24c Grayish Lilac (78a). Deep rich color, used with 12c Black (69), tied by strikes of "Meadville Pa. Sep. 7, '64" double-circle datestamp and duplex target cancel on cover to Charles Powell on board the U.S.S. Jamestown, care of Thomas Hunt & Co., Hong Kong, China, sender's directive "via Prussian Closed Mail", red "N. York Am. Pkt. 7 Paid Sep. 10" (1864) 7c credit datestamp crossed out in pencil and struck with red "N. York Am. Pkt. Paid Sep. 10" circular datestamp, magenta manuscript "15" credit, magenta framed "AACHEN 23 9 FRANCO" transit datestamp (September 23), pencil "1/" one-shilling debit marking, blue manuscript "f3" silbergroschen rate, backstamped with "Triest 26/9" (September 26) transit, "Alexandria OC 4 64" transit and blue "Hong Kong C NO 19 64" receiving datestamp, slightly reduced at left but the crossed-out word "Francisco" of route directive "San Francisco" is intact

VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE COVER TO HONG KONG BY PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL WITH CORRECT FRANKING FOR 36-CENT RATE.

The U.S.S. Jamestown patrolled the Pacific during the Civil War to protect American commerce from Confederate privateers. This cover to Charles Powell on board the Jamestown is an extremely rare example of mail sent to Hong Kong by Prussian Closed Mail. Two ships departed from New York on September 10, 1864: the Inman Edinburgh, which arrived at Queenstown on September 22, and the NGL New York, which arrived at Southampton, also on September 22.

The 36c rate to Hong Kong by Prussian Closed Mail was in effect from May 1863 to March 1867. In general, covers to Hong Kong by this route are rare, but this correctly prepaid 36c rate is of even greater rarity.

Ex Vogel.

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