12c Black (17). Horizontal pair and single, mostly large margins around pair, single cut in, used with horizontal pair of 3c Dull Red, Type II (11), margins large to bit in, canceled by matching grids on 1854 cover to Athens, Greece, route directive "Prussian Closed Mail", red "New-York Am. Pkt. Nov. 11" (1854) circular datestamp, scarce italic-style "FRANCO" handstamp struck in red, Prussian blue manuscript "5-1/4" silbergroschen at left indicating postage paid beyond GAPU border, Aachen, Trieste and Athens backstamps

FRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE 1851 ISSUE TO GREECE, PAYING THE 42-CENT RATE VIA PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL.

The U.S. post office handled very little mail addressed to Greece. The Reverend Hill correspondence is not only the earliest significant group, it is in the 1851 period the only correspondence available to collectors seeking this very rare foreign destination. Perhaps three or four 1851 Issue covers are known used to Greece.

Ex Piller. With 2003 P.F. certificate.

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