3c Ultramarine (114). Horizontal pair, natural straight edge at left, tied by Nagasaki 4-Petals cancel on folded letter in French datelined Nagasaki, July 3, 1870, to "Monsieur le Directeur du Comptoir d'Escompte de Paris" Comptoir banking house in Shanghai, China, "Pignatel & Co. Nagasaki (Japon)" double-oval handstamp, sender's directive "Golden Age"--the PMSS branch-line steamer Golden Age departed Yokohama June 26, 1870, and arrived Shanghai July 4, so it seems unlikely this could have been picked up at Nagasaki on that trip; the more likely transport was on the Oregonian, departing Yokohama July 16 and arriving Shanghai July 24--docketing on inside panel (no receipt date), minor splits along interior folds

EXTREMELY FINE. ONLY TWO COVERS FROM THE U.S. POST OFFICE IN JAPAN TO CHINA WITH 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE STAMPS ARE RECORDED. THIS COVER WITH THE 3-CENT PAIR PAYING THE 6-CENT INTERCONSULAR RATE AND "FLOWER PETALS" CANCELLATION IS THE MORE BEAUTIFUL OF THE TWO.

Letters between U.S. post offices in China and Japan were carried under the blanket 10c rate until the 6c interconsular rate was introduced. Based on archival correspendence, the rate is thought to have been implemented in mid-April 1870 (see Laurence 10c 1869 book, p. 281). This cover has the correct 6c interconsular rate.

In addition to the four recorded interconsular covers from Japan to Shanghai with 10c 1861 or 1868 Grilled Issue frankings, there are two 1869 Pictorial covers and a number of Bank Note Issue covers. This 3c 1869 cover is arguably the most beautiful of all known interconsular covers.

Illustrated in Frajola-Perlman-Scamp book (p. 188); The 1869 Issue on Cover: A Census and Analysis (color plate 6); and Jonathan W. Rose, United States Postage Stamps of 1869 (p. 55).

Ex Knapp, Juhring, Carnahan, Watt C. White and Walske

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