5c Red Brown (12). Large margins to in at top, used with two 1c Blue, Type IV (9) on 3c Red on Buff Nesbitt entire (U10), tied by "Georgetown S.C. Dec. 19" (ca. 1856) circular datestamp and addressed to Mr. Henry P. Brown, U.S. Consul at St. Georges, Bermuda, 1c stamps also tied by neat strike of "NOT PAID" boxed handstamp applied at New York (probably in error), manuscript "4" pence due marking at right, right 1c small tear at top right, 5c tiny margin tear at top left and small diagonal crease at top right, missing top flap and small margin repair, small edge flaws

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE ON COVER TO BERMUDA. AN IMPORTANT POSTAL HISTORY RARITY OF THE CLASSIC IMPERFORATE PERIOD.

The recipient worked as a portrait artist and engraver, and in 1851 traveled to San Francisco with his friend, Jacob Bailey Moore. Brown worked for Moore for the next several months, gathering specimens and making drawings in the California countryside. In March of 1852, he was commissioned by John Russell Bartlett, head of the U.S.-Mexico Boundary Commission and a friend of Moore's, to draw views of landscapes and Indians in Northern California, assist with collecting Indian vocabularies, and make maps of the area. From 1856 to 1859, he served as U.S. Consul for Bermuda. Little is known of his life after that date; his health was poor at the time of his resignation in 1859.

This cover was franked to pay the 10c direct rate by American Packet. The "NOT PAID" was likely applied in error in New York, though this may have gone as a private outbound ship letter.

Ex Krug, Mayer (book, p. 143), Hackmey and Gross With 2006 P.F. certificate.

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