5c Red Brown (12). Vertical strip of three, huge margins, used with 10c Green, Type III/II/III (15/14/15) vertical combination strip, both strips have large margins and are tied by "New Orleans La. Jul. 14, 1857" circular datestamps on light blue folded letter and prices current report to Trie sur Baise, France, bold red "New York Paid 36 Jul. 22" 36c credit datestamp--carried on the Cunarder Arabia, departing New York on July 22, 1857, and arriving at Liverpool August 2--red Calais arrival datestamp (August 3), Paris transit and Trie receiving backstamps (August 4), certificate notes some toning along right side of 5c strip (top of strip partly lifted off cover) and 10c strip with small paper adherences and faint creasing--utterly trivial flaws which do not diminish the quality or importance of this stellar multiple-rate franking and cover

VERY FINE. THIS PHENOMENAL TRIPLE-RATE COVER TO FRANCE WITH STRIPS OF THE 5-CENT AND 10-CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUES IS A RELATIVELY RECENT DISCOVERY AND ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING 1851-56 ISSUE COVERS EXTANT.

The 1851-56 Imperforate issues are rarely found paying the 45c triple treaty rate on covers to France, because the triple rate is unusual and perforated issues began to replace imperforate stamps in the summer and fall of 1857, just months after the treaty went into effect on April 1, 1857. We have found references to two other covers with strips of three of the 5c 1856 and 10c 1855 Issues in the Ashbrook index card records at The Philatelic Foundation: 1) from Boston, date unknown, ex Waterhouse 1924 sale, strips cut in; and 2) from New Orleans, August 20, 1857, ex Ackerman. However, despite these written notes, we have been unable to find photos or more current sale records for these two covers. It is significant that we have no computerized record of having offered a 45c rate cover with the 5c 1856, nor can we find another in a search of auction catalogues or in our Scott 12 census (other than the Waterhouse and Ackerman citations).

This cover ranks among the most important of classic United States imperforate issue covers. Its provenance has eluded us, and it is believed to have originated from a long-dormant collection when it surfaced in a 2007 Cherrystone auction.

Ex Joseph Hackmey and William H. Gross.

With 2007 P.F. certificate.

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