5c Red Brown (12). Three large margins, just touched at bottom, tied by well-struck "New Orleans La. Feb. 21, 1857" circular datestamp on blue folded letter originating in Tabasco, Mexico, and sent to Bordeaux, France, clear strike of blue "Romano Hermanos Tabasco" oval company handstamp, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Mar. 4" circular datestamp, "GB/1F60c" Anglo-French accountancy handstamp, bold "8" decimes due handstamp, London and receiving backstamps, stamp with slight toning and tiny tear in bottom margin

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USE OF THE 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE ON A COVER ORIGINATING IN MEXICO AND SENT TO FRANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY FOUR USES OF THIS ISSUE THAT ORIGINATE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND IT IS ALSO A DESIRABLE "THREE MONTHS” PERIOD COVER BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

This was carried privately from Tabasco, Mexico, to New Orleans, where it entered the mails. It then went to New York and was carried on the Cunarder Asia, departing March 4, 1857, and arriving Liverpool March 16. From London it traveled to Paris via Calais. Only three other covers bearing this issue originate outside of the United States--from France, New Brunswick, and Mexico.

Ex Hubbard and Mayer (book, p. 64). With 2005 P.F. certificate

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