10c Green, Type III (15). Horizontal strip of four, three large margins, clear to just barely in at left, left stamp barely affected from placement at edge of cover, rich color, used with horizontal pair of 1c Blue, Type II (7), intense shade and impression, large margins to just in, tied by three perfect strikes of "New Orleans La. Jan. 23" (1856) balloon-style circular datestamp on grayish blue folded letter to Chalon sur Saone, France, pencil "42" rate, red "New-York Am. Pkt. Feb. 2" circular datestamp, sender's generic "pr Steamship" directive, carried on the Collins Line Baltic, departing New York on February 2, 1856, and arriving at Liverpool February 13, red London backstamp (February 14), Calais arrival datestamp (February 14) also ties strip, French railroad and receiving backstamps (February 15), manuscript "16" for grams in weight and "24" decimes due markings

VERY FINE. AN ENORMOUSLY RARE 1851 ISSUE FRANKING, INCLUDING A STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT TYPE III, USED TO PAY THE DOUBLE 21-CENT BRITISH OPEN MAIL RATE TO FRANCE BY AMERICAN PACKET.

The 42c postage pays the double 21c British Open Mail rate by American Packet. The double rate was calculated in New York, but the 24 decimes due--three times the 8 decimes per 7.5 grams--was based on the weight calculated in France and noted as 16 grams at left.

Ex Hackmey and Gross. Signed Baudot and Calves handstamp. With 2019 P.F. certificate

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