3c Rose (65). Two, beautiful color and choice centering, tied by cogwheel cancels and "San Francisco Cal. Mar. 21" (1867) double-circle datestamp with "DUE 4" straightline handstamp on blue cover originating in Japan, addressed to William Green, Bristol, New Hampshire, sender's ship-name directive "Colorado", immaculate condition

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE COVER SENT FROM JAPAN TO THE UNITED STATES AND CARRIED UNDER THE NEW PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY CONTRACT ON THE FIRST EASTBOUND (RETURN) TRIP OF THE COLORADO.

The Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Colorado made its first eastbound (return) trip on February 28, 1867, from Yokohama to San Francisco. This cover from Japan was among the letters carried that trip. The Colorado arrived in San Francisco March 20. Mail from this trip addressed to San Francisco was postmarked March 20, and overland mail, such as this cover, was postmarked March 21, the date of the next departure. There are ten reported covers from the Colorado's maiden eastbound trip, all of which bear the "STEAM CHINA" handstamp, including seven struck in red and three in black (source: Frajola-Perlman-Scamp, pages 57-58, 86-88). Other covers with the "STEAM CHINA" handstamp are offered in lots 2041 and 2075.

This cover was subject to the 10c blanket ship-letter rate, since there was no treaty providing for a different rate on mail between the United States and Japan. Credit was given for the two 3c 1861 stamps, and the "Due 4" marking indicated postage due from the addressee to make up the 10c rate.

Illustrated in Jesse L. Coburn, Letters of Gold (p. 127), Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 58) and Matsumoto Jun Ichi, A History of The French Post Office of Yokohama (p. 190).

Ex Meroni, Ishikawa, Drucker and Walske.

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