10c Green, F. Grill (96). Pair and single with three strikes of Yokohama "X" chop cancel on folded letter from G. Bolmida, Yokohama, Japan, to Milan, Italy, addressed to Francesco Paganini, datelined "Yokohama 28 Septembre 1869" and "Via America", sender's red "OVERLAND ROUTE" straightline handstamp with manuscript directive which is difficult to read--carried on the PMSS America, departing Yokohama September 29, 1869, and arriving San Francisco October 20--clear strike of magenta "China and Japan Steam Service" oval handstamp, matching "San Francisco Paid All Oct. 21" circular datestamp on back, red "New York Paid all Br. Transit Oct. 25" circular datestamp--carried on HAPAG Holsatia, departing October 26, 1869, arriving Plymouth November 4--blurry Italian arrival datestamp (November 11) and Milan receiving datestamp (also November 11) on back, short tear at top was previously sealed with tape, since removed and resealed with archivally safe Japanese tissue, leaving only a faint stain

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW EXTANT COVERS FROM A UNITED STATES POST OFFICE IN JAPAN TO A EUROPEAN DESTINATION BEFORE THE BANK NOTE ISSUE PERIOD--ESPECIALLY RARE WITH THE "X" CHOP CANCELS, "CHINA AND JAPAN STEAM SERVICE" OVAL AND ITALY AS THE DESTINATION.

The two rates involved in sending this letter from Japan to Italy via the United States and Great Britain are 10c for the U.S.-Japan treaty rate and 15c for the treaty rate to Italy by Closed Mail. The 30c postage on this cover overpays the required combination rate, either through a change in the originally intended route, as Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book suggests (p. 143), or simply because the sender had 10c stamps and overpaid rather than underpaid the postage.

Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 143).

Ex Ishikawa and Risvold.

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