5c Red Brown (12). Three large margins, slightly in at bottom, rich color, tied by "Washington City D.C. Feb. 22" (1858) circular datestamp on cover to 1st Asst. Engr. Richard C. Potts, U.S.S. Powhatan, in care of U.S. Naval Storekeeper, Hong Kong, China, sender's directive "Open mail via London", "Boston Br. Pkt. 24 Feb." circular datestamp on back--carried on the Cunarder Niagara, departing Boston February 24, 1858, arriving Liverpool March 9--red "London F1 MR 10 58" datestamps on back, manuscript "1/8" 1sh8p debit marking for rate via Marseilles, "Hong-Kong 7 MY 1858" receiving backstamp, May 12 receipt docketing at top, very slightly reduced at left

VERY FINE. AMONG THE TEN RECORDED 5-CENT 1856 ISSUE COVERS TO CHINA, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE ACTUALLY CARRIED ON THE EXPEDITED ROUTE VIA MARSEILLES, WITH THE "1/8" DEBIT MARKING FOR BRITISH POSTAGE COLLECTED FROM THE ADDRESSEE.

In August 1855, the U.S.S. Powhatan assisted the H.M.S. Rattler in a successful attack against Chinese pirates off Kowloon. The U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed on the Powhatan on July 29, 1858, about three months after this cover reached Engineer Potts.

The stamp on this cover prepaid the 5c inland U.S. rate, with 1sh8p (40c) collected from the addressee, for a total of 45c for the rate by British Mail via Marseilles. Our census of 5c 1856 covers contains 10 covers to China (eight to Hong Kong, one to Shanghai and one to Foochow). Of these 10 covers, 8 were sent by British Mail via Southampton, one by British Mail via Marseilles (offered here), and one actually carried by Prussian Closed Mail (one of the covers has a 38c franking for the PCM rate, but was carried by British Mail via Southampton--offered in lot 2006). The other covers with a single 5c 1856 stamp have "1/2" 1sh2p (28c) debit markings for the 33c rate via Southampton. The "1/8" on the cover offered here distinguishes it from the others.

Ex Starnes.

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