5c Dark Red Brown (12). Horizontal strip of four, mostly clear to large margins except just shaving outer line of bottom projection in first stamp at left, rich color, used with 1c Blue Type IV (9), large margins to in, tied by three strikes of red "Trenton N.J. Aug. 19, 1856" circular datestamp on buff cover to Lieutenant Earl English in Hong Kong, China, addressed to the "U.S. Sloop of War Levant, Care of the U.S. Consul", red "New-York Am. Pkt. Aug. 23" circular datestamp, carried on the New York & Havre Line Arago, departing New York Aug. 23 and arriving Southampton Sep. 4, then on the Peninsular & Oriental Indus to Alexandria, Egypt, carried overland to Suez and then by the Oriental, which arrived in Galle on Oct. 13, and from there to Hong Kong on the Norna, London transit and Hong Kong (Dec. 1) backstamps, cover with flap tear, some minor edge creases and slight wear

VERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR COVER TO HONG KONG WITH A STRIP OF FOUR OF 1856 5-CENT AND 1851 ONE-CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUES PAYING THE 21-CENT RATE VIA SOUTHAMPTON. ONE OF THREE SIMILAR COVERS ADDRESSED TO LIEUTENANT EARL ENGLISH IN HONG KONG, THESE BEING AMONG THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF ALL 5-CENT 1856 COVERS.

The 21c postage paid the rate to Hong Kong via Southampton. The remaining 6-pence postage was collected from the recipient. Accompanied by two lengthy 1856 enclosures from this correspondence.

Under the command of U.S. Navy officer William N. Smith and with Lieut. Earl English aboard, the U.S.S. Levant sailed on Nov. 13, 1855, for Rio de Janeiro, the Cape of Good Hope, and Hong Kong, where she arrived to join the East India Squadron on May 12, 1856. On July 1 the U.S. Commissioner to China boarded the Levant for transport to Shanghai, arriving on August 1. At the outbreak of hostilities between the British and Chinese, the Levant arrived in Whampoa on October 28. The Levant took part in protecting American interests, and in November 1856 saw action during the American amphibious assault on Chinese fortifications on the Pearl River. The Levant received the major part of the Chinese bombardment, with 22 shot holes in her hull and rigging, one man dead, and six injured. The Levant cruised between Hong Kong and Shanghai until she departed Hong Kong on December 7, 1857, arriving at the Boston Navy Yard on April 6, 1858 (source: Wikipedia).

Illustrated in Robert G. Rose, "Five Cent 1856 Stamp on Covers from New Jersey," New Jersey Postal History journal, May 2012.

Ex Dr. Wilbur Amonette, who acquired this from the original find. It was offered in our Sale 784 on October 29, 1996, where it was the sole item illustrated on the front cover.

With 1996 P.F. certificate

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