss:/resp. Vereinsl:AusgGr" handstamp (paid only to limits of German-Austrian Postal Union), "St.P.A. 5 Nov 56" oval datestamp on back, "KDOPA HAMBURG 9/11" (November 9) Royal Danish Postal Agency in Hamburg double-circle backstamp, red crayon "9" Danish skillings due, the block was originally folded over the top edge of cover, which has been refolded and pressed out for display, stamps with few faults.

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE ON COVER AND A MARVELOUS AND RARE USE TO DENMARK.

This block is reported to be the largest multiple of the 3c 1851 Issue on cover. The franking pays the 35c Prussian Closed Mail rate, but it was treated as paid only to the border and Danish postage was collected.

Ex Dr. Chase, Emerson, Col. Picher, Simpson, Ishikawa, Hackmey and Gross. Illustrated in U.S. Classics Society Silver Anniversary Booklet (p. 14) and Simpson's U.S. Postal Markings (p. 291).

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